Conference

The 2025 Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference is an immersive, weekend-long gathering that brings together new and experienced forest farmers, professionals, and natural products entrepreneurs from across the region. Participants will explore forest farming topics including growing, conserving, harvesting, and marketing a wide range of species such as mushrooms, goldenseal, and elderberry. The event will also focus on small business development, marketing, value-added strategies, and looking at agritourism as a way to diversify income and engage the public with forest-based enterprises. Experience hands-on learning, inspiring speakers, and networking opportunities in the heart of Appalachian Ohio. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, this conference will equip you with the tools, connections, and knowledge to grow sustainably. Learn more and register at the link below.

This free one-day event, held by the OSU Urban Ag Team in cooperation with the Cleveland Farm Service Agency, will bring together urban farmers, community leaders, and agriculture professionals to share practical knowledge, innovative resources, and local success stories to support urban agriculture in Cleveland and beyond. If you are new to urban agriculture, this is a great opportunity to connect with the local urban ag network. Throughout the event, our keynote and invited speakers will present on five key topics of urban farming, including the path to a successful urban farm, high tunnel production, integrated pest management, marketing, and business management. A panel of experienced urban farmers will share their practical strategies in overcoming challenges in urban farming during the lunch and learn session. Representatives from local and state organizations will exhibit resources and services provided specifically for urban producers. Attendance is free and lunch will be provided with registration. Please register by October 15 at the link below.

The 19th Annual Stinner Summit will be in Bluffton, Ohio, on December 12, 2025. Attendees will explore ways of Finding Common Ground: Connecting Farms, Food, and Community in the Western Lake Erie Watershed. The Ohio State University’s Agroecosystem Management Program (AMP) invites area farmers and others who work in food and resource management to join us. For nearly twenty years AMP has convened this annual event in different parts of Ohio, inviting local farm and food stakeholders to identify projects that can address regional challenges. Using a participatory process, attendees brainstorm, develop, and vote on specific project ideas that can be led locally with financial support from the Ben Stinner Endowment Fund. Space is limited; register by December 5 at the link below.

The 4th annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference will be at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio. The conference offers programming for experienced organic growers, growers transitioning to or considering organic, and consultants or educators who support these growers. Registration includes two days of educational programming and opportunities to network with organic farmers in the region, as well as speakers and trade show vendors. Learn more and register at the link below.

This one-day, in-depth learning experience is an opportunity to acquire practical, detailed information with fellow Michigan farmers and gardeners. They are offering the opportunity to learn from experienced experts and producers in three topic areas: medicinal herbs, home food gardening, and cut flowers. Learn more and register at the link below.  

Join OGRAIN for their tenth annual winter event with organic grain farmers, researchers, and industry experts to explore a variety of top-of-mind topics. Two full days of presentations, roundtable discussions, and exhibitions will be held January 23-24, 2026, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Thursday evening will feature a special session to dive into the future of organic row crops production. Friday evening will include a chance for farmers and buyers to enjoy local, organic food and connect during a buyer/seller mixer. Learn more and register at the link below.

Join family farmers and ranchers from across the state in Lafayette, IN, for a day of meaningful fellowship, thoughtful policy conversations, and inspiring speakers. 2025 brought plenty of challenges: a new administration and policy landscape, trade disruptions, rising costs, economic uncertainty, and more. This year's annual meeting is a time to meet the moment, find strength through connection, and prepare for another year of fighting for family agriculture. This event will feature presentations focused on issues facing farmers and rural communities, as well as an opportunity for attendees to network with peers. Farmers Union members will be invited to participate in the policy debate. Learn more and register at the link below.

The 2026 Mid?Atlantic Grain Fair and Grain Conference is a two-day event bringing together farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, distillers, researchers, and grain enthusiasts to learn, connect, and celebrate local grains. Highlights include: Pre conference grain fair (March 15): A free, family friendly celebration of local grains with demos, hands-on activities, and local vendors. Conference sessions (March 16): Explore regenerative agriculture, milling, baking, brewing, and market trends with opportunities to learn from regional experts. Children’s program and TA zone: Fun grain-themed activities for kids and one-on-one expert guidance for attendees. Grain-to-glass tasting: Celebrate the flavors of local grains in beers, spirits, teas, and more. Learn more and register at the link below.

The annual conferences for the Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) and Chestnut Growers of America (CGA) will be held jointly Friday, July 31-Monday, August 3, 2026 in Amherst, Massachusetts. The conference’s main events include a welcoming dinner with a show and tell session, two all-day technical sessions, live auction, social/banquet, and an all-day field tour. Attendees will include a diverse mix of commercial growers, researchers, educators, extension specialists, and hobbyists. Expect to hear a lot about chestnuts and hazelnuts, especially when grown in agroforestry practices. Learn more and register at the link below.

Whether from dwindling supplies, international turmoil, or regulations, we can expect fossil fuel prices to remain turbulent and high—along with the many basic farm inputs derived from petroleum. Farm operators have no choice but to absorb these price increases. Or do they? The Ohio State University’s Agroecosystem Management Program (AMP) invites farmers, policy makers, educators, food processors and distributors, researchers, and non-profits to join us for an all-day event on September 18. At the 20th annual Stinner Summit, attendees will brainstorm, discuss, and prioritize projects that could reduce our farming systems’ dependence on fossil fuel-based inputs. The Summit process invites people from different backgrounds to share their ideas and experiences. Farmers and others are responding to high fuel and input prices in many ways – including agroecological and regenerative approaches that reduce the need for inputs, alternative fuels and energy sources, and more energy efficient local food supply chains. Together we will discuss the pros and cons of strategies and projects that can be supported by the Stinner endowment. The event is free but pre-registration will be required. More information will be available at amp.osu.edu/collaboration/annual-stinner-summit.

The BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Food and Farming Network is hosting its annual conference October 2-3, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. The BIPOC Farming Conference empowers farmers, deepens community bonds, and provides educational opportunities. There is an intentional effort in this year's conference to include a range of cultural identities with the theme "Honoring Our Heirlooms, Fortifying our Future." For more information, email them at info@BIPOCFoodAndFarmNetwork.org.