One of AgrAbility Virginia's most valued partnerships is with the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Program (BFRCP). Funding is sponsored by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) of the USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Award # 2015-70017-22887, and administered by Virginia Tech, with Dr. Kim Niewolny as the Project Director (PD). Dr. Niewolny is also the PD for AgrAbility Virginia. As an active member of the BRFRP Coalition (Steve Bridge, an AgrAbility staffer, sits on the BFRCP Advisory Group), AgrAbility Virginia is able to benefit from the myriad of programs sponsored by BRFRP and to also be able to have input on topics concerning the health and welfare of Virginia's up-and-coming farmers. It is a win-win partnership for all concerned! If there is a BFRDP program in the state, AgrAbility VA highly recommends to any SRAP to seek out a similar partnership. A blog updating the current activities and meetings of Virginia's BFRCP, including farm transfer training, is available at: http://news.cals.vt.edu/vabeginningfarmer/
Submitted by Kirk Ballin