FarmStart: Celebrating 20 Years

The first of its kind in the United States, Farm Credit East's FarmStart offers opportunities to early-stage producers with passion, drive and the skills to succeed with a new agricultural, fishing or forestry business venture. In this 20-year report, we celebrate the program and several current and graduated FarmStart participants.

Participant stories: 

• James Brown, New Moon Nursery, New Jersey: used FarmStart financing to grow his nursery business and navigate economic challenges. 
• Hudson Frye, Frye Fisheries, Massachusetts: financed his first fishing vessel and later expanded his operation. 
• Greg and Amber Pollock, Sunfox Farm, New Hampshire: supported diversification and growth in agritourism and sunflower oil. 
• Tori Pennings Cosimano and Stephen Pennings, Pennings Farm Cidery, New York: launched a hard-cider business with FarmStart support. 
• Kaitlyn Kimball and Larry Passeck, Sunset Farm, Connecticut: supported business growth, and expansion of an organic vegetable operation.