KC F.A.R.M.E.R.S. Coalition

 

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, BFRDP project # 2023-49400-40896

“KC F.A.R.M.E.R.S. (Kansas City Farmers and Ranchers for Mentoring, Education, and Resource Sharing) Coalition" is a project of KC Farm School at Gibbs Road and Kansas City Black Urban Growers Inc. (KC BUGs), and was developed to provide farmer-led, hands-on education for beginning farmers and ranchers across the Kansas City region and to preserve farmland for future generations.

One-third of our nation’s farmers are 65 years old or older. Many farmers nearing retirement do not have a successor to continue their work. At the same time, we are at an opportune moment, with nearly one-quarter of all farmers being beginning farmers. By bringing these two groups together through farmer-led skills training, business education, and farm transition facilitation, the KC F.A.R.M.E.R.S coalition will work to attract and support the next generation of farmers and ensure the continuity of farming and its vital contributions to society, as well as the preservation of farmland.

This coalition includes beginning farmers and ranchers, business and training partners, as well as experienced farmers and ranchers. They will work together collaboratively, using the principles of collective impact, to address community-identified needs. The coalition will develop business and leadership capacity by sharing resources, creating mentorship opportunities, and hosting hands-on business training and community rebuilding activities.

Supporting new and beginning farmers has multiple benefits. Farming is crucial for food security, economic development, rural growth, and urban connection to the land. Sustainable farming practices play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Additionally, farming is deeply rooted in cultural heritage, maintaining traditional knowledge and community identity.

The KC F.A.R.M.E.R.S coalition aims to support beginning farmers and ranchers in the Kansas City area. We will achieve this by combining collective impact, providing extensive mentorship and financial support to farmers and ranchers, and rooting all coalition activities in community rebuilding practices. Our goal is to help new farmers and ranchers start and sustain their farming endeavors while preserving the farmland crucial to food production.

 
 

Become A Coalition Member

The KC F.A.R.M.E.R.S. Coalition is dedicated to supporting and expanding our local agricultural community. Whether you are an experienced farmer or rancher, an aspiring grower, or simply passionate about local food production, our coalition is designed to help you grow and provide mutual support for success. By joining us, you will be part of a dynamic network built on collaboration, support, and innovation.

Several benefits are available to coalition members, including financial resources, educational training, mentorship, technical and business assistance, and community support, among others.

 

Upcoming Coalition Events

Coalition Member Benefits & Resources

 

Member Stipends

Quarterly Member Stipends

Did you know it pays to be an active Coalition member?! You can get paid for any one of these tracked activities:

  • Attending an in-person or virtual work-and-learn or training event

  • Watching a recorded webinar and then filling out a post-watch form

  • Attending an Action Team meeting and/or completing action team work

  • Filling out our biannual Coalition feedback survey ($50)

Quarterly stipend amounts are calculated for each member based on tracked attendance and action team work:

  • 2 events/work get $100

  • 4 events/work get $250

  • 7 events/work get $500

We'll contact eligible Coalition members about stipend disbursement quarterly:

Program Year 2024-2025

  • Q4: June 1 - August 31

Program Year 2025-2026

  • Q1: September 1 - November 31

  • Q2: December 1 - February 28

  • Q3: March 1 - May 31

  • Q4: June 1 - August 31

To get paid you will need to check in at events & meetings and/or log your activity on a regular basis using the Attendance & Activity Tracker Google Form. Stipend checks will be mailed to the address on your membership registration form on the 14th of the following month after the quarter ends.

Action Teams

Action Teams are the way we are going to move the work of the Coalition forward, both now and into the future after our grant funding is gone. We currently have 6 Coalition action teams. You can learn about what they are and what they are working on here.

Any Coalition member can join an action team, AND we are looking for committed coalition members who would like to lead each one our six action teams.

Before applying, please be sure to read through the Action Team Leader Job Description for details about our six different actions teams and their focuses and work, as well as the responsibilities and benefits of an Action Team Lead.

Please note, this position is grant-funded through September 2026.

