organicgrowersschool.org · web viewapplication for ogs journeyperson program december 2020- march...

Application For OGS Journeyperson ProgramDecember 2020- March 2022

The Journeyperson program is designed for beginning farmers who have been independently farming for 3 to 7 years. We acknowledge that the advanced beginner farmer has specific

support and technical assistance needs that more generalized programming does not meet. This program is designed to give tailored guidance, and support for your farm business.

This 15-month program starts in December 2020 and ends in March 2022.

Please be sure to read the OGS website here, and the following document to understand the requirements to participate. This 15 month program is a commitment. Be sure you understand the in’s and out’s.

● 4 Weekend Retreats: January and February 2021, 2022: (2 day retreats) Now Virtual.● Matched with an Experienced Mentor for one on one mentoring● CRAFT membership● Identify & connect with Regional resource providers (lenders, small business centers)● Every other month virtual cohort meetings● 15 month program

Course Fee: ● If you are unable to pay the full course fee, do not be deterred! Scholarships and payment

plans are available and we encourage you to apply. Learn more on our Tuition & Scholarships page.

.Applications deadline: November 15th, 2020

OGS Journeyperson Application Packet 2020-2022 1

Nicole Delcogliano, 04/29/20,

[email protected] draft for online application, made some changes to questions._Assigned to Sera Deva_

How to apply: Send completed application via mail to the address or email below. We prefer you apply online. You will be notified regarding acceptance or denial via email after we have

reviewed your application.Mailing Address: Organic Growers School, P.O. Box 17804 Asheville, NC 28816 Email Address: nicole @organicgrowersschool.org

Timeline Year One 2021 Year Two 2022

September-October Apply Professional developmentTechnical AssistanceMentoring

November 15th Application Deadline

Acceptance / Denial

Professional developmentTechnical AssistanceMentoring

December Virtual (or In-Person) Cohort Meet up

Farmer Retreat

January Mentor MatchFarmer Retreat

Farmer Retreat

February Farmer Retreat Final technical assistance

Professional development

March - November Mentoring, professional development, CRAFT participation, Cohort meetings, quarterly reporting to Journeyperson coordinator, Connecting with technical assistance/ providers.

Completion


Primary Applicant Contact Information

Name(s): ___________________________________________________________

Farm Name (if applicable):_______________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

City:_______________________________________ State: _______________

Zip______________

County: _____________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________

Phone: (in order of preference)

(1st choice) __________________________________Home/Work/Cell (circle one)

(2nd choice) _________________________________Home/Work/Cell (circle one)

How did you hear about the Journeyperson program?

▢ Email▢ Facebook/Social Media▢ Website▢ Print Ad▢ Radio

▢ Conference/event▢ Word of mouth▢ Poster▢ Other: _______________________________

Please list an emergency contact person & their phone number:

__________________________________________________________________

Do you have any allergies or other medical conditions that are important for us to know about?

_____________________________________________________________

Will a family or business partner attend Journeyperson with you? ▢ Yes ▢ No

**If YES, please have partner complete a Partner Application (enclosed):

Partner’s Name:

_____________________________________________________________________


(If you need more space than provided, please attach additional sheets.)

Which categories describe you? Check all that apply:

❏ Apprentice/Farmworker

❏ Aspiring Farmer

❏ Farmer

❏ Farm Beginnings® Student or Graduate

❏ Gardener/Homesteader

❏ Other: ____________________

With which category do you most identify?❏ Female ❏ Male ❏ Non-binary/third gender ❏ Prefer not to say ❏ Prefer to self-describe: ___________________

How do you describe yourself? Check all that apply:❏ American Indian/Native American/Native Alaskan ❏ Asian❏ Black/African American ❏ LatinX/Hispanic ❏ White/Caucasian ❏ Multiracial ❏ Prefer not to say ❏ Other (please specify): ____________________

What is your age?❏ 18-29❏ 30-39❏ 40-49❏ 50-59❏ 60+


Are you a veteran?❏ Yes❏ No

Our requirements are:● A minimum of three years independently farming ● A demonstrated commitment to farming in NC● Production goals of feeding their community and region● A demonstrated commitment to sustainable practices

The Journeyperson program, while open to any farm that meets the above criteria, is best suited for farms that have:

● Secure medium to long-term land tenure*( owned land or a lease of over 1 year)● A focus on livestock and/or crop production for direct to consumer and wholesale

markets● An established farm business that needs support to refine their vision, apply whole-farm

planning practices and have the time to fully utilize the resources of the program.

