Loading…
Welcome to the 37th annual California Small Farm Conference, a week-long event featuring over 40 online workshops as well as a dozen in-person gatherings around the state. Whether you’re a beginning farmer or a seasoned grower, a local food advocate or a farmers market manager, you’ll find something here for you. This year’s theme, "Rooted in Place", honors the vital relationship between farmers, communities and the land they steward.

Check out the schedule below for event times and locations. Click "Reserve Tickets" to register. Admission is on a sliding-scale, to ensure everyone can attend. Please select the amount you’re comfortable paying. Enjoy the conference!

Interested in sponsoring this event? Learn more here
or to register for this event.
Type: In Person Gathering clear filter
Wednesday, February 26
 

1:00pm PST

Humboldt Regional Gathering Field Day (Part 1)
Wednesday February 26, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm PST
Field Day: Green Spiral Farm 819 Mad River Rd, Arcata, CA;
Followed by regional gathering and dinner at NCGA Harvest Hub (click for link to part 2)

Farmer friends and allies, join us to celebrate CAFF’s small farm conference!
The day includes:
UCCE & NCGA will lead a field day from 1:00-4:00 with a brown bag lunch at Green Spiral Farm
Topics: Cover crop strategies, Crops for winter harvest, and more.  
Organizer
avatar for Michelle Wyler

Michelle Wyler

Farm to Market Director, CAFF
Wednesday February 26, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm PST
Green Spiral Farm 819 Mad River Rd, Arcata, CA

4:30pm PST

Humboldt Regional Gathering Dinner (Part 2)
Wednesday February 26, 2025 4:30pm - 7:00pm PST
Farmer friends and allies, join us to celebrate CAFF’s small farm conference.

Humboldt Regional Gathering at NCGA Harvest Hub (5720 West End Rd, Arcata CA):
4:30-7:00: Light dinner provided.
5:30: Evening program includes meet your local resource providers and each will have 1 slide/2 mins/table to give an overview.
Organizer
avatar for Michelle Wyler

Michelle Wyler

Farm to Market Director, CAFF
Wednesday February 26, 2025 4:30pm - 7:00pm PST
NCGA Harvest Hub 5720 West End Rd, Arcata CA
 
Thursday, February 27
 

12:30pm PST

North Bay Regional Gathering
Thursday February 27, 2025 12:30pm - 6:30pm PST
Join us at Green Valley Farm + Mill, just outside Sebastopol, CA, for the North Bay gathering of the CA Small Farm Conference. This event, open to anyone working within the small farm community, will feature an afternoon of educational workshops, panels, farm tours and networking events followed by a happy hour social.

Workshop topics will include:
- Dry Farming Techniques
- Farm 2 School & other institutional sales
- Value-added products
- Rodent Pest Control
- Market channel options for farmers
- Selling to food hubs & food banks
- And more! Details and full schedule coming soon

Full schedule and program details coming soon! Make to add this event to your personal schedule on Sched to receive updates.

NOTE: Snacks and lite bites will be provided. Warm layers and farm-appropriate attire encouraged.
Organizer
avatar for Evan Wiig

Evan Wiig

Communications Director, CAFF
Evan Wiig is the Director of Membership & Communications for Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) and the founder of The Farmers Guild. A community organizer with a passion for regenerative agriculture, he's not only worked on farms and ranches across California, but previously... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Yvonne Socolar

Yvonne Socolar

Research Scientist, UC Berkeley
Yvonne's research interests lie at the nexus of agriculture and climate resilience. She studies how diversified management practices influence plant-soil-microbe interactions to promote farms’ ecological and economic well-being, particularly in the face of water limitations.
BM

Breanna Martinico

UC Cooperative Extension

Thursday February 27, 2025 12:30pm - 6:30pm PST
Green Valley Farm + Mill 13024 Green Valley Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472

2:00pm PST

San Diego Regional Gathering
Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 5:00pm PST
TBA
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the San Diego regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

Organizer
avatar for Elizabeth Vaughan

Elizabeth Vaughan

Small Farm Technology Specialist, CAFF
Thursday February 27, 2025 2:00pm - 5:00pm PST
TBA

4:00pm PST

Central Coast Regional Gathering
Thursday February 27, 2025 4:00pm - 7:00pm PST
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Central Coast regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

Organizer
Thursday February 27, 2025 4:00pm - 7:00pm PST
United Way Monterey County Center 232 Monterey Street, Suite 200, Salinas, CA 93901

5:00pm PST

Sacramento/Yolo/Solano Gathering
Thursday February 27, 2025 5:00pm - 8:00pm PST
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Sac/Yolo/Solano gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

For parking information around the venue, please refer to this list.
Organizer
avatar for Elliott Ge

Elliott Ge

Administrative and Systems Specialist, CAFF
Thursday February 27, 2025 5:00pm - 8:00pm PST
West Sacramento Community Center 1075 West Capitol Avenue West Sacramento, CA 95691
 
Friday, February 28
 

TBA

Los Angeles Regional Gathering
Friday February 28, 2025 TBA
TBA
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Los Angeles regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

