We Grow Farmers
There’s a little dirt inside all of us. Dig yours out in the California Farm Academy.
Whether you’re purchasing your first shovel or looking to expand a thriving enterprise, the California Farm Academy can help you plow ahead smarter and faster.
Courses cover a wide range of topics and are designed for aspiring, beginning and more seasoned farmers.
Apprenticeships are available for aspiring Beginning Farm Managers who want to build their skills and knowledge while working on a California farm operation.
Our Farm Business Incubator Program supports beginning farmers with access to land, infrastructure, and ongoing training.
California Farm Academy Courses
Welding • Farm Business Planning • Tractor Training Marketing • Animal Husbandry • Irrigation • And More
Intensive hands-on courses on topics from business planning and financials to irrigation and animal husbandry prepare you for a future in agriculture, no matter where you are on your farming journey.
The Explorer Course is for aspiring farmers with little to no experience; Farm Business Planning and Marketing for entrepreneurs, and hands-on instruction in Welding, Tractors, Animal Husbandry, and Irrigation are for those ready to dig deeper.
We also bring in experts and innovators from the field to help create more resilient California farms and farmers.
Beginning Farm Manager Apprenticeships
Reach your peak faster in partnership with the Apprenticeship in Beginning Farm Management. By training aspiring farm managers and working directly with enterprises looking to upskill or hire, CLBL addresses California’s workforce shortage with a closed-loop model that’s good for people and profit.
The Apprenticeship Program is a formal apprenticeship registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards that combines paid, on-the-job training with job-related instruction. Our trainers shepherd high-capacity farmworkers up their career ladder by providing practical experience, valuable skills, mentorship, and an industry-recognized credential. The program lasts approximately two years, and upon completion of the program, the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards graduates apprentices to a Journeyman level in the occupation of a Beginning Farm and Ranch Manager.
Farm Business Incubator
The California Farm Academy Farm Business Incubator supports beginning farmers by providing access to land, infrastructure, and ongoing training. Our farmers initiate their farm enterprises, experiment with production techniques, and develop markets. They refine their business plans with support from mentors on staff and in the community. Plots of land from one-quarter acre or more, as well as greenhouse and cooler space on some sites, can be leased on an annual basis. Participants exit the program with confidence, experience, knowledge, and a higher chance of success. Contact us to inquire about low cost land leases in Yolo County.
Planting Seeds for veteran success
For many veterans, farming offers more than just a job—it provides a sense of purpose and a way to continue serving their communities. The discipline, leadership skills, and adaptability cultivated during military service naturally transfer into agricultural work.
At CLBL, we are committed to ensuring that veterans have the opportunity to thrive in this rewarding field. For veterans interested in starting their own farming businesses, we offer veterans scholarships to all of our California Farm Academy Courses.
For veterans seeking a structured, guided route into agriculture, our Beginning Farm Manager Apprenticeship Program partners with farm operations statewide to provide education and training with established farm mentors. The program is Veterans Administration (VA) approved, so eligible veterans can use their education assistance benefits while enrolled in the coursework. Veterans can also access their Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits, when applicable.
If you’re a veteran looking to start a career in agriculture, contact us.
