The Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference builds a local vibrant agriculture community and equips small farmers with the tools to be successful. Keynote speaker Daphne Miller will connect the dots between local food and health. In conjunction with the conference are two additional programs: Farms, Food & Health Conference; and Farm School. Farms, Food & Health Tickets and Keynote are SOLD OUT! ​

Farms, Food & Health Tickets are SOLD OUT!

Please call 231-622-5252 to be placed on the Keynote waiting list.

Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference

The Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference brings together regional and national experts to talk all things small farms. Pick from over 30 topics, ranging from small-scale grain to pastured pork health. This is the largest gathering of small farmers in Michigan, and an exceptional day of learning. Youth programs and daycare are available. Saturday, January 30, 9 am to 5:30 pm.

Friday Evening Keynote: Dr. Daphne Miller

Part clinician, part ecologist, and part anthropologist, Miller approaches medicine with the idea that opportunities for health and healing are found not only in the medical system but in such unexpected places as home kitchens, school gardens, community organizations, spiritual centers, farms, and nature trails. Throughout her career, her teaching, writing, and advocacy work has reflected this perspective. Author of Farmacology: What Innovative Family Farming Can Teach Us About Health and Healing.

Farm School

Farm School includes three tracks: Honey, mushrooms and agroforestry. These one-day intensives take place on Friday, January 29 from 9 am to 5 pm. Speakers include: Mark Shepard, Ben Falk, Wendy Wieland, Annie Olds, Mary Ellen Kozak, Joe Drawczyk, Charlotte Hubbard, Ken Mudge and Meghan Milbrath.

Trade Show

The 2016 trade show will have over 100 exhibitors, featuring businesses and organizations from across the Midwest. Trade show-only tickets are available to the general public.

Farms, Food & Health - SOLD OUT!

Coordinated by Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, Farms, Food & Health is an all-day conference that brings together health practitioners, employers, schools, hospitals, poverty reduction advocates, farmers and others interested in connecting the dots between health care, wellness, and locally grown food. Tracks include wellness benefits that offer employees easy access to local farm foods, farm to hospital, farm to school, healthy food for all, and integrating nutrition and local food into clinical care. Co-hosts with Groundwork are Munson Healthcare, MSU Extension, Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District and Northwest Michigan Food & Farming Network.