The Canadian Farm Business Management Council, Canadian 4-H Council, Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum, and Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ Program have joined forces to unveil the all-new STEP UP mentorship program.
STEP UP is an on-farm learning placement that matches those planning or considering a farming career with an experienced farm manager so that they can learn critical aspects of farm business management in a hands-on setting.
STEP UP mentee Simone praises her 2010 STEP UP experience for giving her a “realistic perspective of the energy and commitment it takes to organize a functional farm…. having the opportunity to work with a knowledgeable farmer who enjoys teaching was a powerful experience.” Jocelyn, another 2010 STEP UP mentee, not only gained a “wealth of experience and skills” but feels she can contact her mentors in the future “to ask them for farm business management advice.”
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Participating in the STEP UP program as a mentor also has its benefits since you can:
Share your passion and knowledge thereby allowing you to make a significant and enduring impact on an up-and-coming farmer’s career.
Gain a fresh perspective.
Receive a $2,000 honorarium.
Gavin summarizes his STEP UP mentoring experience as: “I have learned a huge amount from all our mentees…The farm business certainly benefits from having mentees!”
You can be a Mentee, if you are: 18 years of age or older, interested in owning and operating your own farm someday, willing to travel within Canada and possibly outside of your province, able to commit at least eight continuous weeks to your mentor, and are eager to learn and share your own ideas and experience.
Farm managers, experienced in any type of farming are encouraged to become Mentors. To be a Mentor requires: time, patience, an open mind, and an interest in passing on the best of your farm business management knowledge.
ToapplyvisittheSTEPUPwebpageat www.farmcentre.com, orcall1-888-232-3262,or
sendanemailto [email protected].
