VCTGA_FALL18 NL

Mentoring Program (Christmas Tree Apprentice Program) My concept of a mentoring program is to take new growers or potential grow- ers under your wing and transfer as much knowledge about growing and selling Christmas trees as you can. We are mentoring several families at Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm. Step 1: The new grower visits our farm for a tour and a walk through of general steps involved in planting, growing, and selling of Christmas trees. This usually takes 1-2 hours. Step 2: The new growers become apprentices on the farm . They come and help plant seedlings, help in spray- ing weed killer, learn and help to trim trees. This is a valuable learning expe- rience for the new grower and they provide you some labor in return. Step 3: The new grower needs to

participate in a selling season. The customer experience is critical to a successful Choose & Cut operation. New growers need to experience a very busy day of selling trees and see how important good logistics are. This includes many details: getting onto the farm and parking, checking in and get- ting instructions for cutting, how to find the trees, having a good tree pro- cessing area that flows smoothly, hav- ing an organized loading of trees that moves quickly and efficiently, and having an orderly exit from the farm. If any of the areas bog down, the cus- tomer experience will suffer. One of my neighbors has been planting trees for 3 years and is planning to have more than 20,000 eventually. He worked on the first day that we sold over 500 trees. He gained a great ap- preciation for the logistics that he will have to plan for his farm.

The mentoring program with an indi- vidual new grower and existing farmer will vary. The goal is to help the new grower get started and avoid pitfalls that many of us have made in the past. How did we start? For the last 2 years I have posted 2 or 3 signs on the farm, on Facebook, and the web telling eve- ryone if they are thinking about start- ing a farm that I would be happy to chat with them. I have had many re- sponses. Some are clueless about the work involved and shy away quickly. Some think it is easy money and also shy away. Then there are the serious ones that are honestly interested and seeking some guidance. I hope you will add your name as a mentor for your geographic area and the men- toring program can be added to the VCTGA website. By Paris Rasnic, Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm, Berryville, VA, 540-955-2450, farmer@mooseapplechristmastreefarm.c

Ad – Farm Credit of the Virginias

Farms, Homes&Land! Loans for

800.919.FARM (3276) FarmCreditofVirginias.com

NMLS #456965

Page 24

VCTGA News Journal – Fall 2018

VCTGA News Journal ‒ Fall 2018

| 21