National Farmers Union Beginning Farmers Institute Applications Application Deadline July 1

National Farmers Union Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI) is a free, online, 10-week intensive program intended to improve the health of your farm or ranch business. The program is open to producers ages 18 and up and is inclusive of all operation types and scales of production.

A team of Farmers Union staff and leadership will review each application. All application content will be kept confidential. You will be notified of your admission status no later than Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Acceptance is conditional upon your submission to – and NFU review of – a background check, to ensure the safety of participants during the program’s in-person session.

Each cohort is selected through a competitive application process. If accepted, you will attend online seminars, network with peers, pursue independent learning activities, and receive one-on-one technical assistance. Participants who complete all the necessary requirements will be considered for an additional in-person session, which will include additional trainings, farm tours, and networking with Farmers Union leadership.

The program is structured around The Resilerator™, a program of California FarmLink. The Resilerator ™ includes weekly online trainings led by experts in business management over the course of 10 weeks from October to December. Participants will be expected to watch 30-60 minutes of video trainings each week, followed by participation in weekly, 2-hour question and answer sessions with Resilerator (™) instructors.

Application Process

Each applicant must submit an application (online or print), a current, one-page resume, one reference letter in support of your candidacy for NFU’s Beginning Farmer Institute, and a 2-3 page essay (typed, double-spaced) describing: your current farm or ranch operation, how you envision your operation in five years, and how participating in BFI will help you achieve this.

Apply here: