Field Notes: Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference

In early March, the FARMWISE Team attended the Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference. Whereas Jodee and Heather have been many times, this was a new(er) experience for our Team Members. Laura Stoltz, Jen Musall, and Becky Landes shared their experiences below: 

FARMWISE Team with Marty Travis of Spence Farm in Illinois, also the event Keynote

I attended the Indiana Small Farms and Horticulture Conference for the first time this year. It was immediately apparent to me how this convening fosters connection and learning among small farms, support actors, supply chain partners, and agencies from across the state. Attending this conference allowed me to make new connections with producers, hear their desires for their farms, and provide direct communication on how FARMWISE Indiana can support them. I also appreciated space to think about approaches in my role in a high-level way and think about how to make the most of connections across my region. Laura Stoltz

2025 was my first Indiana Small Farms Conference and I had only been a FARMWISE VCP for a few months. At that time, nearly everyone was a new contact. Fast forward a year and as soon as I walked in, FARMWISE partners were saying "hey Jen" and I felt like I knew someone around every corner. I was able to check in with farmers I have been working with and even spent lunch chatting with one of them while meeting a new contact. Near the end of my day, an orchard that I visited approached our table about apples and applesauce. Since then, fellow VCP Becky Landes and I have approached nearly a dozen buyers and half are interested- and one ordered the applesauce immediately! Jen Musall

Becky and Jen speaking with Roger Winstead of Beautiful Edibles and FUNGI, org

Attending the Small Farm Conference is a great opportunity to learn and connect. My role as a Value Chain Professional is all about connecting and building relationships. It was great to reconnect with farmers and food systems partners that I have recently met or met in the past. I enjoy hearing about how things have been going for them since the last time that I saw them. While it is great to reconnect with those I know, the Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference is also a good time to meet new people and connect with new food system partners. Each of us connecting with each other and building or strengthening relationships is how we build more resilient local and regional food systems. Becky Landes