MIFarmLink October Newsletter

As we settle into the fall season, it’s a time of change on Michigan farms and a chance to look ahead to what comes next. At MIFarmLink, we know finding the right farm connection takes time, patience, and conversation. One farm owner recently shared how the platform helped her connect with potential young farmers, share her vision, and even arrange property visits. While she hasn’t found the right match just yet, she’s had several positive experiences along the way.

As she put it, “It was a good way to get the idea out to candidates, make connections, and eventually visits on our property and through remote means.”

Her experience is a reminder that, just like the changing seasons, farm transitions take time. Sometimes, the first step is simply getting the right people talking and opening the door to new possibilities for the future of a farm.

Sincerely,

Jill and the MIFarmLink Team

(Team MIFarmLink, #mifarmlinker)

• Oct. 20th to 22nd - 2026 MACD Conference
• Oct. 20th - MIFarmLink presents at MACD Conference at 3 PM
• Oct. 27th - 2026 Michigan Agricultural Credit Conference
• Oct. 29th - Good Food for Michigan Buyer/Supplier Matchmaking Event
• Nov. 4th - Acre by Acre: Michigan Farmland Rental Markets
• Nov. 4th to 6th - Michigan Agritourism Convention 2026
• Nov. 5th - Farm Bill Commodity Program Decisions: What Fits Your Farm?
• Nov. 5th - Renewable Roots Retreat
• Nov. 5th to 6th - 2026 CASFER Connect Symposium
• Nov. 6th - Loan Readiness for First-Time Borrowers
• Nov. 6th - 2026 Rooted & Resilient Homesteading Conference
• Nov. 11th - Selling MI Honey & Maple Syrup - Safely!
• Nov. 18th - Selling to Local Food Markets: Farmers Markets
• Nov. 19th - SARE Farm Educator Lunch & Learn webinars: Conservation Economics

Join MIFarmLink on the first Friday of each month from 11 AM to 12 PM for Michigan Farmer Connect, a free monthly webinar series designed to connect farmers with helpful experts, resources, and practical information.

Each month, we’ll dive into a different topic relevant to Michigan farmers, from farmland protection and financing to business planning, land transfer, mentorship, and more.

Nov. 6th - Loan Readiness for First-Time Borrowers

Join Jazmin Bolan-Williamson, Farm and Food Business Coordinator with the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and Michigan Good Food Fund, for a practical conversation about what lenders look for and how you can prepare before submitting an application.

Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Send your suggestions to info@mifarmlink.org.

Come with questions, connect with experts, and leave with resources you can put to work on your farm!

Stop by the MIFarmLink table at the MACD Conference in Lansing! We’ll be sharing more about our work and how you can help support the future of Michigan agriculture.

Join us for our presentation on October 20 at 3 PM to learn more about MIFarmLink and our work connecting farmers with farmland and resources across Michigan.

As a special thank-you, every $25 donation to MIFarmLink comes with a free MIFarmLink hat while supplies last! Stop by, say hello, and grab yours!

Every farm connection has a story, and we want to hear yours! Whether you found farmland, connected with a farmer or landowner, started a lease, purchased land, found a mentor, or simply made a meaningful connection through MIFarmLink, your experience could help inspire someone else.

Share your story with us and help show what’s possible when farmers and landowners connect. Your story may be featured on the MIFarmLink website, social media, newsletter, or YouTube.

These partners make it possible for MIFarmLink to remain a free and accessible program, ensuring farmers and landowners across Michigan can get the support they need without cost.