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Events for Farmers, by Farmers
Sometimes a 20 minute conversation with someone who gets it can change the course of a season. Join us for an upcoming event!

Upcoming Events

stay tuned! more exciting events coming in 2024. 

Past Events

October 8, 2023, 5–8pm — HYFC Fall Social!

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Mark your calendars for our annual fall social on October 8 at 5pm! We'll be gathering at Christopher Farm (5305 W 500 S, Modoc, IN 47358) for a potluck meal, local live music, and a whole lot of good connection. 

Live music to be announced. Bring a dish to share. Camping available!

March - May 2023 — Come See us at the Black Loam Conference

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We are excited to be presenting and/or tabling at many of this year's Black Loam Conference events. This conference happens in major cities across Indiana, and brings together underserved and BIPOC farmers to learn about opportunities - especially the "LFPA" grant that's buying produce, meats, and other goods from BIPOC farmers in the coming years. Come hear what it's all about! And we'll be sharing about resources for beginning farmers. See you there?

Registration is free - just click here!

March 18 - Evansville
March 24-24 - Bloomington
April 15 - Gary
TBD - Ft. Wayne
May 19 - Indianapolis

March 2, 2023, 8pm–close — HYFC After Party

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We love the Indiana Small Farm Conference - and the chance to hang out afterwards.

We'll gather  in Plainfield after the conference at Nigh Brewing starting around 8pm. It's near the Baymont Inn, within walking distance of where many of us stay for the conference.

We aren't buying (sorry!) but we will create a space for all the farmers and farmer allies who want to come!

​Grab yourself a brew and/or some dinner, and hang with excellent folks from across the state.

November 7, 2022, 7-8:30pm - BIPOC Farmer Focus Group

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BIPOC farmers, take this opportunity to share what's working, what challenges you face, and how the nonprofit organization growing out of the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition (Partners IN Food and Farming) can serve BIPOC farmers. This focus group is a 90 minute meeting to share your ideas. The goal of Partners IN Food and Farming is to connect the farming community, eaters, and food advocates. This network of networks will create stronger collaborations and long-term partnerships between the public, private and nonprofit sectors in the Indiana food system. We aren't trying to replace the good work already being done - instead, the goal is to complement what's working and help fill in the gaps.

Participants receive $50 for contributing to the focus group, plus the chance to connect with BIPOC farmers statewide. Online event. RSVP required, in hopes of filling all 12 spots in the focus group. 

Update: Our registration process has been hacked. The event still has space for Black Farmers, Indigenous Farmers, and Farmers of Color. We apologize for this frustration, and we thank you for your patience! Please stay tuned for an updated process, or email Liz Brownlee for more info: liz@indianafarming.org.

Hosted by Partners IN Food and Farming Board member Cesar Gellido, coordinated by HYFC board member Taylor Hartson.

October 23, 2022 2-6pm - Young Farmer Social (Southeast)

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Come "mix" it up with other beginning farmers at Vat and Barrel, in Seymour Indiana. (Did you catch the salad greens pun?!). Expect a casual, relaxing hang out here at the tail-end of the farming season, at Vat and Barrel in Seymour, IN.

We aren't buying (sorry!) but come for a drink, some appetizers, or a meal, and stay for the good conversation. See you there...more info here.

October 17, 2022, 7-8pm - SARE Grants - BIPOC Farmers Share their Expertise

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Hear from three BIPOC farmers (Vivian Muhammad, Joyce Randolph, and Lauren Volpp) who have received SARE grants. SARE Farmer-Rancher Grants can fund on-farm trials of innovative sustainable farming ideas, and we want more Indiana farmers to apply for these grants! Grant applications are due each December, so now is a good time to hone your idea and be drafting your application.

Each farmer will share her experience: What did you do for your SARE grant? What was it like developing your idea, applying for the grant, and completing the project? What obstacles did you face? What words of wisdom do you have for folks considering applying? etc. Everyone is welcome to attend this event, but we will especially focus on what it's like to apply for and carry out a SARE grant for farmers of color in Indiana. Event link coming soon!

​Co-hosted by The Elephant Gardens, 3 Flock Farm, Legacy Taste of the Gardens, Faith CDC, HYFC, and Partners IN Food and Farming, with generous funding support from SARE.

October 16, 2022, 1-5pm - Young Farmer Social (Central)

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Beginning and aspiring farmers (regardless of age!), join us for a tour of Teter Organic Farm's veggie operation and a potluck. Bring something tasty to share, and BYOB. 

​Our farmer socials are always a laid back way to get to know other beginning farmers and see another farm in action. 

October 12, 2022 5-8pm - Farmer-to-Farmer Happy Hour

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As the main growing season draws to a close, we farmers are pretty excited to regain a social life. Or at least check back in with friends after the summer frenzy! It's time to breathe, regroup, reflect and get ready for the next season.

