True North Farm Proposal Form

PROPOSAL FORM
MFT works to ensure that any farmer who purchases a farm from us is the best fit for that property and has a realistic opportunity to succeed. Answers to the questions below will help MFT assess prospective buyers for specific properties.

For the Narrative sections below, please provide written descriptions that cover as much of the suggested information as is relevant to you. These narrative questions are intended to allow you to clearly describe your farm vision, experience, and financial position, and give the Review Committee a clear sense of whether your application meets the listed criteria. You do not need to provide every suggested piece of information. If a question is not relevant to your situation, please feel free to enter “N/A”. Questions with an asterisk (*) are required, even if the answer is “N/A”. Please be sure to use the checklist of supporting documents most appropriate to your current situation.

Your answers and supporting documents are confidential and will only be shared with the Review Committee and MFT’s Buy/Protect/Sell staff team.

Please either fill out the online proposal form and submit online, or use the downloaded proposal form and email or send by mail your completed form and any supporting documents to brett@mainefarmlandtrust.org or mail to Brett Sykes, 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 04915.

The deadline for proposals is May 4, 2026 by 2 PM.
Name*

FirstLast
Co-applicant(s) / Spouse
Mailing Address
City
State
ZIP
Phone number
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Email address
example@example.com
PhoneEmailOther
YesNoAspiring
YesNoNot currently, but have in the past
What is your farm business name?
Farm Vision

This section will help the Review Committee understand your short and long term goals, and how well-suited they are to this particular property. Please use “N/A” for any questions that are not relevant to your current situation.
Describe your vision for the property, including short and long-term goals for the farm operation.*
How do your farmland needs align with the characteristics of this property? (i.e. acres in production, soil types, location of soils and ag production, etc.)*
How do your infrastructure needs align with this property? (i.e. what infrastructure exists vs. what you’ll eventually need)*
How might you engage with the local community and/or connect with other farm businesses in the area?*
What crops and/or livestock you intend to raise?*
What are your intended market channels?*
What considerations have you given to long-term and retirement planning?*
If you have a farm business, please share your farm mission and value statements.
Farming Experience

This section will help the Review Committee understand your farming background, training, and farm work and management experience. Please use “N/A” for any questions that are not relevant to your current situation.
Describe your experience as a farm worker, how many years of farmworker experience you have, and on what types of farms and scales of operations.*
Describe your years of farm management experience, either managing someone else’s farm or your own farm, and the types of farms and scale of operations.*
List any applicable apprenticeships, trainings, or certifications.*
Describe your experience growing and distributing the products you describe in your farm vision.*
Farm Business Experience

This section will help the Review Committee understand your current or past farm business/management experience and/or other relevant financial or business experience. farming background, training, and farm work and management experience. Please use “N/A” for any questions that are not relevant to your current situation.
Describe your experience managing, operating, or participating in decision-making at an agricultural business or other type of business.*
Describe experience with budgeting, accounting, or record-keeping, as a treasurer, accountant, or similar roles, in a paid or a volunteer position.*
If you currently operate or have operated your own farm business, describe financial trends, such as changes in gross sales, net profits, and liabilities.*
Describe your experience producing financial statements.*
Describe systems you use or have used to understand and check-in on financials.*
Farmland Access Challenges

This section will help the Review Committee understand your challenges accessing farmland for your farm business. Please use “N/A” for any questions that are not relevant to your current situation.
Describe any previous challenges you have faced when trying to secure access to farmland.*
How will this opportunity enable you to overcome some of those challenges?*
Financing
True North Farms will be sold at its appraised value, as encumbered by an Agricultural Conservation Easement.

The final price will be determined by an appraisal commissioned within 6 months of the purchase date. An initial appraisal was commissioned in January of 2024 and the subsequent purchase price is expected to fall within the range below.

Estimated Appraised Value as of March 2026:
- $210,000 - $250,000 – Estimate of the appraised value of the farm before the Agricultural Conservation Easement is in place
- $90,000 - $100,000 – Estimate of the appraised value of the Agricultural Conservation Easement
- Purchase Price = $120,000 - $160,000 – Estimate of appraised value as encumbered by an Agricultural Conservation Easement
Once a proposal is selected, MFT will work with the applicant to enter into a purchase and sale agreement and/or lease with an earnest money and/or security deposit required at that time.

This section will help the Review Committee understand your financing plan for this property. Please use the following checkboxes to indicate your thinking on how you will access capital to purchase the property.
I have not thought about how I will access the capital to purchase a property.I will use savings and/or available capital.I will borrow money, and will need to formulate a plan for the lending process.I will borrow money, and have a lending plan in place.I will fundraise.Other
Describe how you will use the resources selected above to purchase the property.
Outline your timeline for financing the purchase of the property, including a proposed lease period, if applicable.*
Proposed sources of funding to meet the purchase price of $120,000 - $160,000 (i.e. Farm Service Agency Loan, personal loan from family member, etc.).*
Explain your ability to produce an earnest money/security deposit.*
Describe any proposed contract terms or contingencies, such as, sale of property, inspections and tests, timeline and financing contingencies.*
Describe any additional resources or support you anticipate needing.
Supporting Documentation

These are the required documents you need to submit with your proposal form.
Annual cash flow projection for 2026 - 2028. Please include monthly projections for 2026. Please include all farm-related income and expenses, as well as other sources of funding, as needed.*

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A balance sheet listing personal assets and liabilities of all applicants. Please note if debts are in good standing or overdue.*

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If you selected above that you have a lending plan in place, please upload a pre-approval letter, or letter of intent to lend from a lender. If you do not have a lending plan in place, then you do not need to provide this.

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If you are currently or have previously owned/operated a farm business, please ALSO provide the following supporting documents:
Annual Profit & Loss Statement, with three years of historical numbers (if business life is less than three years, please include the annual Profit & Loss for each year in business).

Cancelof
Balance sheet (for business), YTD or as of the beginning of current year

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If available, a farm business plan from within the last five years.

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If you need any support compiling these documents or have questions, MFT staff are available to support you. Please contact Alex Fouliard at alex@mainefarmlandtrust.org or 207-388-6575 with questions by April 27th.
Partnering with Maine Farmland Trust on an Agricultural Conservation Easement
As described in the RFP, True North Farms will be sold subject to a perpetual agricultural conservation easement restricting non-agricultural development of the property, held by MFT. It’s important that prospective buyers understand the implications of farming on land protected by an easement.
Yes
YesNo
Please describe your experience:
YesNo
YesNo
If you have questions about agricultural conservation easements, please reach out to Brett Sykes, brett@mainefarmlandtrust.org or 207-338-6575
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PROPOSAL FORM

Farm Vision

Farming Experience

Farm Business Experience

Farmland Access Challenges

Financing

Supporting Documentation

Partnering with Maine Farmland Trust on an Agricultural Conservation Easement