Mentorship Program
About
The Beginner Farmer Program Mentorship Cohort is a farmer-to-farmer mentorship opportunity supported by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC). The program focuses on individual learning opportunities through mentor-mentee interactions on the phone, via zoom, and in person on the farm. The mentee’s farm business goals are the foundation for the mentorship, and the mentee and mentor will work together to determine where the mentor’s knowledge and skills will be most helpful for the mentee’s learning process. Outside of the mentor-mentee interactions, mentees will be expected to participate in a certain number of workshops and farmer networking events hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County. Mentees will work alongside other participants in the Mentorship Cohort and learn as a community with the other mentees. Mentees and mentors will be matched with the help of CCESC staff. If you are a couple/pair, you can apply as 1 mentee together and you will share the $10,000 stipend.
Mentors and mentees will work with CCESC staff throughout the 12-month commitment to ensure both mentors and mentees are benefiting from the mentorship program.
Cohort Size
10 mentees per year
Fee
This is a free opportunity for accepted applicants.
Compensation
Mentees will receive a $10,000 stipend for the 12-month commitment, the stipend will be separated into 6 installments. The stipend check submission schedule: $500 on February 28th, $2,000 on March 30th, $2,500 on June 30th, $2,500 on September 30th, $1,500 on December 30th, and $1,00 at the end of the mentorship. Mentees must meet the requirements of the mentorship program as outlined in their agreement to receive the stipends.
Who this program is for
The Mentorship Cohort Program is for individuals who are ready to take the next step toward starting and/or establishing their farm business in the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region. We do not require a certain number of years farming; we understand that the number of years farming does not always translate to agricultural knowledge depth nor commitment to starting a farm business. Our program prioritizes serving historically underserved individuals and communities in agriculture, with a priority for individuals located in the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region.
Learning Objectives
Develop a foundational understanding of the components involved in building a farm business.
- Understand journey from farm worker to farm ownership.
- Holistic visioning and goal setting
- Strategic business planning
- Marketing and branding
- Legal regulations and consideration
- Sales operations and logistic
- Financial planning
- Land access
- Capital and resource access.
- Agricultural Production
- Farm Food Safety
Program Expectations
- Mentees will have a set of goals for the mentorship.
- Mentees should be prepared to attend 4 mentee check-in meetings with CCESC staff. This is approximately a 1–3-hour commitment.
- Mentees commit to 1 monthly farm visit with their mentor. This visit should alternate between the mentor's and mentee's farm.
- Mentees will commit to 4-5 hours per month of interactions, communication, and visits with their mentor.
- Mentees will be open to the learning opportunities provided through the mentorship.
- Mentees will commit to attending 1 workshop per month that is relevant to their goals, through CCESC or other organizations.
- Mentees will commit to attending 4 Mentorship Cohort Meetups and 6 Farmer Mixers hosted by CCESC.
- Mentees will receive their $10,000 stipend in 6 installments throughout the 12-month period.
- Mentees will commit to attending the 2025 Farm Business Training Series.
- Mentees must be meet the expectations of the program each quarter to receive the stipend installments.
Eligibility
- You have a clear idea of the type of farm business you want to start.
- You have been operating your farm business for at least one year.
- You have secure land access through ownership, renting, leasing, or a land agreement.
- You have a sense of short-term and long-term goals for your farm business.
- You want to start a farm business in the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region.
- Priority will be given to applicants located in Sullivan County, the application is open to individuals in the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region (Delaware, Columbia, Greene, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Westchester, Putnam).
Enterprises we are able to support through this program:
- Food, herbs, and flowers
- Land-based by-products (honey, maple syrup, cheese, etc.)
- Non-food by-products (fibers)
- Hydroponics/aquaponics
- Livestock operations
Enterprises we are not able to support through this program:
- Cannabis farms.
- Equine farms.
- Farms focused primarily on education as opposed to production.
Application Selection Criteria:
The follow variables will be the main determining factors in application evaluation:
- Regional relevancy (location in Sullivan County or the Catskills Mid-Hudson Region)
- Participation commitment and availability
- Clarity about business direction and goals.
- Eligibility of enterprise
- Openness to learning.
Application Review:
Applications will be reviewed by the Beginner Farmer Program Advisory Committee; applications will be made anonymous for the review. Following the review from the Advisory Committee members, three CCESC staff members will make the final decision based on the reviews.
How to Apply:
Please check back in the Fall of 2026 to find out more about the upcoming 2027 Cohort.
If you have questions you may contact email beginnerfarmer@cornell.edu.
Last updated May 5, 2026
