UMES Extension’s
Small Farm Conference
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension’s Small Farm Conference returns for its 23rd edition on Oct. 23-24, 2026, to the campus in Princess Anne.
The theme of the conference is “Building Small Farms Together.” It will be held in the Student Services Center.
The conference equips farmers and landowners in Maryland with tools and strategies to increase family farm profitability.
The overall conference will consist of four tracks (alternative crops and non-traditional agriculture; farm business management and ag marketing and sales; ag research and trending topics; and human health and other topics). Demonstrations and tours will round out the conference.
On Friday, Oct. 23, the conference will offer two morning sessions per track, followed by lunch with a keynote speaker and an afternoon tour of an off-site agricultural operation. Three options for off-site agricultural tours are available, with the bus departing at 2 p.m. and returning around 5 p.m. Each tour is limited to 40 participants.
Breakfast and networking will kick off Saturday, Oct. 24. The remainder of the day offers two morning sessions per track, followed by lunch and three options for an afternoon hands-on workshop. Each hands-on workshop is limited to 25 participants.
What You Will Gain
The 23rd Small Farm Conference will offer
workshops, seminars and tours under the following themes:
- Alternative Crops and Non-traditional Agriculture
- Farm Business Management and Ag Marketing and Sales
- Ag Research and Trending Topics
- Human Health and Other Topics
Tickets and More
Pre-registration is required for each participant; no walk-ups will be accepted. This event is geared toward adults. Early-bird registration ends Aug. 23 and regular price registration begins Aug. 24 and ends Oct. 9. Lunch will be included on both days and breakfast will be provided on Day 2.
Early-bird registration cost:
$50 per day per participant or $100 for both days (ends Aug. 23)
Regular price registration cost:
$60 per day per participant or $120 for both days (ends Oct. 9)
[Select your Friday tour destination and/or Saturday hands-on workshop AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE.]
A limited number of scholarships are available. Scholarship applications are open until Aug. 21. Hurry and apply now by submitting this fillable form.
Become A Vendor, Exhibitor or Sponsor
The cost for Vendors/Exhibitors will be $150. It includes an exhibitor booth, 1 complimentary registration and logo recognition in the conference program. For sponsorship opportunities, contact cjsankar@umes.edu or 410-651-7351.
Full Conference Agenda
Friday, October. 23
8 a.m.: Registration opens
8:30 a.m.: Welcome and Conference Overview by Small Farm Coordinator Berran Rogers (SSC Ballroom)
9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: Breakout session I
- Season Extension for Small Farms: Cold Frames, Tunnels, Row Covers & ROI (Hayden Schig, University of Maryland Extension
- Farm Financials 101: Bookkeeping Basics for New and Growing Farms (Alex Locklear, Good Agriculture)
- From Flocks to Herds: Biosecurity Strategies for HPAI Prevention on Diversified Farms (UMES professors Dr. David Brown and Dr. Jennifer Timmons)
- Families Growing Food for Each Other: Growing Food in Housing Developments (Anna Muhammad, Ujamaa Seed Collective
10:30-11:45 a.m.: Breakout session II
- Weed as a Secondary Crop (Candise Jordan, Farm Forage Feast)
- Food Safety Recordkeeping that Actually Works (Stasia Greenewalt, SG Farm Services)
- Fertilizer Calculations Made Simple: Practical Mixing and Injector Basics for Small Farms (Dr. Naveen Kumar Dixit, UMES Extension)
- Resilient Agriculture: Community Listening Session (Dr. Nazia Arbab and N. Samantha Dancil, UMES)
11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Visit Exhibitors and Vendors
12:15-1:45 p.m. Lunch with keynote speaker (SSC Ballroom)
2-5 p.m. Off-site Farm Bus Tours (Please select one at the time of purchasing your registration; space is limited to 40)
- Tour A — Wellburn Incubator Farm in Salisbury and North of Eden Farm in Eden, Wicomico County
- Tour B — M&C Vessey Orchard, a fruit orchard and pick your own operation in Westover, Somerset County
- Tour C — Bordeleau Vineyards and Winery, Eden, Wicomico County
Saturday, Oct. 24
8 a.m.: Registration and Breakfast Mixer
9:30-10:45 a.m.: Breakout session III
- Roots Without Deeds: Building a Flower Farm on Borrowed Land (Dee Hall Goodwin, Mermaid City Flowers)
- Farm Insurance: What Is It, Why Is It Important, and What are the Trends? (Dalton Wicklow, Huff Insurance)
- Estrus Synchronization of Does and Ewes at UMES Small Ruminant Farm (Dr. E.N. Escobar, Dr. Kimberly Braxton and Shamia Onley, UMES Extension)
- The Rising Cost of Health Insurance: Considerations for Small Farms (Jesse Letterman, Lynn Matava and Carrie Sorensen, University of Maryland Extension
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Breakout session IV
- Strategic Cover Cropping for Farms of All Scales (Dr. Sarah Hirsh, University of Maryland Extension
- Strengthening Agricultural and Aquaculture Businesses Through Tailored Technical Assistance and Market Development (Mandilyn Beck and Lucie Vargas, CAIC
- Listening to Growers: Identifying Key Challenges in Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Production to Guide Future UMES Horticulture Research and Extension (Drs. Naveen Kumar Dixit, Simon Zebelo and Sadanand Dhekney
- Grow to Live: Educating and Training Those with Intellectual Disabilities (Marissa Parks and Jerome Ryals, Blended Dreams Farm
12:30-1:30 p.m.: Lunch
1:45-4:30 p.m.: Hands-on Workshops
- Drying herbs and Other Produce (Henriette den Ouden and Dr. William Weaver, UMES)
- Analyzing Your Farm through Enterprise Budgeting (Dale Johnson, University of Maryland Extension)
- Knowing Your Consumers: Developing Taste Testing for Product Development (Lindsey Hammill and Astrid D’Andrea (Perdue Farms)
Agenda subject to change
22nd Small Farm Conference Highlights
Meet Our 2025 Sponsors/Vendors/Exhibitors
Notice of filming and photography.
A Look Back at 21st Small Farm Conference
