Serve on an NCR-SARE Review Committee

Erin Schneider and Rob McClure run Hilltop Community Farm in La Valle, Wisconsin, where they grow and sell vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers. Schneider has reviewed SARE grants as a member and chairperson of NCR-SARE's Administrative Council and as a member of the Farmer Rancher Grant Review Committee.

"As a reviewer, I have appreciated the chance to learn from a diversity of experiences and backgrounds throughout the region and network with others," said Schneider. "It feels good knowing that through a consensus process among farmer peers, I'm helping farmers and practitioners find support, share in the risk, and advance sustainable agriculture in the region. I always felt valued for my time and contributions, even when disagreements arose. Often there is no shortage of great ideas expressed in proposals, the challenge is limited funding. Offering feedback and encouragement to applicants has helped me cultivate a degree of empathy toward others, and be a better communicator when it comes to my own ideas for my farm business. I encourage you to try it out and apply!"

NCR-SARE is seeking members* for the following grant review committees:

Research and Education Grant Program Review Committee (Technical Committee)
Farmer Rancher Grant Program Review Committee
Partnership Grant Program Review Committee
Professional Development Grant Program (PDP) Review Committee
Graduate Student Grant Program Review Committee
Youth Educator Grant Program Review Committee

*Review committee members must live and work in one of the 12 states that comprise the North Central SARE region. Those states are IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI.

NCR-SARE’s review committees review proposals and make recommendations to the Administrative Council, which can be a rewarding and educating experience for those interested in sustainable production and the grant-making process.

Each NCR-SARE review committee has varying requirements, but generally, review committee members are required to review proposals, discuss the proposals on a conference call or in-person, and provide recommendations to the Administrative Council. Members of an NCR-SARE review committee may not apply to that particular grant program during their time serving on that committee.

To apply for one of NCR-SARE’s review committees, complete this online form.

In addition to completing the online form, we request that you provide a 1-2 page resume or curriculum vitae (CV) if you have one and email it to ncrsare@umn.edu. Recommendations can also be sent to that email address. We will acknowledge receipt of the materials and send a reply regarding the outcome of the selection process.

NCR-SARE is one of four regional offices that run the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, a nationwide grants and education program to advance sustainable innovation to American agriculture. Since 1988, NCR-SARE has awarded more than $50 million worth of competitive grants to farmers and ranchers, researchers, educators, public and private institutions, nonprofit groups, and others exploring sustainable agriculture in 12 states. The SARE program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).