Fall 2024 News

Message from the CEO

Dear friends,

The FarmLink team is achieving great results in 2024. We’ve made $7.8 million in fair and affordable loans to 25 farmers and fishers in 18 counties so far this year. Eight of these loans helped farmers purchase land, creating secure land tenure, an opportunity to build wealth, and an incentive to invest in long-term conservation and soil health. We also completed 26 leases and other farm tenure agreements with another 24 in process.

In June and September our Ecosystem Building course provided training to 39 business advisors serving small-scale farmers and fishers, building a network of support for the small businesses we serve. Read the article below to learn about the impacts of this course and to hear what participants are saying about the experience.  

All of this work is rooted in 25 years of history and organizational evolution. FarmLink’s origin story is included below, including a new organizational timeline with key milestones.

As FarmLink grows its impacts, we’re hiring talented people from the communities that we serve to help carry the work forward. Read about our new team members below. Thank you for being part of this journey with us! 

Warmly,

Reggie Knox

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Table of Contents

The Seeds of Perseverance: Bertha Magaña’s Rise from Farmworker to Farm Owner

It’s a cool crisp morning in Royal Oaks, and the breeze of the wind softly blows through the fields. At the center of it all is Bertha Magaña, owner of Magaña Farms, walking between rows of vegetables and berries, checking on the crops that have come to symbolize her decades of hard work and perseverance. But Bertha's journey to this moment was far from easy; and FarmLink has partnered with her for 13 years. 

After immigrating to the United States from Mexico, she spent over 30 years as a farmworker, working in the fields and nurseries of California. These years of hands-on experience not only shaped her deep connection to the land but also inspired a passion for sustainable agriculture. "Farming isn't just work to me," Bertha shares in Spanish, her eyes twinkling with pride. "It's a way to provide for my family and take care of the Earth at the same time."

The seed of entrepreneurship was planted by Bertha's brother who also farms, Francisco Serrano, when he encouraged her to become a farmer. "Farming was always a part of me," Bertha reflects, "It's what I grew up with, and it's what I wanted to do for myself and my family." Despite her limited formal education and language barrier, Bertha's determination and farming expertise drove her forward.

With her brother’s encouragement, Bertha took a leap of faith and joined the Farmer Education Program through the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA), an organization that supports field laborers through land-based training in organic farm management. Initially hesitant due to the challenges she had already faced, Bertha ultimately decided to join the program. “I didn’t think I could do it at first, but my brother really pushed me. He told me, ‘This is your chance to learn and become a farmer.’” Through ALBA, Bertha gained invaluable knowledge and a supportive network of peers and mentors.

However, the path to farm ownership was still fraught with challenges. The biggest hurdle? Securing land. That’s when Francisco introduced Bertha to California FarmLink in 2011. With FarmLink’s support, she negotiated a 12-acre lease with a right of first refusal in 2013; executed that right in 2016; and purchased the land. Bertha became the first farmer to secure a FarmLink land loan, a groundbreaking achievement that underscored the organization's dedication to empowering small farmers with lending and land access opportunities. “Receiving a loan, and getting the land was the turning point,” she says. “I knew I could make it work, but I needed help getting started.”

FarmLink's support extended far beyond the initial loan. As Bertha faced the daunting task of financing her operation, FarmLink stood by her side. "They didn't just give me the loan and leave me," Bertha says, "FarmLink was always there, helping me figure things out when times got tough."

This ongoing partnership reflects FarmLink's holistic approach to empowering farmers, offering comprehensive assistance that helped Bertha navigate the complexities of agricultural finance, restructure loans when necessary, and secure crucial disaster relief during difficult times. Such tailored support is essential for small farmers, who often lack the resources and industry connections needed to thrive.

Bertha not only stabilized her finances but also integrated conservation practices, such as water-saving techniques and hedgerows to attract pollinators. As her business expertise grew, Bertha shifted from receiving guidance from Kitchen Table Advisors to serving on their Kitchen Cabinet, playing a key role in shaping initiatives that support fellow small-scale, sustainable farmers. 

As the sun rises over Magaña Farms, it illuminates more than rows of diverse crops; it shines on a legacy of perseverance, sustainability, and the transformative power of community and family support. Bertha’s journey, made possible by the unwavering support of organizations like ALBA, KTA, and FarmLink, continues to inspire a new generation of farmers, proving that with the right support, even the most challenging fields can yield a bountiful harvest of success. 

"It wasn't easy," she admits, her eyes reflecting years of hard-won wisdom. "But I never gave up. Every struggle was a lesson, every obstacle an opportunity to grow. Now, I want to make sure I'm giving back to the community that helped me get here." 

To access fresh produce from Magaña Farm, register with Tera Farm.

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25-Year Timeline: Looking back on innovation and impact

On the occasion of FarmLink’s 25th anniversary, we decided to take a look back and explore our history. In early 1999, four people aiming to create future opportunities in California agriculture, including founding director Steve Schwartz, incorporated California FarmLink. Many of their original ideas centered on intergenerational transfer, and to support land access for beginning farmers who lacked the means to access land.

