Thank You for a Historic Giving Tuesday! Your generosity made this Giving Tuesday one for the books—thank you! #FLCForever
The Old Fort
Support Aspiring Farmers and Food Systems Change-makers!

At the Old Fort, various programs and enterprises serve the community, provide education and support for beginning farmers and ranchers, and produce meat and veggies for the local food system.

In 2024, over 50 beginning farmers and community members participated in classes, workshops, and field trips, which totaled over 100 hours of high-elevation farming education. Seventeen Farmers In Training participated in the FIT Program, 4 incubator farmers gained access to land at the Old Fort, and 2 ranching apprentices learned core farming and ranching skills. Over 250 people participated in events, including the Blue Corn Harvest, the Farmer Training Convergence, Country Store Mural painting, and Indigenous cultural workshops or presentations that engaged participants in planting, harvesting, and Indigenous knowledge systems.

This is what graduates are saying about the Farmer Training Program:

  • The incorporation of indigenous growing practices and teachings…[is] what made the program so unique and rewarding.
  • I loved being part of this experience. Doing the FIT program has put me on a path that I’ve been trying to get to for a long time.
  • [The program had a] positive impact…on my emotional/mental wellbeing. This has been empowering to me and makes me believe I can succeed in agriculture.

Old Fort Growth Fund 

Your gift builds the Old Fort’s capacity to train beginning farmers, practice ecologically sound farming, and meet needs for new infrastructure, staffing, equipment, and more. Any amount is welcome and directly impacts our programs!


$110,000
500 Donor Challenge - Help Us Support the President's Impact Fund and FLC's Greatest Needs!
A huge thank you to everyone who helped us achieve our biggest Giving Tuesday 2024 challenge yet—500 donors! Your incredible generosity and support have made a powerful impact on FLC students, faculty, staff, and the entire Skyhawk community. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for making this challenge a success!
500 / 500 Donors
Completed
$25,000
Jesse Lopez ('86) 150 Alumni Donor Challenge
We’ve hit our goal! Thanks to our generous donors, alumni, and supporters, including our #FLCForever challenge donor whose donation has now been unlocked. Together, we’ve made a significant difference at FLC. Thank you!
150 / 150 Donors
Completed
$10,000
Eddy & Trish Roberts Regenerative Food Systems 10 Donor Challenge
We’ve achieved our goal! A special thank you to our donors, alumni, and supporters, including our #FLCForever challenge donor whose gift has now been unlocked. We’ve had a profound impact on FLC’s students, faculty, staff, and the whole Skyhawk community. Thank you!
Completed
$20,000
300 Donor Challenge - Help Us Support STEM Undergraduate Research!
Our goal is reached! Thanks to the amazing generosity from our donors, alumni, and supporters, including our #FLCForever challenge donor whose contribution has now been unlocked. We’ve made a meaningful impact on the FLC community. Thank you!
300 / 300 Donors
Completed
$10,000
John Wells ('77) 25 First-Time Donor Challenge
We've reached our target! With thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, alumni, and supporters—especially our #FLCForever challenge donor whose donation is now unlocked—we’ve made a tremendous difference to FLC. Thank you!
25 / 25 Donors
Completed
$10,000
Bob Wilbanks ('77) 50 First-Time Donor Challenge
Our goal has been achieved! We’re so grateful for our donors, alumni, and supporters, especially our #FLCForever challenge donor whose donation is now unlocked. We’ve made an incredible impact on FLC. Thank you!
50 / 50 Donors
Completed
$1,000
Dean Jess Savage 10 Faculty Staff Donor Challenge for the Jenna Gilbert ('13) Memorial Scholarship
We’ve hit our goal! Thanks to the generosity of our donors, alumni, and supporters—including our #FLCForever challenge donor whose contribution has been unlocked—we’ve made a major impact at FLC. Thank you!
10 / 10 Donors
Completed
$5,000
Zeller Family & the Natural Pathways Foundation Old Fort Initiatives 10 Donation Challenge
We’ve hit our goal! Thanks to our amazing donors, alumni, and supporters—including our #FLCForever challenge donor whose gift has now been unlocked—we’ve had a profound impact on FLC. Thank you!
10 / 10 Gifts
Completed
2
Match
Dick Grossman Environmental & Sustainability Initiatives Match Challenge
We've reached our goal! Thanks to the generosity of our donors, alumni, and supporters—including our #FLCForever challenge donor who unlocked their contribution—we’ve made a significant difference for FLC. Thank you!
Completed
$2,700
Vice Presidents Melissa Mount & Heather Shotton 15 Foundation Board Director Challenge
We've hit our goal! Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our donors, alumni, and supporters, including our #FLCForever challenge donor whose contribution has been unlocked. Together, we’ve made a lasting difference. Thank you!
15 / 15 Donors
Completed
$65,000
Candice Carson 400 Donor Challenge
We've hit our goal! A huge thanks to our donors, alumni, and supporters, including our #FLCForever challenge donor whose generous gift has been unlocked. Together, we've made a lasting impact on FLC students, faculty, staff, and the Skyhawk community. Thank you!
400 / 400 Donors
Completed
$10,000
Chuck ('65) & Betty ('66) Lamb 100 Donor Challenge
Our goal is met! Thanks to the amazing support from our donors, alumni, and supporters—including our #FLCForever challenge donor, whose contribution has now been unlocked. Together, we’ve made a lasting difference for the Skyhawk community. Thank you!
100 / 100 Donors
Completed
$10,000
Kaia ('80) & Roy ('78) Sailor 100 Alumni Donor Challenge
We’ve reached our goal, and it's all thanks to the generosity of our donors, alumni, and supporters—including our #FLCForever challenge donor whose generous contribution has now been unlocked. We've made a meaningful difference to the Skyhawk community. Thank you!
100 / 100 Donors
Completed
$7,500
Matt Ferris ('96) 50 Alumni Donor Challenge
We've reached our target! Thanks to the amazing support of our donors, alumni, and supporters—including our #FLCForever challenge donor who unlocked their contribution—we’ve made a real difference to FLC. Thank you!
50 / 50 Donors
Completed
$2,000
Sharon D'Emidio ('98) 25 Alumni Donor Challenge
We’ve achieved our goal! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, alumni, and supporters—including our #FLCForever challenge donor whose donation has now been unlocked—we’ve had a lasting impact on FLC. Thank you!
25 / 25 Donors
Completed
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Or you can contact us at foundation@fortlewis.edu.