SUPPORTING THE GRAIN COMMUNITY SINCE 2007
Upcoming Events
The 2025 Kneading Conference
July 23-25, 2025
Skowhegan, ME
The Kneading Conference brings together grainiacs and bread buffs from all over the country. Farmers, professional and home bakers, brewers, chefs, cooks, grain researchers, maltsters, food entrepreneurs, and wood-fired oven enthusiasts gather to educate one another about the art and science of growing and milling grains, baking artisan breads, and brewing delicious beer. Whether you are a professional, or just yearning to know more about the craft, this event is for you.
Date: July 26, 2025
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Skowhegan State Fairgrounds
Cost: $5 per person, <12 y.o. free entry
Maine Artisan Bread Fair
The Maine Artisan Bread Fair is one of a kind. It is a fair dedicated solely to real bread and everything associated with this most ancient and central staple. The Maine Grain Alliance has sponsored the Bread Fair for fifteen years and the offerings have grown each year. While you will be captivated by the wares in each booth, you will also tantalize your taste buds as you sample foods ranging from pizzas cooked in wood-fired ovens, fresh sourdough loaves, sweet pastries, and a variety of other locally produced delicious food.
Date: June 24, 2025
Time: 3:30pm-5pm
Location: Crystal Spring Farm | 277 Pleasant Hill Road, Brunswick, ME, 04011
Cost: Free
Small Scale Organic Grain Production on Sandy Soils with Seth Kroeck
Join Seth Kroeck for an educational workshop & tour of Crystal Spring Farm, exploring the topic of small-scale organic grain production on sandy soils. This event will offer current and interested grain growers an opportunity to see the farm’s grain operation first-hand and learn from Seth’s experience adapting organic production methods to Maine’s unique soil conditions.
Date: June 26, 2025
Time: 11am-2pm
Start Location: 63 O’Neil St, Portland, ME 04106
Cost: $50
Portland Bread Crawl
- – ZU Bakery
- – Flatbread Co.
- – Ugly Duckling
- – A surprise bakery to be revealed soon…
AND the fun continues after our downtown crawl with an after party at NIGHT MOVES BREAD.
Baked goods will be available to taste at every stop on the tour.DON’T MISS OUT
Date: July 9, 2025
Time: 10am-12pm
Location: UMaine Rogers Farm | 914 Bennoch Road, Old Town, ME, 04468
Cost: Free
Legume Cover Crop & Small Grains Research Tour with Jaime Garzon & Tom Molloy
Join us on July 9th for a two-part workshop at UMaine’s Rogers Farm! To start things off, UMaine Extension Professor, Dr. Jaime Garzon, will showcase his legume variety trial and outline the practical applications of this research as cover crops for grain growers. In the second session, UMaine Research Associate Tom Molloy will lead attendees through his small grain and bean trials, discussing variety selection and production strategies tailored to Maine’s growing conditions.
Inspiring & Empowering Grain Community
Our Mission
To inspire & empower people who are building local grain economies. We create connections & share grain traditions & innovations from earth to table.
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Our Vision
We envision a world where local grain economies that are good for people and good for the planet can thrive.
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Our Programs
RARE & HERITAGE SEED RESTORATION
Our seed restoration project aims to restore rare and heritage variety grains by turning handfuls of carefully kept seed into commercially viable quantities for farms.
Grain & Baking Education
Our grain and baking education program provides live and online workshops, baking tips, free learning resources, videos, handbooks and more provided by experts in the field.
Supporting Grain Farms
The ability to handle and finish grain to meet top quality standards is critical on farms. This project will purchase equipment and demonstrate its best uses on seven farms throughout Maine.
Kneading Conference & Maine Artisan Bread Fair
The annual conference and fair held in Skowhegan, ME features two full days of intensive workshops on grain topics and hands-on baking experiences where participants rub elbows with the some of the world’s most acclaimed bakers & chefs.
Grants
MGA provides funds need-based technical assistance and equipment helping grain-based business owners secure economic opportunities. Most recently, MGA has offered two rounds of Emergency Relief Funding in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Celebrate Our Incredible Grain Community and Remember All the Fun from Past Kneading Conferences
Explore Dozens of OUR Educational & Instructional Videos
LEARN Baking Tips and Recipes from Kneading Conference Presenters
CHECK OUT Kneading Conference Photo Galleries by Year
Explore the Kneading Conference ONLINE via #KneadingConference
Help Us Make A Difference For Grain Businesses In A Time of Need
Support the Maine Grain Alliance As We Support our Community
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