© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Young farmers in CT can apply for a grant to start their own farm

Brian Scott-Smith
/
WSHU

The New London County Farm Bureau in Connecticut is starting a new program to encourage young people to become farmers.

Matt Staebner, bureau president and farmer, said the state’s aging farm industry needs young workers.

“We’re going to be starting a new program in New London County, but we’ll also take youth from all over the state of Connecticut who are interested in agriculture and want to get a start,” Staebner said.

Farmers from around New London County at the grant meeting.
Brian Scott-Smith
/
WSHU
Farmers from around New London County at the grant meeting.

The grants are available to people 19 years old and younger.

“This is kind of a stepping stone to help them develop if they want to get chickens, get a chicken coop built or get a couple of chickens, maybe get some fencing for a beef cow, or a sheep or a goat,” Staebner said. “So, it’s kind of getting youth interested in agriculture, because if you don’t have the youth coming along then you’re not going to have farming in Connecticut into the future.”

Staebner said the average age of farmers in the state is about 60 years old.

18-year-old Christopher Sarnik inherited his farm from his grandmother. He said people without that inheritance need other means to get into the industry.

“I know from my project that if I go for the grant I’m definitely going to be able to expand my sheep flock and everything with that,” Sarnick said.

The grants have been funded by the state Department of Agriculture.

An award-winning freelance reporter/host for WSHU, Brian lives in southeastern Connecticut and covers stories for WSHU across the Eastern side of the state.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content