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: January 31st, 2025
- Time: 8:30 am - 3 pm
- Location: CSU Lory Student Center Ballroom A, 1101 Center Ave Mall, Fort Collins, CO 80521
- In-Person Registration: $30 (Includes light breakfast, lunch, and parking)
- Virtual Registration: $15
Registration Deadline: January 26th, 2025
Contact Jess Callen at callenj@colostate.edu for any questions about the event
Limited scholarships are available. Contact Jessica Callen before registering.
Join us to hear:
- Organization representatives speak about their grant opportunities for 2025
- Farmers or ranchers who have won grants speak about their experience
Detailed agenda:
Please note: if you attend virtually, you can join just during the topic areas that interest you
8:30 - 8:45AM: Introductions
8:45 - 9:05AM: Grant 101
Martha Sullins, CSU Extension Front Range Regional Food Systems and Business Management Specialist
9:05 - 9:35AM: NRCS Grants and Funding Opportunities,
Alix Emslie, NRCS Soil Conservationist and Laurel Smith Owner of Here and Now Farm
9:35-10:05AM: Western SARE Grant Opportunities for Farmers and Ranchers
Miranda Kersten, WSARE Farmer and Rancher Grant Coordinator and Jenna Meeks PDP Grant Coordinator and TBD Grant Recipient
- 10 min Break-
10:15 - 10:40AM: Colorado Ag Water Alliance Funding Opportunities
Greg Peterson, Executive Director of the Colorado Ag Water Alliance
10:40 - 11:10AM: Mad Agriculture Grant and Funding Opportunities (RESTORE grant)
Clark Harshbarger, Director of Stewardship at Mad Agriculture and Erin Dreistadt owner of Aspen Moon Farm
11:10 - 11:30AM: Breakout Group Activity and Discussion
11:30 - 11:55AM: Colorado Small Business Builder Grant
Libby Christensen, NW and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center Colorado Team Lead and CSU Extension State Food System Specialist
-Lunch 25mins-
12:25 - 12:55PM: CDA Grant and Funding Opportunities
Brain Coppom, Colorado Department of Agriculture Future Loan Program Manager and TBD Grant Recipient
12:55 - 1:10PM: CDA Equipment Tax Credit Program
Mickey Davis, Colorado Department of Agriculture Food Access Program Manager and Hunter Knapp, Development Director of Project Protect Food Systems Workers
1:10- 1:40PM: USDA Rural Development Grants
William Chester, USDA RD Loan Specialist and TBD Grant Recipient
1:40 - 2:05PM: USDA Ag Marketing Services
Shaina Knight, USDA AMS Northwest/ Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Coordinator
-5 min Break-
2:10-3:00PM: Grant Writing Workshop
Dawn Thilmany, Director of Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Systems and Jess Callen, Larimer County Ag and Natural Resource Specialist
Grant and Grow is brought to you by:
In partnership with:
