Solid Ground provides educational programming for farmers all year round. Whether you are just getting started or you are looking to refine your skills, we’ve got lots of opportunities to build and refine your skills. Events are organized into the following categories:
Ag Mechanics
Conference
Course
Partner Event
Skill Share
Workshop
If you require an accommodation to participate in any of our events, please contact Nicole Davidow, Solid Ground Event Coordinator, at nicole.davidow@uconn.edu at least 5 days in advance of the event or program.
Scroll through the list below to learn more about what events are coming up. We hope to see you soon!
Ag Mechanics
OCT
21
Wednesday
Tractor Maintenance Training
October 21st, 2026, 3pm to 6pm
UConn Research Farm, Storrs
Meet the tractor mechanics at UConn’s Research Farm and join them for a demonstration of how they maintain their equipment, learn best practices when handling attachments and implements, what to do post-season and more.
Upcoming Application
Deadline
OCT
24
Saturday
“Ready To Sell (to Schools) Training
Applications Due: October 24, 2026
This is an 11-month technical assistance (TA) program. Participants in Ready to Sell learn about school buyer expectations, forward contracts, food safety considerations, and more. Get specialized technical assistance to up your school sales game. See the training schedule to learn more about this exciting program! Click here for application.
Skill Share
OCT
24
Saturday
Farmland Seeking Skill Share
October 24th, 2026: 10am to 1pm
Artza Mendi Farm, Baltic
Join Kip Kolesinskas, Solid Ground Professional Soil, Conservation, and Land Use Consultant, for a farm tour and demonstration on how to go about assessing farmland potential for purchase or lease using key areas of interest such as property history, soil health, infrastructure, and water features.
Workshop
OCT
30
Friday
Intro to Grants for Farmers
October 30th, 2026: 8:30am to 12pm
New London County UConn Extension Office, Norwich
Join this 3.5-hour, in-person workshop to learn how to navigate grant opportunities for your farm business. Topics include available grant programs, funding agencies, eligible project types, sources of free technical assistance, and strategies for understanding and responding to grant announcements. The workshop is taught by Jiff Martin and Robert Chang of the UConn Extension Solid Ground team.
Upcoming Application
Deadline
OCT
30
Friday
The Venture Farming Institute
Applications Due: October 30, 2026
The Venture Farming Institute (VFI) is a cohort-based agricultural training program for aspiring farm and land stewards who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or Person of Color, and live in Connecticut or Rhode Island. This year all classes will be HYBRID. Classes start on Jan. 9th, 2027 and end on March 6th, 2027.
Ag Mechanics
NOV
06
Friday
Equipment Demo Field Day
November 6th, 2026 (rain date November 7th): 10am to 3pm
Oxen Hill Farm, Suffield
Join the farmers at Oxen Hill Farm, in partnership with Griffin Equipment, for a day of hands-on equipment demonstration. We will be focusing on tools of the trade for both vegetable and/or cut flower production. This is a learning opportunity to observe and try out both hand driven and tractor driven equipment for planting, harvesting and more.
Workshop
NOV
13
Friday
Intro to Grants for Farmers
November 13th, 2026
Naugatuck Community College, Waterbury
Join this 3.5-hour, in-person workshop to learn how to navigate grant opportunities for your farm business. Topics include available grant programs, funding agencies, eligible project types, sources of free technical assistance, and strategies for understanding and responding to grant announcements. The workshop is taught by Jiff Martin and Robert Chang of the UConn Extension Solid Ground team.
Workshop
DEC
08
Tuesday
Explore Farming in Connecticut
December 8th, 2026
Virtual
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture along with UConn Extension and New CT Farmer Alliance present Explore Farming, a virtual workshop introducing new and aspiring farmers to Connecticut’s agricultural landscape and available resources.
Conference
DEC
15, 16, 17
New Hampshire
New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference
December 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown, Manchester, New Hampshire
Join hundreds of fellow farmers for three days of learning, networking, and innovation featuring 31 educational sessions, daily farmer-to-farmer discussions, a research poster session, and more than 120 trade show exhibitors. Register by November 30 to take advantage of early bird rates.
Course
JAN
2027
Hybrid
Business of Farming
In Person: January 8th, 15th, and 29th, 2027
Virtual: January 13th and 27th, 2027
This is hybrid course is designed for beginning farmers who want to learn how to create and develop a business plan and gain tools and resources to help them with marketing, branding, financial management, filing taxes, legal business formation, insurance, local town and state regulations, and more! Learn more about the course.
Conference
JAN
12
Tuesday
UConn Extension Vegetable and Small Fruit Conference
Save the Date! January 12th, 2027: 9am to 3:30pm
UConn Student Union, Storrs
This full-day event is catered to CT growers and features educational presentations, farmer-to-farmer focus groups, research poster presentations, breakout sessions, and a trade show. Registration will open later this fall.
Conference
JAN
20
Wednesday
Farm Managers Summit
Save the Date! January 20th, 2027
Chrysalis Center, Hartford
This conference provides a great opportunity for farmers to come together with peer farm owners or managers to network and learn together, and ultimately make our farm businesses stronger!
Course
JAN – APR
2027
Asynchronous
Vegetable Production Certificate Course for Beginning Farmers
Course runs January through April 2027
Enrollment for the course will open in December 2026
UConn Extension’s Vegetable Production Course provides an opportunity for new and beginning farmers to build foundational knowledge and practical skills as it relates to growing healthy food, building a farm business, and becoming part of Connecticut’s local food system. The course modules will highlight important topics related to business planning, soil health, vegetable production, infrastructure, and finding your market.
Workshop
FEB
04, 11
Thursdays
On Farm Food Safety Workshop
Part 1 – Virtual: February 4th
Part 2 – In Person: February 11th
Tolland County Agricultural Center, Vernon
Details and registration link coming soon!
Course
FEB
05, 12, 26
Fridays
Land Ownership Readiness Course
February 5th, 12th, and 26th, 2027
In partnership with Connecticut Department of Agriculture, this course is designed to support underserved producers by sharing knowledge and resources that can increase their access to land, capital, and markets. Registration will open later this fall. For now, you learn more about this course on our website.
Conference
FEB
20
Saturday
NCTFA Farmer 2 Farmer Conference
Save the Date! February 20th, 2027: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Eastern CT State University, Windham
The New Connecticut Farmer Alliance hosts this annual event featuring a full day of workshops and discussions led by and for Connecticut farmers. It’s a great way to network with other growers, and our Solid Ground Team will be there with a table!