DEAR SUN SPOTS: My husband’s dream has always been to own and operate a small farm. The research I’ve come up with is for existing farmers.

We were wondering if your resources could come up with a way to get funding to start one. He has heard of a farm in Bowdoin possibly coming up for sale in a few months. Thank you so much for your time. — No Name via email

ANSWER: The only resource Sun Spots knows of (other than a very helpful bank loan officer) is the Maine Farmland Trust (www.mainefarmlandtrust.org, 97 Main St., Belfast, ME 04915, 338-6575). Its mission is to keep current farmland from being developed. To do that, the trust raises funds and work with buyers and sellers to make land affordable for farmers.

For example, the owners of the Kents Hill Orchard near Sun Spots wanted to put it on the market. The value of the land made it difficult for any other farmer to buy, so the trust negotiated a selling price, and the land was sold to another farmer, who switched from apples to vegetables, but the land is still farmed.

Sun Spots is not sure how much assistance the trust will be able to offer you, but it won’t hurt to ask.

Farming is a very tough business, and many farm families have at least one spouse who works off the farm to bring in cash and provide health insurance. Sun Spots’ father switched from selling real estate to farming in the early 1970s. He was a good farmer but a lousy businessman and lost everything within 10 years.

To get a loan, you will need a business plan showing all your expenses and estimated income indicating how you will be able to pay it back.

You can get advice on the actual farming — such as what crops you might want to grow — from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension (http://extension.umaine.edu/). The Androscoggin County office is at 24 Main St., Lisbon Falls, 353-5550 or 800-287-1458 (in Maine), andsag@umext.maine.edu.

Farmers who read this column may also have some advice to offer.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am organizing the Edward Little High School Class of 1992 20th reunion and having a difficult time locating a few of our 360 members of our graduating class. I have started a Facebook page and will be sending out some paper invitations as well. But I don’t know where the following students are:

Barrows, Donald; Bell, Jeff; Belleau, Jason; Bowie, Willard; Bussiere, Corey; Butler, Andy; Chadburn, Dawn; Charest, Mark; Collins, Kevin; Cook, Katie; Cook, Christina; Cookson, Ralph; Cormier, Randy; Crawford, Jen; D’Amours, David; Davis, Chanin; Decker, Scott; Dube, Nathan; Dunn, Ken; Eaton, Stacy; Edgerly, Nicole; Field, Kerri; Field, Matt; Gagne, Jeremy; Gagne, Katie; Garay, Matt; Gray, Michelle; Harriman, Crystal; Harris, Cheryl; Jalbert, David; Joyner, Adam; Lafontaine, Jen; Landry, Jason; Leavitt, Robyn; Levesque, Michael; Merritt, Rob; Montminy, Nancy; Newton, Joe; Norris, Eric; Ouellette, Donald; Paradis, Jamie; Pelletier, Laurianne; Pelletier, Paula; Perkins, Pamelyn; Preo, Karen; Reece, Melanie; Reed, Chris; Remillard, Becky; Ridlon, Linda; Rioux, Roger; Roewer, Jenny; Shaw, Jennifer; Short, Jason; Small, Dianna-; Theriault, Penny; Thurlow, Larry; Tibbetts, Michelle; Tigerman, Tiffany; Tufts, Rodney; Wiers, Toby; Wilson, Brian; and Younk, Brian.

Thank you so much! Go, Eddies! — Liza (Marczak) Dimitri, lizadimitri@gwi.net, 783-9617

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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