AFFECT provides an avenue for individuals interested in farming to gain the experience and knowledge needed to successfully start a farm business in interior Alaska. Through hands-on training, farm partnerships, and business infrastructure investment in our unique climate, AFFECT equips aspiring producers with the knowledge, tools, and community connections necessary to succeed. By expanding local food production, we reduce reliance on imported produce, improve food access, and foster economic opportunities.
AFFECT empowers a new generation of Interior Alaskan farmers and producers to fulfill their dreams of farming but also adds to decreasing reliance on outside food, impact food security and build a sustainable, resilient food system. Can we grow more food and increase the number of farmers in interior Alaska? Why the answer of course is YES!
AFFECT stands for Alternative Fairbanks Farming Educational Cooperative Training.
AFFECT provides an avenue for individuals interested in farming to gain the experience and knowledge needed to successfully start a farm business in Fairbanks. Being tuition-free, the AFFECT program is accessible to any and all individuals who are interested in farming, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, etc. Students visit a multitude of local farms and receive hands on training from our local farmers. Additionally, students receive classroom training on business skills, and grow their own crops at various satellite farms. Students receive a Farm Pre-Apprentice Certification by the Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District upon successful completion of the program
What started as a grant to teach hydroponics, evolved into a three year curriculum to teach farming to interested and upcoming farmers who want to start their own farm, or work on a farm. Tuition free, this program selects students, age range 18+, to enroll in a 15 week program that blends classroom as well as hands on experience on farms. The focus is on unique challenges and opportunities in Alaska climate and geography.
Students learn planning soil health, crop selection, seeding, transplanting, harvesting, marketing, even hydroponics. Field days will be scheduled with local farmers who will teach hands-on skills in various tools, fieldwork, greenhouse production, harvesting, and storing.
In a state that grows only 5% of the food needed, 95% is shipped in, this program is an effort to increase the number of farmers, and meet the increasing demand for fresh and locally grown food.
It’s a collaboration of experts that contributes to the program successes. Learning from some of the most successful farmers, both in classrooms and outside on the farm, this program collaborates with the University of Alaska, Co-operative extension staff, experimental farms and utilizes the tracts of donated land made available to students to grow their own food.
The program has achieved numerous successes after one year of training.
- *23 students graduated from the program, ready to farm.
- *1000 lbs. of food grown and donated to Breadline and Food Bank
- *27 weeks of farming curricula developed. Everything from hydroponics, financial statements, to soil biology!Several Farmer *Training participants took steps to begin farming in the FNSB:
- *One planned to start growing fruit trees and expand as they acquire more land.
- *One purchased a farm and is preparing to start farming and designate acreage for incubator
- farms.
- *Two students began prepping their land for farming.
- *The 2024 cohort helped to plant one student’s family property to kick-start the farm this
- year.
- *Two farmers started a small hydroponic production facility through support of this grant.
- Originally called The Island Hydro Farm, it is now Alaska Native Greens LLC and offers CSA
- shares and wholesale orders.
- *Two graduates sold produce and eggs at the Southside Community Farmer’s Market. Connecting students with local farmers created employment opportunities
AFFECT is a result of a three year grant. The grant obtained by FSWCD was to teach hydroponics but that vision did not materialize as a key partner stepped out. Through collaboration of many people, AFFECT was developed with its primary role being Farmers training. The revised program curriculum was put to test in the third year of the grant funding, thus truly putting the program in place, and measuring impact and success. The program may have funding for 2026 but does not for 2025. The collective thought is that somehow they will make the year happen with volunteer efforts, which speaks a lot about their passion for this program. They are contemplating many fundraising ideas, but are looking for about $60,000 to run the program as intended.
You could support their efforts by going to https://www.affectfarm.com. Give by clicking on DONATE button.