Farming for the Future
Coordinator: Andrew Collins-Anderson (he/him)
Farming for the Future Working Group
This collaborative group of over 200 listserv members and dozens of active participants works to improve the collective effectiveness and impact of OCFSN member organizations working on a range of challenges faced by Oregon’s farmers and ranchers. This is done through collaborative project support, relationship building, coordinated communication and action, and focused project implementation.
View this document to learn how the working group is structured and see below for how to join a Farming for the Future subgroup.
The first step in engaging with the Farming for the Future Working Group is to join our Google Group by emailing farmingforthefuture+subscribe@ocfsn.org. This list is used by OCFSN staff and members from across Oregon to share program updates, event/meeting reminders and resources with other small farm service providers.
Below are details on our subgroups
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Beginning Farmer & Rancher Subgroup
Members of the Beginning Farmer & Rancher subgroup collaborate to coordinate existing services for Oregon’s beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs) at all stages of development, between years 0 and 10 years of agricultural production. The primary focus of this working group is to support BFRs through education and training programs, access to capital, and access to other available resources and services.
Meets quarterly on the 3rd Thursday of the the month at 10am - February, May, August, November
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Land Access, Connection, & Succession Technical Assistance Subgroup
This collaborative group concluded a Land Connection Technical Assistance pilot project for a couple of farmers in late 2020 after members spent a year providing assistance on all aspects of farmland transition. The group now has an active and collaborative BFRDP grant for the Transitioning Oregon’s Farmland project
The project team meets monthly, the advisory council quarterly, and informational meetings/presentations on an ad hoc basis.
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Farm Viability Subgroup
This group focuses on farm viability looking at ways to support farm business vitality.
Working with other subgroups, the goal is that there is a growing pipeline of beginning farmers and ranchers can access land to start and grow new farm businesses.
Meets monthly on the third Wednesday from 11am - 12pm
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Climate Resilience & Stewardship Subgroup
This subgroup works to integrate climate resilience into OCFSN member’s food system projects and policy advocacy, and build collective power to improve climate resilience for Oregons small and underserved producers. In 2023 we launched the Farmer & Rancher Disaster Resilience Grant Program delivering $2.65 million to small farmers in Oregon for disaster resilience projects.
https://ocfsn.org/disaster-resilience-grant
Grant team and advisory meetings are ongoing.
2023 Working Group Convening
Farming for the Future Working Group members from across the state came together in Salem to build connections and expand collaborative programming benefiting the diverse underserved farmers across Oregon. We learned from and challenged each other to think creatively on how to expand our impact and discussed how to meet the needs of Oregon's farmers and ranchers.
The facilitated breakouts were organized around our four subgroups. Discussions included: holding future meetings on tricky topics around climate and agriculture; creating an easy to use resource directory for farmers and ranchers looking for access to capital; creating farm business training that meet the challenges farmers face; and learning from organizations that have already built successful collaborative projects.
Join a subgroup to engage with this work! We are here to support you deepen your impact.
Click the image above to view the Story Map.
Beginner Farmer and Rancher
Story Map & Brochure
Our Story Map shares a glimpse of the programs and resources currently working to support Beginner Farmers and Ranchers (BFRs) across Oregon. Our brochure provides a printable list of BFR service providers.