Beginner Farmer Mentorship Program

About

Applications open!

The Beginner Farmer Program Mentorship Cohort is a farmer-to-farmer mentorship opportunity supported by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC). The program focuses on individual learning opportunities through mentor-mentee interactions on the phone, via zoom, and in person on the farm. The mentee’s farm business goals are the foundation for the mentorship, and the mentee and mentor will work together to determine where the mentor’s knowledge and skills will be most helpful for the mentee’s learning process. Outside of the mentor-mentee interactions, mentees will be expected to participate in a certain number of workshops and farmer networking events hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County. Mentees will work alongside other participants in the Mentorship Cohort and learn as a community with the other mentees. Mentees and mentors will be matched with the help of CCESC staff. If you are a couple/pair, you can apply as 1 mentee together and you will share the $10,000 stipend.

Mentors and mentees will work with CCESC staff throughout the 12-month commitment to ensure both mentors and mentees are benefiting from the mentorship program. Check back in January 2027 for a Veteran Farmer Mentoring Cohort.

Cohort Size

20 mentees per year

Fee

This is a free opportunity for accepted applicants.

Compensation

Mentees will receive a $10,000 stipend for the 12-month commitment, the stipend will be separated into 6  installments. Click Here for the Mentee Stipend Distribution Document. Mentees must meet the requirements of the mentorship program as outlined in their agreement to receive the stipends.

Who this program is for

The Mentorship Cohort Program is for individuals who are ready to take the next step toward starting and/or establishing their farm business in the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region. Our program prioritizes individuals located in the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region within the counties of Sullivan, Orange, Ulster and Dutchess, with preference given to Sullivan County applicants. Applicants must have access to land (own, rent or lease) and have a minimum of 2 years of farming experience. Applicants can be either start-up or an existing farm operation. 

Learning Objectives

Develop a foundational understanding of the components involved in building a farm business.

• Understand journey from farm worker to farm ownership.
• Holistic visioning and goal setting
• Strategic business planning
• Marketing and branding
• Legal regulations and consideration
• Sales operations and logistic
• Financial planning
• Land access
• Capital and resource access.
• Agricultural Production
• Farm Food Safety

Program Expectations

• Mentorship Time Frame: December 2026 – December 2027
• There will be a program kick off on Monday, December 14^th with a snow date of Wednesday, December 16^th.
• Mentees will have a set of goals for the mentorship.
• Mentees should be prepared to attend 4 mentee check-in meetings with CCESC staff. This is approximately a 1–2-hour commitment.
• Mentees commit to 1 monthly farm visits, and/or calls with their mentor, dependent on weather. This visit should alternate between the mentor's and mentee's farm. The mentor-mentee learning and mentoring schedule will be developed with your mentor at the start of the program.
• Mentees will commit to 4-5 hours per month of interactions, communication, and visits with their mentor.
• Mentees will be open to the learning opportunities provided through the mentorship.
• Mentees will commit to attending 15 hours of workshops that are relevant to their goals, through CCESC or other organizations.
• Mentees will commit to attending 4 Mentorship Cohort Meetups and 6 Farmer Mixers hosted by CCESC.
• Mentees will receive their $10,000 stipend in 6 installments throughout the 12-month period.
• Mentees will commit to attending the 2027 Farm Business Training Series.
• Mentees will commit to Farm Food Safety Training.
• Mentees must be meet the expectations of the program each quarter to receive the stipend installments.

CLICK HERE   FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS and the anticipated schedule.

Eligibility

• You have a clear idea of the type of farm business you want to start.
• You have been operating your farm business for at least one year.
• You have secure land access through ownership, renting, leasing, or a land agreement.
• You have a sense of short-term and long-term goals for your farm business.
• You want to start a farm business in the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region.
• Priority will be given to applicants located in Sullivan County, however the application is open to individuals in the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region (Orange, Ulster and Delaware), as well as counties adjoining Sullivan County in PA (Wayne & Pike Counties) [PA inclusion added 10.20.26]

Enterprises we are able to support through this program:

• Food, herbs, and flowers
• Land-based by-products (honey, maple syrup, cheese, etc.)
• Non-food by-products (fibers)
• Hydroponics/aquaponics
• Livestock operations

Enterprises we are not able to support through this program:

• Cannabis farms.
• Equine farms.
• Farms focused primarily on education as opposed to production.
• Farms who already participated in one of the previous cohorts. 

Application Selection Criteria:

The follow variables will be the main determining factors in application evaluation:

• Regional relevancy (location in Sullivan County or the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region)
• Participation commitment and availability
• Clarity about business direction and goals.
• Eligibility of enterprise
• Openness to learning.

Application Review:

Applications will be reviewed by the Beginner Farmer Program Advisory Committee; applications will be made anonymous for the review. Following the review from the Advisory Committee members, three CCESC staff members will make the final decision based on the reviews. 

Application Timeline

• October 6, 2026: Applications open.
• November 3, 2026: Application closes.
• November 17, 2026: Notification of acceptance.
• December 1, 2026: Offer acceptance due with required paperwork.
• December 14, 2026: Mentorship begins.

How to Apply:

Applications open October 6th.

2027 Mentorship Program Application

The 2027 Mentorship Program must be filled out online through this link. We will not accept paper applications. 

Please check back in the Fall of 2026 to find out more about the upcoming 2027 Cohort.

If you have questions you may contact Mila McKinnon at 845-292-6180 x 101 or  email beginnerfarmer@cornell.edu. 

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number #2022-06508

Last updated October 22, 2026