The Sprout Producer Program is a one year scholarship designed to support and develop Tasmanian small scale farmers and producers.

The program is for any small producer, growing food to sell fresh or value-add, or farming stock of any kind, and they can be at any stage in their journey. Producers should be focusing, or moving towards, supporting the local food communities in Tasmania with their business models and proposed channels to market.

The program's practical benefits include:
- Six field days
- Seven educational units including both on farm and off farm topics
- Monthly online group mentoring sessions

Participation of the field days, group sessions and completion of the educational units are required in order to graduate from the program.

Other benefits of the program include:
- Access to a network of knowledgeable mentors with diverse skills
- Access to customers and sponsors
- Opportunity to learn about soil health, business planning, marketing and more
- Becoming a part of a community of producers who provide support and friendship
- Opportunity for media coverage

Throughout the scholarship, recipients gain access to mentoring, networking, education and support with an in-kind value of over $8,000. There is a co-contribution portion for all successful applicants of $320, which assists Sprout to fund the costs of each individual participant's farm field day, and each year we are able to offer sponsored scholarships with additional benefits. These sponsored opportunities will be discussed with the applicants that make it through to the interview stage.

Selection Criteria:

Applicants will be assessed based on their completed application form and responses to the questions addressing their farming background, their strengths and gaps on farm and their thoughts and plans for the future. There is no specific requirement of skills, experience, duration of farm life, but more a genuine desire and need to learn, develop, improve and receive mentoring to grow.  

Applications progressing to stage two (those who have completed a successful application and met the criteria for the program) will be interviewed by the Sprout Board, CEO and Producer Liaison to determine successful producers to join the program in 2024.

Application Process:

Application open date: Monday 14 August 2023 at 6:00am.
Application close date: Monday 25 September 2023 at 11:59pm.
Application Reviews: Tuesday 26 September to Friday 29 September 2023.

The Sprout Panel will conduct a review of applications and all applicants will be contacted by 6 October 2023. Those successful in progressing to Stage 2 will be requested for an interview. Interviews will be conducted Monday 16 – Friday 20 October 2023.

Successful applicants will be contacted on or around Monday 23 October 2023, and will be invited to attend the Growing Good Dinner for the announcement and introduction to the Sprout Community.

If you have questions about this form or anything else to do with the application process or the program, please call Ollie Benson on 0478 616 254, or email ollie@sprout.org.au