Registration Information
We are excited to welcome you to West Virginia Small Farm
Conference in February. You will have the opportunity to learn, network,
and have fun all at the same time. We have a wide variety of sessions and
topics to meet your needs. Annually, the conference boasts a variety of
useful topics, unique events and informative speakers across dozens of
sessions. Learn how to improve production, understand more about
marketing, and find out ways to feed local communities and beyond.
Online registration deadline is Friday, February 16, 2024.
Walk-in registration will be available at the event for an additional $25 fee.
Goals for Conference
- Unlock the potential of West Virginia small farms to
produce food profitably.
- Help small farms transition from commodity production to food production for
community and local consumption.
- Support West Virginia's 23,000 small farm families by:
- Providing reliable, tested knowledge about current trends,
needed skills, and latest production and operation information
- Building an understanding of how to develop a successful small
farming enterprise.
- Support and further develop West Virginia's food system and local communities
by encouraging local production, processing, wholesale and retail marketing,
and consumption.
Conference Scholarship
If you are a first-time conference attendee you may be
eligible for a scholarship. Our conference scholarship program
prioritizes beginning farmers and completely covers the cost of registration.
Winter Blues Farmers Market
The annual Winter Blues Farmers Market will be held
Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 1-6 p.m. at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention
Center located at 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston, WV.
This indoor event is held in partnership with the West
Virginia Department of Agriculture to showcase the bounty that West
Virginia can produce during winter months. During the five hours of
operation, thousands of shoppers from the Kanawha Valley and beyond shop a
diverse array of products - fresh vegetables, maple syrup, meats, soaps, salsa
and more! This event is free to the public and will include activities
for children. Shoppers will have the chance to talk to vendors and find
out how they grow, make or produce their goods. Many vendors will also be
sampling their products.
The Winter Blues Farmers Market has been proven successful with sales topping $115,000 in 2023.
FSMA Training - Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 8am - 5pm, at Charleston Civic Center, $100.00
Growers and other interested in learning about produce safety and meeting buyers' expectations. This covers FSMA requirements and GAPs recommendations.
Instructor will be Dee Singh-Knights
A middle school based agriculture club that is working on providing the school cafeteria with farm fresh produce and eggs.
A guru of agritourism ideas, Maggie comes from almost a decade of agritourism experience. A full time Marketing Specialist dedicated to growing the agritourism industry, she is a wealth of knowledge of how to diversify your farm.
Small scale farmer from the Shepherdstown WV area. I have been growing turmeric and ginger for the local market for the past two years.
Masters is a WVU School of Design and Community Development researcher whose research is centered around the relationship between agriculture production and fashion/textile design.
Dr. Hass is an environmental soil chemist with WVSU for the last 12 years. His research program aims at understanding and improving soil, water, and natural resources management.
Became Director of Business Development in September 2023. Previously was Assistant Director of Programs, Business Development. I live on a cattle farm in Jackson Co with my husband Pat. I have 3 children and 4 grandchildren.
Dr. Gary Gao is a professor and small fruit specialist with The Ohio State University. He conducts research and extension programs on high value fruit crops. He received his Ph.D. and Master's degree from OSU. He has been working at OSU since 1994.
A native of WV, Caitlin joined the WV Department of Economic Development in 2007. In her role, she assists small businesses in WV with growing their international sales. She has organized and led more than 20 trade missions to promote WV exports.
Leslie Drake leads the U.S. Commercial Service in West Virginia. In the past 25 years, Leslie has led or organized trade missions to more than 30 countries, working with many small and medium-sized companies.
I grew up on my family’s beef farm in Wirt County where we run a cow calf operation. My parents own and operate Sims Greenhouse in Palestine, WV going on 32 years this spring.
Holly Morgan, from New Martinsville, WV, is the Executive Director of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association. A Magna Cum Laude graduate in Business Administration with a focus on accounting from West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
Our Mission: We deliver conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world.
Kinsey Reed is a PhD candidate at WVU studying soil health, microbes, and pasture plant diversity on farms across West Virginia. Kinsey hails from Morgan County, WV.
Melissa Whitt is a Program Specialist with The Ohio State University South Centers. She brings over 16 years of leadership experience in communications, marketing, community engagement, and business development to the team.
John Kelsey is a walnut and hazelnut grower from Mason County and a longtime member of the Northern Nut Growers Association.
Adam Hudson, is the Senior Director of Agriculture at Coalfield Development. Adam earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources in 2017 from Berea College in Kentucky and has worked at Coalfield since the summer of 2017.
Try This WV is a statewide healthy-community organization focused on collaborative efforts to increase access to physical activity and healthy food.
Chico is co-owner of Mountain Harvest Farm, a Certified Naturally Grown vegetable operation located in Morgantown WV that markets through a CSA membership program, farmers markets, and wholesale.
Mary is co-owner of Mountain Harvest Farm, a Certified Naturally Grown vegetable operation located in Morgantown WV that markets through a CSA membership program, farmers markets, and wholesale.
Josh Hedrick is a native to the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. He received his Bachelors degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from WVU in 2001. He and his wife, Rachelle now operate Smoke Hole Outfitters, located in Cabins, WV.
Jesse is a Business Program Director for the USDA Rural Development in West Virginia. Based in the McMechen USDA Service; he assists in managing the Business Programs, such as Rural Energy for America Program and the Value-Adde Producer Grant Program.
Partner Community Capital’s Value Chain Cluster Initiative (VC2) provides hands-on business development and coaching services to bolster local food and farm businesses in West Virginia.
Mike runs Red Hawk Rise Organics, a USDA Certified Organic fruit & vegetable farm, with his spouse in Harpers Ferry, WV. They offer top-tier quality vegetables grown with sustainability and environmental awareness.
Lifelong WV resident residing in Morgan County. 2004 and 2006 WVU graduate. Employed by WVDA for 15 years. Currently manages WV's Produce Safety-FDA Cooperative Agreement Program. Previous positions in meat inspection, pesticides, and conservation.
Alexandria Smith, assistant professor and agriculture and natural resources agent in Hardy County, WVU Extension Service.
Ms. Cook is an Associate Professor and Extension Agent in the Family and Community Development unit of the WVU Extension Service and focuses her programming on health promotion, strengthening families, and community development.
No records found.
WV Agricultural Land Protection Authority
The Agricultural Land Protection Authority seeks to preserve West Virginia's abundant natural resources by conserving farmland.
Through its three major program areas of Housing, Business & Cooperatives, and Utilities, USDA Rural Development finances affordable loans and grants for the improvement of the quality of life in the communities that serve our agricultural sector.
The USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) a statistical and data collection agency that is the official source of comprehensive data on farms in the U.S.
Fertrell is a manufacturer of natural and organic feed supplements and fertilizers.
Since 1988, SARE has awarded numerous grants in every state and Island Protectorate. Aimed at advancing sustainable innovations, these grants add up to an impressive portfolio of sustainable agriculture efforts across the nation.
West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition
Our purpose is to build the local food and agriculture system in West Virginia in a way that provides viable income.
United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical assistance to farmers and other private landowners and managers.
West Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Nutrition
The Office of Child Nutrition, in partnership with the USDA, administers federal school nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.
West Virginia Department of Agriculture
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of protection programs.
No records found.
