New Farmer U: Giving Your Beginning Farm a Boost!
Our 2026 New Farmer U is now over.
You can ready a short recap summary here and see info from the event below:
"Renewing the Countryside partnered with Marbleseed and Big River Farms to host the New Farmer U (NFU) gathering! 42 aspiring and active farmers, traveling from across Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois, gathered in Lanesboro, MN at the beautiful Eagle Bluff Environmental Center.
The farmers present had land ranging in scale, from small urban and backyard operations to larger rural farms, and producing everything from vegetables and fruit to dairy, livestock, mushrooms, hemp, and bees.
Throughout the weekend, participants moved between sessions focused on financial management, marketing, production systems, and legal considerations. These sessions were grounded in real-world experience and paired with practical tools like a complimentary copy of Fearless Farm Finances, a collection of take-home resources, and continued access to shared slide decks and digital planning tools.
Participants stayed on-site throughout the weekend, creating a natural rhythm of learning and connection that extended beyond the classroom. That connection carried over into shared meals featuring locally farmed food where conversations flowed from workshop sessions to genuine, informal exchanges.
Participants even gathered around a cozy bonfire with snacks, switchel, and roasted crickets, creating space for storytelling and laughter."
....We hope you can join us at a future New Farmer U!
2026 New Farmer U | Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center | Lanesboro, MN
March 21–22, 2026 | Saturday 10:00 am through Sunday 3:00 pm
Hit the ground running this growing season with New Farmer U, an early spring mini-academy designed to build farmers’ business skills. This weekend-long retreat in March welcomes farmers who are just starting out—whether you are still dreaming, just beginning, or in your first ten years of farming—no matter where you live or what you grow.
Your registration covers: all workshops, four meals plus snacks, one night of lodging, and a free farm finance book!
The event will be held at the beautiful Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, a nonprofit that helps people learn through a variety of hands-on experiences that encourage care for the earth and each other. Located in Minnesota’s Driftless region, this setting offers a special place to explore, learn, and grow in nature, making it the perfect fit for our New Farmer U.
Program:
Featured presenters include Paul Dietmann, a Senior Lending Officer at Compeer Financial and a well-known farm author, as well as experienced farmers, marketing and law professionals, a local foods buyer, and more.
See our full list of speakers and sessions here and at bottom of this page! ⬇️
Through large and small group sessions on many topics, farmers will learn new ideas and receive hands-on guidance about their farm finances and daily operations.
Get ready to learn about a range of relevant topics:
- Financial planning for a successful farm
- Easy ways to keep good farm records
- Creative ways to market your products
- Choosing the right equipment early on
- Accessing funding and government programs
- Produce and livestock breakout sessions
Come for the skill building and leave with a new network of peers. Plus enjoy a relaxed bonfire gathering on Saturday night!
Meals:
Your registration includes a light morning pastry, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, plus breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Tea and coffee will be available all day. Please let us know about any food needs or allergies so we can make plans when possible.
Lodging:
Your registration also includes one night of on-site lodging in clean, shared dorm-style rooms with basic comforts. If you would like a private room or a room for two, you may request one for an extra cost. There are also several off-site lodging options nearby.
Registration & Cost:
Registration has ended.
Scholarships:
A small number of need-based scholarships are available to help lower the cost of registration. Requests will be accepted on a first come basis.
Refund Policy:
Refunds can be requested but have a 25% processing fee. Requests must be sent by March 11, 2026. No-shows cannot get a refund.
General Information:
Have questions, need language support, or want more details? Contact us!
Sponsors:
This New Farmer U is a program of Marbleseed and is produced by Renewing the Countryside and co-hosted by Big River Farms.
Contributing Partners include Minnesota Farmers Union and Sustainable Farming Association.
NFU 2026 Full Weekend Schedule:
Saturday, March 21st, 2026
10:00 a.m. -- Welcome / Check-In / Muffins
10:30 a.m. -- Fearless Farm Finances - Part 1
12:30 p.m. -- Lunch
1:00 p.m. -- Optional Mini-Session: Meet Your Fellow Farmers
1:30 p.m. -- Fearless Farm Finances - Part 2
3:15 p.m. -- Break
3:30 p.m. -- Fearless Farm Finances - Part 3
5:30 p.m. -- Dinner
6:30 p.m. -- Casual Q&A Session with Paul and Erik
7:15 p.m. -- Community Bonfire Social
9:30p.m. -- Wind Down
10:00 p.m. -- Quiet Hours
Saturday Session Descriptions:
Full-Day Workshop: Fearless Farm Finances
Taught by Paul Dietmann, lender with Compeer Financial and co-author of “Fearless Farm Finances”, and Erik Heimark from Renewing the Countryside, this popular and engaging, full-day workshop will provide instructions, tips, and tools for setting up and managing a farm’s financial system, including sample data to show how forms and records should look.
