Young Agrarians is celebrating the tenth year of the Business Mentorship Network (BMN) program in BC and the second year of the program in the Prairies! If you are a new farmer or the next generation to take on your family farm and need support to figure out the business aspects of your farm consider applying for the 2024/2025 cohort. The BMN offers business mentorships to a diverse array of new and young farmers/ranchers/producers. 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.
Apply for the 2024/2025 program here – applications processed in October .
Check out the Business Mentorship Network page for more information!
Over the next few weeks we will introduce you to each of the new farmers in the 2024 cohort to hear about the arc of their farming journey, what their hopes are for the season ahead and what inspired them to reach out for business mentorship. To access more of these stories head over to our blog here.
Young Agrarians acknowledges funding support provided by the Government of Canada through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). In Alberta, the Business Mentorship Network is funded in part by the Government of Alberta.
Meet a Mentee: Hilltop Dairy Ltd.
Hello, we are Adam Forster, Katie Forster and David Van Hierden. Our mentor is Sean Smith of Clanman Jerseys.
Where do you farm?
We farm at Hilltop Dairy located in Fort Macleod, Alberta.
What inspired you to get into farming?
We grew up on the dairy and the love of being on the land and smelling the fresh hay and produce has created a desire for us to return or stay on the farm.
How did you learn how to farm?
Hands-on experience from our parents has been our biggest learning opportunity, they were taught from their parents, as well, and the traditions keep on expanding and growing. We have also learned by trial and error as farming is an ongoing learning process. There are many online learning tools as well and great mentors to connect with.
What informational resources do you use on a regular basis or have you used in the past to operate your farm business?
Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbours, Real Ag Radio Podcast, Acres, Alberta Milk, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Farm Credit Canada, MNP.
What type of business structure is your farm?
Hilltop Dairy Ltd. is a corporation.
How much land is under production on your farm and what do you produce?
Approximately 3000 acres are under production, and we produce wheat, barley, canola, grass hay and alfalfa.
What kind of land agreement do you have? Are there special relationships that enabled this?
We own and rent.
Did you access any financing to buy land or start your farm business? Please share your start up / financing story…
AFSC and FCC (Farm Credit Canada) both were very supportive of helping finance land.
What is the greatest business challenge you face as a new farmer?
What are your primary business goals for the season?
What business tools could you not live without?
