The West Virginia University Extension Small Farm Center’s annual West Virginia Small Farm Conference supports the Mountain State’s 23,000 small farm families by providing reliable education and valuable networking opportunities. This year, the conference will be hosted on Feb. 26 – 28, at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in Charleston, West Virginia.
“Our small farms face trials and triumphs every year, and our conference serves as a low-risk way to explore new opportunities and technologies without a large capital investment,” Lisa Jones, WVU Extension Small Farm Center program coordinator, said. “For 22 years, we’ve been providing opportunities for learning and building connections, and we are so excited to keep the tradition going and bring our state’s farming community back together this year.”
With a variety of classes available, attendees will learn how to adapt their enterprises to meet the rising demand for local foods. There will also be more traditional offerings to help small farmers increase the profitability of their operations, from vegetable production to value-added products.
“Farmers from West Virginia and beyond are invited to take advantage of this opportunity to participate in the conference and learn more about how they can run their operations more efficiently and profitably,” Jones added.
When registering online before Feb. 18, the cost of attendance for adults is $75 per day on Thursday and Friday, and $50 on Saturday. For students, the cost is $35 per day on Thursday and Friday and $25 on Saturday. In-person registration is available at the conference for an additional $25 fee. If interested, find more information and register here.
Youths are welcome to attend the conference with their family for a flat rate of $15 per child on Thursday and Friday, and $10 on Saturday. Interactive learning activities will be available to youths of all ages, giving them a chance to have fun with agriculture, too.
The cost of attendance includes all conference meals, which are prepared with locally sourced ingredients from West Virginia farmers, further demonstrating the values at the heart of the conference.
Participants can also look forward to several special events sprinkled throughout the conference. On Thursday and Friday, attendees can opt into the USDA Certified Organic track for no extra cost. Seats are limited and are filled on a first come, first served basis. The event also includes a popcorn competition and a seed swap.
Registration information and other conference details can be found at extension.wvu.edu/sfc.
The popular Winter Blues Farmers Market, a collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, also takes place during the conference and is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. The farmers market is free to enter and the public is encouraged to attend. This producer-only market will feature a diverse array of products, including fresh vegetables, maple syrup, meats, soaps, salsa and more from across West Virginia to showcase the state's bounty.
The conference focuses on partnerships, not only from farmer to farmer, but also farmer to supplier and agriculture service provider. Many sponsors have helped make the conference possible, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, West Virginia Department of Education Office of Child Nutrition, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and the National Agricultural Law Center.
If you want to learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
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sk/02/02/26
CONTACT: Sydney Keener
Communications Specialist
WVU Division for Land-Grant Engagement
304-293-8986; Sydney.keener@mail.wvu.edu