CAFF graduates, mentor farms to receive grants under NW Arkansas Farmers Pilot Program

“This is a unique grant program that really underscores our mission and the people at the heart of our program,” Heather Friedrich, CAFF assistant director. “I look forward to seeing the impacts that this program will make with our local farmers and our local food web.”

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Sept. 30, 2022

Fast facts

Four CAFF mentors, three graduates among grant recipients
Grant program covers four NW Ark counties

(320 words)

(Newsrooms: with file art https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA89bu ; ‘dH Farm’ in 3^rd graf is CQ)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Graduates of the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food as well as CAFF mentor farms are among those receiving grants from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture as part of its Northwest Arkansas Farmers Pilot Program aimed at increasing local food production.

CAFF was developed to strengthen and expand the food and farming system, enhance local communities, and provide opportunities for farmers, food entrepreneurs and food system leaders. CAFF works with mentor farms to teach beginning farmers the skills they need to develop resilient and sustainable businesses.

Images of Arkansas farmers who are involved in the Center for Farms and Food who have won grants from the Arkansas Agriculture Department under the Northwest Arkansas Farmers Pilot program.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture program offers grant funding to eligible farmers in Benton, Washington, Madison, and Carroll counties. On Wednesday, the department announced grants to 26 farms including four CAFF mentor farms: Mark and Marquita denHerder of dH Farm; Dennis McGarrah of McGarrah Farms; Morgan Boehm of Middle Fork Farm, and Andrew and Madeleine Schwerin of Sycamore Bend.

Three CAFF graduates were also among the grant recipients: Brian Foster of Sunny Acres Farm; Adam Gifford of Gifford Gardens; and Michael McKillip of King Rivers Farm.

CAFF is a program of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, produced in partnership with the Arkansas Food Innovation Center, the National Center for Appropriate Technology, and the National Agricultural Law Center.

For those interested in participating in CAFF programs, the Farm School application deadline is Sept. 30 and the Apprenticeship program priority deadline is Dec. 1.

The Arkansas Grown Grant for Northwest Arkansas Farmers Pilot Program. This program, created with support from the Walton Family Foundation.

“This pilot program provides funding directly to farmers to improve their operations and increase availability of fresh, locally grown food for consumers,” said Wes Ward, Arkansas secretary of agriculture. “The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is honored to assist in the administration of this grant program and looks forward to seeing its positive impacts.”

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Media contact: Mary Hightower, mhightower@uada.edu