Organizer
avatar for Guido Lois

Guido Lois

Bilingual Communications & Events Manager, CAFF
Friday February 28, 2025 TBA
TBA

TBA

Northern San Joaquin Valley Regional Gathering
Friday February 28, 2025 TBA
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Northern San Joaquin Valley regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

Organizer
avatar for Moet Takata

Moet Takata

Ecological Pest Management Program Manager, CAFF
Moet supports the Ecological Pest Management Program to help farmers implement and sustain ecological pest management practices through applied research and outreach. She is based in the San Joaquin Valley, and conducts on-farm experiments in walnut orchards and winegrape vineyards... Read More →
Friday February 28, 2025 TBA
Lagier Ranches 16161 Murphy Rd, Escalon, CA 95320

8:00am PST

Mendo / Lake Farmer’s Convergence
Friday February 28, 2025 8:00am - 5:00pm PST
Details coming soon.

Organizers of this gathering include the Mendo-Lake Food Hub, School of Adaptive Agriculture, CDFA Farm to School Program, and the Blue Zones.

Friday February 28, 2025 8:00am - 5:00pm PST
Ridgewood Ranch 11800 Orchard Ln, Willits, CA 95490

9:00am PST

Merced / San Joaquin Valley Gathering
Friday February 28, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm PST
The SJV Regional Gathering connects farmers, community members and supporters of family farms in the Central Valley to come together, meet one another and grow our community. In 2025, our regional gathering will also include workshops and a buyer-farmer mixer focused on connecting small-scale farmers with buyers. 
Organizer
avatar for Rasheed Hislop

Rasheed Hislop

Farm to Market Senior Manager, CAFF
Selling produce. Developing direct markets (CSAs). Helping small farmers access institutional markets. Food Hubs.
Friday February 28, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm PST
Merced Community College 3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348

9:30am PST

Ventura Regional Gathering
Friday February 28, 2025 9:30am - 2:00pm PST
TBA
Explore the Rio School District Farm with Farmer Edgar in the morning, where a regenerative farm education project offers an inspiring tour from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. This hands-on experience showcases sustainable practices and educational initiatives in action.

After lunch at noon, join us for an engaging afternoon at the Rodale Institute California Organic Center, located at McGrath Family Farms. Here, visitors will dive into our ongoing research projects that drive organic and regenerative agriculture in California, including soil health advancements and reduced-tillage vegetable production methods.

Cost: $20 includes lunch (please register at Rodale Institute's website to reserve your tickets!)
Organizer
Friday February 28, 2025 9:30am - 2:00pm PST
TBA

10:00am PST

Nevada County Field Day: Small Farm Equipment & Maintenance
Friday February 28, 2025 10:00am - 2:30pm PST
*NOTE: this special event requires an additional registration and fee. See above*

On-farm Field Days are half-day workshops featuring farmer-to-farmer education, hands-on skill building, practical tools for beginning farmers, and networking opportunities.

Small Farm Equipment & Maintenance📅 Friday, February 28, 2025 10am – 2:30pm
📍 Feeding Crane Farm, Penn Valley
🍴 Lunch and refreshments included

🚜 Farmer scholarships available!

Join us for a hands-on, half-day workshop designed to help small-scale farmers understand and maintain their essential equipment. Whether you’re new to farming or looking to improve the efficiency of your current operations, this workshop will cover the basics of small farm equipment, from tillers and tractors and other common tools used on small farms. Participants will learn about proper maintenance techniques, troubleshooting common issues, and tips for extending the lifespan of equipment. Experts will also share advice on when to repair or replace equipment, as well as how to keep costs manageable. This interactive session will include hands-on activities, demonstrations, and ample time for Q&A, leaving you with the knowledge to keep your equipment running smoothly for maximum productivity.

Click here to apply for a farmer scholarship.

Who Should Attend: Small-scale farmers, new farm operators, and anyone looking to learn more about farm equipment & maintenance.

Organizer
avatar for Kali Feiereisel

Kali Feiereisel

Farmer Services Director, CAFF
Friday February 28, 2025 10:00am - 2:30pm PST
Feeding Crane Farms Address to be shared with registrants closer to the event

1:00pm PST

Inland Empire Regional Gathering
Friday February 28, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm PST
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Inland Empire regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

Organizer
avatar for Patrick Mitchell

Patrick Mitchell

Farm Operations and Cultural Center Manager, Five Keys
Friday February 28, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm PST
Five Keys’ Ecological Agriculture Training Farm 4208 California Ave Norco, 92860

3:00pm PST

North Valley Regional Gathering
Friday February 28, 2025 3:00pm - 6:00pm PST
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the North Valley regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

Organizer
avatar for Emily Ayala

Emily Ayala

Ecological Farming Program Manager, CAFF
Emily supports the Climate Smart Farming Program and Ecological Pest Management Program to assist farmers and ranchers implement and sustain pragmatic agroecological practices. She has lived and worked in agriculture in the Central Valley, Bay Area, and Spain, and is ardent about... Read More →
Friday February 28, 2025 3:00pm - 6:00pm PST
Chico State University Farm Pavilion 311 Nicholas C Shouten Ln, Chico, CA 95928
 
2025 California Small Farm Conference
From $20.00
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link

Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.