Emerging Farmers Learning Series — Wrap Up and Celebration: Peer to Peer with a Farmer
May 5, 2026 - Jazmin Bolan-Williamson, Bekah Galang
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EmailMichigan’s Emerging Farmers and the Michigan Good Food Fund hosted the seventh and final session of the Emerging Farmers Learning Series on April 15, 2026. During this session, Alex Ball, Founder and Owner of Old City Acres Farm, led a discussion on how he founded the farm and the various lessons learned along the way. He gave advice that he wished he had known when he first founded the farm and all the knowledge that 14 years has taught him.
He emphasized knowing your community and their needs and investing in people to ensure the business succeeds long term, and making sure you have enough working capital before you start to fall back on in times of slow growth.
About Michigan Good Food Fund
Michigan Good Food Fund invests in food and farm entrepreneurs across the state, offering flexible financing and tailored business assistance to grow a more resilient, inclusive local food system. We meet entrepreneurs where they are, connect them with what they need, and build long-term relationships that help their businesses thrive. As we work toward a more resilient, inclusive food industry, we focus on entrepreneurs whose access to power and capital has been historically limited because of their race, ethnicity, and/or gender. Our efforts are guided by the shared vision of our Stakeholder Board, a diverse group of entrepreneurs, farmers, funders, and policymakers with deep roots in Michigan. Learn more at https://migoodfoodfund.org/
About Michigan’s Emerging Farmers
Our statewide program aims to create pathways to growth and economic opportunity for all of Michigan’s agricultural producers, including small- to mid-sized farmers. This project is funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, in a cooperative agreement with members of the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, Michigan State University Extension, and Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS).
This work is supported by the American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Initiative program, project award no. 2023-70417-39233, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.
