BDN interviews Jackson about farming workshops
Tori Jackson, an associate professor of agriculture and natural resources with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, spoke with the Bangor Daily News for the article, “Farming workshops aim to inspire a new generation of farmers.” At the Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center in January, the Beginning Farmer Resource Network (BFRN) of Maine will hold free workshops to help people who have been farming for less than a decade thrive in the field and hopefully attract newcomers, according to the article. “We’ve seen a huge cultural shift toward local food, and with that comes increased interest. More people want to become farmers,” said Jackson, who also is the BFRN chairperson. She said the state has at least 8,000 farms. “We are still on an upward trajectory. People are still interested in getting into agriculture but are lacking business skills,” Jackson said. “They picture in their mind the idyllic life of the farmer. Our job is to bring them into reality,” she added.