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SUPPORTING THE GRAIN COMMUNITY SINCE 2007

Upcoming Events

Mastering Cracked Rye Bread: A Whole Grain, Nutritious, and Delicious Experience

December 7th, 2024 

4:00-6:00PM EST

Virtual – Zoom

Join Judith Lehnhardt, a self-taught sourdough baker from Germany, for an immersive workshop on crafting traditional German rye bread. Learn about rye flour’s unique characteristics, its health benefits, and the critical fermentation and timing processes essential for enhancing the flavor. This hands-on class is perfect for bakers of all levels, offering insights into kneading, shaping, and scoring rye dough. By the end, you’ll have a deeper appreciation of this ancient grain and the skills to bake nutritious, flavorful rye bread at home.

The 2025 Kneading Conference   

July 24-25, 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.

Maine Artisan Bread Fair

Date: July 26 
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Skowhegan State Fairgrounds
Cost: $3 per person, children-> free admittance 

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 fourteen years and the offerings have grown each year.  While you will be captivated by the wares in each booth, you will also be able 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.

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 Current 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

The MGA provides funds need-based technical assistance and equipment helping grain-based business owners secure economic opportunities. Most revently, the 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 Kneading Conferences of the Past

Explore Dozens of Educational & Instructional Videos from MGA

Baking Tips and Recipes from Kneading Conference Presenters

Kneading Conference Photo Galleries by Year

Explore the Kneading Conference 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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