Steve had learned about sustainable agriculture as a Peace Corps volunteer and recently shared, “What I didn't realize for a couple of years after FarmLink was rolling was that my family story was driving some of my passion for this work. My dad was an immigrant. He came here without documents, without speaking English, without money. His family had generations in farming. But his family was ripped off of their family farm by the Nazis and then his parents were killed at Auschwitz, and the family never got to farm that land again.” Steve, who now serves as the executive director of the Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative, continued, “I understood the connection to life on my family's farm in Czechoslovakia. FarmLink became a way for the tragic end to that chapter could be channeled to something that served people and built community.”

“When we first started and were dreaming of FarmLink,” reflected founding board member Lawrence Jaffe, “we were hoping to make 50 links between older farmers and beginning farmers in the first two years. Also, we outlined how having a library of legal documents such as leases for the farmers to use would be a great service.” 

The ambition was palpable, and the legal resources quickly took root. Those resources have been updated and expanded ever since, including partnerships with law schools and volunteer attorneys. Lawrence, then a small farmer and now an attorney and community advocate in Sonoma County, continued, “We hoped FarmLink would become a reliable and trusted source for farmers at both ends of the age spectrum to post their needs and be able learn what [land] was available and what type of terms were needed to make transitions possible.”

Steve initially worked from a donated office space in Sacramento, and the first grant – $1,200 – supported farmer meetings. Reflecting on what was learned, Steve said, “In Sonoma County,  and then down in Tulare County, we learned that the issues of succession and helping beginning farmers with land tenure was cross-cutting throughout agriculture. It wasn't something that just belonged in the sustainable ag community or the farm bureaus.”

As FarmLink continued its work in those early years, a bigger picture came into view. Steve remembered, “I'd gone to an EcoFarm Conference and met all these beginning farmers, and I thought, ‘They're facing so many barriers to getting land and being able to pay for starting their own businesses.’” It was clear that beginning farmers needed access to land, capital, and knowledge, and the organization started to diversify its work. Follow the journey in this newly published 25-Year Timeline.

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El Resilerador Enters Its Fifth Year of Building Agricultural Business Resilience! 

We are proud to mark the fifth year of El Resilerador™, our flagship program designed for Spanish-speaking farmers, ranchers and fishers with over two years of experience. This transformative course is tailored to provide participants with the essential tools and knowledge needed for sustainable growth and financial health in their agricultural businesses.

The course offers a comprehensive and interactive curriculum, with sessions held every Wednesday from January 29- March 12 from 4-7 pm in Salinas. Participants will delve into critical topics of financial and risk management, such as business structure, labor practices, recordkeeping, taxes, and much more. Our instructors, who are well-versed in agricultural business, teach with patience and clarity, ensuring that attendees gain practical and actionable insights.

Recent graduates have praised the program, stating, “I felt confident in asking questions because the instructors were responsive and understanding of my needs.” Another graduate noted, “All the different topics shared in the course were very helpful for me and my business.” These testimonials are part of our processes to understand El Resilerator’s impact and the value it brings to participants.

Applications are open through the first week of January, and we encourage those in the Monterey Bay area to apply. For any questions or assistance with registration, contact Samantha Estrada, Senior Program Associate.

This is a great opportunity to build resilience and success in your agricultural business! Learn more and enroll here. 

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FarmLink interest rates holding mostly steady

Our client community can count on FarmLink to maintain fair and affordable interest rates on its loans. Despite the Federal Reserve raising interest rates by 5% since March 2022, we held our interest rates at a maximum of 7% during that time. Due to various circumstances, our maximum rate recently increased to almost 8% for some loans. We believe this increase will not affect the vast majority of borrowers, and alternative structures with lower rates will also be an option. Our rates remain competitive, especially considering the client support services and tailored loan structures we can offer.

We can offer much lower rates, too, like assisting with conservation loans at 3.5% for farmers who need financing for projects coordinated by Resource Conservation Districts in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. We can also offer that rate to fishers and others making engine upgrades with the state’s Carl Moyer Program for pollution reduction. And with fire season upon us, we want to remind everyone that we can provide disaster recovery loans at 0% for eligible applicants, which can serve as a bridge to disaster relief funds that often take many months or even years to come through. Learn more here.

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Ecosystem Building: Connecting Advisors and Communities for Resilience

The Evaluating and Supporting Clients course has proven to be a valuable resource for business advisors supporting small farms, ranches, and fishing operations. As it concludes its third year, the course has emerged as a cornerstone in building a robust ecosystem of business technical assistance providers.

With over 60 participants from more than 30 organizations, this course has created a diverse and collaborative network. Asia Hampton, Business Skills Advisor, shares the driving force behind the course: "Farm and fishing businesses are highly specialized, and it can be challenging for them to find professionals with expertise in both their field and business management. Our goal is to provide comprehensive support to the business owners we serve while empowering the professionals they collaborate with to enhance their expertise and strengthen the agricultural and fishing businesses within their communities."

