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Leveraging the FARM Champion Network to Support Farm Risk Management

Ahlishia Shipley

Summary

The FARM Champion Network is a national, educator-driven model designed to strengthen risk management education by connecting farmers, farmer-serving professionals, and trusted technical assistance providers across states and sectors. Developed as part of the Agricultural Finance, Tax, and Asset Protection (AgFTAP) program, the network elevates locally grounded expertise and peer-to-peer learning as essential tools for building farm resilience.

This session will introduce the FARM Champion Network and demonstrate how it functions as a vehicle to strengthen the national ecosystem of risk management education providers while elevating real-world success stories among farmers and educators. FARM Champions—drawn from Extension, community-based organizations, cooperatives, and land-grant institutions—serve as trusted intermediaries who help translate complex financial, legal, and business risk concepts into practical, actionable guidance for producers.

Participants will learn how the network supports risk management outcomes across multiple risk areas, including financial, legal, production, and human risk, by fostering farmer-to-farmer connections, encouraging shared problem-solving, and supporting earlier and more informed engagement with risk management tools and practices.

Designed for educators and outreach professionals, this session will focus on educating participants about the FARM Champion Network, how it operates, and how it can be directly used to support farmers and farmer-serving professionals. Attendees will gain clarity on how to engage with the network, access and share tools and resources, connect farmers to trusted technical assistance, and elevate farmer success stories that demonstrate effective risk management practices.

Details

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