California Bountiful Foundation

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU'S (CFB) CALIFORNIA BOUNTIFUL FOUNDATION (FOUNDATION), THE NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) OF THE CFB, WILL OFFER A STATEWIDE MENTORING AND EDUCATION PROJECT FOR BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING TO THOSE FARMERS AND RANCHERS THAT ARE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERANS.THE FOUNDATION, RECENTLY POSITIONED BY THE CFB AS THE LEADING AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION IN CALIFORNIA, IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MULTIPLE SERVICES. ACCORDING TO A USDA STUDY CONDUCTED IN 2012 ONE IN THREE NEW AGRICULTURE BUSINESSES FAIL WITHIN THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF BUSINESS. ONE WAY TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE IS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN A GROWER-TO-GROWER MENTORING PROGRAM. THIS EFFORT BY THE FOUNDATION WILL SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE A BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER WITH 1-10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FARMING AND RANCHING IN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING THOSE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND VETERANS, MENTORED BY FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH MORE THAN TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. THE FOUNDATION IS PARTNERING WITH THE CFB YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS PROGRAM (YF&R), CALIFORNIA COUNTY FARM BUREAUS, THE BLACK AGRICULTURE WORKING GROUP, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, AND MR. MICHAEL O'GORMAN WHO FOUNDED THE FARMER VETERAN COALITION.THE IMMEDIATE GOALS (1-3 YEARS) OF THE PROJECT WILL BRING TOGETHER 200 BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH 1-10 YEARS (USDA NIFA BFR TARGET AUDIENCE CATEGORY 5) FARMING EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING THOSE FARMERS THAT ARE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERANS, TOGETHER WITH 200 MENTOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS OVER TWO YEARS TO PROVIDE MENTORING AND INFORMATION SHARING AROUND A WIDE VERITY OF TOPICS. OF THE 200 MENTEE FARMERS AND RANCHERS, 40 (OR MORE) WILL BE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS, AND ANOTHER 60 (OR MORE) WILL BE VETERAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS. MENTOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT WILL HAVE MORE THAN TEN YEARS OF FARMING AND RANCHING EXPERIENCE IN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERAN FARMERS. BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROJECT CAN ALSO ATTEND ONE OR MORE OF FOUR WORKSHOPS AT NO COST ORGANIZED TO INFORM THEM ABOUT STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION HAS HEARD FROM SEVERAL BEGINNING FARMERS IN THE YF&R PROGRAM (SEE ATTACHED SUPPORT LETTERS) ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING WITH MENTOR FARMERS.IN CALIFORNIA, IT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD THAT FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE GENERALLY NEARING RETIREMENT AGE, AND FEWER BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE ENTERING THE SECTORS THAN EVER BEFORE. THE FOUNDATION BELIEVES THIS CONUNDRUM THREATENS FOOD SECURITY SINCE CALIFORNIA LEADS THE NATION IN AGRICULTURAL FOOD PRODUCTION. THE FOUNDATION ALSO BELIEVES THAT THE MENTORING PROJECT PROPOSED HERE CAN HELP ALLEVIATE THE PRESSURES OF AN AGING AGRARIAN COMMUNITY THROUGH KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND EMPOWERMENT OF A NEW GENERATION OF BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH CRITICAL INFORMATION TO KEEP AGRICULTURAL,PRODUCTION AND RURAL COMMUNITIES THRIVING IN CALIFORNIA.