Join us to raise a glass to each other on National Farmer Appreciation Day at Fuzzyline Brewing in Highland. This event is organized by farmers for farmers and is an opportunity to talk shop, commiserate and dream of future seasons.

The NWI Food Council, Region Roots, Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition and Partners IN Food and Farming would all like to show our appreciation for your hard work so come hang out, have a round on us and eat local food prepared by Chef Bob who can't get enough of your local products. Mocktails will also be available. And children are welcome.
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Region Roots is NWI's first wholesale local farm and food hub and is a project of the NWI Food Council, a 501c3 non profit organization. The Council serves all of Northwest Indiana: Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke, & Pulaski counties, and cultivates a just, thriving and regenerative food system for all in NW Indiana.

Oct 11, 9am-3pm - Beginning Farmer Field Day: Pastured Poultry

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Ready to expand your pastured-poultry efforts? Join HYFC President Liz Brownlee and her husband, Nate, for a tour of their farm. This is their ninth year raising animals and selling meat at Nightfall Farm, where they rotationally graze 150 laying hens, 1800 meat chickens, and 175 turkeys each year, plus sheep and pigs. Get a look at three different shelter options for pastured poultry, plus different types of fencing, waterers, feeders, and brooders. See how rotational grazing (and labor) works for these different systems. Event by Purdue Extension and co-hosted by HYFC, PIFF, Urban Soil, and NRCS. Funded in part by SARE. RSVP required: purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9GmYZVHidx3VY6W

Oct 4, 9:30-4pm - Beginning Farmer Field Day: Soil Health 

​A full day focused on working with beginning farmers around soil health, including:
  • Classroom: Delve into crop rotations with cover crops and reduced tillage management strategies, and cover crop species selection and termination methods in vegetable systems.
  • Farmer Presentation: Lauren McAllister, beginning farmer and manager of Bloomington’s People’s Market will share about her SARE Project – “No Waste Mushroom Cultivation… for small-scale and urban farmers."
  • Tour: Tour Maple Hill Farm and learn from Elliot and Margaret Dale about their approach to soil health, and how their practices have evolved over time. Learn how they bring a new piece of land into crop production with cover crops and rotational grazing. See low-till methods of bed preparation and management.

Who: Agricultural Professionals (NRCS, SWCD, Extension) as well as beginning and aspiring farmers.

Free (lunch included!) but RSVP required: bit.ly/1004BFsoilhealth

This field day is hosted by Purdue Extension and co-hosted by HYFC, Partners IN Food and Farming, Urban Soil, and NRCS, and is funded by SARE. 

Sept 7 - Beginning Farmer Field Day: Farm Finances and Farm Viability

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Let’s talk money - - how to know if you’re making any money, when to scale up, and what resources are out there for farmers who want to create financially viable businesses. Join us Sept 7 for the Beginning Farmer Field Day on Farm Finances and Farm Viability at Schoentrup Farms in Shelbyville. They raise chickens, cattle, and pigs on pasture, and they’re working hard to show that a small farm like theirs can be genuinely profitable - and good for the land and community. Learn more about the Schoentrups' farm on their Youtube channel, Breaking New Roots. 

This field day is free (and lunch is included) but RSVP is required as parking space is limited:
  • Farmers, click here to RSVP: Join us from 8:30am-lunch for the farm tour, a short workshop with our farmer host, Olivia Schoentrup, and others in the barn, and a free lunch sponsored by FarmBelt Financial.
  • Ag Professionals, click here to RSVP: "Ag Professionals" (that's staff from Extension, Food Councils, SWCD, university folks, etc. - really anyone who serves farmers) - Join us from 8:30am-3pm: the farm tour, workshop, and lunch, plus a crash course in farm financial viability resources you can use to better serve beginning farmers.
This field day is hosted by Purdue Extension and co-hosted by HYFC, Partners IN Food and Farming, Urban Soil, and NRCS. Funded by SARE. Sponsored by FarmBelt Financial, an Indiana based agricultural lender dedicated to family farms. They regularly work with FSA loans, and they want to see beginning farmers thrive. We are grateful to our co-hosts and our sponsors for making this farmer-to-farmer time and the professional development possible:   ​

Summer 2022: ​So. Much. In-person. Farmer. Time.

July 21 - Adding Agroforestry - to Your Farm, Garden, Community, and Life

Tour Goshen College's 6.5acre agroforestry plot (a 7-year-old berry/fruit/nut planting), try your hand at summer grafting and summer pruning, and then spend the afternoon with other farmers, gardeners, and aspiring farmers, planning out how you can add more perennials to your own land. The design session will be led by Darren Bender-Beauregard of Brambleberry Farm, with help from Savanna Institute staff, the good folks from Urban Soil, and our good friends at Partners IN Food and Farming (PIFF).

