Our office has moved! Our new address is 414 S 17th St., Suite 107 in Ames, Iowa.
Farm-to-School Mentorship
Farm-to-School Mentorship Program
Interested in selling to schools or looking to expand what you already do?
This new pilot program connects newer farm-to-school producers with experienced peers to share practical guidance, answer questions and build confidence in entering or expanding sales to schools, hospitals, colleges and other wholesale buyers, including help with minimal processing for school food programs.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve made sales and want to keep learning, we can connect you with:
- Farmer-to-farmer mentorship
- Field days and peer learning opportunities
- Technical assistance to help you reach your goals
If you choose to sign-up, we’ll reach out to let you know when opportunities for field days, mentoring, technical assistance or new market connections pop up.
Eligibility
This pilot is designed for:
- Farmers and food producers interested in selling food to K–12 schools
- Produce, meat, poultry, grain and other food producers
- Farmers who primarily sell direct-to-consumer (CSAs, farmers markets, farm stands, etc.)
- Producers who are new to selling to schools or interested in expanding from occasional school sales to more regular sales
- Farmers located in Iowa or neighboring states who serve Iowa school markets
Mentorship
Newer producers will be matched with experienced farm-to-school producers to gain peer insights on how to grow farm-to-school sales. Mentors and mentees are matched based on:
- Farm type and scale
- Products grown
- Geographic region
- Experience and goals related to selling to schools
Mentorship may include:
- One-on-one calls or texts
- Farm visits when feasible
- Sharing templates, pricing strategies and lessons learned
- Talking through school buyer expectations and common challenges
Mentorship participants are eligible to receive stipends for their time.
Application
Farmers may submit the intake form at any time to be connected to resources about selling to K–12 school markets. Submit a form by March 1 to be prioritized for matching with a mentor during this year’s pilot.