Ground Work Information & Online Application

If you want to help farmers gain practical tractor skills and make sound mechanization decisions, the Ground Work project may be for you.

Learn more about the project, how it will be structured and expectations for project participants.

To register, use our online application form.

Ground Work

The New Farmer Project is coordinating a two-year professional development training project beginning in 2014. The Ground Work project will support participants from throughout the Northeast to deliver mechanization and tractor education to beginning farmers, farm workers and apprentices.

Through a combination of online learning and hands-on workshops, the project will equip agricultural service providers and farmer educators to teach adult learners about:

Registration, via an application process, is open now through December 20. Online training sessions will start in early 2014. Participants will then gain experience delivering hands-on tractor education at a day-long, in-person workshop in mid 2014. In 2015, the project will provide participants with support to organize and deliver farmer workshops and to work one-on-one with farmers on mechanization strategies.

Thanks to a grant from the Northeast SARE Professional Development Program, there is no tuition cost to participate. However, participants are expected to cover transportation expenses to attend the hands-on, in-person training in 2014.

For more information, contact Kristen Mullins at kristen.mullins@uvm.edu or call 802-656-2034.

Help us spread the word. Download and print this one-page flyer about the Ground Work project.