Free, but must register (limit to 20 people!). RSVP coming soon. HYFC is very excited to be bringing a new topic to you, and we couldn't do it without our incredible partners.

PIFF Focus Groups with Underheard Farmers

Our friends at Partners IN Food and Farming (PIFF) want to listen to underheard farmers, to see how they can help you and your farms thrive. PIFF is a new statewide organization that connects the farming community, eaters, and food advocates, so that we can collaborate and make Indiana’s food system stronger. PIFF is growing out of HYFC, so that Indiana can have a nonprofit to serve sustainable farmers at all points in their career (not just the first ten years!). They're looking for your insights to help shape field days, events, and programs that will support diversified farmers in IN. Participants will receive $50 for their contributions, and light refreshments will be served. More details to come. RSVP required...mark your calendar for:
  • July 20 - Female Farmers (Grounded Earth Farm, NW Indiana)
  • Date TBD - BIPOC Farmers (TBD, Central Indiana)
  • Date TBD - Grain Farmers Transitioning to Organic (TBD, NE Indiana)
  • Ongoing now statewide: One-on-one interviews with LGBTQ+ Farmers. Email HYFC board member Taylor Harston at their Notre Dame email: thartson@nd.edu for more details. 

SARE Field Days - Summer / Fall 2022

Each SARE Field Day has two components:
  1. Rich, joyful, honest farm tours for farmers...
  2. And the other half of the day will be focused on equipping "ag professionals" to better serve beginning farmers. (That's your Extension agent, staff at your county office for Soil and Water, NRCS, and FSA, your food council, etc.) If your local ag professionals are awesome...or if they could do a better job understanding and helping beginning farmers... please encourage them to attend!

HYFC has teamed up with Indiana SARE, Urban Soil, Purdue Extension, NRCS, and Partners IN Food and Farming to host these events. They're all free and we hope you'll come...stay tuned for RSVP.

Get the Dirt - June 2

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HYFC is helping bring beginning farmers' voices to the "Get the Dirt" event on June 2 via the SARE "Farmers Forum" model...farmers who have received SARE grants get to share their on-farm research, so other farmers can put their new knowledge to work on your farms. Get the Dirt is free (and includes lunch) so RSVP today!

HYFC member Ann Craig, of Wild Pansy Farm, will share her on-farm trials making biologically active compost. Check out her SARE grant: Leveraging Biodiversity to Improve Profitability on a Small-scale Vegetable Farm.

And grad student Caydee Terrell will present about creating compost on urban farms via her SARE grant, and sharing about trials on urban farms: Examining the utility of black soldier fly larvae composting on urban farms.

This event is hosted by Urban Soil, Purdue Extension, NRCS, HYFC, and North-Central SARE.

Update on the "LFPA" Grant Opportunity

Big Update on "LFPA" Grant from State Dept. of Health!It's time to collaborate with others in your region and draft a region-wide plan for the "Local Food Purchase Assistance" grant. The Dept of Health just released the call for proposals. Applications are due Aug 1...but remember, individual farms don't apply: you work with other leaders in your region to form a plan together. There's a call this Friday at 1pm (call info below) to talk through the call for proposals and the application process. 

In case you need a refresher: The LFPA is designed to strengthen local and regional food systems, support local, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through building and expanding economic opportunities, and increase local food consumption, specifically within underserved communities not normally served through traditional food distribution networks. Each region can submit ONE application. If you want to be in on the conversation but haven't been yet, email us and we'll connect you to leaders in your region (info@hoosieryfc.org).
 Learn More and ApplyReady for more? Get the back story, see the Request for Proposals, and dig in by clicking here, and then see the application for details.

There will be informational sessions held throughout the application period. Please add these dates, times, and links to your calendars! All of these sessions will be recorded and shared.
Deadline to apply: August 1st, 2022 at 5 p.m. For more information, please contact Naima Gardner-Rice, SNAP-Ed and Nutrition Programs Director at NGardner1@isdh.in.gov.

Lawrence Community Gardens Learning Lunch

What: Join Sharrona Moore & Lawrence Community Gardens to share your successes, lessons learned, or ambitions for conservation and your farm, with a close-knit group of like-minded farmers. The event includes a facilitated roundtable discussion and conversation to help you ID your biggest conservation priorities and opportunities. Lunch provided. Sharrona was a 2021 HYFC Fellow, and we've learned a ton from her. She's a fantastic urban veggie farmer and educator. You should go!
When: Tuesday, April 19th, 2022, 11am-1pm
Where: Pa and Ma’s Backyard BBQ - 3469 N College Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana
Details and RSVP here.