The course curriculum covers essential topics including strategic business formation, farm accounting and taxes, financial management, marketing, labor, and insurance. It also introduces practical tools like the Resilience Self-Assessment, equipping advisors with comprehensive resources to evaluate and enhance their clients' business health.

Many have already integrated course materials into their programs and workshops, amplifying the course's impact throughout the community. "I've already used the Resilience Self-Assessment tool with three of my clients," shared a business consultant from the North Coast. "It's opened up crucial conversations about long-term sustainability that we might not have had otherwise."

The value of this growing ecosystem is evident in the numbers:

• More than 85% of participants reported increased understanding in key areas like business formation and farm taxes.
• 95% enhanced comprehension of financial and credit management.
• 95% felt better equipped to provide financial and credit management support to their clients.

But the real impact is best captured in the words of the participants:

"This course has shown me the power of ecosystem building," one advisor shared. "I now have colleagues across the state I can turn to, creating a support system that benefits not just us advisors, but the entire agricultural community we serve."

"The network we've built here is invaluable. I was able to connect a client with a specialist I met through the course. That kind of cross-pollination of expertise is game-changing for our rural communities."

"This course laid out a lot of important topics that I wasn't aware of to consider when talking to the farmers I work with," a course participant shared. "It gave me more confidence in my role."

As we look to the future, the Evaluating and Supporting Clients course will continue to play a crucial role in strengthening and expanding this ecosystem of business advisors. By equipping professionals with the knowledge, skills, and network they need, we're not just supporting advisors – we're cultivating a resilient ecosystem of support. Secure your spot in the 2025 course today!

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Land Equity Task Force seeks public input

As we reported in a prior newsletter, Liya Schwartzman, Senior Program Manager, Equity and Conservation on Working Lands, serves on the California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force. Established by the state’s Strategic Growth Council, its purpose is to develop recommendations to equitably increase access to agricultural land for food production and traditional tribal agricultural uses in California. Numerous subcommittees meet regularly and the Task Force’s next quarterly meeting is on November 14th.

We encourage farmers and ranches to attend the meetings, or join by Zoom, to share ideas and opinions. Learn about and register for the meetings here. You can also provide input to the process at any time with these guidelines. 

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Streamline Your FarmLink Experience with the Client Portal

We have launched a new service here at California FarmLink called the Client Portal, designed to simplify the loan application process and improve communication with our clients. This custom-built online tool works seamlessly with our existing Land Portal, allowing clients to access both loan and land-related services using just one login.

Developed with client feedback, the Client Portal aims to streamline access to lending, land opportunities, and educational resources, helping farmers, ranchers, and fishers grow their businesses with greater ease. By bringing together these essential services in a single platform, we’re committed to making your experience with California FarmLink more efficient and effective.

For more information or assistance, please feel free to email us or call 831.425.0303 ext. 8933. We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to continuing to serve you with improved tools and resources.

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Help inform state policy advocacy with CAFF’s survey!

We value our partners like the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), and we work closely to ensure coordinated support for farmers and ranchers. Sometimes collaboration is also about raising our collective voices, and ensuring that policymakers are informed and addressing the needs of farmers of color and small-scale farmers and ranchers. CAFF plays a vital role working to shape California state policy impacting farming and food systems. “Each year CAFF’s policy work is informed by what family farmers need most,” they write, and that’s why we’re encouraging our client community to participate in their annual survey. Share your thoughts and priorities today.

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Welcome to the California FarmLink Team!

We are thrilled to announce the newest additions to our team, who bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to our mission. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to: 

Samantha Estrada, Senior Program Associate, Resilience and Wealth Building

Samantha supports all education programs, both in Spanish and English, that directly serve farmers, ranchers, and fishers. She collaborates closely with the RWB team to deliver essential assistance and educational resources. "My goal is to ensure that our farmers have the support and resources they need to succeed and contribute to a resilient and vibrant agricultural community."

Crystal Jensen, Human Resources Generalist

Crystal oversees critical functions such as staffing, employee relations, training, and benefits administration to enhance organizational efficiency and support well-being. "I hope to further develop FarmLink’s HR department by organizing and streamlining processes, helping to create a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees and supporting the organization as a whole."

Christian Fernandez, Loan Officer

Christian assists the Loan team by identifying farmers facing barriers to accessing capital. He will cultivate synergistic relationships that align with FarmLink’s goals. "I dedicate myself to this work because I believe in the power of community. I strive to make a difference by helping those around me access the necessary resources to succeed."

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Teresa Delfino, Controller

Teresa joins FarmLink as a Controller with more than 20 years of public and private sector administration and finance experience. She oversees the operations of the finance team, and efficiently manages foundation funds. “I am grateful to be able to support farmers, ranchers, and fishers’ prosperity and well-being. I look forward to improving processes and maximizing impact.”

Explore more about our staff and board members,the dedicated people who drive FarmLink’s impactful initiatives forward. 

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