
Indiana Small Farm Conference Committee
The Purdue Small Farms Team formed more than 10 years ago to support the growing number of small and alternative farming operations. From this team the Indiana Small Farm Conference committee was formed, a collaborative effort, engaging researchers, educators, and farmers to help foster this diverse community.
The committee meets monthly throughout the year to discuss current and future initiatives addressing small and alternative farming operations as well as plan the annual conference for the small holder farmers of Indiana.
The conference brings together farmers, educators and researchers to create a supportive network for those engaged in small-scale farming as well as provide opportunities to share knowledge. The Indiana Small Farm Conference is hosted at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville, with over 400 attendees. Tracks focused on beginning farmers, urban agriculture, farm planning, livestock and vegetable production and more. We look forward to continuing this annual event, and hope it will continue to provide a chance to build this community.
Our Team

Tamara Benjamin, Purdue Extension
DFFS Team: Assistant Program Leader, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Amy Shambach, Aquaculture Marketing Outreach Associate
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Montgomery County

Ashley Adair, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Montgomery County

Brook Alford, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Marion County

Amanda Baird, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Tipton County

Azad Chahal, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, LaPorte County

Phil Cox, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Vermillion County

Steve Engleking, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, LaGrange County

Dan Garcia, Owner, Garcia's Gardens, Indianapolis

Sarah Hanson, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Johnson County

John Hawley, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Dearborn County

Kwamena K Quagrainie, Agricultural Economics

Mike Hoopengardner, Owner, Red Bud Farm, Spiceland

Julie Huetteman, Strategic Initiative Coordinator, Purdue Extension

Mathias Ingle, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Howard County

Laura Ingwell, Asst. Professor, Purdue Entomology

Lais McCartney, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Hancock County

Karen Mitchell, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Tippecanoe County

Jeff Pell, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Hendricks County

Alex Pettigrew, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Urban Agriculture Educator for Purdue Extension – Marion County.

Courtney Schmidt, Extension Educator, Miami County
DFFS Team: Manager, Purdue Student Farm

Brad Sewell, Program Measurement & Evaluation Coordinator, Purdue Extension
DFFS Team: Program Measurement & Evaluation Coordinator

Nathan Shoaf, Coordinator, Purdue Extension Urban Agriculture
DFFS Team: Urban Agriculture State Coordinator

Brooke Stafford, Graduate Assistant, Tippecanoe County
DFFS Team: Program Assistant

Amy Thompson, Extension Educator, Monroe County
DFFS Team: County Extension Director - Monroe County

Andrew Westfall, Extension Educator
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, White County

James Wolff, Extension Educator, Allen County
DFFS Team: Extension Educator, Allen County