Indiana Black Loam Conference: Feb-April, 2022

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Update: Indy Black Loam Conference has been set for May 14! We'll see you there!

Legacy Taste of the Garden LLC and partners statewide are hosting workshops in the cities of Evansville, Bloomington, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Gary, starting in February 2022.

We are proud to be one of the many sponsors and speakers at this conference - and we hope to see you there! We're grateful to be a small part of equipping Black farmers with access to the resources they deserve.

​The conference is dedicated to building relationships, providing support to gain access to information, and training. Workshops provide introductions to USDA programs and resources available to BIPOC and Socially Disadvantaged Rural, Urban and Community producers. Click here for event details and to register.

Meet/Greet Office Hours re: $6.9M Local Food Purchasing Assistance Grant: March 29-April 1

We're glad so many folks participated in the Dept of Health Listening Sessions about the Local Food Purchases Assistance grant in March. We want to keep the conversation going, and make sure everyone has a place at this table as we go forward. To facilitate that, we are co-hosting "office hours" by region. Our co-hosts are BIPOC-led organizations (Legacy Taste of the Garden, Human Agricultural Cooperative, and the People's Cooperative Market). Together, we want to create a space where everyone in a given region can connect. 

Tues, 3/28 @ 1pm - Southwest IN: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89027055655
Weds, 3/30 @ 2pm - Northeast: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89954879405
Thurs, 3/31 @ 1pm - Central: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83205304014
Fri, 4/1 @ 2pm - Southeast: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82510080081

We are sorry for such short notice, but everyone is super busy these days, and it was the only time that worked until mid April! Zoom link below. Please share widely with anyone who should be a part of this conversation!

Why participate in the Meet & Greet Office Hours?
Do you want to be involved in the Local Food Purchases Assistance grant activities? You should come! The Dept of Health hasn't finalized the "Request for Proposals" yet, so we don't want to dive into the planning - we just want to have people come and share who they are or what their group does, and what skills and resources they can bring to this work. This is a chance to see who's in your region and how we can each help build equity in the food system for underserved farmers and eaters in your region.

Thank you,


Your co-hosts:
Ty Simmons - Human Agricultural Co-operative
John and Denise Jamerson - Legacy Taste of the Gardens
Curtis Whitaker - FAITH CDC
Lauren McCalister - People's Cooperative Market & Three Flock Farm
Liz Brownlee - Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition & Partners IN Food and Farming
Jessica Murnane - Partners IN Food and Farming   

Regional Listening Sessions re: $6.9M Local Food Purchasing Assistance Grant: March 7-10

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Big money is coming to local food in IN - and it's specifically aimed at serving "socially disadvantaged" farmers, including female farmers, BIPOC farmers, military veteran farmers, and others. We have a chance to speak up about how to use the $$ to build lasting change and collaborations. We know it's short notice and your season is ramping up, but please attend if at all possible. Let's put these dollars to work to build racial and gender equity in our food system!

$6.9M Local Food Purchasing Assistance aims to help get more food from female, BIPOC, military veteran, and other "socially disadvantaged" farmers into food pantries - AND expand those farmers' long-term economic opportunities. This grant could fund mentorship programs, food hubs, co-ops, and so much more. Even if you don't know how to solve the problems, please come share what challenges you face as you grow your business and food system. 

Details Below about this project, from our partners at IN Dept of Health (they're leading the project). They're working hard to collaborate. The listening sessions let folks in each region to think together about how to use the funds to create lasting progress for farmers and eaters. 
Map shows the regions. Try to only attend the region where you're active...and if you can't attend, please email us your comments and we'll get them to the Dept. of Health! (info@hoosieryfc.org).

Who should come? You!

Anyone with vested interest in food system development, including, but not limited to, farmers, food councils, representatives from the charitable food sector (food banks, pantries, etc.), community organizations and non-profits, value chain professionals, local leaders and elected officials, eaters, and more!

​More about this grant and the LFPA Regional Listening Sessions, from our partners at IN Dept of Health:

