Central Oregon Alliance Looks To Help The Next Generation Of Farmers

As the farming world evolves and changes, a new mentorship program looks to address the changing face of Oregon’s Ag community. Bend-based High Desert Food and Farm Alliance recently launched the “Growing Together” program last month. HDFFA’s Annie Nichols said they are helping the increasing number of growers who weren’t raised on a farm.

“I think we’re seeing a shift in agriculture as a lot of new producers are getting into this field. They’re interested in growing food and nourishing their communities, they’re interested in stewarding the land, but they don’t have that generational knowledge."

Nichols said mentorship is not just about handing down book knowledge and understand of agriculture, but also the emotional component as well. She said when growers understand those two components, it increases their chance of success.

"Making the connections, so they can ask, ‘what do I do when I’m getting rot on my potatoes?’ or ‘how did you get into the Bend Farmers Market?’ It’s not even just production but understanding some of those things that many of these farmers have had to figure out themselves.”

So far, Nichols says three farms, one in Antelope, Alfalfa and Tumalo , are mentoring two farms in Sisters and a third east of Bend. This program is assisted by a USDA grant, to ensure the mentee farm does not pay for the education and assistance.

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