Considering farming as a career? Check out Step up!

If you are a young Canadian considering farming as your future – you need to know about Step Up.
Step Up is a program offered through the Canadian Farm Business Management Council (CFBMC) that pairs experienced farm managers with young farmers who are just embarking on their farming career. Once enrolled in the program, you will be matched up with a mentor farmer- from anywhere in the country.
“We have mentors all across Canada; from BC to New Brunswick. It is a great opportunity for these young farmers (mentees) to see how agriculture looks in another sector or in a different province,” says Wendell Joyce, Executive Director, CFBMC. The CFBMC will provide up to $2000 to assist with travel costs when necessary.
How does it work? The young farmer commits to a work-term type of contract, negotiates salary and living arrangements with his or her mentor and then works and learns on the farm with an experienced farm manager. In addition to the salary the farm mentor pays, the mentee can also earn $200 each for three reports about their work term. “These reports are fairly short but give us a clear picture of the value being derived from these work terms,” says Joyce.”The benefits realized for both the mentor and mentee are significant and long lasting.”
Who can be a mentee? The mentee must be a Canadian citizen and have completed, or be currently enrolled in, a post-secondary agricultural program in Canada. Priority is given to those who have completed their second year of study or who currently own or manage a farm, or who plan to within the next three years. All applicants must be 18 years or older.
Everyone wins with Step Up. The mentor gets a fresh perspective from their young farmer mentee, and the mentee learns great lessons from someone who has farmed successfully for years.
If you are interested in spending your summer learning more about farming in your industry, or want to see what agriculture looks like in another part of the country – check out the Step Up program.
To apply or get more information, go to Farmcentre.com/features/TheNewFarmer and click on the Step Up link.