(ND Ag Connection) – Midwest GRIT (Grains Resource and Immersive Training) is a yearlong peer learning program for food-grade grain farmers.

Participants will be partnered by matching farmers’ collective experience, growing region, and farming goals to foster a sustainable and collective learning exchange. Farmer groupings will support each other to gain new knowledge of organic food-grade grain production and marketing, while also strengthening mentoring skills that will benefit their communities beyond the length and scope of this program. Educational programming will provide tools, hands-on education, and networking opportunities to establish or expand on each participants’ existing agricultural enterprises.

Programming includes:

– Regular peer-to-peer engagement

– Bi-weekly peer-led workshops

– Monthly virtual seminars with topics ranging from field work to finance

– Regional field days, on-farm demonstrations, and hands-on workshops

– Virtual and in-person networking events to connect to farmers with other farmers, processors, end-users, and consumers

– Women-centered programming that supports and strengthens the success of female farmers

Application period closes March 31. Further program details and benefits can be found online at https://www.midwestgrit.org/apply. All farmers are encouraged to apply, and one third of cohort is reserved for farmers that identify as women. Preference is given to women, BIPOC, and currently farming applicants. A copy of your resume and references are required for submission.

For more information, contact Christine Johnson, Midwest GRIT, at cjohnson@michaelfields.org.