AITKIN/ITASCA COUNTY USDA OFFICE VISIT: Intro to Ag Programs and Farmers Market Opportunities
Thu, Mar 28
|UM North Central Research and Outreach
This group visit with USDA Farm Services staff in Grand Rapids, MN, will help Market Farmers learn about federal ag programs, loans, grants and new farmers market opportunities.
Time & Location
Mar 28, 2024, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
UM North Central Research and Outreach , 1861 US-169, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA
About the event
Curious about federal programs to help pay for high tunnels, walk-in coolers, pack sheds and crop failures?
Go Farm Connect is partnering with the Grand Rapids Farmers Market Food Hub and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Aitkin/Itasca Farm Service Center in Grand Rapids to host this facilitated group visit. Beginning farmers and specialty crop producers will learn about federal farm programs and loan, grant, insurance and disaster assistance opportunities. Growers will learn about new farm market selling opportunities through the Food Hub. You do not need to own land to participate.
The hosts will be Erik Heimark of Maple Ridge Produce in Aitkin, and Wililyn Dowell, of Dowell Farm and Gardens in Grand Rapids. They are both Connectors with Go Farm Connect, trained to help new and emerging farmers access helpful federal programs. Dowell is the Grand Rapids Farmers Market Food Hub manager. Heimark is also a specialist…