
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:

In partnership with:
