WRIGHT COUNTY USDA OFFICE VISIT: Resource Opportunities for Market Growers and Beginning Farmers

Curious about federal programs to help pay for high tunnels, walk-in coolers, pack sheds and crop failures?

Go Farm Connect is partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and  Wright County Land Conservation District to host this facilitated group introduction to federal farm programs and resources for beginning farmers and market crop growers.  Participants will learn about loan, grant, insurance and disaster assistance opportunities, as well as available technical expertise. Language interpretation is available upon request at pre-registration. You do not need to own land to participate and you do not need to reside in Wright County. Federal programs are the same across county lines. Food will be served and the event will be informal. 

The hosts for this event will be farmers Lilian Mboss, of Kilimo Minnesota incubator farms, and KaZoua Berry,  Hmong/Hmoob language specialist from Big River Farms. They are both Connectors with Go Farm Connect, trained to help new and emerging farmers access helpful federal programs. They will be joined by USDA staff from the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service who will explain disaster assistance and other federal programs available for specialty crop farmers.  For more information, please contact Lilian at mbosslilian@gmail.com or 651-214-5193; KaZoua at kazouaberry@gmail.com or 612-865-8465.

Who Should Attend

All interested parties are invited to attend and learn, including beginning and prospective farmers, landowners, family, friends, cultural advocates, and agricultural support professionals. No prior experience with federal farm agencies is required. Land ownership is not a requirement to participate in assistance programs.  

What To Expect

This brief visit will cover the basics of farm programs and introduce participants to the staff at the USDA Farm Services Center for Wright County. Time will be provided for individual assistance and questions, and Connectors will follow up with interested participants after the event.

About Go Farm Connect

Are you lost in an alphabet soup of federal acronyms? Need help finding the right resources?

Navigating USDA programs can be overwhelming, confusing and intimidating. We get that! We've pulled together an experienced team of farmers to help you connect to the right programs. We offer FREE services that focus on different aspects of building a successful farm business. We can provide a Connector to be a personal guide, coach, and ally who shares your goal of running a successful farm operation.

Go Farm Connect is a farmer-led initiative to build relationships between historically underserved specialty crop farmers (beginning, women, veterans, BIPOC and new Americans) and federal farm agencies.  Our Connectors are trained to help farms of all sizes and specialties in Minnesota and Wisconsin access agricultural assistance programs. The three-year project is led by Renewing The Countryside in partnership with the US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Registration through this link is helpful so that USDA staff can be aware of what questions you might want answered. Go Farm Connect staff may take photos and videos at this event to promote programs and future events. Your RSVP gives your permission to be photographed. Please let a Connector know at the event if you want to be kept out of photos.