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 Wednesday, February 19, 2024.
Walk-in registration will be available at the event for an additional $25 fee.
- 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.
Winter Blues Farmers Market
The 16th annual Winter Blues Farmers Market will be held
Saturday, March 1, 2024 from 12-5 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. Vendors will offer samples of their products.
The Winter Blues Farmers Market has been proven successful with sales topping $142,000 in 2024.
FSMA Training - Wednesday, February 26, 2024, 8am - 5pm, at Charleston Civic Center, $35.00
Growers and other interested in learning about produce safety and meeting buyers' expectations. This covers FSMA requirements and GAPs recommendations.
For questions about the class, contact Dee Singh-Knights at DoSingh-Knights@mail.wvu.edu
Ana Claudia Sant’Anna is an Assistant Professor in the School of Agriculture and Food Systems at West Virginia University. The main driver of her research is to foster an environment where agribusinesses can thrive.
Heidi Prior is a Certified Business Advisor with the WV Small Business Development Center, helping small businesses refine strategies, secure funding, and grow sustainably with 15+ years of expertise.
Sara Loftus, PhD, is Deputy Director at UFI and provides grant writing, administration, management, and executive support. She has been an Urban Planning Entrepreneur and farmer since 1999.
As a WVDA planning coordinator Kacey works with farm and food producers to help them navigate all aspects of their business. From seed to sold and from kitchen to the farmers market she can lend a help hand.
Spencer Moss, Executive Director of the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, has spent a decade advancing food systems and agriculture. They specialize in policy, grants, and partnerships that support farmers, rural communities, and producers.
Born and raised on a cattle farm in Tucker County, WV. Helping farmers and small businesses go solar with REAP.
Kathryn Carter is a Destination Development Coordinator with Visit Mountaineer Country CVB, the Destination Marketing and Management Organization for North Central West Virginia.
Tina, Executive Director of the Hampshire County CVB, leads the Hampshire County Farm Crawl, a self-guided tour connecting visitors to local farms through tours, demos, and farm-fresh goods, promoting agritourism and rural tourism growth.
Join us for a dynamic workshop designed to launch your high tunnel farming venture. Perfect for new farmers setting up their first high tunnel or those refining their farm business plans, this session is crafted to help you innovate and thrive.
Farmer Kent is the owner and operator of Sunset Berry Farm in Alderson, West Virginia.
I have "postage stamp" farm where I raise vegetables, mushrooms, honeybees, and very soon...apples.
Sycamore Creek Farm is a diverse agricultural operation in Middlebourne, West Virginia, providing produce and more to the community.
Maggie Blankenship works at the Department of Agriculture but recently launched her own farm business, The Old School Homestead.
Masters is a WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources researcher whose research is centered around the relationship between agriculture production and fashion/textile design.
Holly Morgan, Executive Director of the WV Farmers Market Association, is dedicated to strengthening local food systems and supporting farmers statewide. As a Conservation District Supervisor, she advocates for sustainable agriculture and soil health.
Our Mission: We deliver conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world.
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.
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.
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.
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Michael Gwinn Insurance Agency
Centrally located in Fayette County, the Michael Gwinn Insurance Agency specializes in a comprehensive farm insurance package!
2024 Independent Publisher of the Year. WV publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and children's books.
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.
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.
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