KANE COUNTY, Ill. — Illinois Extension staff told the Kane County Agriculture Committee on July 17 that applications open Monday for a 12-week Master Urban Farmer Training program running Sept. 22–Dec. 8, with a $75 fee that covers course materials.

Alexis Barnes, local food and small farms educator with Illinois Extension, said the program meets every other week, alternating production topics with business and marketing sessions. She said the course is geared to beginner specialty-crop farmers and covers cover crops, composting, crop rotation, season extension and business-plan basics, including marketing and grants.

Barnes said the application will be open for about a month; cost is $75 and that amount covers materials only, with grant funds covering additional expenses. "This is really geared towards our beginner specialty crop farmers," Barnes said.

Barnes reminded the committee that the program drew heavy interest in prior offerings: last year about 45 Kane applicants joined a larger, regional cohort that included Cook County applicants. Committee members encouraged early application because prior editions filled quickly.

There was no formal committee action on the program; Barnes offered to provide a PDF flyer for the county's communications staff so the announcement can appear in Kane County Connects and the county newsletter.

What's next: Applications open Monday and will remain open for about a month; Barnes asked anyone interested to apply early. The committee and county communications staff will share an updated marketing flyer that Barnes agreed to provide by the end of the day on July 17.