Center for Regional Food Systems Michigan’s Emerging Farmers

The Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo (GLEXPO) welcomes thousands of participants from across the region to connect over the latest agricultural innovations. This year, from December 9-11, 2025, attendees chose from 70+ learning sessions and explored one of the largest fruit, vegetable, greenhouse and farm market shows in North America with over 400 vendors. To increase access to this educational and networking opportunity, a collaborative program named Michigan’s Emerging Farmers, offered conference scholarships to Michigan producers. Over 30 producers accepted these scholarships, with a majority of them attending this conference for the first time. This also included optional transportation to GLEXPO for farmers coming from Detroit, Lansing, and Jackson. 

“GLEXPO was a great experience!” Roseann Bills, Certain League Farm Foundation Founder, said. Bills was one of the farmers who attended through this scholarship opportunity. “My favorite takeaway from one of the sessions is to get a mentor. Go ahead and take classes and learn from them, but a mentor makes the process so much smoother. For 2026, I plan on participating in some organic gardening classes and getting mentors!” 

Michigan’s Emerging Farmers is dedicated to connecting farmers of all experiences to the support needed to grow and is a collaborative program with members from the Michigan State University Extension, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS), and Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS). Funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, this group of seasoned educators works to help producers navigate available resources at the local, state, and federal level.  

Several members from the Michigan’s Emerging Farmers team hosted or moderated sessions at the Expo, including:  

• Tools you can use to better navigate USDA farm programs 
  • Corey Clark, Farm Business Management Educator, Michigan State University Extension 
• Building a Business that Lasts 
  • Florencia Colella, Farm Business Management Educator, Michigan State University Extension 
• Restricted Use Pesticide Review -  Spanish 
  • Carlos Garcia-Salazar, Small Fruit Educator, Michigan State University Extension  
  • Christina Currell, Cover Crops and Soil Health Educator, Michigan State University Extension  
• Farmer Stories: Transitioning to Organic 
  • Katie Brandt, Extension Educator, Michigan State University Extension  

In addition to these sessions, members of the Michigan’s Emerging Farmers team had a table at the event to share resources and information with other attendees. They also hosted a networking lunch to provide a space for attendees to connect. Through attending GLEXPO, farmers and producers from across the region had the opportunity to learn from each other and develop new relationships.  

“We heard from attendees that they felt welcome in the space and were likely to attend in the future. People enjoyed the sessions and have even mentioned that they are already using new marketing tips they learned,” Bekah Galang, Partnership Specialist of CRFS, said. “We look forward to hosting similar opportunities for attending conferences in the future!"  

Learn more at canr.msu.edu/miemergingfarmers  

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.  

About Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems 

The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems advances regionally-rooted food systems through applied research, education, and outreach. We do this by uniting the knowledge and experience of diverse stakeholders with that of MSU faculty and staff. Our work fosters a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the nation, and the planet by advancing systems that produce food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable. Learn more: foodsystems.msu.edu