2026 Workshops and Conference Schedule

Presenters: Wililyn Dowell- of Dowell Farms, Tom Nechodomu- Baker, Jane Jewet and Autum Stoll- UMN Extension

Class Description: How can you make a food product that is legal and safe for wholesale sale to food businesses? We will share experiences and activities about how to keep food safe when you are processing it for sale. We will talk about finding a kitchen space to work in, food licenses, and the option for farmers to process the produce grown in their own farm or garden.

Presenters: Nikki Crow- UMN Extension Family Health and Wellbeing  

Class description: COMET is an interactive training program designed to help people feel more prepared to start conversations about mental health. COMET was developed collaboratively by the High Plains Research Network Community Advisory Council alongside grassroots group of ranchers, teachers, small business managers, rural mental health professionals and health researchers. This training doesn’t expect community members to “fix it,” but instead trains people to feel comfortable initiating a supportive and potentially emotional conversation by using a simple seven-question guide. 

Presenters: Sarah George- Access Navigator with Renewing the Countryside and Maren Grunnet- of Lucky Lavender Farm

Class Description: Interested in grants, but not sure where to start? This session will explore how to find and assess grant opportunities as a small farmer. We will start with an introduction on grants and common funders, then cover how to look for grants and assess if they are a good fit for your farming goals. This will be followed by a farmer panel about experiences finding, applying for, and managing grants from a variety of funders, with time for questions. After the panel, we will work through a hands-on grant assessment exercise. Currently open and upcoming grant opportunities will be provided for participants to walk through and assess which would be a good fit for their farm. We will provide information for each step of assessment, with time for group work/brainstorming at tables. Additional speakers will be available to assist and answer questions during the breakouts. 

Presenters: Michelle Gabrowski- Plant Pathologist with MN Department of Agriculture and Liana Nichols of Wozupi Farm 

Class Description: Crop diseases are caused by microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Although we cannot see these organisms they easily spread on hands, tools, large equipment, and shoes. This session will cover practical strategies to reduce disease introduction and spread on a vegetable farm. It will include discussion of selecting clean plant and seed sources, sanitizers that can be safely used and which are approved for organic. We will demonstrate how to safely cut potato and ginger propagules for planting, how to clean tools during the growing season, how to safely remove infected plants and plant material from a field or high tunnel, how to clean up a field or high tunnel at the end of the season. 

Presenter: Madeline Wimmer UMN Extension 

Class Description: Are you looking to add fruit crops (ex. apples, pears, strawberries, grapes) to your farm? Come learn about the basics of fruit growing, including choosing a fruit crop variety, preparing your land to help them grow, and helping young plants get started into production. Participants will receive a fruit crop planning packet to take home and support their goals. 

Presenter: Amanda Grunnet of Lucky Lavender Farm 

Class Description: Quail have gained popularity in recent years among homesteaders, but what does it mean to raise quail as a farmer? This session will explore the ins and outs of raising coturnix quail in a humane, scalable way to explore poultry farming. Quail require minimal infrastructure, space, and start-up costs, making them a great introduction for those interested in poultry. We will cover topics like startup costs, incubation and brooding, housing, feed, egg production, meat production, and markets, all with a realistic perspective to help folks assess if quail could be a good fit for their farm dreams. 

Presenters: Amanda Nigon-Crowley & Farmer members of The Village Agricultural Cooperative

Class Description: This session offers a guided tour of how several farmers can work together to locate a long-term farm for rent. We will talk about how to find a farm, how to work together with community support, and how to build in basic amenities. 

Presenter: Zachery Paige, UMN Extension

Class Description: Farm stands remain one of the most accessible and flexible market channels for emerging farmers, but building a successful stand requires thoughtful design, marketing, and operations. This session will share a new Farm Stand Toolkit developed in partnership with Minnesota Grown, along with research and real-world examples covering siting, merchandising, pricing, signage, customer engagement, and successful self-serve models. Participants will also explore an innovative mobile solar-powered farm stand design that uses battery storage and refrigeration to expand opportunities for safely selling perishable products without access to grid electricity. 

Presenter: Nick Knighton, Elderberry Farmer at Half Moon Farm 

Class Description: What does it take to build an agricultural supply chain? Let’s discuss at this interactive session! We will learn about the American elderberry plant (Sambucus Canadensis), the current elderberry economy, farmer-to-farmer relationships, and just how impactful building the American elderberry economy can be for farmers and consumers alike!

Presenter: Beatrice Kamau, Owner and Farmer at Multiple Harvest Farm 

Class Description: Growing food is only one part of farming—building a legally sound, financially sustainable operation is what keeps a farm alive. This interactive workshop walks emerging farmers through a practical, real-world checklist covering business setup, compliance, risk management, and essential farm systems. Designed for first-generation and underserved farmers, the session simplifies complex requirements into clear, actionable steps. Participants will leave with a ready-to-use checklist and the confidence to move from informal growing to a structured, resilient farm business 

Presenter: Marissa Schuh, UMN Extension 

Class Description: Every year brings new pest problems. Insects can be on of the most heartbreaking, as crops can go from great looking to full of holes in a short time. This session will cover the basics of understanding roles insects play on the farm, holistic approaches to management, and give particpants experince in diagnosing and making mangement plans for common MN insect pests. Attendees will leave the session with improved knowledge of insect identification and confidence in their ability to deploy a variety of insect control methods.