Healing Soils Foundation and FARMpreneurs Launch Midwest Farmer Cohort to Accelerate Regenerative Agriculture
Healing Soils Foundation (HSF) is proud to announce a new partnership with FARMpreneurs to launch the first Midwest FARMpreneurs Cohort, convening in January 2026. The cohort will support organic and regenerative farmers across the region in strengthening enterprise viability, accessing new markets, and navigating ongoing delays in federal conservation reimbursements.
The program features FARMpreneurs’ Strategic Sprint—a week-long, in-person executive education boot camp for community-based farmers. The curriculum draws on decades of experience designing food systems entrepreneurship courses for leading MBA programs, with a focus on enterprise strategy, market opportunities, risk management, and regenerative profitability.
“This is a critical moment for regenerative farmers,” said Sarah Franz, Executive Director of Healing Soils Foundation. “Producers are delivering public benefits—cleaner water, healthier soil, resilient rural economies—but too often carry the financial risk alone. This partnership provides the business tools, networks, and capital pathways farmers need to succeed.”
The cohort will include grain producers, livestock graziers, specialty crop growers, and farmers impacted by the loss of Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) contracts.
“FARMpreneurs exists to empower farmers with entrepreneurial skills that enable them to innovate, diversify revenue, and build financial resilience,” said Dawnelise Rosen, Executive Director of FARMpreneurs. “We’re excited to bring this level of business education to producers doing vital climate-resilient work in America’s heartland.”
The initiative aligns with HSF’s broader strategy to:
Deploy risk-sharing financial tools through the Regenerative Farmer Assurance Fund (RFAF)
Invest in regional processing, storage, and infrastructure through the Rebuild Midwest program
Strengthen farmer access to institutional and regenerative markets
Build long-term resilience across rural communities
Following the January convening, farmers will receive continued support through quarterly virtual sessions, mentorship opportunities, and access to technical assistance providers.