Native Farmer and Rancher Apprenticeship Network

In 2021, First Nations announced the creation of a Native Farmer and Rancher Apprenticeship Network program funded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

The apprenticeship goal was to provide training and technical assistance and networking opportunities to a cohort of 30 selected Native American farmers and ranchers to expand their business capacity and strengthen land management strategies. In building business capacity and agricultural management of their operations, the purpose was to additionally increase local production of and community access to food through conservation plan development, marketing and branding, Native agricultural traditions, and natural resources management.

In this report, apprentices share stories, lessons learned, and successes, illustrating their involvement in the network and their ultimate goals of preserving and strengthening Native food systems and understanding their collective role in food sovereignty and land stewardship.