It’s almost like a digital dating service for dirt and dams, but in the reality world, Cultivate Farms is one of those blindingly obvious, clever little ideas everyone wishes they had thought of first.
In a nutshell, the brains trust behind the project are farming matchmakers with a scheme where people who want a farm (but can’t afford one) get introductions to benevolent retiring farmers who are keen to help fund these people into a farming future (and often want to retain a connection to their farming lives).
Co-founder Sam Marwood says the business is as much a labour of love – his co-founders Tim and Tegan Hicks used the program to get onto their first farm – as it is a career. He has no doubt he could make more money as a baker than a matchmaker, but his connection to the land is too strong.
“We believe we are able to provide a succession option that is a win-win for the farmers, the wannabe farmers and the local communities of each property,” Sam says.
“You can retain ownership, provide mentoring to the new family and ensure your community thrives because you are fostering the next generation of farmers,” he says.
“Our message to retiring farmers is you don’t have to sell and walk away from your farm. You can stay on your farm, stay involved in farming and be a key player in sustaining and rejuvenating your community by bringing the next generation into farm ownership.
“Our programs help farmers identify the many pathways available to stay on their farms for as long as they want, in partnership with young Australians, maintaining a sense of purpose while ensuring the future of local agriculture is in safe hands.
“We know how time-consuming it is to find the right farm to purchase and the best farmer. It is also difficult finding the right farmer to run the farm; especially one that will be in for the long term.
“We believe the best solution is to be matched with one of the best farmers in Australia for you to collaboratively find and co-own a farm together.”
Sam’s presentation at the GrainGrowers Innovation Generation 2022 conference in Sydney next week will be a bullet-point overview of key steps anyone can take to get their own farm.
He says for many aspiring farmers ever having the cash – or credit – to own their own farms seems more of a pipedream than a reality.
“You want to own your farm, but it seems impossible. In our workshop at the conference we believe you will walk away with a plan and three actions you can do right away to get on track to owning your farm,” Sam explained.
“Cultivate Farms has been making farm ownership possible for the next generation of farmers for the past six years and I will walk you through all our methods in this presentation,” he says.
“Whether you are investing in a farm for the first time or finding your next, we know profitability is just as much about the people as it is the land.
“To find the best farmers to run your farm, and to ensure your farm is profitable, the farmers need to have some form of ownership.
“We have thousands of top-quality farmers in our network who are passionate about having a stake in their farming operations.
“There are several options available for young farmers to manage land assets owned by others to build a sustainable farm business including:
- Leasing
- Share farming
- Lease to buy options
- Vendor finance
- Collaborative farming
- Joint venture/equity partnerships
Sam says he and his partners see Cultivate Farms as a social enterprise, which matches the best next generation aspiring farmers with retiring farmers and investors to own and operate a farm together.
Which he says is the first business structure of its kind, targeting young farming families to get to own their own farm.
Sam Marwood is a community-driven problem solver from central Victoria who with his partners is redefining the farming and agriculture industry.
With a background in environmental science and social entrepreneurship Sam spent his early years as a policy adviser to the Victorian Government before connecting to his roots- farming and all things the environment.
In a 2016 epiphany, Sam recognised an emerging farming problem.
“Retiring farmers were simply selling off vast tracts of property – and with it a deep understanding of farming,” Sam says.
“All the while young aspiring farmers found it near impossible to acquire the capital and acute knowledge to begin a new generation of farmers.
“The answer is now Cultivate Farms. A matchmaker for retiring farmers and want-to- be farmers alike,” he added.
“Since its launch, Cultivate Farms has nurtured many new farming partnerships across Australia, with the first of its kind in Albury, now operating as Hicks Country Beef.”
Sam says whichever approach you take, “if you are good enough, if you’ve got a plan, a good plan, you will get a partner”.
He says once the partnership looks possible, it is vital the next steps involve your lawyer and accountant because each party to the agreement needs to have a crystal clear understanding of where they are headed and how they are going to get there.
“Regardless of your ownership model, this is still a major financial decision but one we believe will be key to the regional future of farming.”
Further details from cultivatefarms.com or call Sam direct on 0408 356 042.