- Why detailed numbers are crucial to farming success
- Techniques for data collection
- How to set up and use a bookkeeping system
- Computer bookkeeping program tips
- Step-by-step development of the three primary financial statements
- How to use numbers to make product mix, market, and pricing decisions
Optional Mini-Session: Meet Your Fellow Farmers
Facilitator: Alpa Goswami, Marbleseed
Pull up a chair and get to know the people farming alongside you. This casual session creates space to connect, share stories, and break the ice — whether that means talking about your farm and how it got its name, or sharing ideas for the one you’re still dreaming up.
Sunday, March 22nd, 2026
7:30 a.m. -- Breakfast
8:15 a.m. -- Farmer Breakout Session (Choose One)
- Livestock Session: Choosing Animals, Practices, & Infrastructure That Fit Your Farm
- Produce Session: Choosing Crops, Approaches, & Tools That Fit Your Farm
9:30 a.m. -- Break / Muffins
10:00 a.m. -- Concurrent Morning Sessions (Attend Both)
- Session A: Improve Your Farm by Using Other People’s Money First
- Session B: Legal Risks for Farmers
12:00 p.m. -- Lunch
12:30 p.m. -- Optional Mini-Session: Finding "Your People" in a New Place
1:00 p.m. -- Afternoon Session: Build Your Brand, Sell Your Products, Cultivate Your Customers
3:00 p.m. -- Evaluations / Snack for the road / Pack up / Have a safe and fun journey home!
Sunday Session Descriptions:
Choosing Animals, Practices, & Infrastructure That Fit Your Farm
Presenter: Heidi Eger, Radicle Heart Farm
Learn how to select the species, breeds, and herd size that match your land, goals, and lifestyle. We’ll cover practical approaches for managing your animals, plus infrastructure planning—from fencing and shelters to handling systems and water—so you invest strategically and set your livestock operation up for success.
Choosing Crops, Approaches, & Tools That Fit Your Farm
Presenter: Natalie Hoidal, University of Minnesota Extension
Learn how to select crops that fit your land, season, and market. We’ll cover the importance of establishing practical approaches to planting, weed and pest management, crop planning, and choosing the right hand tools and mechanized equipment—so you invest wisely and build a productive, sustainable operation from day one.
Improve Your Farm by Using Other People’s Money First
Presenters: Pearce Jensen, Big River Farms and Erik Heimark, Renewing the Countryside
Money helps farms grow — but it doesn’t all have to come from your own pocket. We’ll do a high-level overview of ways to stretch your funds, including loans, cost-share programs, and grants. We’ll cover options from federal agencies like USDA, local programs, and other creative funding that can support farmland access, startups, infrastructure, and conservation work. Learn how these options work, who they serve, and how outside funding may support your farm goals.
Legal Risks for Farmers
Presenter: Stephen Carpenter, Farmers’ Legal Action Group
This workshop looks at legal risk for farmers, especially from lawsuits. Topics will include the kinds of legal risks farmers face, including situations where someone says they were harmed on the farm or by consuming food sold by the farmer. It also discusses legal risks from loans and the role of collateral in those risks, as well as the role of written contracts in managing risk. The role of legal entities and various forms of insurance in managing risk is also addressed. Come ready to engage, ask questions, and build confidence navigating these issues.
Optional Mini-Session: Finding "Your People" in a New Place
Facilitator: Brett Olson, Renewing the Countryside
Farming is easier — and more fun — with a community behind you. In this short session, we’ll brainstorm ways to find “your people” in rural and new spaces, from neighbors and local organizations to clubs and schools. Learn how to create practical support systems and social networks, whether it’s borrowing tools, arranging animal care, or celebrating milestones with others who understand farm life.
Build Your Brand, Sell Your Products, Cultivate Your Customers
Presenters: Chris Barth, 10th Street Farm & Market
Panelists: Relyndis Tegomoh (Kisheri Farm), Heidi Eger (Radicle Heart Farm), and Peter Kraus (Iowa Food Hub)
Discover how to connect with customers, share your farm’s story, and match your products with the right branding, packaging, and marketing. Learn simple techniques to focus your marketing efforts on the right messages and channels to maximize impact. Plus, gain insights from a panel of experienced farmers and including a professional local foods buyer during a lively and interactive discussion about sales channels and creative strategies to grow your bottom line. We'll finish with audience Q&A as we cap off the weekend.