Young Agrarians is celebrating the twelfth year of the Business Mentorship Network (BMN) program in BC and the fourth year of the BMN in the Prairies! The BMN offers a year-long farm business mentorship to a diverse array of new and young farmers. Through one-on-one mentorship, peer networks, and online workshops, new farmers develop the skills necessary to operate ecologically sustainable and financially viable farm businesses.

Applications for Mentees across Canada are now open! Mentor applications are accepted year-round. Click below for more information and to apply.

Meet a mentee from the current cohort and learn about their farm and why they joined the Business Mentorship Network. Want more? Head over to our BMN Blog for more mentorship stories.

Meet Your BFFs at BFF Farm: Growing Food, Growing Community

Hi there! We’re Kim and Petar Barabas (pronouns: she/her and he/him), and we’re the farmers behind BFF Farm—your Best Farm Friends for fresh produce, eggs, chicken, and baked goods grown with love and intention. We’re grateful to be mentored by the incredible Paulette Sparks of Wild Country Gardens, whose wisdom and experience have already been an invaluable part of our journey.

Where We Farm: Honouring the Land

Our farm is nestled in the vibrant agricultural community of Westlock, Alberta, about 45 minutes north of Edmonton. We live, grow, and work on the traditional lands of Treaty 6—ancestral territory of the Cree, Nakoda Sioux, Dene, Saulteaux, and the Métis Nation. We acknowledge this with gratitude and strive every day to be respectful and responsible stewards of this land.

Why We Farm: A Love of Life and Growth

Farming is more than a job for us—it’s a way of life that makes us feel deeply alive. We both have lifelong connections to gardens and growing, no matter the size or place. Whether it’s tending vegetables, walking among trees and flowers, or caring for our chickens, dogs, and cats—our joy comes from nurturing life.

We also believe in the powerful link between soil health, food quality, and personal wellness. Through permaculture and food forest design, we’re building not only food systems but also habitats for native pollinators and other beneficial creatures.

Our Farming Roots: Lessons from Our Moms

Our biggest inspirations? Our moms.
Kim grew up on a farm with chickens, cattle, and a massive garden. Her mother sold cream to the local creamery and involved Kim in every aspect of the farm life. Petar is originally from Serbia, where city gardens and backyard poultry are the norm. Both of our moms roped us into gardening and animal care early on (sometimes by gentle force!), and their hands-on lessons stuck with us—even if we didn’t realize how much we were learning at the time.

Business Structure & Land Use

BFF Farm operates as a corporation, a decision we made to allow room for future diversification and growth. While we currently grow vegetables and raise chickens, we know that won’t be financially sustainable long-term, and a corporate structure gives us flexibility to evolve.

Our farm sits on 5 acres of owned land, which has given us a critical foundation. Right now, we’re producing on about one acre, including:

• ⅓ acre of garden space with two greenhouses
• ⅓ acre for chicken tractors and pasture rotation
• ⅓ acre being prepped for upcoming growing seasons

In addition, our 1.3-acre food forest is slowly taking shape. It’s designed as a place not just to grow food, but to walk, explore, and connect with nature—a space where bees buzz, fruit ripens, and community can gather.

Financing Our Farm (So Far)

Up to this point, we haven’t taken on any loans or major financing. We use our credit cards (paid off monthly!) and have leaned on a few gifts of equipment. However, as we expand, the need for infrastructure—especially water systems—is becoming more urgent. We’re exploring our options but also value staying debt-free as much as possible. We’re learning as we go and appreciate any resources that help us navigate funding wisely.

Farming for the Future: Ecological Practices

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our practices include:

• Low- to no-till gardening to protect soil life
• Heavy mulching and wood chip pathways for water retention
• Permaculture design to support biodiversity and avoid monocultures
• Composting with chicken manure, Loop donations, and food scraps

We also bring in supplemental compost from a local provider if needed. As Kim says:

“We endeavour to do better every day.” – Kim Barabas, 2016

Learning and Growing: Where We Find Knowledge

We’re always learning. Kim completed her Master Gardener certification through Gaia College, and we’re full-blown YouTube junkies. Our nightly playlist includes:

• Stefan Sobkowiak
• Gardening in Canada
• No-Till Growers
• Self Sufficient Me

We also draw inspiration from books like:

• The Market Gardener by Jean-Martin Fortier
• The Lean Farm by Ben Hartman
• The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm by Daniel Mays

And of course, podcasts from the same thought leaders keep us motivated and informed.

Why We Joined the Young Agrarians Business Mentorship Program

After a few challenging years—drought, weather, accidents, and time constraints—we realized we needed structure, resources, and outside perspective to help us thrive. We knew we could grow food, but not efficiently. We could sell, but not at scale. We could keep records, but not in the most effective way.

Thanks to the program, we’ve already made meaningful changes: we’ve refined our practices, let go of what wasn’t serving us, and gained insights that will carry us forward. A huge thank you to Tori at YA and the entire team, and especially to Paulette, who has answered even our most “off-the-wall” questions with patience, honesty, and grace.

And to the other mentees—thank you for being brave, asking hard questions, and making us feel like we’re not alone in this journey.

Our Biggest Challenges Right Now

There’s no sugar-coating it—farming is tough.
One of our greatest challenges is doing everything with limited hands and time. Between us, we wear nearly every hat: business owner, marketer, social media manager, sales rep, grower, weeder, waterer… and don’t forget—we’re parents too.

We also face water quality issues due to high salinity, and we lack proper water capture infrastructure. The YA program has helped us identify options and resources, but there’s still much to do.

Farm Business Tools We Can’t Live Without

The YA Business Skills modules have been game-changing. Three of the most valuable for us so far are:

• Best Practices in Farm Financial Record Keeping
• Risk Management & Farm Insurance
• Creating a Marketing Strategy for Farmers

Each module has helped us build confidence and structure into the business side of our farm.

What’s Next for BFF Farm

We’re working on improving our watering system, finishing our website, and continuing to grow our food forest as a space for people and pollinators alike. We’re looking forward to connecting more with our community, building resilience, and offering nourishing food to those around us.

Stay tuned—our best is yet to come.

Let’s Stay Connected!

You can follow our journey and farm updates at:
📍 Facebook & Instagram: @bff.farm.family
🌐 Website: Coming soon (just like our improved irrigation!)

Final Thanks

To Young Agrarians, Paulette Sparks, and everyone in this program—thank you. Your support has empowered us to think bigger, farm smarter, and connect deeper with both our land and our community.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Kim & Petar Barabas
BFF Farm – Your Best Farm Friends

Feeling inspired and ready to dig into your business with a mentor? Mentee applications are open from October 1st-31st, 2025. Mentor applications are open year-round.