*We will accept mentee applications until our grant funds are exhausted for this project, but suggest that mentees submit their application before February 3rd, 2023, so as to take advantage of a year-long mentorship.
Our mentorship is open now. As soon as you fill out the application and are approved by our Food Systems team at West Central Missouri Community Action Agency, we will connect you with mentors.
We are looking for farmers that want to adopt climate smart farm practices and would like one-on-one assistance from an experienced farmer. Particularly, we are looking for underserved, veteran, or beginning farmers who are looking for farm mentorship in sustainable practices in the Kansas City Region.
This project is funded through a cooperative agreement with the USDA's NRCS. Through this project we hope to connect farmers to USDA resources, offer technical assistance and provide three workshops throughout the year focused on Climate Smart Agriculture practices. This mentorship program is a 12–14-month program that is expected to run from January 2023- February 1st, 2024. You will be allotted up to 25 hours of free mentorship if you are accepted into the program. You will have a comprehensive list of farmers mentors to choose from and spend your time with. Priority is given to farmers who are socially disadvantaged or underserved according to the USDA: Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher - Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Definition (usda.gov)