We welcome established farmers to join the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT). As a CRAFT member, you can help provide what beginning farmers need most: hands-on training and mentoring from experienced farmers. You’ll join a supportive network of farmers that include 50 of the most innovative organic, biodynamic, and sustainable farms in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

CRAFT farm membership is $25 per year plus $10 for each designated employee/trainee. Membership provides you and your designated employees/trainees with:

• Multi-year learning opportunities that help trainees advance from beginning farming skills to starting their own farm.
• CRAFT Skills Evaluation tool to help guide the farmer mentor and trainee relationship.
• Annual CRAFT handbook with member profiles, training schedule, and training resources.
• Opportunity to review questionnaires from prospective trainees (for placement in internships or employment).
• Outreach and promotion for CRAFT member farms.
• Collaborative opportunities with like-minded organizations.
• Financial underwriting of CRAFT training activities by foundations, corporations, government agencies, and individuals.

Join or Renew Online
Join or Renew by Mail: Download PDF document or Word document

CRAFT Farmer Member Commitment Statement

CRAFT farm members commit to:

• Enable their farmer interns/employees to participate fully and faithfully in the core CRAFT program (providing interns/employees with CRAFT handbooks, schedules, reminders, and time-off for events). The core CRAFT program includes the Intern Orientation at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, monthly workshops at member farms, intern exchanges and informal visits between member farms.

• Offer to share expertise and experience with regional prospective farmers through the scheduled CRAFT events.
• Consider serving on the CRAFT advisory group that guides the direction of the regional CRAFT (one or two meetings each year in the winter months).
• Make an annual membership gift to the Angelic Organics Learning Center to help with the cost of administering CRAFT.

For more information, contact Parker Forsell, Program Director, at 815.389.8455 or craft@learngrowconnect.org .