Events
Farm Club Kickoff 2026
🌱 Farm Club Kick Off Event — 2026 Season 🌱
This event is open to members who have purchased a 2026 Farm Club share and is a chance for Farm Club members, farmers, and our community to come together, connect, and start the season on a high note. Check out Farm Club to purchase a share and join us for the kick off!
Small Farm Labor Focus Group (Aspiring Small Farm Employers)
The NWI Food Council is convening local farmers for facilitated focus groups to share feedback that will help strengthen resources.
The NWI Food Council is convening local farmers for facilitated feedback sessions to help strengthen resources for farm employers and inform updates to NWIFC and Purdue Extension farm employer support programming.
Two small-group focus sessions will gather insights from farmers at different stages of employing farm labor.
Experienced Small Farm Employers: One session will include farmers with experience hiring employees and will explore effective and evolving employment practices such as recruitment, onboarding, supervision, and retention. This session is intended for farmers who have hired any number of staff, either as W2 or 1099 labor support.
Aspiring Small Farm Employers: A second session will focus on farmers who have not yet hired employees, centering on readiness, barriers, and the resources needed to successfully begin employing farm labor. This session is for farmers who have started to think about hiring employees to support their business goals.
Participants in both sessions will have the opportunity to share challenges and needs for developing their workforce. Farmers will also have the chance to review and provide feedback on farmer-focused employer development programs like NWIFC’s Farmer Apprenticeship program and Purdue Extension’s Employer of Choice program. Feedback will directly impact program design to ensure they are practical, accessible, and responsive to farmers’ needs.
Participating farmers will receive a $300 stipend in recognition of their time and contributions. Attendance and active participation in the appropriate focus group session is required to be eligible. Stipends will be issued after completion of the focus group project, following March 31. Focus group facilitators may follow up with participants via email to ask additional questions or clarify feedback shared during the sessions.
Each focus group will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants, filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and is open to farmers with active farm businesses that had generated sales in 2025.
Region Roots Wholesale Readiness Training for Produce Growers
Grow your wholesale readiness and strengthen your partnership with Region Roots by joining our 1-hour Virtual Producer Training Session.
Grow your wholesale readiness and strengthen your partnership with Region Roots by joining our 1-hour Virtual Producer Training Session. Led by NWI Food Council and Region Roots staff, this session helps producers understand the scale and readiness expectations for different hub programs, explore our wholesale standards, and get familiar with the learning tag process and the new Wholesale Produce Guide. These trainings are designed to support produce growers in confidently navigating hub systems and positioning their farms for success in wholesale markets. A separate, tailored session will also be offered for non-produce producers—such as value-added makers and meat producers—to review wholesale readiness requirements specific to those business models.
(Participation in at least one session is required for all Region Roots produce growers. If you are not able to attend any of the dates offered, please reach out by March 1 so we can work with you on alternatives)
Small Farm Labor Focus Group (Experienced Small Farm Employers)
The NWI Food Council is convening local farmers for facilitated focus groups to share feedback that will help strengthen resources.
The NWI Food Council is convening local farmers for facilitated feedback sessions to help strengthen resources for farm employers and inform updates to NWIFC and Purdue Extension farm employer support programming.
Two small-group focus sessions will gather insights from farmers at different stages of employing farm labor.
Experienced Small Farm Employers: One session will include farmers with experience hiring employees and will explore effective and evolving employment practices such as recruitment, onboarding, supervision, and retention. This session is intended for farmers who have hired any number of staff, either as W2 or 1099 labor support.
Aspiring Small Farm Employers: A second session will focus on farmers who have not yet hired employees, centering on readiness, barriers, and the resources needed to successfully begin employing farm labor. This session is for farmers who have started to think about hiring employees to support their business goals.
Participants in both sessions will have the opportunity to share challenges and needs for developing their workforce. Farmers will also have the chance to review and provide feedback on farmer-focused employer development programs like NWIFC’s Farmer Apprenticeship program and Purdue Extension’s Employer of Choice program. Feedback will directly impact program design to ensure they are practical, accessible, and responsive to farmers’ needs.