>>> JOIN AN ACTION TEAM

>>> APPLY TO BE AN ACTION TEAM LEADER

Hands-On Work & Learn Events

Each of our work-and-learn sessions has a hands-on component so that everyone participating can have tactile learning experiences while sometimes helping out at the host farm. This approach helps to create muscle memory and builds community.

Workshop topics and host locations vary and are based on the needs we’ve identified from coalition members.

These events are FREE, and we generally try to provide a community meal for attendees from a local food entrepreneur or business. Attendees are responsible for transportation to and from the event, other meals, and additional equipment or supplies based on event details.

>>> SEE UPCOMING COALITION EVENTS

Our programming is based on member-identified needs and interests. So, tell us what you'd like to learn, or better yet, help us plan our next workshop or event! We are excited to hear your ideas for workshops, volunteer or work-and-learn events.

>>> PROPOSE A WORKSHOP OR EVENT

Business Resource Funding

Need something to help you start or grow your business? We can help!

Coalition members can request funding from our annual resource pool for business services or start-up equipment/supplies related to start or scaling a farming or ranching business. We have two tiers of funding based on member engagement with the following criteria

  • Coalition Mini Grant ($500 - $5,000)

    • Must be a member of the coalition who has engaged in at least 3 coalition activities since the program beginning (September 2023), and one 1 activity within the current program year

    • Can apply once per program year

  • Coalition Project Sponsorship ($500 - $1,500)

    • Must be a member of the coalition, who has or will engage in at least 1 coalition activity within the current program year.

    • Can apply once per program year

Our Governance & Resource Development Action Team will evaluate requests quarterly and make funding decisions as a group based on available resources, number of requests, and other evaluation rubric criteria. We will provide a funding decisions within a month after the quarterly deadline. Some requests may require follow-up and additional review based on the type of request or amount requested.

If approved, members will receive a check up front for the full funding amount. All approved grants and sponsorships must submit a follow-up report with receipts matching their application’s project summary within four months of award or they will not eligible for future funding.

Here are details about the quarterly funding cycles with deadlines and awarding timeline.

Program Year 2024-2025

  • Q4 (June 23 - August 29)

    • August 29 Application Deadline

    • Award Communication & Checks Written by September 14

Program Year 2025-2026

  • Q1 (August 30 - November 20)

    • November 20 Application Deadline

    • Award Communication & Checks Written by December 14

  • Q2 (November 21 - February 19

    • February 19 Application Deadelin

    • Award Communication & Checks Written by March 14

  • Q3 (Feb 20 -

    • May 21 Application Deadelin

    • Award Communication & Checks Written by June 14

  • Q4 (May 22 - Aug 20)

    • August 20 Application Deadline

    • Award Communication & Checks Written by September 14

Here are some resource examples that have been pre-approved by our governance team. A member can submit a resource fund request choosing from these options below or submit a custom request with line-item costs documented.

>>> REQUEST RESOURCE FUNDING

Contribute & Utilize Our Mutual Resource Hive

We want growers to find the information they need quickly, so we’re building a resource hive with helpful articles, agency and grant fact sheets, vendor and supply directories, and more compiled by and for Coalition members.

Please note that accessing our resource hive requires a membership password. Please contact us with questions.

>>>ACCESS THE RESOURCE HIVE

Travel Reimbursement

Did you travel a ways to attend a Coalition event or activity? We have money to reimburse you for travel expenses to and from Coalition events/ activities.

To request reimbursement for Coalition travel, please fill out our Reimbursement Form within 30 days of the Coalition event/activity. Once a reimbursement request is submitted, we will review and approve requests within 14 days and a check will be mailed to the address provided in this form.

 

Coalition Backbone Team & Staff

We are grateful to our backbone team of established farmers and partner organizations that have committed to helping guide this project, as well as our project leads, Alicia Ellingsworth and Dina Newman, and project coordinator, Ashley Bath.

If you have questions about the coalition and/or how to get involved, you can reach out to Ashley at ashley@kcfarmschool.org.