Oregon Farm Corps

Mission: Oregon Farm Corps trains and equips the next generation of regenerative farmers and ranchers through hands-on skill building, education, and business support.

Vision: OFC envisions a world in which land is deeply cared for, power is equitably shared, and farms, ranches, and the people who work them flourish.

For 20 years, OFC has trained emerging farmers and strengthened small farm businesses to build a more equitable, sustainable food system in Oregon. The quality of our programs and staff has led to OFC being recognized for our beginning farmer and rancher education, which focuses on experiential, paid-on-farm Apprenticeships, one-on-one mentorship, and regenerative agriculture practices that protect soil, water, and biodiversity. We also provide business skills development, support for farmers seeking to collaborate, advocacy for systems that better support small, sustainable, community-minded producers, and projects that advance equity and justice in agriculture.

Rooted in Oregon's agricultural communities, we serve new and beginning farmers and ranchers with 0-10 years of experience, with a focus on serving underrepresented community members, including those who identify as women, LGBTQIA2s+, low-income, Black, Indigenous, a Person of Color (BIPOC), Latine, and veteran communities.

OFC helps build a thriving, equitable, and resilient farming future through three branches of work:

Beginning Farmer Training

• Apprenticeships provide on-farm job training and mentorship in regenerative agriculture for beginning farmers in partnership with established Host Farms.
• Beginning Farmer Educational Event Series (BFEES) teaches sustainable and regenerative farming production concepts and practices as well as food system and equity topics through a series of classes, farm tours, and gatherings.
• Regenerative Farming Fellowship provides entry-level job training in regenerative agriculture and reduces food insecurity in collaboration with regional nonprofit partners. 

Future Farms

• Farm Launch helps a cohort of beginning producers write professional business plans and develop the business skills to launch their own agricultural operations.
• Changing Hands Workshops connect agricultural landseekers and landowners to support equitable farmland access opportunities with a focus on intergenerational networking.
• Collaborative Farming Initiative educates and supports farmers in collaborating to help reduce barriers to success.
• 1-on-1 Technical Assistance provides OFC program graduates and other beginning farmers with individualized TA, coaching, and resource referral to help them achieve their agricultural goals.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives 

• Priority audiences: OFC prioritizes working those who are historically underserved by our agricultural system. Our priority audiences are BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, women, low-income, veterans, and people living with a disability.
• Future Farmer Fund provides scholarships for beginning/aspiring farmers from OFC’s priority audiences to participate in programming
• Equity-Informed Employer Training provide workshops for agricultural employers that focus on creating an equitable, inclusive workplace
• Oregon Farm & Ranch Equity and Anti-racism Project (O-FREAP) is a self-directed online educational opportunity for Oregon farmers, ranchers, and agricultural service providers to learn about, address, and dismantle racism within the food and farm systems and beyond.
• Advocacy for federal and state-wide policies that support increased equity in the farmer/rancher and farmworker communities.