Loading…
← Back to schedule
Strengthening Farm Resilience Through Farmer-to-Farmer Learning
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Weavers
In this time of mounting stresses impacting farm viability, this session explores the critical importance of farmer cohort learning in building farm resilience. Farms are struggling to navigate the volatility of the climate crisis and the shifting economic landscape. An effective and emerging method to facilitate learning for farmers is peer-to-peer cohorts in which the same group of farmers come together on multiple occasions to share and compare their experiences around a specific issue or practice, creating an information network that leads to deeper understanding. It is well documented that farmers trust information learned from other farmers and are most willing to adopt new management strategies/innovations if learned from a fellow farmer and/or see it working on a farm. Farmer-to-Farmer led cohort-based learning centers social and personal resiliency as a strategy for longer term economic and ecological resiliency. Farmer cohorts are dedicated to co-learning, sharing ideas, and relying on peers for information and inspiration. Being in community with peers is a balm to the isolation that many farmers feel - delivering programming that fosters connection, crowd-sourcing solutions, and shared learning provides deep benefits. We will share brief examples of cohort programs from each of our organizations and talk about best practices for facilitating farmer-driven lateral learning. OGS: Farm Beginnings and Journeyperson uses a values based approach to business development. When farmers understand their farming motivations and social connections, they are able to create economically and ecologically viable farms that are also built to withstand disruptions and disasters within a grounded and community based ecosystem. NOFA-VT: Climate Adaptation Planning Program taps the proven power of farmer-to-farmer learning by facilitating small peer groups of farms to develop adaptation plans grounded in the collective knowledge and experiences of the farmers with a strong focus on building social cohesion. AFT: Women for the Land Circles combines research-based, participatory methods to create peer-to-peer spaces for women in agriculture to share their expertise and experiences with each other while connecting with resources that can assist them in navigating challenges. To support long term learning and fun - participants in this session will do a few cohort activities from OGS, NOFA-VT, and AFT programs. Participants will - Investigate examples of an array of formats for inclusive peer learning - Understand innovative & best practices for facilitating successful values-based cohort - Engage in a peer activity exercise like cohort students
Speakers
avatar for Nicole DelCogliano

Nicole DelCogliano

Director of Programs, Organic Growers School
Nicole DelCogliano is the Director of Programs with the Organic Growers School, She has been passionately teaching beginning farmers and supporting existing farmers to thrive personally and professionally since 2015. Nicole facilitates OGS's year long farmer cohorts, Farm Beginnings... Read More →
NL

Nancy LaRowe

Farmer Services Director, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
Nancy has been delivering programming that advances farm viability, fosters healthy ecosystems, and builds community resilience for more than 25 years. Service provision focus includes climate adaptation planning, farmer cohort facilitation, and educational event development. Nancy... Read More →
NG
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Weavers
  Climate Adaptation and Risk Management, Program Design Development Management and Funding

Attendees (5)


Sign up or log in to save this to your schedule, view media, leave feedback and see who's attending!

Tweet Share

Get help with the event

Contact event planner Event login
View support guides Find upcoming events
Create an event you'd love to attend!
Explore why organizers choose Sched • Success stories
Event App • Event scheduling • Event registration • Event ticketing • Sched forms • Call for papers • Badges • Conferences
© 2026. SCHED LLC - All rights reserved - Helping events since 2008
Conference Scheduling Software • Privacy • Terms
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link