Grant Writing Workshop Targets Farmers and Ranchers

Filed under Farming Network, Field Days, Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings® by on 2011/08/05 at 3:15 pm {no comments}

Existing and prospective farmers and ranchers are invited to participate in a grant writing workshop on Tuesday, August 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Williamson County Extension office in Marion. Information will be presented on the basics of grant writing as well as specifics on grants available through the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Farmer Rancher Grant Program and the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

The workshop will be taught byDeborah Cavanaugh-Grant,
Extension Educator for Local Food Systems and Small Farms for the University of Illinois. It is hosted by Food Works on behalf of the Southern Illinois Farming Network.

Farmer and rancher grants give growers critical support for improving on-farm infrastructure or even scaling-up production. “State and federal grants can help producers purchase needed equipment and even explore innovative ways to expand their markets.” said Devin Brown, Program Specialist for Food Works. “For the southern Illinois region, farmers need to utilize all available resources to meet the increasing demand for locally grown food. We also see many new growers starting farm businesses who could use small grants to develop niche markets and extend the marketability of their products.”

“The SARE Farmer and Rancher Grant enabled our farm to significantly expand our direct-to-consumer marketing for our eggs, meat, and produce,” said Dave Bishop, owner of Prairiearth Farm near Bloomington, Illinois. “It funded a mobile store trailer with a retail space, a walk-in, and a freezer that we take to farmers markets and CSA drop-offs.”

Registration for the workshop is required by August 26. Space is limited. Online registration is available at eatsouthernillinois.org, or by calling Devin Brown at 618-771-0237. The workshop is free for Southern Illinois Farming Network members and $20 for non-members.

To register for this event go to Food Works’ website

 

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