The Purdue Small Farms Team formed several years ago to support the growing number of small and alternative farming operations. The committee is a collaborative effort, engaging researchers, educators, and farmers to help foster this diverse community.
The committee meets a few times throughout the year to discuss current and future initiatives addressing small and alternative farming operations.
One major initiative the committee has been addressing is the creation of an annual conference to bring together farmers, educators and researchers to create a supportive network for those engaged in this field and an opportunity to share knowledge. In 2013, we had the first Indiana Small Farm Conference in Dannville, which had over 200 attendees, 5 tracks, and 45 sessions. We look forward to continuing this annual event, and hope it will continue to provide a chance to build this community.
Dr. Benjamin is an Assistant Program Leader in Agriculture & Natural Resources. In this position, she coordinates the statewide Diversified Farming & Food Systems (DFFS) efforts. For 2019, she is serving as the chair of the Indiana Small Farm Conference, and serves as the point of contact.
Roy Ballard is the Purdue Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources for Hancock County. For the past 8 years and for Floyd County for the 14 years prior to that, Roy has had the pleasure of working with a very diverse clientele from farmers producing tobacco, corn, soybeans, hog and cattle to those with niche markets in vegetables, fruit, agritourism, mushrooms, flowers, botanicals to name just a few.
During his Extension career Roy has dedicated much of his time to assisting small farm owners who desire to diversify their existing operations with new enterprises and new marketing systems and with beginning farmers seeking ways to keep their acreage productive, profitable and personally rewarding.
Increasing access by the consumer to Indiana grown and value added products is a priority of Roy’s work in Extension.
Roy holds a B.S. degree in Agricultural Education from Purdue University and a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from Indiana University. He has used this training to instruct Vocational Horticulture students for 12 years and to help farmers and other rural landowners to remain sustainable in the face of substantial change in the rural community.
Roy also serves as the Indiana Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Coordinator. In that role he works to increase awareness of Indiana Educators and the public on current and emerging issues in and pertaining to Sustainable Agriculture through support of related workshops, webinars, conferences, tours, field day and other means of educational outreach. He also provides support to farmers and others who are interested in seeking appropriate sources of grants and loans to start, expand or diversify a farm enterprise.
Roy is a beekeeper and a gardener in his time away from the office.
Areas of Interest: Beginning farmers, fruits, vegetables and season extension
Amy Thompson has been a Small Farms team member since 2006. She enjoys working one on one with farmers and helping them connect to resources and addressing issues on their farms. She has coordinated a number of training events on season extension, soils, flowers and fruit and vegetable production.
Areas of Interest: Organic agriculture, soil health, cover crops, vegetable production, pastured poultry and eggs, agronomy
Michael O’Donnell is the Purdue Extension Organic and Diversified Agriculture Educator. Originally from West Lafayette, IN, he earned B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining Purdue Extension in 2012, he worked at Moody Meats, Lone Pine Farms in Montgomery County, IN. He and his family operate Pinehurst Farm, a small diversified farm in Daleville, where they raise vegetables, eggs, and pastured poultry.
Areas of Interest: Animal behavior and sustainable farm culture
Sarah Hanson works on the website content and marketing for the Small Farms Conference.
Areas of Interest: Small and beginning farmers
Steve Engleking is the Purdue Extension Educator of Agriculture and Natural Resources in LaGrange County where he has served since 1995. LaGrange County is the center of the second largest Amish settlement in the United States with approximately 19,000 Amish residents in the county. LaGrange County has 2419 farms (#1 in Indiana) with an average size of 84 acres. In addition, the county has the most farms that are certified organic with 52% of all certified organic farms in Indiana. As a result, Steve has focused a majority of his work in the area of small farms and has been instrumental in developing a “beginning farmer” educational program for Indiana small farmers. He has helped to establish and also co-chairs the Purdue Extension Indiana Small Farm Conference. Steve enjoys teaching and helping people improve their lives through his Extension work.
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