Awards available to support Michigan farmer attendance at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo (GLEXPO)
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EmailJoin fellow producers at GLEXPO 2026! Applications are now open for awards to support attendance through Michigan’s Emerging Farmers.
The Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo (GLEXPO) will take place on December 8-10, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan with over 4,500 fruit, vegetable, farm market, and greenhouse individuals, as well as over 400 industry-leading companies, in attendance. New to GLEXPO this year, there will be a track tailored to education and opportunities for Small Scale and Urban Farmers. This will connect more growers with the innovation and connections that are shared at the annual conference. Sessions added to the track include 'Natural Pest Management for Small and Urban Farms' and 'Farming with Children and Community,' as well as previously offered programming such as 'Local Food Marketing 101 and 201.'
Applications are now available for awards to farmers to support their attendance at GLEXPO, covering registration fees and a stipend. These awards are hosted and funded by the Michigan’s Emerging Farmers program, a collaboration of the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, Michigan State University Extension, and Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS).
Applications are due by November 11, 2026:
Apply here!
After the short application is submitted, applicants will be notified of their award by Wednesday, November 13, 2026 and asked to register with Michigan’s Emerging Farmers by Wednesday, November 25, 2026. Priority will be given to food producers attending GLEXPO for the first time. Accepted participants will be required to attend the conference and a provided lunch at GLEXPO on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, in addition to completing a post-event survey to receive their stipend. A pre- and post- conference virtual farmer meetup will be optional for participants to learn more about GLEXPO. This Michigan’s Emerging Farmers award of support is a separate opportunity than the scholarships provided by GLEXPO via their website and registration in addition to the award registration is not necessary.
In 2025, the Michigan’s Emerging Farmers team hosted 35 producers and community partners at GLEXPO. “Attending GLEXPO gave me a great opportunity to meet with some other great people in the field and also an opportunity to get a good overview of the different programs available for beginning farmers to lean into to help them get off the ground,” said one awarded farmer in attendance. The Michigan’s Emerging Farmers team looks forward to hosting more farmers this December.
About Michigan’s Emerging Farmers
Our statewide program aims to create pathways to growth and economic opportunity for all of Michigan’s agricultural producers, including small- to mid-sized farmers. This project is funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, in a cooperative agreement with members of the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, Michigan State University Extension, and Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS).
This work is supported by the American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Initiative program, project award no. 2023-70417-39233, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.
Michigan State University is an equal opportunity provider; its programs and activities are open to all without regard to personal protected identity. In accordance with Federal law, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements, and MSU policy, discrimination in USDA-sponsored programs and activities is prohibited on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. More information about these and other civil rights protections at MSU is available in MSU’s Notice of Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment and Non-Retaliation.
