Beginning Farmer Barriers and Strategies

Beginning farmers face a whole range of barriers to overcome when starting a successful farm business. Accessing startup capital and land, building a market, finding a balance between farm work and family life, and overcoming production challenges are among the many issues beginners have to navigate. Beginning vegetable farmer Jenny Quiner of Dogpatch Urban Gardens, and beginning livestock farmers Bill and Stacey Borrenpohl will discuss the challenges they’ve faced as well as their strategies for overcoming them.

Jenny Quiner started Dogpatch Urban Gardens in the fall of 2015 with the help of her husband, Eric. They farm a small-scale market garden growing produce naturally with organic principles and sustainable methods on a quarter-acre within the Des Moines city limits.
Bill and Stacey Borrenpohl established Woven Strong Farm in 2010 in rural Jackson County. They raise beef, pork, meat goats and eggs for direct sale to both the greater Dubuque and Maquoketa areas.