During the week of March 7th, 2022 IDOH will partner with the Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program’s Community Wellness Coordinators to convene partners and stakeholder within 5 regions of Indiana, to discuss the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program. LFPA has three fundamental goals:
  1. The purchase of domestic foods from local, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers;
  2. The distribution of food to socially vulnerable communities that are not normally served, or are underserved, by the normal food distribution network;
  3. Expanded long-term economic opportunities for local/regional, socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and producers.
In Indiana, the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) will act as the lead state agency, with collaboration and support from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA).
IDOH plans to take a two-pronged approach to the project and split the allocation into two separate “tracks”:
  1. Track 1: The Indiana WIC Division will oversee a centralized approach that will provide funding for the established emergency food distribution network to purchase food from local, socially disadvantaged producers, then distribute the purchased food to socially vulnerable communities who are underserved by the existing network.
  2. Track 2: The IDOH Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA) will oversee a regional approach that will divide the state of Indiana into 5 distinct regions (based on the 12-region DWD economic development map, and the TEFAP coverage map) and release a Request for Proposals (RFP) to regional partnership cohorts that focus on the above goals (purchase and distribution of food from local/socially disadvantaged producers) AND long term economic expansion strategies for producers; considered proposals must include all pre-determined criteria that IDOH identifies within the Request for Proposals.
These 5 Regional Listening Sessions will focus on Track 2, and the following outcomes:
  • Answer questions about LFPA from stakeholders
  • Gather input and feedback from regional partners about how best to structure the regional approach, including the determination of project start date, allowable activities/costs, determining eligibility of producers and communities for distribution
  • Begin to identify some lead partners within each region
  • Open forum for stakeholders to share

Indiana Small Farm Conference: Throughout March, 2022

This tried and true conference is shifting to an online format. Register today (it's free!) for sessions throughout March. 
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Keynote: Better Together - How Young Farmers and Allies Statewide are Growing... and How You Can Get Involved 
Friday, March 4
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Liz Brownlee and Genesis McKiernan-Allen, our President and VP, will share insights about how creating community among diverse farmers is critical to supporting more successful farms in our state, and will outline the ways in which farmers, food councils and farming organizations are coming together to help Indiana’s food system mature and thrive.  They will share what’s planned (so far!)  for the next few years and seek input from conference attendees to help further shape the future of food and farming in Indiana.

Click here to see details and register for the Small Farm Conference.

Indiana Uplands Winter Food Conference

Food Apartheid Panel - Tuesday, Feb 8, 12-1pm 
Panelists: Sibeko Jywanza of Flanner House, Sharrona Moore of Lawrence Community Gardens, Dan Garcia of Garcia's Gardens
We’ll hear how the nonprofit farms, Flanner Farm and Lawrence Community Gardens, are empowering youth and creating food security, and how Garcia’s Gardens, a commercial veggie farm in Indy, is building a thriving urban farm. This panel discussion builds on the Hoosier Young Farmers Podcast episode “Food Apartheid." The podcast project was possible because of generous support from Indiana Humanities. 

We’ll dig deeper into the stories of the farmers in the episode, and hear what’s working - and what work is still ahead - in the fight against food apartheid. 

​Moderator: Kayte Young, host and producer of EarthEats, at WFIU Public Radio. Earth Eats recently featured three more of our episodes!
The Future (of Farming) is Female - Weds, Feb 9, 12-1pm
Panelists: Joyce Randolph and Vivian Muhammad of Elephant Gardens, Megan Ayers of Unvarnished Farm, and Danielle Guerin of Soul Food Project Indy
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Women farmers from around the state of Indiana will share what it’s like to be a farmer in a world where everyone expects farmers to be male. We’ll dive into the different roles women carry on their farm from the fields to the spreadsheets, and learn how these women face - and break - gender stereotypes of the agricultural world. 

This panel builds off of the Hoosier Young Farmers Podcast episode “Women in Farming.” The podcast project was possible because of generous support from Indiana Humanities. 

Moderated by Alex Chamber, our podcast producer.
Reveal Party (and Listening Session): Launching a Statewide Sustainable Food and Farming Organization - Thurs, Feb 10, 12-1 pm
Speakers: Liz Brownlee, HYFC President, and Genesis McKiernan-Allen, HYFC Vice President
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Most states have a statewide sustainable farming organization that brings together eaters, farmers, and people working to strengthen the food system - and it’s time to build a coalition like this for Indiana. The Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition and partners around the state have secured substantial seed money to launch a food and farming organization for Indiana. Join us for a “reveal party” to hear about what HYFC has accomplished so far, see the results from our recent farmer survey, share what YOU need from this group, and hear what we are envisioning (so far!) for the next three years. 

End of Season Farmer Gatherings: October & November, 2021

Gather with a small group of farmers to debrief about the season, share triumphs and challenges, and just enjoy good company. You'll dig into a meal (it's BYO-picnic!), and then the farmer hosting the gathering will facilitate a roughly one-hour farmer-to-farmer conversation...picture all the conversations you wish you could have at the end of the farmer's market (but never have time for). 

The conversations might give you a chance to share (and get ideas!) about things like production issues, labor, farm work/life balance, market trends, urban farming triumphs and challenges, improving your farm business via efficiency or scaling up, and more.

Each event is small (limit ~12 farmers), outdoors, and BYO-picnic so that we're being safe with Covid. 

