Pennsylvania Farm Link

What Pennsylvania Farm Link does

Pennsylvania Farm Link (PFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 and headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that operates a land-linking platform connecting retiring or transitioning farmland owners with entering farmers seeking to acquire or lease agricultural land. Its core product is a proprietary two-sided database — currently containing approximately 290 registered farmers and 49 farms — supported by human-mediated matchmaking, with a one-time $100 landowner registration fee and free access for entering farmers. Beyond matchmaking, PFL delivers a structured mentorship program operated in partnership with SCORE (which recorded 301 sessions, 349.25 advisory hours, and 116 clients in 2023), a succession-planning service staffed by IFTN-certified facilitators, and the PFL Academy educational program launched in 2023 to broaden learning resources for both sides of the marketplace.

PFL's business model is a nonprofit funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model. Operating revenue is derived from tax-deductible donations, tiered sponsorships (Gold, Silver, Friends, Advocate), and grants from institutional funders including USDA NIFA, Northeast SARE, and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, with $0.875 of every revenue dollar directed to programming. The organization is governed by a 17-member volunteer board and operates with a lean staff of four employees, including long-tenured Executive Director Darlene Livingston (appointed 2009). Distribution is anchored by formal relationships with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State Extension, and more than 18 partner organizations across the agricultural and small-business ecosystem, giving PFL preferred-referral status among transitioning and entering farmers across the state.

Name

Pennsylvania Farm Link

Legal name

Pennsylvania Farm Link

Website

https://pafarmlink.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pennsylvania Farm Link is a Harrisburg, PA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects retiring farmland owners with entering farmers through a land-linking database, succession planning, SCORE mentorship, and the PFL Academy. Founded 1993, 4 staff, 17-member board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Services

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmland Brokerage (Row Crops, Specialty Crops) (BPAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farm Data Management & Decision Support Services (FMIS Setup, Data Integration, Analytics) (AFACACAC), Farm Finance, Input Procurement & Risk Tools (Budgeting, Inventory, Insurance Links) (AFAAAFAO)

Keywords

• Farm succession planning
• Farmland linking services
• Agricultural mentorship programs
• Farmer education resources
• Farmland transition services

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Land-Linking Database Registration Fees: Landowners pay a $100 one-time sign-up fee to list their property in the land-linking database.
2. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, PA Farm Link relies on donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and funding from agricultural organizations. The organization efficiently allocates $0.875 for programming per revenue dollar.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Gold Link, Silver Link, and Friends of PA Farm Link supporter tiers, along with Advocate of Agriculture sponsorships from companies like Horizon Farm Credit, Hatter Harris & Beittel LLP, Adams Electric Cooperative, Fertrell, and Clark & Clark Law.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pennsylvania Farm Link operates a confidential online land-linking database that matches farmland owners seeking successors or tenants with entering farmers seeking land to lease or purchase. It also delivers IFTN-certified farm succession planning consultations and facilitation, free online video courses through PFL Academy, and pairs farmers with experienced agricultural mentors through a partnership with SCORE.

Product overview

Pennsylvania Farm Link operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering a unified platform of interconnected agricultural services. The core offerings include the Land-Linking Database for matching farmland owners with entering farmers, Farm Succession Services with IFTN-certified facilitators, and the PA Farm Link Academy offering free online video courses from partner institutions (USDA, Penn State, PA SBDC). Supporting services include the Resource Hub with templates and guides, the PA Agriculture Mentor Program (via SCORE partnership), and tools like the Long Term Care Medicaid Asset Risk Calculator. The organization collaborates with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and agricultural stakeholders across the Commonwealth to sustain PA's farming community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Land-Linking Database An online confidential database that connects Pennsylvania landowners with entering farmers. Landowners can list properties available for lease or sale (one-time $100 sign-up fee), and farmers can create profiles seeking farming opportunities at no charge. The system facilitates matches between farm seekers and landowners across Pennsylvania.
• Farm Succession Services IFTN-certified farm succession facilitators provide one-on-one consultation and facilitation to help Pennsylvania farm families plan transitions of farm ownership and management to the next generation, including professional referrals for legal and financial planning.
• PA Farm Link Academy A free online learning platform offering video courses covering business planning, financial planning, marketing, succession planning, leasing, and stress management. Courses are contributed by USDA, Penn State Law, PA SBDC, PA Department of Banking and Securities, PA Department of Agriculture, and Penn State Extension.
• Resource Hub A free, centralized collection of websites, documents, videos, and tools covering farming topics from business planning to stress management, including templates, guides, webinar recordings, and educational materials for Pennsylvania farmers.
• PA Agriculture Mentor Program A free, confidential one-on-one mentorship program connecting farmers with six experienced agricultural mentors through SCORE. Provides guidance on budgeting, insurance, finance management, marketing strategies, taxes, legal compliance, and operations management for new farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and transitioning operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 successful matches between farmer and landowner in 2023 from the land-linking database
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, gold link supporter, friends of pa farm link supporter, advocate of agriculture supporter and additional support.