1. Do you currently own land where you will be/are farming? ▢ Yes ▢ No

2. Do you currently have access to land where you will be/are farming, which includes leased land, family/friend’s land, or other arrangement? ▢ Yes ▢ No

If so, do you have a lease for at least one year? ▢ Yes ▢ No

3. Indicate which best describes your intended farming involvement in 5-10 years. Check all that apply:

❏ Full-time farming only

❏ Part-time (with off farm work)

❏ Full time (with off farm work)

❏ Farm manager

❏ Farmland owner Other: __________________________

4. What are your farming short term (1-5 years) and long term (6-10 years) goals?


6. Why are you interested in the Journeyperson program?

7. What kind of knowledge and skills do you hope to achieve by participating?

8. What are your financial goals/ priorities for your farm?

9. Indicate the areas you are specifically interested in, Check all that apply:

❏ Holistic Financial Planning❏ Clarifying farm and business values,

mission and vision❏ Business management and systems

design❏ Networking with other farmers❏ Marketing

❏ Legal issues and regulations❏ Access to lending and capital❏ Advanced Enterprise development❏ Technical support and guidance

(online tools)❏ Farm Communications❏ Mentoring with another farmer

Other (please list) __________________________________________________

10. Do you have any experience working on a farm that is not your own? If so, please describe your experience, specify duration, title and duties. This includes but is not limited to, internships, apprenticeships, working on a family farm, hourly or salaried employment.


11. Briefly describe any non-ag experience or formal training that you believe will apply to starting and running a farm business (ie; management, accounting, supervising employees, market managing, chef, carpentry, physical labor, etc).

12. What do you see as your biggest obstacle in the next few years at your farm?

13. What farming enterprise(s) do you currently have? Check all that apply:

❏ Agritourism

❏ Cattle (meat)

❏ Dairy

❏ Education

❏ Flowers

❏ Fruits

❏ Forest products

❏ Goats

❏ Grains

❏ Hogs

❏ Honey

❏ Medicinal herbs

❏ Mushrooms

❏ Poultry (eggs)

❏ Poultry (meat)

❏ Sheep (meat)

❏ Sheep (fiber)

❏ Therapeutic farm

❏ Vegetables

Other (please list) ____________________________________________________

14. What other farming enterprise(s) are you considering? Check all that apply:

❏ Agritourism

❏ Cattle (meat)

❏ Dairy

❏ Education

❏ Flowers

❏ Fruits

❏ Forest products

❏ Goats

❏ Grains

❏ Hogs

❏ Honey

❏ Medicinal herbs

❏ Mushrooms

❏ Poultry (eggs)

❏ Poultry (meat)

❏ Sheep (meat)

❏ Sheep (fiber)


❏ Vegetables



14. Please share any questions, concerns or comments you have about the Journeyperson program.

15. Please list two professional references and your association with them. (Name, phone, and email only.)

Partner Applicant Contact Information:

Name(s): ___________________________________________________________

Farm Name (if applicable): _______________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

City:_______________________________________ State: ________ Zip____________

County: ______________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________

Phone: (in order of preference)

(1st choice) __________________________________Home/Work/Cell (circle one)

(2nd choice) _________________________________Home/Work/Cell (circle one)

How did you hear about Farm Beginnings®?

▢ Email▢ Facebook▢ Website▢ Print Ad▢ Radio

▢ Conference/event▢ Word of mouth▢ Poster▢ Other: _______________________________

Please list an emergency contact person & their phone number:


__________________________________________________________________

Do you have any allergies or other medical conditions that are important for us to know about?

