UC SAREP coordinates the Statewide Farmer Educator Network (FEN), a group of individuals and organizations that educate and support California farmers and ranchers.
The goal of FEN is to build communication, collaboration and information sharing between organizations — nonprofits, financial institutions, government agencies, UC Cooperative Extension — involved in beginning/small-scale farmer training, land access, marketing and business development, production, and other extension/support services across California.
Join the Farmer Educator Network
If you are a farmer educator, technical assistance provider, or farmer service provider, we invite you to join FEN. Currently, there are three FENs: Statewide, Central Coast, and Sacramento/Yolo/Solano. Communications occur through Google Groups, including announcements about FEN events and activities. Once you’ve joined the Google Group, you can share relevant content, events, and funding opportunities, or start/participate in a discussion with fellow FEN members.
Join FEN listservs:
- Statewide and/or Sac/Yolo/Solano, coordinated by UC SAREP: complete the Request to Join FEN Listservs form
- Central Coast, coordinated by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Foundation: sign up directly on Google Groups or email mnakahara@ccof.org
Questions about the Farmer Educator Network?
Contact Alicia Baddorf: akbaddorf@ucanr.edu
Background
In 2010, prior to the formation of the Statewide FEN, the Central Coast FEN was started as an informal network for farmer educators on the Central Coast to discuss their work with the farming population and agricultural education strategies. Building on momentum from the Central Coast FEN, FarmsReach and Multinational Exchange for Student Agriculture (MESA) hosted in a convening in 2015. Results from the convening spurred on a second convening in 2016 – the Farmer Education & Support Services Summit – hosted by FarmsReach and UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (SAREP). The Summit was conceived as an opportunity for thinking strategically about the work farmer educators were doing – what was being done well and what could be improved – and to explore opportunities for working together and coordinating efforts more effectively.
Main Objectives of the 2016 Summit
- Information sharing about different organizations’ programming
- Networking between organizations
- Prioritizing shared goals to advance the work being done by this group
Outcomes from the 2016 Summit
- Directory of Organizations: contact information, mission statement and programmatic activities of farmer education and support service organizations.
- Ecosystem Map: where each organization in the directory is located and where they are active in California.
- Chart of Organizations: programmatic areas of activity for each organization and the methods they are using for delivering the information.
- 15 priority actions to advance the collective work of farmer support organizations.
Regional Farmer Educator Networks
There are currently two formal, regional FENs: Central Coast and Yolo/Sacramento/Solano. The Central Coast Farmer Educator Network hosts quarterly meetings and is actively facilitated by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Foundation. The Yolo/Sacramento/Solano FEN is facilitated by UC SAREP in partnership with a nonprofit or community based organization. If you are interested in starting a regional FEN in your area, contact Alicia Baddorf: akbaddorf@ucanr.edu