Young farmer startup issues: "the struggle is real"

Hey y'all.

Just a few quick questions for anyone who knows a fair bit or has experience in farm start ups and loan programs.

I'm currently apprenticing at a farm in upstate SC and wish to continue after this to get a better picture of successful farm operations. Would 3 years of apprenticing and WWOOFing provide for the following clause in reference to direct farm ownership loans?:

"Individuals requesting direct farm ownership assistance must have participated in the business
operations of a farm or ranch for at least 3 years, but not necessarily have been the primary
operator of the farm or ranch."

I am not in a completely hopeless situation but the truth is I am 20 years old and have little capital to back me up besides what I have to travel for apprenticeships and hands on educational opportunities
( schooling isn't really feasible to me - I want to be a small farmer and I figure the best way to do that is go to conferences, get internships, and make connections, all the while reading as much as I can. Please correct me if this is unsatisfactory.)

I don't have land and this is understandably the most stressful of situations. I would have no problem partnering with another but even then the capital I can offer is minimal without some sort of backing. Is there a method of procuring start up capital that has more benefits or is a simpler solution than the farm loan programs? Any insight would be much appreciated.

Smile,

Gary M.

I would just ask the lenders if what you are planning to do qualifies. Be sure to document where you go and what you've done, and get the names/numbers of people you work with and ask if they can be references for you.
Just remember that borrowed money is just that, and you will be expected to repay it, with interest; or face losing the land and possibly more. If you go that route be sure to know what you plan to market and to whom and at what price.....hopefully you will have worked on some farms growing and selling that very thing.
Farm startup is hard work, aside from the financial issues. And you are trying to do, apparently alone, what the entirety of human history has only really done in groups larger than the nuclear family. Perhaps you should consider finding others to "go in" with in one way or another.
Another thing to check out is there are some organizations that connect older people having land with young people having enthusiasm, some with a stipulation that if the young person proves amenable and industrious, some generous terms of land access or even transfer of ownership might ensue.

Will document my experience for sure! As far as gaining relevant experience everywhere I've stayed has , to some degree, had an element that I am excited about incorporating. You are quite right about the 'no man is an island' thing as well and while I consider the organic farming community as a whole my allies it just isn't feasible to expect to get 20-30 acres cookin' with my two hands alone- I don't expect to and I don't want to ( It'd probably get lonely fast) work alone. I'm interested in the idea of continuing a farm's legacy so I'll have to see if there are any SC specific programs of that nature.

Your advice is solid and calculating but for me it begs the question: Where's a good place to seek out like minded business partners?

This very list may be a source....not sure how searchable it is but I know I've run across posts by people both wanting long-term help in managing their land and other young people wanting to work together with others in obtaining and working a place....You might also look into the local organic grower's association (CFSA? that used to be it's acronym)....for leads...

We are still CFSA, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association.

Thanks for the tips

When Mark Shepard was here on the board he posted about ways of partnering to start a business in farming; search for his posts. He also has a book about Restoration Agriculture which gives details about the business model he proposes, as far as I can tell (I don't have a copy).

http://www.forestag.com/index.html

Thanks Tyler, I will look for those posts -and that book looks like a gem I'll pick it up or borrow it as soon as I can.

We may have land/partners for you - http://bigsmallfarm.org/
Some info on the site is a bit outdated - please contact me directly if interested (contact info is on the site).

Best,

I don't remember if it was Mark Shepard, Joel Salatin, or someone else (been listening to a LOT of podcasts from a wide variety of sources lately)--but they had a specific way to write the contract for their interns/WWOOFers just to prove that for business plans and loan purposes.