Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Loan Fund

Program Details

Bridging the gap to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future for Colorado Agriculture.

Who is eligible?

Affordable capital and low-interest loans for beginning Farmers and Ranchers in Rural Colorado. Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and women seeking to expand, explore and engage in the agriculture industries are strongly encouraged to apply. A beginning farmer is someone who has materially and substantially participated in the operation of any farm or ranch for 10 years or less.

What can you use the program for?

This financially-inclusive lending program makes it easy for you to qualify and receive a low-interest loan for equipment, real estate, working capital, down payment assistance, collateral shortfalls and more.

Loan terms:

Loan amount: Up to $250,000
Deferred Payments for up to 90 days, upon request

To apply, contact:

info@fswcf.org

Success Stories

Fitch Ranch Real Estate Holding, LLC, Craig

Hoffman Farms -

Greeley

Ellen’s Flowers -

Cañon City

After purchasing a USDA-inspected meat processing plant, Deborah Fitch finished the process for the facility to become a Certified Angus Beef Processing Plant, one of only three operations in Colorado and Wyoming with this certification. As the business grew, it planned to increase cattle and lamb processing and needed additional property. FSWB was able to finance the land purchase, and FSWCF provided assistance with the down payment.

As a third-generation farmer, Hanmei Hoffman moved to the United States and started Hoffman Farms. She has been farming on the north side of Greeley for the past nine seasons, and 2024 will mark her tenth year in operation. Hoffman Farms has grown from three acres of mixed produce in 2015 to over 100 acres of wholesale vegetable production. The farm has focused its efforts on farm-to-school activities and underserved communities. It supplies fresh produce to 14 K-12 school districts along the Front Range, impacting over 175,000 student meals. As part of the growth, Hanmei needed funding to purchase newer equipment and consolidate the farm’s existing financing. With the collaborative funding opportunities through both FSWB and FSWCF, the farm was able to purchase the needed equipment while improving cash flow.

“The biggest challenge to farming is the cost of equipment and the capital needed to expand. Our FSWB and FSWCF loans created cash flow and allowed us to invest in several high-cost pieces of equipment and tools. Our overall gross revenue surpassed our expectations after this investment in equipment. And it helped us expand for the future.”
–Hanmei Hoffman, hoffman farms

Located in the agricultural community of Cañon City, Ellen’s Flowers provides organically grown flowers directly to the greater Pikes Peak Region. The owners farm with an aim to protect and create natural habitat, enhance the ecosystem functions on their property, and give back to the land that sustains their business. After five successful years, Ellen’s Flowers needed a farm delivery vehicle to continue to grow its operations, so the business sought funding with FSWCF.