Participating farmers will receive a $300 stipend in recognition of their time and contributions. Attendance and active participation in the appropriate focus group session is required to be eligible. Stipends will be issued after completion of the focus group project, following March 31. Focus group facilitators may follow up with participants via email to ask additional questions or clarify feedback shared during the sessions.
Each focus group will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants, filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and is open to farmers with active farm businesses that had generated sales in 2025.
Region Roots Wholesale Readiness Training for Produce Growers
Grow your wholesale readiness and strengthen your partnership with Region Roots by joining our 1-hour Virtual Producer Training Session.
Grow your wholesale readiness and strengthen your partnership with Region Roots by joining our 1-hour Virtual Producer Training Session. Led by NWI Food Council and Region Roots staff, this session helps producers understand the scale and readiness expectations for different hub programs, explore our wholesale standards, and get familiar with the learning tag process and the new Wholesale Produce Guide. These trainings are designed to support produce growers in confidently navigating hub systems and positioning their farms for success in wholesale markets. A separate, tailored session will also be offered for non-produce producers—such as value-added makers and meat producers—to review wholesale readiness requirements specific to those business models.
(Participation in at least one session is required for all Region Roots produce growers. If you are not able to attend any of the dates offered, please reach out by March 1 so we can work with you on alternatives)
Farm Finance 201
Updates on Small Farm viability. Breakout sessions with beginner and more advanced farm finances. Bring your books!
Dan and Julie Perkins from Perkins Good Earth Farm will lead a Farm Finance 201 workshop. They will share their story and updates on Midwest small farm viability. Is middle class income from the small farm possible? They will share common small farm metrics to measure on your farm. They will lead breakout sessions with beginner and more advanced farmers on farm finances. Light refreshments will be provided. Bring your paper or electronic financial records for workshopping and discussion.
Gather, Give, Grow: A Farm to Feast Fundraiser
Gather, Give, Grow: A Farm to Feast Fundraiser benefiting the NWI Food Council
NWI Food Plan Meet-Up (virtual)
Join the NWI Food Council for in person and virtual meet-ups to share your input for the NWI Food Plan and the Indiana Food Vision
NWI Food Plan Meet-Up (virtual)
Join the NWI Food Council for in person and virtual meet-ups to share your input for the NWI Food Plan and the Indiana Food Vision
NWI Food Plan Meet-Up (in person)
Join the NWI Food Council for in person and virtual meet-ups to share your input for the NWI Food Plan and the Indiana Food Vision
NWI Food Plan Meet-Up (in person)
Join the NWI Food Council for in person and virtual meet-ups to share your input for the NWI Food Plan and the Indiana Food Vision
Region Roots New Producer Meet & Greet
Are you interested in learning more about Region Roots Local Farm and Food Hub? Are you a farmer or food producer wanting to access and streamline your wholesale sales? Join us for a casual virtual meeting to hear more about Region Roots, our programs and opportunities. We’d love to meet you and for your to meet our team!
RR Farmer & Food Producer Quarterly Meeting
Quarterly Meetings are intended for existing Region Roots member producers. See dates and register over at the Region Roots events page HERE!
Birthing Justice Film Screening & Discussion
You're invited to IU Northwest - Savannah Center (Bergland Auditorium) for a film screening and discussion of the feature-length documentary Birthing Justice. Black women in the United States are 3 to 4 times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. Birthing Justice captures the experiences and challenges of Black women, their families, caretakers, and advocates, and examines the structures and systems that determine disparate rates of mortality. Ultimately, this pivotal film celebrates the efforts to fix America’s broken medical system and transform this narrative of tragedy into one of hope.
See them. Hear their stories. Remember and honor those we have lost. And join the movement to ensure BIRTHING JUSTICE for Black mothers and their families.
Our day will begin with a rich introduction -- Justice for NWI Mothers of Color: A collaborative approach to changing the system -- by a featured guest speaker. Following our speaker will be the screening of the Birthing Justice film. Afterward, join us for a light, locally-sourced lunch provided by NWI Food Council's Region Roots Local Farm & Food Hub and its local farmers and producers as well as an engaging discussion with area experts. Our panel discussion will focus on the intersection of Black maternal & infant health, food access, and nutrition as it relates to our NWI region, state, and beyond. An audience Q&A will follow.
