Journey Person Program Relaunches in 2019
September 13, 2019
CT NOFA Invites Beginning Farmers and Land Care Professionals to Apply for the Journeyperson Program. Applications Due on October 15th. APPLY HERE
The Journeyperson Program strives to provide committed beginning farmers and land care professionals with the opportunity to learn skills and gain the experience they will need to succeed as farmers and business owners.
The Journeyperson program strives to support land stewards in the education gap between apprentice and independent business owner and to provide resources and opportunities for prospective new farmers/land care professionals who have completed an apprenticeship to further develop skills they need to operate independently. The program is shaped by the interests and goals of individual participants. New land stewards are able to gain advanced experience, skills, and perspective in a supportive environment while also becoming part of a sustainable professional network.
Each Journeyperson, once selected, is matched with a mentor. These arrangements are flexible and are shaped collaboratively by the journeyperson and the mentor. Some mentors also offer access to land, equipment, and support so a journeyperson can operate independently.
Additional resources/requirements for journey people include:
- attendance at an Organic Land Care accreditation course (full scholarship included)
- educational/capital stipends up to $2,000
- attendance at 2 NOFA Winter Conferences – CT and one other (full scholarship included)
- if applicable, organic certification assistance (4 hours of consulting with a USDA inspector)
- completing a full business plan
- attending regular mentor meetings
- check-ins with CT NOFA staff about progress
Timeline for 2019-2020 program:
Sept 13, 2019: Application open
October 15, 2019: Application closed
October 25, 2019: Decisions published
November 11-15, 2019: OLC Course Attendance
March 7, 2020: CT Winter Conference Attendance
Spring 2020: Entrance interview and mentorship pairing
Spring/Summer/Fall:
- Mentor meetings
- NOFA check-ins
- Stipend disbursements
November 1, 2020:
- Full business plan submitted
- Exit interview
Learn more here
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Advocacy News: May 2026
The Good News: CT Senator Chris Murphy has introduced a bill (bipartisan and bicameral) to increase funding for Agricultural Management Assistance to $30 million and to expand the eligible uses for these funds to include “soil health improvements, composting, implementing organic farming, and food safety certification in addition to existing authorized uses such as water management structure and soil erosion control.” Let’s thank Senator Murphy for introducing this bill!
The Bad News: The Farm Bill passed the House of Representatives on April 30, despite 320 food, farm, and conservation organizations, including CT NOFA, voicing our opposition to a bill that does not fix SNAP, does not support new and beginning farmers, and does not adequately support conservation programs or organic agriculture. Now it goes to the Senate and we need to urge both of Connecticut’s Senators to reject this Farm Bill.