After a year hiatus in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan State University Organic Farmer Training Program is returning in 2021 to offer safe beginning farmer training.

A signature program of the MSU Student Organic Farm, the 2021 MSU OFTP will be a 50-50 mix of field and online learning, including 11 hands-on days (starting March 15) at the MSU Student Organic Farm, six field trip days to 15-plus production and educational farms, and 16 interactive online class days. 

Check out the full schedule to see the plan for safe in-person learning and interactive online activities. The goal of OFTP is to create a learning community of aspiring and beginning farmers, farmworkers, homesteaders, educational gardeners and OFTP instructors to support each other in learning farm and business planning skills.

“Before OFTP, I had a vision, but when I left, I had a plan,” 2019 graduate Heather Fuson says.

Michigan State University Extension has approved OFTP's COVID-19 protocols for on-farm activities that ensure safety through wearing masks, distancing and other precautions. While the full group of 25 can convene at a safe distance outdoors for farm walks or farm implement demonstrations, participants will be split into groups of fewer than 10 people to rotate through hands-on activities in hoophouses or other partially enclosed spaces.

Individual or video options will be offered if participants cannot attend in-person activities. Interactive online learning will connect beginning farmers directly with each other, with guest speakers and with a proven curriculum for starting farms and moving farm businesses to the next level.

“The give-and-take of comments and discussion I've received in this course has convinced me that I can make my farm match where I am in my life, and what I want to accomplish over the next 10 to 20 years,” says Loretta Crum, who participated in the 100% online course that replaced OFTP in 2020. “It's been fun to watch the rest of the students go through a similar process."

Graduates earn a certificate from MSU and join the network of Michigan farmers and food systems leaders who have graduated from the OFTP in the past decade. To learn more, sign up or read student testimonials, visit msuorganicfarm.org or email [email protected].

Brandt is the educational programs manager for the MSU Student Organic Farm.

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