The Gatherings are free (of course!) but RSVP's are required. ​
The RSVP asks you to tell us about you and your farm, so we can get a sense of who's coming, and prepare good questions for each farmer conversation. 

Deadline to RSVP is 4 days before each Gathering, so sign up today!

Sunday, October 17, 1-3pm - Burke Farm (North/Central Indiana...near Lafayette)
Farming Engineers is a USDA certified vegetable operation, run by Lisa Burke. Lisa is a first generation vegetable farmer in rural Clinton County. She's in year 14 of her farm, and she farms year round, selling at two farmers markets, Market Wagon, through a CSA, and via their online store.

Wednesday, Nov 3, 5-7pm - Bushelcraft Farm (Northern Indiana...near Elkhart)
Bushelcraft Farm is an nonprofit, educational farm started in 2020 in Elkhart. In 2020, Bushelcraft Farm offered over 18 classes to the community on a range of food, gardening, and soil-building topics and developed a 36 household CSA with their veggies, herbs, dried beans, flowers, and cornmeal. Jon Zirkle is has been farming and teaching for over a decade. Most recently, he coordinated the agroecology program at Goshen College.

Sunday, Nov 7, 1-3pm - Garcia's Gardens (Indy)
Garcia’s Gardens is a small but mighty urban farm providing healthy food to central Indiana. They're beginning farmers who grow a variety of fresh produce using organic methods and invite customers and neighbors to join the local food system.

Friday, Nov 12, 11:30-1:30pm CENTRAL time - Grounded Earth Farm
In collaboration with NWI Food Council (Northwest Indiana...near Crown Point)
At Grounded Earth Farm, Anne Massie is a first-generation beginning farmer growing organic vegetables, nuts, and fruit on 11 acres in Northwest Indiana. She sells her goods at two farmers markets, on-farm, and via seasonal pop-up markets. Anne regularly works with other farmers to market collaboratively in NW Indiana, and is President of the NWI Food Council. In fact, NWI Food Council is co-hosting this End of Season Farmer Gathering!
The pandemic has slowed us down - but here are some of the events we are most proud of from the past few years:

Fellowship 2021: Applications Due January 3, 2021

We are almost ready to accept applications for Year 2 of our Fellowship. Stay tuned for the application to go live the week of Dec 7. Applications will be due Jan 3, 2021. Seven farmers will be selected. Each Fellow will receive $5,000 to help propel their farm forward - and to connect with their cohort of Fellows for one year. Read more about the Fellowship here or click here to learn about our 2020 Fellows (pictures above of our Fellows, left to Right: Anne Massie, Vivian Muhammad, Emma Hawk, Mike Record, and Jonas Carpenter).

Convergence 2020/2021 

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Convergence is a gathering of young farmers from across the country. Since we're a chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition, we were able to send five "delegates" to this gathering. Here's a big thank you to the five fantastic farmers and farmer allies served as our delegates:
The theme this year was "Achieving Equity through Agriculture." The four day event brought together farmers from around the country to learn, share, and listen. NYFC members can listen to some of the key notes and presentations online. Stay tuned for details.

Each of the 40+ NYFC chapters was asked to send a delegation that is majority BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Each delegate committed to this year's virtual event, and to bringing knowledge and ideas back to our chapter so that we can all learn from this incredible three-day experience. Next year, the delegates will have the chance to participate in an in-person Convergence in the southeast, and build on this year's trainings and conversations.

Summer 2020 - Farmer-to-Farmer Webinars (Going Online in a Covid World)

Summer 2020 Update: If you missed a session you wanted to see, we've added recordings of the videos on our new Youtube channel. Click here to watch the recordings!

Small farmers are moving loads of product via online sales. Let’s talk about how, what’s working, and what you need to sell online amid a pandemic. We're hosting 9 farmer-to-farmer webinar sessions, starting May 27. Each one will feature a different farmer sharing the tools she's using to sell online. She'll share how it's going, talk about hurdles, and then of course there will be time for conversation!

About these Events
You’re probably already adapting to online sales amid this pandemic. But if you’d like to talk about how it’s going, see what tools other farmers are using, discuss best practices (on the front end, back end, or in between), and share ideas, then we’ve got a space for you. Join the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition each week, now - mid June. Each time, a different farmer from Indiana will talk about their experiences moving to online sales and what they've learned.

You can’t replace a farmer potluck - but we can still gather to swap ideas. We have a small grant from SARE (USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program) to help farmers adapt to selling online. We're using the grant funds to host 8 farmer-to-farmer webinars in the coming weeks. 
  • Each hour-long session will feature a different farmer and the online platforms, tools, and strategies she’s using to sell food amid a pandemic. She will share what's working (and what hurdles she’s encountering). 
  • And of course there will be time for conversation! Farmers from across the state will be able to chime in. We hope you’ll join us to share how these platforms and strategies are working on your farm (or what you’re struggling with!), best practices, and new ideas that you’re coming up with as the season unfolds. 
  • It's not as good as talking over a potluck, but it's still a good chance to connect and trade ideas. These sessions are scheduled at lunch and dinner time on purpose - in part because we know you’re busy - but also because we hope you’ll bring your meal or a mug of tea. Food and drink can still help us connect. 

