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What Is Farm Mentoring?
GARY MYERS
WICHITA, KAN.
Farming is so much more than tilling soil, planting seeds and watering crops. A successful farmer has to have a love of the land, patience and determination. He also needs to know biology, chemistry, animal husbandry, meteorology, business principles and much more. Becoming a successful farmer is no easy task. That is why farm mentoring is so important. It teaches future farmers how to make a farm work and even thrive.
Farm mentoring pairs new farmers (mentees) with experienced farmers (mentors), and teaches mentees the vital skills that they need to successfully manage a farm. Mentors teach by example. They show “how it is done” and pass on information and knowledge to the next generation, everything from the growing process and disease management to when and where to sell a product for the highest profit.
The best farm mentors are experienced with a strong track record of land stewardship. They have an eye toward the future and are patient and respectful. They are eager to teach what they know but also realistic about the rewards and difficulties of modern-day farming.
Mentees are young farmers or anyone who wants to become a farmer. They are seeking hands-on learning taught by someone who knows what it really means to run a farm. They want guidance, insight and support so that they, too, can become a successful farmer.
Not everyone can successfully manage a farm. Not everyone is willing to put in the work, time and physical demands that farming requires. But for those people who are, farm mentoring is a path to success.
If you are interested in farm mentoring, then please contact us. We help keep family farms in the family.
GARY MYERS: AgriLegacy “Keeping the Farm in the Family” www.agrilegacy.com info@agrilegacy.com ∆
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