FarmPath’s outcomes include increasing the success rate of beginning farmers through mentorship and planning tools. Preserving intergenerational knowledge transfer, building a supportive community and scaling sustainable practices are also listed as goals.
Mentors can come from anywhere in ag, Steensland said.
“I’d encourage anyone who is interested, whether an establishes farmer, a young farmer, or another subject expert, to sign up on the Farm Foundation’s website,” she said. “We’re building a very robust program and will be looking for people with different skillsets and knowledge.”
A resource like FarmPath is important given where American ag finds itself.
With an average age of 58 years old, American farmers are the nation’s oldest workforce, a 2025 Senate report on America’s farm workforce says.
And a 2023 Senate report on U.S. agriculture indicates one in three farmers is planning to retire in the next decade.
That means the younger generation will be tasked with producing tomorrow’s food, fuel, and fiber – and they need help.
“We need young farmers, and agriculture is a difficult industry to enter if you’ve never been in it before,” Steensland said. “The need is there, the time is now, and we want to help young farmers overcome barriers to entering the industry and reach their full potential.”
Young producers can face multiple challenges when getting started in agriculture.
Many of them have to do with money, Steensland said.
“Farming is very capital intensive, especially for farmers who are new,” she said. “And then along with that comes financial planning, business planning, and managing cashflow. So that’s going to be a huge part of the program.”
The program will operate for three years.
The goal is to have 300 participants from across the country, Steensland said.
Applications will open in early 2026.