Expanding Our Roots: A Mentorship Program for California’s Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

You can listen to the full interview using the audio player above.

Starting a farm or ranch in California is no small feat. The challenges of managing land, navigating regulations, and building a successful agricultural business require more than just passion—they demand knowledge and experience. That’s where Expanding Our Roots comes in; a no-cost farmer-to-farmer mentorship program recently launched by the California Farm Bureau.

What is Expanding Our Roots?

The Expanding Our Roots program connects beginning farmers and ranchers—those with 1 to 10 years of experience—with seasoned agricultural professionals who have been in the business for over a decade. The goal: help newcomers navigate the complexities of farming and ranching through farmer-to-farmer mentorship, where practical insights, including those that only come with years of hands-on experience, are shared.

“We want to pass on that knowledge,” said Tyler Rood, Senior Project Specialist at the California Bountiful Foundation. “Farming and ranching comes with so many complexities that you only learn through trial and error. This program is about helping beginning farmers avoid some of those challenges by learning from others who have been through them before.”

Who Can Join?

Mentees: Farmers and ranchers who have at least one year of experience, whether they own and/or operate their own production agriculture business or help to manage a farm and/or ranch, including a family operation.

Mentors: Farmers and ranchers with more than 10 years in the industry, willing to share their expertise.

Currently, 60 mentorships have been completed or are underway, with room for more, as the program has funding to support up to 400 mentorships statewide.

A Mentee’s Perspective: Learning Beyond the Farm

For Leah Groves, Marketing and Events Coordinator at Alpen Cellars Winery in Trinity County, the mentorship program has been invaluable. She sought guidance on event planning and business strategies to help attract visitors and boost sales.

“Our winery is in a remote area, and while we get tourists in the summer, we struggle with traffic during other times,” Leah shared. “I was paired with Jenny Holtermann, who runs Almond Girl Jenny in Kern County. She hosts a lot of events and activities on her farm, and I’ve been learning from her about how to bring people in, improve our website, and strengthen our social media presence.”

Leah’s experience highlights an important aspect of modern farming—it’s not just about growing crops or raising livestock. It’s also about marketing, customer engagement, and running a successful business. Through Expanding Our Roots, she has gained insights that go beyond traditional agriculture.

How the Program Works

Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship: Mentees meet with their mentors for up to six hours, at a schedule that works best for them.
Reimbursement for Mentors: Mentors receive $50/hour for up to six hours per mentee.
Additional Resources: Mentees gain access to additional resources at no-cost, including Farm Bureau Extension classes, workshops, AgAlert, and more.

Get Involved

Are you an experienced farmer willing to guide the next generation? Or a beginning farmer looking for expert advice? Expanding Our Roots is seeking more participants.

To Enroll: Visit www.cfbf.com/eor to learn more.