MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Fifteen young, beginning or small (YBS) farmers in the AgChoice Farm Credit territory jumpstarted their farming dreams this fall with $10,000 grants.
“While we initially planned to award 10 $10,000 inaugural jumpstart grants, with 96 outstanding applicants representing all agriculture sectors, our Board of Directors and management team increased that commitment to 15 $10,000 grants,” explained Darrell Curtis, AgChoice Farm Credit President and CEO. “Many of our judges commented on how inspiring it is to learn about these new startup farming operations in Pennsylvania. We’re excited to invest in agriculture’s future through the grant program.”
Grant winners are full- or part-time farmers who started farming within the past two years or who plan to start a farm business in the next two years. In addition to farming in the AgChoice territory, recipients submitted a business plan and completed the Ag Biz Basics educational program.
“It’s a great day for Pennsylvania agriculture,” said Deputy Secretary of Pennsylvania Agriculture Cheryl Cook during remarks at a jumpstart grant celebration, Bella Terra Winery, Hunker, PA, on October 26. “The grant winners give me hope for the future of Pennsylvania agriculture. They help answer the question, ‘Who’s going to farm our state’s 600,000 acres of preserved farmland?’” Cook shared. “We need an enthusiastic supply of startup farmers.”
Esperanzo Wilcox, Clarion, PA, a grant recipient and mushroom farmer, also spoke on behalf of the recipients at the celebration. “Our grant winner class represents so many different fields of Pennsylvania agriculture, but one commonality we all share is that we are the future of farms and agriculture. We look forward to what the future brings and through grant opportunities, like the jumpstart grants, we can make that pivotal change to increase our productivity and find greater success.”
Congratulations to the following 15 grant recipients. Read more about each recipients’ new farming ventures at www.agchoice.com/grow/ybs.
- Mikara Anderson, Hustontown, PA
- Jake Grim, Biglerville, PA
- Matthew Hansen, Beaver, PA
- Nathan & Deron Henry, Mifflin, PA
- Joel Kuhns, State College, PA
- Larry & Ashley Latta, Petersburg, PA
- Morgan Livingston, Smicksburg, PA
- Robert Moniot, Portersville, PA
- Corey Read, Tunkhannock, PA
- Mackenzie Strawser, Carlisle, PA
- Jesse Vivian, Brockway, PA
- Rachel Wagoner, Darlington, PA
- Jonathan & Winter Weaver, Spring Grove, PA
- Esperanzo Wilcox, Clarion, PA
- Devin Winklosky, Gibsonia, PA
Learn more about YBS farmer programs at agchoice.com. For more information about the jumpstart grant recipients, please visit www.agchoice.com/grow/ybs.
–AgChoice Farm Credit