Sessions will be Wednesdays at Noon Eastern and Thursdays at 7:00 PM Eastern starting May 27. We’ll meet via Zoom (or you can call in). The link to each meeting will be sent out one hour prior to the start of the meeting (we'll send it to the email you use to register). 

If you can tear yourself out of the field, you’ve gotta eat anyway. Why not eat with us, and connect with farmers in this wild time?

And if you missed these farmer-to-farmer conversations, fear not: We’ve recorded the farmers’ presentations and we're posting them to the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition's new Youtube channel for you to watch on your own time. Enjoy!


Schedule of Presentations
Big thanks to Purdue Extension, IU Center for Rural Engagement, SARE, and the Northwest Indiana Food Council for helping make these farmer-to-farmer webinars happen. 

p.s. If you need more about the nuts and bolts of selling online, check out our Resources page for info!

Past events that we hope to bring back (or adapt) in the future.

Cancelled: April 1 & 2 - Two Days of On-farm Learning with NYFC and Other Friends...Behind the Scenes on Produce Safety, Plus a Listening Session!

Update: These events have been cancelled because of the Covid-19 crisis. Please stay tuned as we try to reschedule or adapt these programs!

You've heard about FSMA rules, and maybe you've been to the Food Safety workshops. That's useful. But what does food safety really look like on the farm?

Come learn with other beginning farmers at these casual, practical events for diversified veg growers. These two days are jam-packed. NYFC is here in the midwest, helping us put these programs on (and a bunch with chapters over in Illinois, too). We hope to see you there.


April 1: IL/IN Produce Safety Tour: Employee & Volunteer Training in Indianapolis at Flanner House Farms, 9-11:30am

Let Food Safety be your first chance to create a team spirit and get your workers jazzed about food safety. We'll dive into how to train employees & volunteers while keeping in mind food safety. Details and RSVP here.

April 2: IL/IN On-Farm Produce Safety Walk Through with Perkins' Good Earth Farm (De Motte, IN, 9am-11am)

Food Safety Walk Through: Dan and Julie are opening their wash/pack area for everyone to learn from. What have they done right, for FSMA...and where is there room for improvement? Details and RSVP here.

Produce Safety Walkthroughs are modeled after On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRRs), which are free educational assessments being offered by Departments of Ag and Extension to farmers to help them understand FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule on their operation and how it will be enforced. We've been trained to conduct OFRRs, but since we're educators working for non-profits and not depts of ag or extension, we can't offer official ones. This is our unofficial version, which is geared more toward smaller, diversified farmers who may be qualified exempt. We like to keep the walkthroughs very conversational and encourage growers to come with questions. 

April 2: IL/IN Wash and Pack Station Design with Grounded Earth Farm (Crown Pointe, IN, 2-5pm)

Deep Dive Workshop: Wash Station Design and FSMA: How to improve your space to save time, save your back, and lessen food safety risks. Details and RSVP here.

April 2 - IL/IN NYFC Young Farmers Listening Session at Grounded Earth Farm (Crown Point, IN 5:30-7pm)We hear that young farmers need better access to higher quality, more applicable business services, and we want to know more!

Join us on April 2 at Grounded Earth Farm to make your voice heard and help shape the future of the National Young Farmers Coalition’s Business Services program. We’ll want to hear about resources you’ve used, what’s worked, what’s failed, what you can't find, and more. Details and RSVP here.
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These two days of workshops, walk throughs, and listening sessions are brought to you by Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition, the National Young Farmers Coalition, NWI Food Council, IDEA Farm Network, Flanner House Farm, Perkins' Good Earth Farm, and Grounded Earth Farm. 

March 6, 2020 - Young Farmer After Party - Nonna's by So Italian

We love the Indiana Small Farm Conference - and the chance to hang out afterwards.

We'll gather  in Plainfield after the conference at a new venue this year - Nonna's by So Italian (likely starting around 8pm). It's near the Baymont Inn (but not within walking distance...alas, the Black Swan where we used to hold our party has closed).

We aren't buying (sorry!) but we will create a space for all the young farmers who want to come!

​Grab yourself a brew and some pizza, and hang with excellent folks from across the state.

Hoosier Young Farmers @ Winter 2020 Farming Conferences

We work hard to make young farmers a part of the conversation a farming conferences across the state. We hope you'll register for the conferences, learn a ton, and have fun connecting with other beginning farmers this winter. And of course, come hang with us at some point during the conference.

