Grazier Mentorship Program

Connecting beginning and advanced graziers.

One on One Grazier Mentorship

The GrassWorks mentorship program is designed to help beginning graziers gain the skills they need for success by providing one-on-one mentoring with an experienced grazier for a one-year period. Farming involves a blend of knowledge, physical skills and adaptive management. Through the mentorship program, early career graziers will learn beside an experienced mentor, allowing them to understand their farm ecosystem, build skills, and manage the business of farming. Mentors will help their mentees learn to adaptively solve problems, connect to the wider grazing community, and access the resources available to them.

How the Program Works

Comprehensive Learning

The GrassWorks Mentorship Program provides mentees with 30 hours of personalized guidance from experienced graziers, alongside access to the Livestock Grazier Curriculum, a comprehensive resource covering essential skills for successful grazing. This program offers a well-rounded learning experience, helping mentees enhance their farm management, solve problems adaptively, and build connections within the grazing community.

Timeline

The mentorship program lasts for one year, starting and ending at the GrassWorks Annual Grazing Conference. Mentee and mentor applications are reviewed in the late fall, and mentors are paired with mentees based on farm type, location, and goals.

The program begins at the GrassWorks Conference with onboarding and networking activities. Following the conference, GrassWorks will set up an an initial planning session to prioritize learning objectives and goals for the year. From there, mentors and mentees work together to find the best schedule and communication methods for their particular mentorship relationship.

Cost and Compensation

Mentees pay a $250 participation fee, which includes free registration to one day of the GrassWorks Grazing Conferences at both the start and end of the program. Scholarships are available through Compeer to cover this fee. Mentors are compensated $1,000 for their time, paid in two installments throughout the program.

Mentee Eligibility and Responsibilities

Eligibility

Farmers who have access to land, currently raise livestock and have at least 1 year of farming experience are eligible to participate as mentees. Mentees are expected to have the goal of attaining a profitable operation and to commit to regular communication with their mentor for the duration of the one year program.

Responsibilities

Mentees are expected to actively engage in the program by maintaining regular communication with their mentor, attending farm visits, and participating in monthly learning activities. They should also be open to constructive feedback, proactive in their learning, and committed to improving their grazing practices. To gain community feedback and support, the mentee must also host one pasture walk, with support from GrassWorks, during the mentorship year. 

Mentor Eligibility and Responsibilities

Eligibility

Farmers are eligible to mentor if they have at least 5 years of managed grazing experience and farm themselves or have access to a managed grazing operation or local pasture walks to exhibit to their mentee. Mentors must be willing to commit at least 30 hours throughout the one year program, communicate regularly with the mentee, respond in a timely manner, use the provided Grazier Curriculum as a training guide, and maintain records of their mentoring activities.

Responsibilities

Mentors commit to providing 30 hours of mentorship, offering personalized guidance, and visiting the mentee’s farm at least once. They are responsible for supporting their mentee’s growth, offering feedback, and maintaining clear communication. Mentors are also required to document their activities and submit reports to GrassWorks.

GrassWorks Responsibilities

GrassWorks offers robust support throughout the mentorship, including mentor compensation, program coordination, and access to the Grazier Curriculum. Mentees and mentors receive free registration to GrassWorks Grazing Conferences, and GrassWorks staff are available to assist with conflict resolution, periodic check-ins, and program facilitation to ensure a successful experience for all participants.

Applications

Mentors and mentees may apply at any time during the year. Applications will be assessed for fit with the program as well used to inform mentorship pairs.  Applications will be assessed in November and pairs will be recommended in December.