Not many farmers begin farming because they love creating risk management plans. In fact, most even dread it. From developing crop schedules and livestock rotations to administrative paperwork and risk management, even the most proactive farmers can quickly feel overwhelmed, lonely, and frustrated by all the paperwork. But what could you achieve if you had the right risk management strategies in place? Here at Farm Commons, we believe that powerful, sustainable, and time-effective legal risk management can be achieved when peers come together to discuss strategies while providing support and encouragement along the way, and we’d love for you to join us.
(New to Farm Commons? We invite you to read more about who we are here!)
Join Us!
Farmers and ranchers are invited to join a Circle of Resilience group in early 2024, led by one of our Collaborative Learning Fellows. The groups will meet for 90 minutes once a week for four weeks to engage in discussion, reflection, community problem solving, and peer-to-peer wisdom sharing on farm business law risks and resolutions. The specific topics that will be explored in each Circle of Resilience are:
- Setting up a resilient business structure
- Securing adequate insurance
- Navigating employment laws
- Accessing land with confidence
The guiding principles of the Circles of Resilience are:
- This is about your self-knowledge! You have a story, you have questions, you have experience. You will be encouraged to share these gifts with the group and receive those of others in the circle.
- Anyone can speak into this space according to ground rules of respect and privacy. No legal expertise is required. No discrimination or harassment will be tolerated.
- Information shared in confidence stays within the circle.
- Wisdom is amplified throughout and beyond the circle.
The 2024 Circle Leaders are:
- Hannah Hamilton of The Buckle Farm in Unity, Maine
- Katie Nixon of Green Gate Family Farm in Wheatland, Missouri
- Martha McFarland of Hawkeye Buffalo and Cattle Ranch in Fredricksburg, Iowa
- Michelle Week of Good Rain Farm in Camas, Washington
Each Circle of Resilience caps at 10 participants, and participation is free. Please only register if you think you can attend all four of circle meetings in respect of others who were unable to secure a spot.
Sign up for one of the Circles of Resilience below:
Circle of Resilience 1. Circle Leader: Hannah.Meeting Times: Tuesdays, 1/23/24, 1/30/24, 2/6/24 and 2/13/24 at 1 PM CT/ 2 PM ET(This circle has now been closed).
Circle of Resilience 2. Circle Leader: Katie.Meeting Times: Thursdays, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15 at 1 PM CT / 2 PM ET(This circle has now been closed).
Circle of Resilience 3. Circle Leader: Martha.Meeting Times: Tuesdays, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, and 1/30 at 7 PM CT / 8 PM ET.(This circle has now been closed).
Circle of Resilience 4. Circle Leader: Michelle.Circle Meeting Times: Wednesdays, 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7 at 10 AM PT / 12 PM CT / 1 PM ET.(This circle has now been closed).
Questions? Email Eva, Farm Commons’ Education Program Director at eva@farmcommons.org
Ready to register for a Circle? Get started here.
Want to learn more about our programs and resources? Be sure to check out Discovering Resilience: A Legal Workshop for Farmers and Ranchers (available in Spanish and English) and our Resource Library for practical farm law guides, tips, and workbooks.
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2022-38640-37486 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ONC23-118. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