• Pennsylvania Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to sustain PA's farming community. The Department provides funding support and programmatic collaboration for farm succession and land-linking initiatives.
• SCOREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCORE is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity and partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration providing free, confidential mentoring to farmers through the PA Agriculture Mentorship Program. In 2023, SCORE mentors facilitated 301 sessions, served 116 clients, and dedicated 349.25 hours.
• Horizon Farm Creditgold link supporterGTM or Marketing PartnerAgricultural lending cooperative providing farm loans for land, equipment, livestock, and production; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages serving Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Gold Link supporter.
• Hatter, Harris & Beittel LLPgold link supporterGTM or Marketing PartnerCertified Public Accountants established in 1925 in Lancaster, PA. Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Gold Link supporter.
• Adams Electric Cooperative, Inc.friends of pa farm link supporterGTM or Marketing PartnerNot-for-profit electric cooperative providing electric service to over 32,000 members in five counties in Pennsylvania. Friends of PA Farm Link supporter.
• Fertrellfriends of pa farm link supporterGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides innovative and natural solutions for commercial farmers, hobbyists, and homesteaders to address soil, plant, and animal nutrition needs. Friends of PA Farm Link supporter.
• Clark & Clark Lawadvocate of agriculture supporterGTM or Marketing PartnerAgricultural law firm serving Pennsylvania farmers. Advocate of Agriculture supporter.
• Penn State ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on educational content and courses for the PFL Academy. Contributes instructors and resources to PA Farm Link programming across Pennsylvania.
• Rodale Instituteadditional supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides volunteer opportunities and agricultural education resources. Partner in the Pennsylvania agriculture ecosystem supporting organic and regenerative farming.
• Pennsylvania Farm Bureauadditional supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide farm organization collaborating on farmer outreach and agricultural programming. PA Farm Link board member Joe Diamond serves as Western Staff Coordinator & Region 4 Coordinator.
• Pennsylvania State University - Center for Agricultural and Shale LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to create a leasing guide (2016) and provides agricultural law educational content. Ross Pifer serves as Director and presents courses on agricultural leasing for PFL Academy.
• Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center (PA SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides business planning resources and courses for the PFL Academy. Contributes expertise to helping farmers develop business plans.
• Pennsylvania Department of Banking and SecuritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributes educational content on personal finance through the 4-Ps to Personal Finance course in PFL Academy.
• Pasa Sustainable Agricultureadditional supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadison Hugo serves as Farm Education Coordinator with Pasa and is on PA Farm Link's board. Contributes to beginning farmer education and sustainable agriculture programming.
• AgrAbility PAadditional supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides assistive technology resources for farmers with disabilities. Contributes educational content to PFL Academy on assistive technology on the farm.
• PA Farm Bureauadditional supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide farm organization. Board member Joe Diamond serves as Western Staff Coordinator & Region 4 Coordinator for PA Farm Bureau.
• Pennsylvania FFA Foundationadditional supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard President Sarah Sparks serves as Executive Director of Pennsylvania FFA Foundation. Partnership supports agricultural education and next-generation farming opportunities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Pasa Sustainable Agriculture: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit supporting regenerative farming through education, research, and farmer networking. Overlapping in farmer education and Pennsylvania geography; partner organization already on PFL's board.
• Pennsylvania Farm Bureau: Statewide farm advocacy organization with deep reach into Pennsylvania's farming community. Overlaps with PA Farm Link in farmer outreach and Pennsylvania-specific programming; PFL board includes a PA Farm Bureau regional coordinator.

Others

• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free business mentoring, partner of the U.S. SBA. PA Farm Link's mentorship program is delivered through SCORE's mentor network, making it a direct distribution and service-delivery partner rather than a competitor.

Direct peers

• Connecticut FarmLink: State-level farm succession and land-linking program operated under the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Direct peer in mission, service offering, and public-sector partnership model.
• Land For Good: New England-based nonprofit specializing in farmland access, tenure, and transfer. Provides farm succession planning, land-linking, and educational services — a direct functional peer to PA Farm Link operating in a different but adjacent geography.
• Vermont Land Link: Vermont-based program connecting farmers with available farmland. Direct peer offering the same core land-matching and farm succession support services as PA Farm Link, serving a similar geography of small-to-medium farmers in the Northeast.
• New England Farmland Finder: A regional land-linking database serving New England states, connecting farm seekers with farmland available for lease or purchase. Closely comparable in product offering (online land-linking database) and core customer base (entering and exiting farmers).
• New York FarmLink (Cornell Small Farms Program): Cornell University's land-linking program connecting farmers with farmland opportunities across New York. Direct functional peer with the same core mission of farm succession matching, mentorship, and educational resources for the next generation of farmers.

Emerging players

• Farmer Veteran Coalition: National nonprofit helping veterans transition into farming careers, with resources on land access and farm business planning. Comparable mission overlap (connecting new/transitioning farmers to land and resources) but with a narrower veteran-focused segment.

Broad incumbents

• American Farmland Trust: National nonprofit focused on farmland preservation, agricultural policy, and farmland access. Comparable in mission around farmland transition, but broader scope (national advocacy, conservation easements) and much larger scale than PA Farm Link.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzDBW_rUehgq0_b2bDUXQWA
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pafarmlink
• Instagraminstagram.com/pafarmlink

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Farm Link