_____________________________________________________________

Partner’s Name:

_____________________________________________________________________

Which categories describe you? Check all that apply:

❏ Apprentice/Farmworker

❏ Aspiring Farmer

❏ Farmer

❏ Farm Beginnings® Student or Graduate

❏ Gardener/Homesteader

❏ Other: ____________________

With which category do you most identify?❏ Female ❏ Male ❏ Non-binary/third gender ❏ Prefer not to say ❏ Prefer to self-describe: ___________________

How do you describe yourself? Check all that apply:❏ American Indian/Native American/Native Alaskan ❏ Asian❏ Black/African American ❏ LatinX/Hispanic ❏ White/Caucasian ❏ Multiracial ❏ Prefer not to say ❏ Other (please specify): ____________________

What is your age?


❏ 18-29❏ 30-39❏ 40-49❏ 50-59❏ 60+

Are you a veteran?❏ Yes❏ No

Requirements of the program are:● A minimum of three years independently farming ● A demonstrated commitment to farming in NC● Production goals of feeding their community and region● A demonstrated commitment to sustainable practices

The Journeyperson program, while open to any farm that meets the above criteria, is best suited for farms that have:

● Secure medium to long-term land tenure*( owned land or a lease of over 1 year)● A focus on livestock and/or crop production for direct to consumer and wholesale

markets● An established farm business that needs support to refine their vision, apply whole-farm

planning practices and have the time to fully utilize the resources of the program.

1. Do you currently own land where you will be/are farming? ▢ Yes ▢ No

2. Do you currently have access to land where you will be/are farming, which includes leased land, family/friend’s land, or other arrangement? ▢ Yes ▢ No

If so, do you have a lease for at least one year? ▢ Yes ▢ No

3.. Indicate which best describes your intended farming involvement in 5-10 years. Check all that apply:

❏ Full-time farming only

❏ Part-time (with off farm work)

❏ Full time (with off farm work)

❏ Farm manager

❏ Farmland owner Other: __________________________


4. What are your farming short term (1-5 years) and long term (6-10 years) goals?

6. Why are you interested in the Journeyperson program?

7. What kind of knowledge and skills do you hope to achieve by participating?

8. What are your financial goals/ priorities for your farm?

9. Indicate the areas you are specifically interested in, Check all that apply:

❏ Holistic Financial planning❏ Clarifying farm and business values

and mission and vision❏ Business management and systems

design❏ Networking with other farmers❏ Marketing

❏ Legal issues and regulations❏ Access to lending and capital❏ Advanced Enterprise development❏ Technical support and guidance

(online tools)❏ Farm Communications❏ Mentoring with another farmer)

Other (please list) __________________________________________________

10. Do you have any experience working on a farm that is not your own? If so, Please describe your experience, specify duration, title and duties.(This includes but is not limited to, internships, apprenticeships, working on a family farm, hourly or salaried employment.)


11. Briefly describe any non-ag experience or formal training that you believe will apply to starting and running a farm business (ie; management, accounting, supervising employees, market managing, chef, carpentry, physical labor, etc).

12. What do you see as your biggest obstacle in the next few years at your farm?

13. What farming enterprise(s) do you currently have? Check all that apply:

❏ Agritourism

❏ Cattle (meat)

❏ Dairy

❏ Education

❏ Flowers

❏ Fruits

❏ Forest products

❏ Goats

❏ Grains

❏ Hogs

❏ Honey

❏ Medicinal herbs

❏ Mushrooms

❏ Poultry (eggs)

❏ Poultry (meat)

❏ Sheep (meat)

❏ Sheep (fiber)


❏ Vegetables


14. What other farming enterprise(s) are you considering? Check all that apply:

❏ Agritourism

❏ Cattle (meat)

❏ Dairy

❏ Education

❏ Goats

❏ Grains

❏ Hogs

❏ Honey

❏ Poultry (eggs)

❏ Poultry (meat)

❏ Sheep (meat)

❏ Sheep (fiber)


❏ Flowers

❏ Fruits

❏ Forest products

❏ Medicinal herbs

❏ Mushrooms


❏ Vegetables


15. Please share any questions, concerns or comments you have about the Journeyperson program.

16. Please list two professional references and your association with them. (Name, phone, and email only.)

Application Checklist:

Be sure to review all application requirements before submitting:● Application must be received by November 15th, 2020. Please, account for mailing time.● Send completed application via mail to:

○ Organic Growers School, PO Box 17804 Asheville, NC 28816● If you are using the online application, email any questions or problems to

[email protected]● Please review the checklist below to be sure all required parts are submitted at once.

