The Mentorship Program for Future Livestock Farmers is a one-year beginning livestock farmer training and support program that helps people to plan, launch, and expand grass-based farm businesses in Southwest Wisconsin.

The Mentorship Program for Future Livestock Farmers builds on existing mentorship programs in the region by training experienced farmers to serve as mentors to beginning livestock farmers, paying mentors, and connecting participants with grassland acres to rent for well-managed grazing through the Grazing Broker at Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. The components of the program are:

• Financial coaching: all participants receive access to business planning sessions and a business plan review from Compeer Financial or the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection.
• Mentorship: all participants receive matchmaking services to connect you with a successful livestock farmer in your field of interest. Mentors are paid for their expertise and only receive compensation if the beginner receives adequate mentorship.
• Training: all participants receive training on how to get the most out of the mentorship and are invited to workshops on contract grazing, grazing management, soil health, and more.
• Access to land: all participants receive matchmaking and technical services from the Southwest Badger Grazing Broker to connect livestock producers and grassland landowners.

The mentorship program for future livestock farmers is a project of Southwest Badger RC&D Council, Inc. The project is supported by our partners:

• The Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers
• Compeer Financial
• The Farm Business Center at Wisconsin DATCP
• The Wisconsin Grass-Fed Beef Cooperative
• The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
• University of Wisconsin Extension
• Iowa County Land Conservation Department

The project is funded by a 2015-2017 BFRDP grant from USDA-NIFA.