coming right up...

This February, Connecticut’s next generation of farmers are getting together for the first ever CT New Farmer Summit and Young Farmer Mixer. Born from conversations in the field and at the farmers market, a small group of farmers decided to bring our generation of Connecticut farmers together to create a venue where we can meet our peers from across the state. Organic or conventional, first generation or seventh, dairy, meat or vegetable producers; all are invited to this inaugural summit.The summit is Friday February 11th at the 4-H Education Center at The Auer Farm in Bloomfield from 2-6pm. Following the summit will be a Farmer Mixer and Pizza Social, at the same location from 6-8:30pm. Delicious pizza from Farm to Hearth, local beers and refreshments will be served for a $5 donation.
The summit is designed for young and/or beginning farmers who are currently farming, either operating their own business or as employees of a farm (the USDA defines new farmers as farming less than 10 years and young farmer as 35 years old or younger). Participants in this summit should have at least 2 seasons full-time farm experience and plan to be mostly employed as a farmer in the future.
Registration is required and applications must be received by February 1st. Participants will receive registration confirmation by February 4th. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so you are encouraged to apply early. The registration information provided by applicants will help to steer the conversation and activities for the summit. This event is participant driven and all contributions strengthen the event’s objectives.
Online registration is available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CT_New_Farmer_Summit
For a paper copy of this application, please call (860)318-6813 to request one. The Auer Farm site capacity is limited to 50 people.
This summit is generously sponsored by CT NOFA, UCONN Extension, Farm Bureau Young Farmer Committee, Jones Family Farm, Sepe Farm, Farm Credit East, Holcomb Farm CSA, Massaro Farm, Hurricane Farm, and more.
We are looking to meet, network, and resource share in support of our efforts to farm and keep farming in CT!
For more information and to get involved contact Shannon Raider at 1(860) 318-6813 or email [email protected]
This event is in partnership with CT NOFA and is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400- 21847.