<p> NOFA/Massachusetts ∙ 411 Sheldon Rd ∙ Barre, MA 01005 978-355-2853 ∙ www.nofamass.org</p><p>Growing Organically Since 1982 ______</p><p>2017 NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer Mentorship Program Application Submit completed form via email to [email protected]</p><p>Name * </p><p>Email Address *</p><p>Phone *</p><p>Current Address *</p><p>Age</p><p>Please describe your farming experience to date.</p><p>Please describe your farming education — apprenticeship training, formal education, experiential education, publications you read, individuals who have mentored you, conferences and/or workshops you have attended, etc.</p><p>Please detail any specific gaps in your farming education, skills, or experiences that you hope to address by working with a mentor. Be as specific as possible in 3-6 sentences. Concrete expectations for the program are helpful.</p><p>What are your farming plans for the 2016 season?</p><p>Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts Chapter, Inc.</p><p>Through education and advocacy NOFA/Mass promotes organic agriculture to expand the production and availability of nutritious food from living soil for the health of individuals, communities and the planet. Please describe your farming plans for the long-term future.</p><p>Mentees are encouraged to suggest a mentor who you are interested in working with. This helps ensure that you will be matched with someone who you see as a good fit. If you have an idea for a mentor in mind, please fill in their name and farm name below. (NOFA/Mass will find a mentor match even if you do not make a suggestion or your preferred mentor is unavailable.)</p><p>Alternate mentor request:</p><p>Please describe the skills/ experiences/ operation that you would be looking for in a mentor. Be specific:</p><p>How do you intend to communicate with your mentor? Do you prefer to communicate in person, via telephone, via email, all of the above?</p><p>Initial next to each statement below to confirm you understand the requirements and parameters of the program.</p><p>I understand that it is my responsibility to initiate and maintain ongoing communication with my mentor throughout the program.</p><p>I understand that if accepted into the Mentorship Program and matched with a mentor, I am expected to make time to correspond with the Beginning Farmer Program Coordinator on a monthly basis.</p><p>I understand that if accepted into the Mentorship Program and matched with a mentor, I am expected to make time to fill out quarterly evaluations for NOFA/Mass, to update the Beginning Farmer Program Coordinator on the progress of my mentorship.</p><p>I understand that if accepted into the Mentorship Program and matched with a mentor, I will submit a short bio and photo for the NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer webpage.</p><p>I understand that if accepted into the Mentorship Program I am required to attend the Introductory Mentorship Meeting at the Winter Conference and encouraged to attend the Summer Conference and two Advanced Grower Workshops. At each conference there will be meetings between all mentors and mentees. The Mentorship Program fee covers admission costs to each of these educational opportunities. I understand and am ready to commit to the program fee of $200, which will be used to offset some of the costs of attending workshops and conferences during the program. It is possible to discount the program fee further with volunteer commitments at the conferences.</p><p>Are you currently a NOFA member? I understand that all mentees must be members of NOFA/Mass in good standing. If I am not a current member, I understand that I must join NOFA before I will be admitted to the program. If I am currently a member, I understand that I must maintain membership during the course of the year.</p><p>Thank you for completing the 2016 NOFA/Mass Mentorship Program Application. </p><p>Applications are Due December 1st, 2016. </p><p>We will inform you if you were accepted into the program by December 15th, 2016. We will attempt to make all mentor matches by January 1st, 2017. </p><p>You must plan on attending the 2017 Winter Conference (admission is covered with your program fees) on January 14th, 2017 for the Mentorship Program Kick-Off Meeting.</p><p>To submit your application, please email completed form to [email protected] </p>