Anthony and Brandy Dixon had grandparents who farmed, and they both grew up with intentions of farming in their future goals. Staying true to themselves, this marks their fourth season in official operation and their first-year farming their 60 acre grain operation and their cut-flower farm in Monroe County. Anthony said “At our flower farm, From The Ground Up, we sell pre-made bouquets my wife makes, a self-serve you-pick set up, and separate from that we grow various grains.”
Feeling a need for some guidance, the Dixons joined GreenStone’s mentorship program. “We were hoping to get someone to come alongside us so we could ask and bounce the questions off of,” Anthony noted.
GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth Mentorship is an 18-month program that pairs young, beginning, and small farmers with a more experienced mentor to gain hands-on experiences and knowledge. The program begins with a day of training to help equip everyone for the year as mentor and mentee. It also includes several coordinated conversations and site visits to both mentor and mentee farms throughout the year. Some key areas of focus include creating an effective business plan, managing risk, utilizing resources, and overseeing day-to-day operations.
The Dixons were placed with an operation that is multi-generational and focuses on agritourism like they do. Mentors and mentees are placed together based on operation scope and size, but also ensuring they are located in different areas of the state. The distance allows for open conversation, idea-sharing, and mutual encouragement.
“The program is going well,” Brandy shared. “It has been beneficial, especially when we dealt with the set-back, a wrong spray mix being applied to our crops which killed them. Our mentor helped walk us through how to handle the situation effectively.”
Whether it is assistance in dealing with setbacks, a celebration when harvest is over, or simply having an ear to listen, the Dixons were able to get placed with a mentor they can rely on.
As the Dixons expand their operation they continue to learn with their mentor. Anthony concluded, “We are excited to continue to get a feel for the basics; it’s going to be a learning curve each year.”
Anthony and Brandy are embracing that learning curve head on, working to strengthen their operation and refine their skills. Through their mentorship, the couple has gained many valuable insights and inspiration for future growth. They have learned more about sustainable practices, such as no-till, cover cropping, and the realities of farming full-time. Anthony and Brandy are eager to continue building on that knowledge.
Like many young, beginning, and small farmers, there will always be a learning curve when trying out new techniques or equipment, but with guidance and support, that curve becomes a path towards growth and success.
GreenStone is proud to have a mentorship program that encourages both mentors and mentees to expand their vision and assist one another as the need arises. For more information on our CultivateGrowth resources, click here.
