WASHINGTON D.C. – As part of its ongoing efforts to support the next generation of American agriculture, the National Farmers Union (NFU) announced that 14 participants have been selected for its 10th Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI). Over the course of 10 months, these beginning farmers and ranchers will attend three sessions focused on technical training, mentorship and leadership development.

Marty Henderson, of Lansing, Ill., is using the BFI as a way to help others, especially those who were once incarcerated. Henderson refers to them as “returning citizens.”

“We bought a piece of property and had plans to build a church, but when the economy tanked we weren’t able to do that. We did some programming and we came up with the Urban Entrepreneurial Internship in Gary, Indiana,” Henderson said. “Through this project we offer a paid, 12-week, 300-hour training program for those returning citizens, with the ultimate goal of urban farming. When these people leave the program they’ll have the training in urban farming and a basic business plan if they want to pursue something on their own.”

Henderson admits his agricultural background has had some influence on his decision to enter the BFI.

“My grandparents farmed in Arkansas and Louisiana,” he said. “My grandparents had a garden and were sharecroppers,” Henderson said. “They took their goods to the city 21 miles away. We’d work on the farm for two weeks, then head into the city for two weeks. I know the importance of agriculture.”

Henderson is also in a five-year partnership with Purdue University for help with aquaponics, rooftop gardening and solar panels (the latter which will help with electricity for the aquaponics).

Iythiyel Zurishaddai, of Detroit, Mich., is applying his NFU training to not only help himself but to reach out to others, letting them know that “agriculture is a real thing.”

“Eight years ago I developed a desire to be agriculturally competent,” Iythiyel said. “My great aunt was a very resourceful and well-connected person who knew a lot of people and she led me to the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), a group in Detroit which combats food apartheid. They have a 7.5-acre farm on Detroit’s west side.”

Iythiyel is a volunteer with DBCFSN and will become a staff member, thanks to that organization’s apprentice program. Similarly, Iythiyel wants to acquire some land in the future and develop his own apprentice program in order to get others engaged in crops and perhaps goats.

“Agriculture is something I’m quite passionate about,” he said. “I believe it should be one of those universal essentials, and unfortunately a lot of modern civilization is disconnected from agriculture. I want people to engage in agriculture the same way that I have.”

Other entering the 10th BFI are Beth Hoffman (Iowa), Tyler Lane (Iowa), Dana Atkins (Ohio), Annette Allen (Utah), Britney Barnett (North Dakota), Cynthia Ryan (Alabama), Jerilyn Copenhaver (Montana), Kathleen Alves (Washington), Katie Tritsch (Texas), Kirby Hancock (Montana), Maggie Shane (Montana) and Troy Allan (Utah).

NFU established BFI in 2011 to help address concerns about the rapidly aging farm population. According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, farmers older than 65 outnumber those younger than 35 by six to one.

“As the oldest generation of farmers retires, we’re going to see a significant amount of farmland change hands,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “Our goal with BFI is ensuring that there are plenty of young farmers who are ready to take the reins when that happens.

“Getting started in agriculture right now can be really overwhelming and there’s a great deal of uncertainty, so beginning farmers might not know where to get all the information they need. BFI prepares new farmers to get their operations off the ground and run them successfully for years to come.”