Only completed applications will be reviewed. ● You will be notified regarding course acceptance or denial via email no later than October

1st. Final deadline for all applications is November 15th.● We may contact you by phone for any follow-up questions regarding your application.● If you have applied for a scholarship through OGS as well, awardees will be notified via

[email protected] email.● Correspondence initially will be sent to “primary applicant” only

If you have any questions contact: [email protected] or 828-284-7715


Does your application packet include... YES NO

Primary Applicant

Partner Applicant (optional)

Scholarship Application (optional)

Copies of 2018 and 2019 tax returns (or most recent) for each applicant if not filed jointly. (Only required if you’re applying for a scholarship)

2 professional references for each applicant

Journeyperson Scholarship Application

Organic Growers School aims to create affordable, broadly accessible programs, while at the same time, providing fair wages to our farmer instructors and dedicated staff. Financial Aid for our programming is limited and priority is given to those with the least financial resources and strongest intentions towards raising funds through their own networks. Please consider your needs and resources carefully. We encourage you to consider a Payment Plan as your first option towards financial support. If requesting funding from OGS is necessary, we ask you to consider what would be a stretch, but not a strain, for you to invest in your education and professional development.

The guidelines that will be used to assess applicants are as follows:


● Financial need● Passion and capacity for farming● Ability and willingness to give back to program● Understanding of the value of this farmer training education

Scholarship Application

Fill out this form and return at the same time as your application. If you are applying with a farm partner and share residence and finances, both parties financial information needs to be considered and shared. Awards will be given out as requests are received. None will be accepted after November 15th, 2020:

Name(s):_______________________________________________________________

Farm Name (if applicable):___________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________

Email/ phone: ___________________________________________________________

Valuing Education

University systems are often heavily funded and subsidized institutions with vast infrastructure and highly paid faculty and staff. As a grassroots-based non-profit we are able to see and fill an educational need not currently offered through institutional education. While we run a lean organization, we do rely on income from our students to make these programs happen. Please consider this farmer training education as invaluable as you would a university or college education. Learning to thrive in a land-based life takes courage and dedication as well as support and training. Your contribution to what you’re getting helps us continue to support aspiring and emerging farmers.

1. Did you attend university or college? When? Where?

2. Do you currently owe on college loans? ▢ Yes ▢ Noa. If yes, how much is owed?

3. How did you pay for college? Check all that apply:

❏ Scholarships

❏ Loans

❏ Parents/Family

❏ Self


Other (please explain): ______________________________________________________________

4. Do you have significant savings, a family fund, or do you have family/friends willing to support you in your education endeavors?

5. Describe your current support system that allows you to explore a land-based life:

6. Do you see farmer training as crucial to your success as a farmer?

7. Are you willing to ask your family and community circles for financial support? If so, who can you imagine asking in your community?

8. Are you willing to do personal fundraising through online media or community events? You can also check out our “Personal Fundraising” tips on our Tuition & Scholarships webpage: ▢ Yes ▢ No

9. How much do you feel you’d be able to pay? ________________

Please include a statement of need with your application, limited to 1.5 pages. Keep in mind only partial scholarships are given. Your statement should address:

a. Financial need: While we will look at your tax statement, please indicate personally why you need financial support

b. Your passion and capacity for farming: This is also included in our main application, but please be as specific as possible.

c. Your ability and willingness to give back to program: In the future, by hosting farm visits, teaching classes or workshops, or volunteering at OGS events.

Please include:


1. A copy of your last 2 years in tax returns: Year 2018 and 2019 (or most recent). This information will only be reviewed by the scholarship committee and will be kept confidential.

Please send all information to:

Mail: Organic Growers School,

PO Box 17804, Asheville, NC 28816

OR

Email: Scan documents into one pdf and email to [email protected]

*Please be sure to double check that you have completed all requested information and sent tax documentation.*

Awards will be determined on a rolling basis and no later than November 15th, 2020.

THANK YOU!


organicgrowersschool.org · web viewapplication for ogs journeyperson program december 2020- march...

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