OUR WINTER CONFERENCE SPONSORS
2026 Conference
About the Conference
CT NOFA is proud to present our 44th Winter Conference, featuring a series of virtual workshops on March 3-5 in the lead up to our full day, in-person gathering and celebration on March 7, 2026 at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.
We'll be offering a variety of workshops, covering topics such as farming, organic land care, government policy, homesteading and gardening, food equity and justice, and more, including a soon-to-be-announced keynote speaker. Our in-person celebration will also feature the presentation of the Bill Duesing Organic Living on the Earth award and our members' annual meeting.
Why attend the CT NOFA Winter Conference? Let our attendees tell you, in their own words.
REQUEST FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
The CT NOFA Winter Conference educational slate of workshops is made possible thanks to the interest and enthusiasm of our knowledgeable community members. Are you an expert on a topic that would be of interest to conference attendees? We'd love to hear from you. Presenters are provided with free admission to the conference, as well as a $150 honorarium.
We welcome all submissions for workshops that capture CT NOFA's mission of fostering organic and regenerative agriculture, including topics such as:
- Food Equity and Access
- Seed Saving
- Urban Agriculture
- Regenerative Agriculture and Ecological Restoration
- Farm Improvement and Innovation
- Black and Indigenous Farming Practices and Resources
- LGBTQ+ Farming Resources and Support
- Homesteading Topics
- Mental Health and Well-Being for Farmers
- Beginning Farmer Funding and Resources
- Organic Certification Resources
- Organic Land Care
- Soil Health and Permaculture
- Policy and Advocacy Issues
BECOME A SPONSOR
The CT NOFA Winter Conference is made possible thanks to the financial support of businesses, organizations, and individuals like you. Those who would like to help support our 44th annual Winter Conference can choose from several sponsorship tiers, each with different supporter benefits.
CALL FOR EXHIBITORS
Join us at CT NOFA’s 44th annual Winter Conference on March 7, 2026 at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT to connect with 300+ farmers, home gardeners, and organic advocates from across the region.
Local food producers, craftspeople, or other vendors who are interested in having a table at the conference should visit our exhibitor page for more information and to sign up. The cost is $90 for CT NOFA member businesses and $150 for non-members.
Exhibitors will be supplied with a 5′ table and chair for their booth space. The exhibitor fee includes one conference registration. One additional table staffer may register for the conference at a discounted rate of $35.
Each year, our winter conference features local food producers, craftspeople, agricultural contractors and service providers, and more throughout the day of the conference at our vendor fair. Attendees are invited to visit them between workshop sessions, during lunch, and before and after the conference to explore what our state's businesses and organizations have to offer.
THE BILL DUESING ORGANIC LIVING ON THE EARTH AWARD
This award is for a recipient who has demonstrated the advancement of organic living on our earth with a project, innovation, action, or lifestyle that supports the continuation of the life work of CT NOFA's founder, Bill Duesing – for all to live on this earth in a society in harmony with nature. The accomplishment must contribute to the advancement of organic living in Connecticut in a demonstrable way and be a current or recent accomplishment that reflects Bill’s devotion to organic living and his wish that this critically important work be continued by his friends and colleagues. Award recipients, who will be announced and honored at the Winter Conference, can be one of the following:
- Organic farmer/farm (examples: new, young, and/or seasoned farmers added new revenue sources to secure the farm’s future; expanded availability of organic food in the community; added carbon sequestration measures on the farm, e.g. cover-crops, no-till)
- Organic land care professional / business (examples: new, young, and/or seasoned land care professionals transitioned from conventional to organic land care; added carbon sequestration measures, e.g. replacing lawn with meadow, etc.)
- Organic advocate (example: spearheaded a change in their local school system, worked to promote organic legislation, or supported healthy soil legislation)
- Organization (example: farmers market became 100% organic; the advancement of farmworkers’ rights; created organic-based social media group)
- Educator (example: developed new ways to add organic food and agriculture to school curriculum)
- Mentor (example: developed process for passing along organic knowledge and skills to new farmers or land care professionals)
- Media specialist (examples: used digital media including blogs or social media, or traditional media such as radio or print, to spread the word about organic living in Connecticut; the life work of Bill Duesing and his enduring influence; current organic initiatives, etc.)
Conference News & announcements
A More Organic Future for Connecticut Starts with You
Earlier this year, CT NOFA faced a critical funding crossroads. Well into our budgeted programming for the year, we faced sudden and substantial cuts to federally funded programming that constituted the majority of our work for 2025. But then, something moving happened.
Bill Duesing Award Committee Seeks New Members
The Bill Duesing Award Committee seeks new members to continue the tradition of selecting our annual Bill Duesing Award winner. Committee members are expected to be actively involved with and knowledgeable about the sustainable and organic agriculture community in Connecticut. Members are required to meet three times a year in advance of the CT NOFA Winter Conference (typically in December, January, and February) to conduct the work of identifying candidates for the award and ultimately selecting that year’s awardee.