The Maine Agricultural Mediation Program is set to offer a 16-hour training program on Wednesdays in April for individuals interested in learning more about conflict resolution or becoming a MAMP co-mediator.

The four program sessions will meet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. online via Zoom on April 3, 10, 17. The last session on April 24 will be held in person in Augusta.

This training will introduce a range of topics, including conflict theory, stress response, participant rapport, interventions and ethics. It will provide daily opportunities to practice and review case studies around the types of conflicts and issues that arise within Maine’s agricultural community. Upon completion of this training and a 40-hour basic mediation course, participants can apply to be a MAMP co-mediator and work with a wide range of issues and needs involving producers, loan holders, and members of the agricultural community.

Participants can learn from service providers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Land for Good, SCORE, Maine Farmland Trust and UMaine Extension, as well as MAMP co-mediators.

The sessions will be facilitated by Lucy Wess and Leslie Forstadt from MAMP and the Extension. Karen Groat, UMaine at Augusta Libra Professor and mediation professional, will also provide guidance and instruction throughout the training.

For more information and to register, visit extension.umaine.edu. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Lucy Wess at [email protected] and 207-974-9637.

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