In the News...

Date

Summary

January 2013

Sonoma-Marin Farm News

Local Natural Foods Market Showcases Products Grown on Their Family’s Micro-Farm

On less than three acres, Susan Bryer and Ernie Shelton grow a significant portion of the produce for Shelton’s Natural Foods Market in Healdsburg. Bryer, a graduate of the Sonoma County Beginning Farmer & Rancher Training program, had prior experience with a backyard garden, but when she met up with Ernie, she had to ratchet up her skill set to tackle this much larger acreage. (more)

October 2012

Sonoma ~ Marin Farm News

The “Business” of Farming – Transforming the Vision into a Financially Viable Operation

Our Sonoma County ag entrepreneurs are approaching the end of their journey as participants in this first group of the UCCE’s Beginning Farmers & Ranchers training program. Over the past six months, they’ve been exposed to many facets of agriculture, from dairying to hydroponic tomatoes, small scale grains to goat cheese; and have had to face the underbelly of the “running your own business” beast – business planning.

Read the full article here.

Fall 2012

Edible Marin & Wine Country

The continuing "ag-ventures" of Sonoma County's beginning farmers and ranchers

In the Summer 2012 issue of Edible Marin & Wine Country, we introduced you to Sonoma County's new three-year USDA-funded program for beginning farmers and ranchers. The program - a partnership between Sonoma County, University of California Regents (UCCE), Santa Rosa Junior College, and Latino Service Providers welcomed its first 25 students this past March. The budding agriculturalists have now attended four classes and multiple optional sessions with various local master farmers and ranchers. Here is what a few of them have to say about what led them to apply for the program and their experiences so far.

(Flip to page 6 to read full article)

July 2012

Sonoma Marin Farm News

Master Farmers and Ranchers Helping Support the Next Generation

By the time this story goes to press, the first group of Sonoma County Agropreneurs will have completed four of nine Beginning Farmer and Rancher Training classes. This USDA funded program, overseen by Sonoma County UCCE, will educate up to 75 new farmers and ranchers for Sonoma County (25% disadvantaged) over three years, increasing access to fresh locally produced food. We refer to these folks as new or beginning, rather than “young” because it may be their second career, and it’s the level of experience that actually determines whether one is a beginner.

June 2012

Edible Marin & Wine Country

Sonoma County Offers Tools for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers ...

(Flip to page 7 to read full article)

With the burgeoning focus locally and nationally, on health issues and the well-being of our communities, has come a strong and growing movement toward self-sufficiency and transparency around who grows our food and how.

What’s been missing is training for those who want to farm. Clearly there is strong interest in the Sonoma County training program, with 97 applicants vying for 25 spots.

June 2012

Sonoma Marin Farm News

The Delicate Balancing Act, Kevin McEnnis began farming ten acres of City of Santa Rosa land in 1999. He named it “Quetzal Farm” after Guatemala’s beautiful national bird, where he had planted his first garden.

May 2012

Sonoma Marin Farm News

Determination and Smarts Equal a Profitable Farm Operation, An orchardist and farmer, Torrey Olson comes from rural roots. Born and raised in Laughten, Oklahoma, his parents and relatives were either teachers or farmers.

April 2012

Press Democrat

Twenty-five new farmers and ranchers in Sonoma County will develop business plans and learn from farm veterans in a new program made possible by a $700,000 USDA grant.

February 2012

Press Democrat

Learn to be a farmer or rancher, A new program at SRJC’s Shone Farm teaches beginning farmers and ranchers how to build, operate and manage successful enterprises in the increasingly difficult business of Sonoma County’s agriculture.

February 2012

Sonoma West Times & News

New program aims to Grow more farmers and more food, “The overall goal of the program from the USDA standpoint is to increase the number of farmers and ranchers throughout the United States as a way of recognizing that the age of farmers is rapidly increasing, and also to increase the abundance of food supply in the U.S.,” said Stephanie Larson, the principal investigator for the project as well as the county director for UC Cooperative Extension.