Tips for Using AgLink – Established Farmers and Farmland Owners
- Assess your readiness. Consider your goals and what you are offering. Ask yourself:
- Why do I want to work with a beginning farmer?
- What will my level of involvement be? Do you want to sell farmland or equipment outright, manage a lease, or stay on as a consultant? Your role will vary greatly depending on your goals.
- Plan ahead. How does AgLink fit into your succession plan? Have you considered what role family will play in the future? Make sure you are communicating your goals to the people impacted by your farm succession and estate plan.
- Get organized. Once you are ready to apply, set aside sufficient time to fill out the application. Incomplete profiles will not be accepted. Be as detailed as possible in your profile by listing your future plans for your operation and the roles you and your family would like to play.
- Do you have several farms or farm opportunities? AgLink allows established landowners and farmers to make multiple listings.
- Say “Hello!” Once your application is approved, you can browse available beginning farmer profiles. If you see a potential candidate, favorite the profile and then send a message! It is up to you to determine if/when you are comfortable sharing your personal contact information to continue the conversation outside AgLink.
- Be patient. AgLink is a user-led experience. As such, the Beginning Farmer Center does not assist in making connections or matches between beginning farmers and listed farm opportunities. AgLink should be just one of the tools used in your search. You should also use your personal network as well as other states’ programs to find farm opportunities.
- Stay up-to-date. Make sure you are regularly checking your email (including spam folder) to make sure you don’t miss any messages. This includes a yearly confirmation that you want to keep your account on AgLink active. To stay connected, you should also sign up for the Beginning Farmer Center newsletter on our website.