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Join us to explore grants and funding opportunities to help grow your farm/ranch production and business. Grant and Grow is intended for new and beginning farmers (0-10 years) and/or producers who are interested in changing farming practices.

Date: February 2nd, 2024
Time: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Location: McKee Loveland/Fort Collins Meeting Rooms, The Ranch Event Complex, 5280 Arena Cir, Loveland, CO 80538
Cost: $30 per person (light breakfast and lunch included)
Registration Deadline: January 26th, 2024

Have questions? Contact Jessica Callen

An open field with mountains in the background
  • 8:30am - 9am: Introduction
    • Meet and Greet over coffee and bagels.
    • Introduction to partners:
      • Poudre Valley Community Farms
      • Northern Colorado Foodshed
      • CSU Food System
      • NRCS
  • 9am - 9:30am: Grant Seeking 101:
    • Speaker: Dr.Becca Jablonski: assistant professor and food systems economist at Colorado State University, and co-lead of CSU’s Food Systems Initiative
      • The basics of searching for an agricultural grant and how to determine what grants would be best for your farm/ranch operation.
  • 9:30am - 10:10am: NRCS Funding
    • Speakers: Alix Emslie Resource Soil Conservationist with NRCS Larimer County Office
      • The types of fundings provided by the NRCS for urban and large farm/ranch operations including irrigation, hoop houses, cover crops, and more.
      • Perspectives of the NRCS funding process from farmers with large and small scale operations.
  • 10:20am - 11:00am: WSARE Farmer/Rancher Grant
    • Speaker: Miranda Kersten Farmer/Rancher Program Manager with Western SARE
      • Information on the Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant including how to apply, who is applicable, and examples of winning proposals in Colorado.
      • Perspective from past WSARE winners on why they chose to apply to the grant and how it has funded their goals for their farm.
  • 11:00am - 11:40am: American Farmland Trust Microgrants
    • Speaker: Ashley Brucker: Agriculture Conservation Innovations Deputy Director with American Farmland Trust
      • Information on the mission of the American Farmland trust and different micro grant opportunities that they offer throughout the year.
      • Perspective from recent award winner on how the AFT is going to them achieve their goals for their small ranch operations.
  • 11:40am - 12:20pm: Lunch
  • 12:20pm - 1:00pm: STATE CDA Grants
    • Speaker: Brian Coppom: Colorado Agriculture Future Loans Program Manager
      • Information on different agriculture grants applicable to farmers/ranchers in Larimer County including the application process for these grants.
  • 1:00pm - 1:40pm: USDA Ag Marketing Services (AMS) Grants
    • Speaker: USDA AMS Representative
      • Current USDA AMS grants to help expand your farm/ranch business production, distribution, processing, and markets.
  • 1:50pm - 3:30pm: Grant Writing 101
    • Speaker: Dr. Dawn Thilmany McFadden: Agricultural resource economics professor and Co-Director of REDI and Martha Sullins: Agriculture, Business Management and Food System Specialist
      • All the aspects of a grant and how to succeed in each section, also helpful breakout discussions

Register Now! 

Grant and Grow is brought to you by: 

 

Larimer County Colorado State University Extension, Larimer County, Boulder County

In partnership with:

 

Food Systems Colorado State University, NRCS, Northern Colorado Foodshed Project, Poudre Valley Community Farms, USDA Regional Food Business Centers Northwest & Rocky Mountain