Thank you to our sponsors for hosting this event!
IU Northwest College of Health & Human Services
NWI Food Council
Edgewater Health
Region Roots Farms Fest
Region Roots Farm Fest is a private even for member farmers, suppliers and wholesale buyers. Learn more at the Region Roots website!
Rhythms of the Land Screening
Rhythms of the Land is a valentine to generations of Black farmers in the United States from the enslavement period to the present, whose intense love of the land and dedication to community enabled them to survive against overwhelming odds. They struggled from the beginning without support or recognition, and have been written out of the dominant narratives of US agriculture.
Join us for networking, a screening and panel discussion over local food!
Farmer Appreciation Day Mixer
Join us to raise a glass to each other on National Farmer Appreciation Day at Blockhead Beerworks in Valparaiso. This event is organized by farmers for farmers and is an opportunity to talk shop, commiserate and dream of future seasons.
The NWI Food Council and Region Roots would all like to show our appreciation for your hard work so come hang out, have a round on us and enjoy chef-prepared local food. Mocktails will also be available. And children are welcome.
Region Roots is NWI's first wholesale local farm and food hub and is a project of the NWI Food Council, a 501c3 non profit organization. The Council serves all of Northwest Indiana: Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke, & Pulaski counties, and cultivates a just, thriving and regenerative food system for all in NW Indiana.
No Till Growers Farm Tour
Marion County SWCD and Urban Soil Health will host a bus trip this spring to visit expert farmer Jesse Frost at Rough Draft Farmstead in Kentucky. It’s a day trip leaving from Indy and picking up in Columbus, on May 23, 2023. If you are a vegetable grower who could benefit from this opportunity, please express interest by March 6 using this Google Form.
New to Jesse ? Check out:
https://roughdraftfarmstead.com/
https://www.notillgrowers.com/aboutntg
Female Farmer Call Out for New Program (FarmHer to Mama) (Copy)
Join a female farmer cooperative of growers coming together to provide locally grown food to first time new mothers living at 250% or more of the poverty level (offering monthly home delivery through Nurse Family Partnership). Be a part of creating a new program that believes everyone deserves a beautiful, dignified and loving experience with food and supports female farmers, too!
Join us virtually for more info, provide input and get started planning your plantings!
May 11th, 9 am - 10 am
contact Anne & Porchea to learn more & participate
info@nwifoodcouncil.org + porchea@nwifoodcouncil.org
Female Farmer Call Out for New Program (FarmHer to Mama)
Join a female farmer cooperative of growers coming together to provide locally grown food to first time new mothers living at 250% or more of the poverty level (offering monthly home delivery through Nurse Family Partnership). Be a part of creating a new program that believes everyone deserves a beautiful, dignified and loving experience with food and supports female farmers, too!
Join us virtually for more info, provide input and get started planning your plantings!
May 3rd, 6 pm - 7 pm
contact Anne & Porchea to learn more & participate
info@nwifoodcouncil.org + porchea@nwifoodcouncil.org
Virtual PSA Training for Market Farmers
Date & Time: April 28 and June 16
Location: Virtual
The cost of this training is covered by the Indiana Farmers Market Community of Practice. Participants will receive their certificate of completion in the mail.
The Working Hungry Film Screening & Discussion - Crown Point
The Working Hungry is a 30-minute film built around the stories of three families and through them, the stories of more than 700,000 people across the state of Indiana. Most of these are working families, and their hunger is hidden from those around them.
The compelling documentary asks why, in a time of low unemployment and food abundance, is food insecurity and hunger so prevalent and what can be done. The Working Hungry will dive deep into the reality of food insecurity in Indiana and what more can be done to destigmatize the conversation, more clearly understand underlying causes, and truly end hunger.
Throughout 2023, screenings of The Working Hungry, and relevant discussions will take place statewide, hosted by over 30 organizations.
The Working Hungry Film Screening & Discussion - Hammond
The Working Hungry is a 30-minute film built around the stories of three families and through them, the stories of more than 700,000 people across the state of Indiana. Most of these are working families, and their hunger is hidden from those around them.
