Learn from experience, grow with confidence
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EmailRegistration is open for the Michigan First-Generation Farm Mentors Tour Series.
Some of the most valuable lessons in farming come from conversations with people who have already faced the same challenges. The Michigan First-Generation Farmer Mentorship Program invites beginning and aspiring farmers to visit four diverse Michigan farms, meet experienced producers and learn how they have built successful, sustainable farm businesses. The 2026 Farm Mentor program tour dates and locations are:
- Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. – Whitney Farmstead, Dexter, MI (Washtenaw County)
- Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 11 a.m. – Twig End Farm, Flint, MI (Genessee County)
- Thursday, Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. – Heartwood Forest Farm, Cedar, MI (Leelanau County)
- Thursday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. – Of The Land, Battle Creek, MI (Calhoun County)
Each tour features one of the program's farmer mentors who will share the decisions, challenges and lessons that shaped their operation. Through facilitated discussions, guided farm tours and opportunities to ask questions, participants will gain practical ideas they can apply to their own farms while building connections with other growers from across Michigan.
These farm tours also serve as an introduction to the Michigan First-Generation Farmer Mentorship Program, a new initiative that pairs experienced farmers with those building their businesses from the ground up. Whether you're exploring a new enterprise, refining your business or looking for a trusted sounding board, the program is designed to help farmers grow through shared experience.
As an added opportunity, participants attending the tour at Heartwood Forest Farm on Aug. 27 are encouraged to register for the afternoon tour at nearby Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers, where commercial flower grower Michelle Shackleford will share how she built a successful specialty cut flower business. Participants are encouraged to register for both tours when completing the online registration so that we can plan appropriately for each location.
- Thursday, Aug. 27 at 1:30 p.m. – Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers, Cedar, MI (Leelanau County)
Register for the Michigan First-Generation Farm Mentor Tour Series
Tour stops and farm profiles
For more than a century, Whitney Farmstead has been shaped by a commitment to caring for both the land and the people it sustains. Today, fifth-generation farmer Malaika Whitney and her husband, Matthew Haarklou, continue that tradition through regenerative ranching and maple sugaring in Dexter, Michigan.
During this tour, participants will explore the principles of regenerative ranching and how they are applied at Whitney Farmstead. Through a facilitated discussion with the farm owners and Michigan State University Extension staff, attendees will learn how practices such as rotational grazing and thoughtful land stewardship support healthy soils, biodiversity and long-term farm resilience. The tour will include a behind-the-scenes look at the pastures, livestock systems and maple syrup operation while highlighting practical strategies for building healthy soils through regenerative agriculture.
What was once a vacant city lot is now home to a thriving urban flower farm in the heart of Flint, Michigan. Founded in 2018, Twig End Farm produces a diverse mix of seasonal specialty cut flowers that are sold through a flower subscription program, the Flint Farmers' Market, workshops and direct sales to the local community.
During this tour, Janie Case Beuthin will share how thoughtful planning, intensive production methods and a strong connection to local markets have allowed her to grow a successful flower business in a remarkably small space. Participants will gain practical insights into urban flower farming, including strategies for maximizing production, selecting crops, and creating value through direct-to-consumer sales. The tour will include a behind-the-scenes look at the gardens, workspaces, and systems that support this creative and community-centered farm.
What started as a passion for plants and herbal traditions has grown into a thriving farm business centered around culinary and medicinal herbs. At Heartwood Forest Farm in Cedar, Michigan, first-generation farmer Patti Travioli has spent more than a decade cultivating a unique operation nestled among the forests and rolling hills of the Leelanau Peninsula. The farm produces a diverse array of specialty crops while also offering value-added products, educational workshops, and community-focused experiences.
During this tour, Travioli will share how she transformed that passion into a thriving farm business. Drawing from her own journey as a first-generation farmer, she will discuss how specialty products, value-added offerings, educational programming and strong customer relationships have helped her operation stand out in the marketplace. Participants will gain insight into the opportunities and challenges of building a farm around a distinctive niche while exploring the herb gardens, production areas and pollinator habitat that support this unique northern Michigan enterprise.
Join us in Battle Creek, Michigan, for a visit to Of The Land, a diversified farm and event destination owned and operated by Trent Thompson and Bridgett Blough. Over the past 15 years, Thompson and Blough have grown their operation from a small organic vegetable farm into a multifaceted enterprise that includes vegetable and flower production, farm-to-table catering, weddings and events, community programming and local food distribution.
During this tour, participants will explore how strategic diversification has helped create new opportunities for growth while strengthening the farm's connection to the surrounding community. Thompson will share lessons learned from building multiple complementary enterprises, developing new revenue streams and adapting their business over time. The tour will include a behind-the-scenes look at the farm, event spaces and food-focused enterprises that make Of The Land an excellent example of agricultural entrepreneurship and innovation.
Author’s note: As a special addition to this year's tour series, participants attending the Heartwood Forest Farm tour stop are invited to end the day with an afternoon tour at nearby Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers, located just 5 minutes away. If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity, be sure to select both tours during registration.
Don’t miss out on a visit to Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers, where Michelle Shackelford has spent the past 13 years building a thriving flower farm in the heart of Leelanau County. Growing on just over 3/4 acre of land nestled among the region's rolling hills, Shackelford produces hundreds of flower varieties while serving customers through a diverse mix of retail, wholesale, wedding and special event markets.
During this tour, Shackelford and MSU Extension educators will lead a facilitated discussion on “Building a Farm That Fits: Lessons from Growing Flowers in Leelanau County.” As participants explore the farm, Shackelford will share the decisions that have shaped her operation, from hoop house production and irrigation systems to crop selection, labor, sales channels and future growth plans. Along the way, attendees will gain practical insights into how thoughtful production and business decisions can help create a farm that aligns with both market opportunities and personal goals. The tour will include a behind-the-scenes look at the production areas, hoop houses and customer-facing spaces that support this uniquely northern Michigan flower farm.
Cost and registration
All tour stops are free to attend however advance registration is required to help us plan for each location. Participants may register for one or multiple tour dates through a single online registration process.
Register for the Michigan First-Generation Farm Mentor Tour Series
Light refreshments will be available at each farm. Tours will last 2-3 hours. Attendance is limited to 35 participants per tour, so be sure to sign up early!
To learn more about the MSU Extension First-Generation Farmer Mentorship Program and other educational opportunities available through the program, visit the First-Generation Farmer Mentorship Program webpage.
