California FarmLink Linking Program Technical Assistance and Training Revolving Loan Fund Individual Development Accounts Mission: To build family farming.

California FarmLink

Linking Program

Technical Assistance and Training

Individual Development AccountsRevolving Loan Fund

Mission: To build family farming and conserve farmland in California by linking aspiring and retiring farmers;

and promoting techniques and disseminating information that facilitate

intergenerational farm transitions

Priorities

• Starts Fast

• Starts Challenging

• Start Later

• Training• Clearinghouse• Linking• T.A.• Equity Building • Advocacy

Who Cares About What?

• Links• Training• T.A.• Clearinghouse• Equity Building• Advocacy

• Foundations• Banks, Gov’t., Fdn.• Banks, Gov’t.• Gov’t.• Banks• Foundations

Workshops

• Business Planning/Farm Financing

• Lunch for Networking• Succession Planning• Identifies Clients • Builds Relationships• Publicizes Programs and

Services

Results: Objective 1 Training

Goal: 60 Attendees at 3 trainings on succession planning, leasing, retirement

Achieved: 4 major trainings,

99 participants

two module on diversity in farm succession plus 2 minor

trainings

152 Attendees

Objective 3: Individual Technical Assistance

Goal: Provide individual t.a. to minimize financial risks related to business, retirement and succession planning techniques designed to help farmers and ranchers maintain specialty crop farms in production. Facilitate the adoption of farm transition techniques.

Serve 40 individuals

Achieved: 127 first-time recipients,

313 sessions

110 women (35%)

59 minority farmers (19%)

Partnerships

Ag Community

Grassroots

Professionals

(accountants, attorneys)

Microenterprise Community

Conservation Community

Non-profit Community

Roles for Partners

• Credibility• Funds• Piggy Back Trainings/Conferences• Publicity

– Farm Credit Mailing List– Farm Bureau Newsletters

• Telling You What to Do– Policy– Micromanaging

Partners KISS

• Draft letters of support

• Minimal Commitments

• Board

• Don’t make them drive

Banks

• Market/PR/Community Relations$250-$5,000 per event

• Community Reinvestment for 501 (c) (3) or direct to client

$10,000 - $50,000 per year

You can’t name a bank that won’t give $1,000 to sponsor an Ag Link seminar!

Undercapitalized

• Don’t do more 10 workshops – then 3

• $1,500 from land grant, questionable investment of time

• Bigger grants

Free Resources

VISTA, PSA’s, Interns, Web-site

Contact Information:

California FarmLink

Phone: (707) 829-1691

Email: [email protected]

www.californiafarmlink.org