SRJC Launches New Program for Beginning Farmers, Ranchers

If you've ever dreamt of becoming a farmer or rancher in Sonoma County, you may want to take a look at this.

Starting March 30, Santa Rosa Junior College is launchng a new intensive training program for beginning farmers and ranchers that focuses on how to launch a successful business. 

Classes will be held once a month at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Shone Farm in Forestville and give students nine months of detailed business training. By the end of the program, participants will have created their own comprehensive business plan and be matched with “master” farmers and ranchers, who will serve as mentors. They will also learn about leasing land to start their ranch or farm.

During each session, students will be immersed in hands-on work at Shone Farm and will have classroom instruction from business, finance and agriculture experts. Among those scheduled to participate are SRJC agriculture instructor Laura Mendes and SRJC Small Business Development Center consultant Paul Bozzo.

This unusual program is a collaboration between SRJC and University of California Cooperative Extension, and funded by a USDA grant. Other partners include the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, California Farmlink, Latino Service Providers, Redwood Empire Food Bank and the county of Sonoma.

The cost of the nine-month program is $450, and there are limited scholarships available. The application deadline is March 5, with classes beginning March 30.

For more information and a program application, visit: tinyurl.com/BFRTrainingEnglish, or contact coordinator Linda Peterson at 707-565-2648 or ljpeterson@ucdavis.edu.