Western New York Beginning Farmers and Homesteaders Group Formed

CCE-Chautauqua Works to Offer Support to Beginning Farmers and Homesteaders

-by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (June 9, 2016) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program is continually developing programs to help beginning and diversifying farmers in our area. Recently, they have developed an online community for Western New York Beginning Farmers and Homesteaders. This group is available to join by visiting www.facebook.com/groups/wnybfah.

The Western New York Beginning Farmers and Homesteaders Discussion Group is a closed and moderated online community that operates as a Facebook Group. The page will be moderated by Extension Educators and will be a source of support, education, and news of upcoming events for beginning farmers and homesteaders across Western New York.

“We’re so excited to have this resource available for our Western New York Agricultural Community,” said Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension. “This will be an opportunity for everyone who is just getting started with farming to learn not only from extension educators, but to also learn from and connect with their peers who are going through the same experiences – we invite anyone from the Western New York Region to join!”

The Western New York Beginning Farmers and Homesteaders Facebook Group is a part of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s L.E.A.F. program. The L.E.A.F (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) program is open to beginning farmers, established farms looking to diversify and grow, agriculture enthusiasts, homesteaders, and everyone in between! A variety of class topics will be presented through the fall and winter months for a nominal fee, along with individual consultations and networking opportunities. The L.E.A.F. program is made possible through grant support from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. For more information, please call 716-664-9502 ext. 202, email kaw249@cornell.edu, or visit cce.cornell.edu/Chautauqua.

The Western New York Beginning Farmers and Homesteaders Discussion Group is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua) in line with the County’s 20/20 Comprehensive Plan. CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated July 26, 2016