Pcc Farmland Trust

SUPPORTING UNDERSERVED FARMERS TO THRIVE AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM RESILIENCE

**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 AGING DEMOGRAPHICS OF WASHINGTON FARMERS WHO LACK SUCCESSION PLANS ARE PUTTING THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF THE STATE'S FOOD SYSTEM AT RISK. IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT CONNECTIONS ARE FOSTERED WITH THE NEXT GENERATION BY ENSURING THAT BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS HAVE THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND SUPPORT TO SECURE AND ACCESS FARMLAND FOR THEIR OPERATIONS. THROUGH THE FARM TO FARMER (FTF) PROGRAM, WASHINGTON FARMLAND TRUST TAKES THE NOVEL APPROACH OF CUSTOMIZING TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR BFR THROUGH AN INTENSIVE DISCOVERY PROCESS THAT RESULTS IN A PERSONALIZED PLAN. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS, FTF HELPS FARMERS GAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY ACCESS AND SECURE FARMLAND. FARMLAND EVALUATION THROUGH SITE VISTS AND DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDOWNERS ARE ALSO KEY COMPONENTS. BFR ARE EMPOWERED TO DIRECTLY CONNECT WITH LANDOWNERS THROUGH FARMTOFARMER.ORG, A LAND LINKING WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY FTF.WORKING ACROSS CULTURES AND GENERATIONS FTF'S INNOVATIVE LAND TENURE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESSION STRATEGIES PROJECT SEEKS TO CREATE A BRIDGE BETWEEN RETIRING LANDOWNERS AND BFR INCLUDING BIPOC, IMMIGRANT, AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE 50 BFR WITH PERSONALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CONDUCT 20 SITE VISITS, AND EDUCATE 20 LANDOWNERS ABOUT SUCCESSION PLANNING AND LAND LEASING, RESULTING IN INTRODUCTIONS BETWEEN BFR AND LANDOWNERS WHO ARE READY TO TRANSITION THEIR FARMLAND TO A NEW OPERATION AND ULTIMATELY ALLOW BFR TO ESTABLISH OR EXPAND THEIR FARM BUSINESSES. WITH TRANSLATION SERVICES AND ASL INTERPRETATION AVAILABLE, THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED BREAK DOWN BARRIERS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED FROM FARMING.