New for 2026, Farm Credit is proud to introduce the Young, Beginning, or Small Farmer Grant Program — an investment in the future of agriculture and the rural communities we serve. As a cooperative, we’re committed to supporting the next generation of farmers while recognizing the important role of small farm operations. This program is designed for farmers who are getting started, building momentum, or making improvements to move their farm business forward.
This year, we will award ten $20,000 grants to support meaningful, on-farm needs and business growth across our territory.
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Who is eligible for the Young, Beginning, or Small Farmer Grant Program?
Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Young Farmers: Between 18-35 years of age, or
- Beginning Farmers: 10 years or less of reported Schedule F income, or
- Small Farmers: Less than $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income
All applicants must also meet the following requirements:
- Applicants must reside within Horizon Farm Credit’s territory
- Applicants may be full-time or part-time farmers.
- Both current and non-Farm Credit customers are eligible to apply. You do not need to be a Farm Credit customer.
- Applications may be submitted individually or with a business partner.
- Applicants are eligible for only one Horizon Farm Credit cash award. Previous JumpStart and Farmers on the Rise winners are not eligible to apply.
- Officers, Directors, and employees of the sponsor, Horizon Farm Credit, and their subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, press/media representatives, and the immediate family members of these entities are not eligible to enter.
How are Young, Beginning, or Small Farmer Grant applications evaluated?
The Young, Beginning, or Small Farmer Grant Program includes two rounds of review. An independent panel of industry representatives will review all the written applications and select up to 20 finalists moving onto Phase 2 of the evaluation process.
Phase 1
To be eligible for Phase 1, you must meet the application requirements and fill out and submit a complete application. Each application in Phase 1 will be evaluated based on the following criteria to achieve a score out of 225 possible points.
| Written Application | Points Possible |
| Bio | 20 |
| Farming Journey & Vision | 30 |
| Project Plan & Impact | 40 |
| Project Plan Budget | 20 |
| Innovation, Measurable Outcomes & Goals | 40 |
| Financial Impact & Contingency Plan | 30 |
| Financials | 30 |
| Professional Photo | 5 |
| Farm Photos | 10 |
| Application Total | 225 |
Phase 2
Finalists from Phase 1 will be invited to participate in an in-person grant pitch with the review selection committee, held at a Farm Credit office in early October.
Each pitch session will last up to 20 minutes, including time for judges’ questions and opportunities for applicants to provide additional details. As part of the session, applicants will deliver a prepared 10-minute pitch outlining their project, goals and the impact the grant would have on their operation. This presentation should be delivered verbally in a format similar to a live business pitch, and applicants will not have access to audiovisual tools such as PowerPoint.
Only the named applicant(s) may participate in the pitch; no guests or additional representatives are permitted.
Each application in Phase 2 will be evaluated based on the following pitch selection criteria:
| In Person Pitch | Points Possible | |
| Grant Pitch: 10 minutes prepared presentation of your grant project | 40 | |
| Question &Answer: 10 minutes for follow-up questions from the review panel | 30 | |
| Professionalism and Effective Communication Skills | 30 | |
| Total | 100 |
Phase 3
Applicants selected as grant recipients will be invited to participate in the Young, Beginning, Small Farmer grant reception, an in-person event designed to recognize their accomplishments and support their continued growth.
This event is more than a celebration – it marks the final stage of the grant experience and provides recipients with the opportunity to receive their grant funds and participate in meaningful networking with peers, industry leaders, and Farm Credit representatives. The event is designed to offer encouragement, connection, and practical insights that recipients can take back to their farm operations as they move forward.
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Wrong password. Try again!Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened to the Farmers on the Rise award program and the JumpStart grant program?
- As agriculture continues to evolve, so do the needs of the farmers we serve. To ensure our support remains relevant and impactful, Farm Credit is refreshing its programming.
- Beginning in 2026, Farm Credit will transition from multiple initiatives into one unified Young, Beginning, or Small (YBS) Farmer Grant Program. Under this new approach, Horizon Farm Credit will award ten grants of $20,000 each to YBS farmers across our footprint.
- This new program will recognize and support farmers who implement forward-thinking practices and innovative solutions in their operations, and demonstrate strong business acumen.
- How do I know if I qualify for the Young, Beginning, or Small Farmer Grant Program?
- If you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Young Farmers: Between 18-35 years of age, or
- Beginning Farmers: 10 years or less of reported Schedule F income, or
- Small Farmers: Less than $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income
- You must be a Young OR Beginning OR Small farmer. You do not need to fit all three categories.
- You must also reside within Horizon Farm Credit’s territory.
- If you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Do I need to be a Farm Credit customer to apply?
No, you do not need to be a Farm Credit customer to apply.
- Can I apply as a single applicant? Can I apply as a co-applicant?
- Yes, you can apply as a single applicant, or you can apply with a business partner. Both named applicants must qualify as Young, Beginning, or Small in order to be eligible.
- If applying as a partnership and selected as a recipient, the cash grant will be issued to the primary applicant or primary business entity identified by the primary grant recipient.
- Are the funds taxable?
Yes, the grant money is taxable. Please consult your tax advisor for more information.
- What can the funds be used for?
- Grant funds must be used for agriculture purposes to support your farm business within 12 months of receiving the grant. Fund use examples include:
- Examples
- As part of the program, grant recipients will be required to sign a grant acceptance agreement and participate in a single on‑site visit conducted within 12 months of receiving the grant to complete the Project Completion Form, confirm appropriate use of funds, and document the grant’s impact.
- Grant funds must be used for agriculture purposes to support your farm business within 12 months of receiving the grant. Fund use examples include:
- Who will evaluate my application?
An independent panel of qualified judges will review all applications in both Phase 1 and 2 of the review process.
- Do I have to attend the Young, Beginning, or Small Farmer Grant Reception to receive the grant funds?
Grant payments will be distributed during the live grant reception. Recipients are highly encouraged to attend to receive their funds in person. Only special circumstances will be considered for those unable to attend.
- Is there anyone who is not eligible to apply?
Officers, Directors, and employees of the Sponsor, Horizon Farm Credit, and their subsidiaries, affiliates, their agents, press/media representatives, and the immediate family members of these entities are not eligible to apply. "Family" is defined here as an individual and spouse and anyone having the following relationship to either: parents, spouse, son, daughter, sibling, stepparent, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, grandparent, grandson, granddaughter, and the spouse of the foregoing and/or those living in the same household of each, whether or not related, are not eligible to apply.
Applicants are eligible for only one Horizon Farm Credit cash award. Previous JumpStart and Farmers on the Rise winners are not eligible to apply.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Young, Beginning, or Small Farmer Grant Program Administrator, Johanna Rohrer, at learning@horizonfc.com or 888.339.3334.
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