Making farming a reality with help of seed funding
Farming businesses starting out or with an innovative idea can now apply for a scholarship to help with start up costs, mentoring and business training
Making a living from farming is a tough gig especially if you are a new farmer starting out. The two biggest obstacles for new farmers are start-up costs and access to land.
The Willunga Farmers Market together with the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board will assist a new farming business to overcome these barriers with the announcement of the 2021 Willunga Farmers Market Farmers Scholarship.
The Willunga Farmers Market Scholarship is a $15,000 scholarship given as $12,000 start-up funds and $3,000 in mentorship and business training.
Pip Forrester, Chair of the Willunga Farmers Market said scholarship recipients add tremendous value to the Market community through the new products they bring to Market. “The enthusiasm for what they do, the interest they create and fabulous food they make available to our customers. As well as the focus they bring to farming on the Fleurieu, new farmers are a reminder that Willunga Farmers Market has a longstanding and important role as a business incubator in the region.
We look forward to seeing what the next round of applications bring”. Ms Forrester said.
Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board chair David Greenhough said the board was delighted to partner with the Willunga Farmers Market to provide the Farmers Scholarship.
“We are proud to contribute to this scholarship, which aims to support local primary production by providing a pathway to start a viable farming career on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Previous scholarship recipients have demonstrated great innovation in the production of fresh local produce and in presenting those products to the market,” Mr Greenhough said.
Willunga Farmers Market is a not-for profit organisation. The Willunga Farmers Market is open every Saturday, 8am til 12.30pm, and provides fresh, locally grown produce direct from the farmer.
Image: (L to R) David Greenhough (chair, Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board), Michael Garrod (general manager, Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board), Pip Forrester, chair, Willunga Farmers Market, David Speirs MP Minister for Environment and Water, 2020 scholarship recipients Rohan Cleeves and Hailey Lane from Little Forest Farm, and Jenni Mitton (manager, Willunga Farmers Market).