The compelling documentary asks why, in a time of low unemployment and food abundance, is food insecurity and hunger so prevalent and what can be done. The Working Hungry will dive deep into the reality of food insecurity in Indiana and what more can be done to destigmatize the conversation, more clearly understand underlying causes, and truly end hunger.
Throughout 2023, screenings of The Working Hungry, and relevant discussions will take place statewide, hosted by over 30 organizations.
Lunch will be provided.
Purdue Extension Farmers Market Certificate
Location: Hybrid
Learn how to navigate food safety regulations, understand legal issues of markets, improve market stability, offer food assistance programs, manage conflict, and more.
Registration/more info at:https://cvent.me/XVN4ba
$75
Includes market manager or market vendor manual, which
you select during registration. The Indiana Cooperative Development Center has funding
to provide a $50 discount code. Contact Amanda Mosiman for information at bailey1@purdue.edu.
The Working Hungry Film Screening & Discussion Over Dinner - La Porte
The Working Hungry is a 30-minute film built around the stories of three families and through them, the stories of more than 700,000 people across the state of Indiana. Most of these are working families, and their hunger is hidden from those around them.
The compelling documentary asks why, in a time of low unemployment and food abundance, is food insecurity and hunger so prevalent and what can be done. The Working Hungry will dive deep into the reality of food insecurity in Indiana and what more can be done to destigmatize the conversation, more clearly understand underlying causes, and truly end hunger.
Throughout 2023, screenings of The Working Hungry, and relevant discussions will take place statewide, hosted by over 30 organizations.
Dinner will be provided.
The Working Hungry Film Screening & Discussion - Rensselaer
The Working Hungry is a 30-minute film built around the stories of three families and through them, the stories of more than 700,000 people across the state of Indiana. Most of these are working families, and their hunger is hidden from those around them.
The compelling documentary asks why, in a time of low unemployment and food abundance, is food insecurity and hunger so prevalent and what can be done. The Working Hungry will dive deep into the reality of food insecurity in Indiana and what more can be done to destigmatize the conversation, more clearly understand underlying causes, and truly end hunger.
Throughout 2023, screenings of The Working Hungry, and relevant discussions will take place statewide, hosted by over 30 organizations.
Register for this event by clicking the button below or by calling Jasper County Community Services at 219-866-8071.
Black Loam Conference - Gary
The Black Loam conference builds agricultural relationships and networking opportunities. These workshops will provide introductions to USDA programs and resources available to BIPOC and socially disadvantaged rural, urban and community farmers, growers and producers to assist and increase participation of USDA programs, loans, grants, sustainable agriculture practices, business planning, and community development.
Poverty Simulation: Understanding & Empathy - Lake County
Location: Jean Shepherd Community Center, Hammond
A Poverty Simulation is a facilitated, immersive experience designed to provide participants with a glimpse of the realities of poverty. Participants assume the roles of “families” who do their best to survive week‐to‐week over a simulated one‐month period. The simulation presents participants with real‐life scenarios and challenges faced by people living in poverty. The exercise is immediately followed by a group debrief and discussion, during which participants reflect on the experience, discuss insights, and consider next steps.
21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge
Date: April 3-23
Location: Virtual
Food Systems New England presents its annual 21 Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge. Each year, thousands of individuals and hundreds of officially participating organizations join in a shared journey of learning and charting a course of action to dismantle racism in our food system and our world.
Indiana Small Farms Conference
Since 2013, the Indiana Small Farm Conference has been the premier annual event for Indiana’s small- and diversified-farm community — helping them experience continuing education and enjoy farmer-to-farmer networking.
The Indiana Small Farm Conference serves as the annual educational and farmer-to-farmer networking event for the Indiana small and diversified farm community. The conference was developed in response to a gathering of Indiana small farmers and stakeholders at the Purdue University campus in the fall of 2011. The Purdue Small Farm team hosted the inaugural conference in 2013 and has had continued success thanks to the support of Indiana farmers and organizations. The conference now hosts over 500 attendees, 50 exhibitors, and several national speakers. We look forward to continuing to build this growing conference in partnership with the small and diversified farm community of Indiana!