January 30 - Indiana Uplands Winter Food Conference: We'll have a table in the afternoon networking session. 
February 1 - Food and Growers Association Winter Conference: We'll have a table and two of our chapter leaders (Nate and Liz Brownlee) will be presenting.
February 7 - Northwest Indiana Food Council's FED Expo: Find us in the Exhibit Hall AND record a story at our storytelling station (details TBA)
March 5-7 - Indiana Small Farm Conference
  • On Saturday: We're helping bring Lindsey Lunsford, of Tuskegee University, to lead a session about how you can help build equity in your community's food system. This session is geared to eaters and farmers who want to do more to fight racist in their communities, and help their communities talk and engage to grow together.
  • On Friday: We'll also host the brand-new Advanced Grower Learning Circles (a place for conversation among folks whose farms are up and running, and want to dig into details like working with employees, farming with your spouse, and so much more).
    • 2Building, Balancing, Right Sizing Your Farm - with Jeff Hawkins of Hawkins Family Farm. We’ll talk together about when (and how) to add new enterprises, and strategies for “load leveling” to create a more even farm year. Friday, March 6 at 3:45-4:45 pm, Conference Rooms
    • Managing Relationships on the Farm with Genesis McKiernan-Allen of Full Hand Farm. Farmers can talk together about employee management, from the hiring process to making it through the season, and strategies for farming successfully with a partner or spouse. Friday, March 6 from 11:00am-12:00pm
March 23 - Northeast Indiana Local Food Forum in Ft. Wayne: Record your food and farm stories at our booth. Cancelled due to Covid-19.

November 17, 2019 - End of Season Farmer Hangout *REGISTRATION IS FULL*

Update: This event is sold out! The restaurant can only fit so many, and we are full. We are sorry! Want to host a farmer hang out in your neck of the woods? Fall and winter can be perfect for connecting. Let us know and we can help make it happen!

Original event posting...now closed. :(

Let's catch up! End of season farmer hang out on Sunday, November 17 from 1-3pm at Albano's Pasta in Valparaiso, IN.  

This event is a cosponsored by our friends at the Northwest Indiana Food Council and the Idea Farm Network.

 October 20, 2019 - Mad Farmers Collective + HYFC     *RSVP, Please!*

​Mad Farmers Collective and Hoosier Young Farmers Collective are partnering for a fall event that will include everything a weary farmer needs by the middle of October:
  • A tour of a highly productive urban farm (inspiration!),
  • Some focused and slightly nerdy discussion about best practices when it comes to washing greens (education!),
  • A review and close look at the MFC homemade greens bubbler (specific how-to info!),
  • And of course plenty of time to socialize and unpack the season over snacks and beers with other farmy types (physical and soul food!).
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The event is free and will be held onsite at the Mad Farmers' gorgeous urban farm, just a few miles south of downtown Indianapolis. Light supper fare will be provided thanks to MFC and a generous SARE grant.

​We hope you can join us, and hope you'll take the time to RSVP so we can order food appropriately.

The afternoon will unfold like this:
3 pm - Gather and Welcome, quick tour of the 1.5 acre farm
3:30 - Greens Bubbler Review from the Mad Farmers. We'll post up at the wash/pack to hear about the research and process that went into building the greens bubbler and get a review of its performance and potential for increasing productivity and efficiency on a production farm. Lots of time for questions and hopefully a chance to hear from other attending farmers about their own greens washing procedures.
4:30 - Scott Monroe, Purdue Extension Specialist for Food Safety, will give a brief overview of his recent research into best practices for washing greens to eliminate contamination concerns.
5:00 - Eat and talk! Talk and eat! We'll provide light supper fare to enjoy while you ask a few follow up questions, catch up with folks you haven't seen all season, and hopefully meet lots of new folks.

We'll also have information available about joining the Hoosier Young Farmer Coaltion (it's free!) and about an exciting Fellowship opportunity (it includes money!) unfolding for the 2020 season.

Hope to see you October 20th! Don't forget to RSVP!

Farm Crawl: Sunday, April 28 - Central Indiana

Plans are in motion for a Farm Crawl for our spring 2019 event! 

Get a behind the scenes look at Teter Organic Farm, Full Hand Farm, and Free Folk Farm...

...that means we'll see an organic fruit and veggie farm (that's tied to a church's outreach),  a four-season farm in year 8 of production, and an urban farm in Year 1, all in one day.

We'll add more details, but know that:
- We'll start at 1pm
- You'll have the chance to carpool with other farmers between the sites
- We'll share a potluck meal at the end of the tours

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more info.
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Don’t see something in your area on our schedule?  
Contact us and let's make something happen!