Welcome to the Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition
Starting a farm is difficult, and succeeding beyond the first few years may be even more so. Beginning farmers and ranchers nation-wide face unique challenges to achieve their farm goals and aspirations. The long-term goal of the Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition (VBFRC) is to improve opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations and communities in Virginia. To reach our goal, we support the development and enhancement of whole farm planning curriculum and training, online resources, social networking, and farmer mentoring. Unique to the VBFRC is its coalition of agricultural organizations and farm business that work together to develop and implement these aims.
Welcome to the Coalition: Allegheny Mountain Institute (AMI)
Allegheny Mountain Institute (AMI) is a 501(c) 3 educational non-profit organization with the mission to cultivate healthy communities through food and education. The vision of AMI is a thriving network of collaborative, vibrant communities who value the connection between food and health. Since 2011, AMI has trained its Fellows to become leaders that go forth and improve local food systems by increasing food access and teaching nutrition and farming. AMI seeks to build community, and ensure that every member in that community has access to fresh, healthy food that enables them to take charge of their health and improve their quality of life. For more information, visit the AMI website at: alleghenymountaininstitute.org/
Farmer Conversation Videos
During the spring and summer of 2015, members of the VBFRC interviewed the owners of five farms across Virginia to ask about their experiences and enterprises. Each farmer discussed how they got started in farming, their primary products and markets, labor practices, and a variety of other topics related to their farms. These conversations were recorded for the purpose of creating videos that will help beginning and established farmers and ranchers in Virginia learn more about other Virginia farmers while gaining valuable information about how different farms are operated. To view these videos, visit our YouTube channel.
Advisory Group Election
The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition held an election July 2019 to add new members to the VBFRC advisory group. The advisory group consists of committed individuals from the Coalition who represent both farmer and service provider perspectives in Virginia. This elected advisory group is responsible for providing input to guide program activity to best address the expressed needs of the Coalition. Visit Coalition to view our current advisory group!
Coalition Media Releases
- Virginia Tech Reinvigorates the Aging Farming Population (Exercpt in the Virginia Tech 2014 Annual Report)
- Just the Beginning - A feature in the Virginia Tech Magazine (Fall 2014)
- Farm bill helps new farmers grow roots
- Virginia Tech helps cultivate new farmers
- Virginia's Farm Link (video)
- VDACS Commissioner Matt Lohr talks about turning a childhood fascination into a career
- Virginia Tech News Release
Newsletters
The Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition is a state-wide and coalition-based Extension program, housed in Virginia Tech’s Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education. Funding was sponsored by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Award #2017-70011-26861, and the Southern Risk Management Education Center Grant #545015. For more information about the program or funding, contact Kim Niewolny, Program Director and Extension Specialist, at niewolny@vt.edu or 540-231-5784.
For website updates, such as broken links, please contact Allyssa Mark, Program Associate.
Blacksburg Downtown Farmers Market
