Beginning Farmer Retreat
Beginning Farmer Retreat
Nov. 22-23, 2025
Location
Pilgrim Heights Camp and Retreat Center
3005 E Ave, Montour, IA 50173
This annual event brings beginning farmers together to network, plan and discuss ways to improve their farms while helping to build a sense of community among this fast-growing farming demographic.
The theme of the Beginning Farmer Retreat alternates yearly between land access and business.
The 2025 Beginning Farmer Retreat’s theme is land access. It is a networking and educational event that helps beginners share and learn from each other’s land access stories and experiences. The retreat is comprised of sessions that get progressively more advanced throughout the day.
We’ll start the day with sessions on beginning farmer resources from PFI and Farm Service Agency, then move into sessions such as “Structuring Leases to Work for You,” “Mediation With Your Landowner” and “Alternative Land Ownership Models.” Farm knowledge, food and friendship will be freely shared.
Stay overnight and participate in a networking breakfast with beginning farmers and landowners before heading home.
Schedule
Nov 22: Walk in registration opens at 9 a.m. and programming is from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Nov 23: 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
$20 for Beginning Farmer Retreat Ticket and an additional $30 to stay overnight.
Registration
Event registration is $20. There is an additional $30 to stay overnight. Walk-in registration will also be available at the event from 9-10 a.m. on Nov. 22.
Questions?
Contact Rachel Burke at rachel.burke(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org or by calling the office at (515) 232-5661.
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