The Manitoba Farm Mentorship Program
Contract available: Part-time Mentorship Liaison
Background
The Manitoba Farm Mentorship Program (MFMP) is designed to attract a wide audience to opportunities in organic and environmentally sustainable agriculture, smaller-scale production for local markets, and urban farming. Participants in the mentorship program will be encouraged to choose one of three paths:
Interns are aspiring farmers, usually with little farming experience and no land, who spend a full growing season with experienced farmers or gardeners learning practical and business planning skills. They also attend workshops, tour other mentor farms, and receive extensive educational materials. Protégés are producers with a land base who are interested in learning new skills, downsizing, or transitioning to organic or local production. Protégés will be connected with mentors experienced in the type of farming to which they aspire. The Partnership stream offers a diversity of opportunities to food providers. Land owners, processors, investors, chefs, and others who want to find a partner with food growing expertise or resources may offer partnership opportunities. Potential relationships will be actively facilitated.
MFMP will also develop supportive materials such as educational materials, a resource guide listing partnership and market opportunities, courses and extension services, and a land-link directory that will showcase land available for sale, lease, or exchange in Manitoba. By supporting local producers as well as working to create demand for local, organic, and natural foods, this program will contribute to food security in Manitoba through an increase in the number of local farms, farmers, and opportunities for farmers, a reduction in our environmental and energy-use foot-print, and a greater variety of healthier, tastier local foods for Manitoba residents.
Requirements
MFMP is seeking a part time Mentorship Liaison who will be responsible for coordinating the application process and ensuring the needs of intern and protégé participants are met. Interested candidates should have excellent inter-personal skills and enjoy engaging and working with people, particularly producers, the farming community, and young people. Candidates should have a background in, knowledge of, or experience in agriculture, and have a particular interest in small-scale, local and organic agriculture in Manitoba. A willingness and ability to travel within southern Manitoba is essential (mileage will be paid), and candidates will ideally be located within commuting distance of Winnipeg. Candidates must also have excellent time-management skills and be able to work equally well independently and as part of a team.
The Mentorship Liaison will report to the Project Manager and work closely with the MFMP Steering Committee. The Mentorship Liaison will:
- Conduct outreach to potential Mentor farmers and process Mentor listing applications
- Conduct public outreach with a goal of reaching targets for prospective interns, protégés, mentors, and to a lesser extent, partners. Outreach includes tabling, meetings, presentations, email and phone contacts, and the distribution of promotional/informational materials.
- Oversee the Internship and Mentorship application procedures, including processing of applications, communication and administrative support to mentor farmers, the facilitation of 3-way conference calls with chosen participants, and the signing of General Agreements, Terms of Dissolution, and Passing on the Gift Agreements by all participants.
- Coordinate the Internship and Mentorship paths, providing pre-program assistance to successful applicants, and continued support throughout placements. This includes regular contact via phone, email, and/or farm visits.
- Assist the Project Manager to coordinate farm tours, workshops, and other events.
- Assist with the distribution of MFMP-affiliated products to local markets (as required).
- Distribute and process out-going participant evaluations
- Participate in yearly internal evaluations of the program
- Participate in appropriate and Steering Committee/OFCM-COG approved professional development activities
- Participate in meetings and conference calls relating to the coordination of the Internship and Mentorship paths
- Respond to requests and inquiries relating to the coordination of the Internship and Mentorship paths.
- Contribute to or submit project reports as required.
The intended start date for this position is January 2, 2009. Salary will be negotiated and is dependant on funding received. Funding is being sought for a yearly 720-hour contract (60 - 72 hours/month).
Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume with references and a covering letter indicating their qualifications by 4pm, November 3, 2008 to manitobafarmmentorship@gmail.com.
Questions? Please contact Project Manager Sharon Taylor at 204.785.8828.
The Manitoba Farm Mentorship Program is a community effort. The Organic Food Council of Manitoba-COG provides administrative support and stewardship. Core partners directing the program through the steering committee include experienced urban and rural farmers and gardeners, and representatives of the Harvest Moon Society Local Food Initiative, the Farmers' Markets Association of Manitoba, and Heifer International Canada. The Mentorship Liaison will be contracted by the Organic Food Council of Manitoba-COG.
OFCM-COG Manitoba Chapter
