An open field with mountains in the background

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
**Registration is Closed** 

 Please email jess.callen@colostate.edu if you would like to still register for this 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 and Breakfast + Quick Information on FSA Loans
 

8:45 - 9:05AM: Grant 101

Martha Sullins, CSU Extension Front Range Regional Food Systems and Business Management Specialist

 

9:05 - 9:20AM: NRCS Grants and Funding Opportunities,

Alix Emslie, NRCS Soil Conservationist  and Laurel Smith Owner of Here and Now Farm

 

9:20 - 9:45AM: Western SARE Grant Opportunities

Miranda Kersten, WSARE Farmer and Rancher Grant Coordinator and Jenna Meeks PDP Grant Coordinator and Anna Shadbolt
 

9:45 - 10:15AM: WSARE And NRCS Panel Q&A

- 10 min Break-
 

10:15 - 10:25AM: CO Ag Water Alliance Funding Opportunities

Greg Peterson, Executive Director of the CO Ag Water Alliance
 

10:25 - 10:45AM: Mad Agriculture Grant and Funding Opportunities

Clark Harshbarger, Director of Stewardship at Mad Agriculture and Erin Dreistadt owner of Aspen Moon Farm

 

10:45 - 10:55AM: Ag Water Alliance & Mad Ag Panel Q&A

 

10:55 - 11:25 AM: Breakout Group Activity and Discussion (Virtual and In-Person)

 

- 10 min Break- 

 

11:35 - 11:45AM: Colorado Regional Food Business Center Grants (RFBC)

Libby Christensen, NW and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center Colorado Team Lead
 

11:45 - 12:00PM: Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) Grants

Brian Coppom, CDA Future Loan Program Manager and TBD Grant Recipient 

 

12:00 - 12:15PM: CDA Equipment Tax Credit Program

Mickey Davis, Colorado Department of Agriculture Food Access Program Manager
 

12:15- 12:30PM: CDA and RFBC Panel Q&A

 

12:30- 1:00PM - Lunch
 

1:00- 1:25PM: USDA Rural Development Grants

William Chester USDA RD Loan Specialist and TBD Grant Recipient 

 

1:25 - 1:55PM: USDA Ag Marketing Services

Shaina Knight, USDA AMS Northwest/ Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Coordinator
 

-10 min Break-
 

2:05 - 3:00PM: Grant Writing Workshop + Using AI for Grant Writing

Dawn Thilmany, Director of Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Systems and Martha Sullins

 

Grant and Grow is brought to you by: 

Colorado State University Food Systems Institute, Larimer County Extension, Larimer County, Boulder County, USDA Regional Food Business Centers Northwest & Rocky Mountain, Adams County

 

In partnership with:

Northern Colorado Foodshed Project, NRCS, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

 

Register Now!