The New Century Farm Fellowship (NCFF) program will launch in October 2025. Five beginning farmers will be hired as professional staff and receive a living wage and competitive employee benefits throughout their two-year fellowship. 

This project aims to build upon Iowa Valley RC&D’s education initiatives and farming expertise to establish a learning center and community hub for aspiring farmers. Fellows will learn the essential skills needed to farm successfully and be connected with mentors, markets, land access, and other opportunities to establish their own viable farm businesses. 

The first year of the NCFF fellowship will include 40-hr work weeks at the Grow: Johnson County farm under the supervision of our Farm Manager. Fellows will also attend weekly training sessions and field trips to learn about topics such as business and enterprise planning, market and land access, crop planning, animal husbandry, crop and livestock diseases, food safety practices, equipment functions and operations, infrastructure building and repairs, crop handling, and more.

During their second year, fellows will spend half of their time working at a regional farm selected based on their individual farming goals. They will also receive their own ⅛-acre plots at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farmand specialize in one or two crops, with access to technical assistance, farm equipment and the farm facilities to support their new enterprises. Continued opportunities will be provided to attend educational workshops, field days, and networking opportunities with regional farmers, farmer educators, food/farm businesses, and funding agencies.

Eligible fellows will have previous farming experience and a goal of starting their own small farm business. Fellows should live within commuting distance to the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm and will be willing to commit to full-time employment at IVRCD throughout the two year program.

Full curriculum timeline coming soon!

Applications for the NCF Fellowship will open soon, stay tuned for more updates. An FAQ page will be available soon for questions you may have about the program.