the MID-ATLANTIC GRAIN FAIR

11:00 am to 4:00 pm

March 15, 2026 in Kutztown, PA

Join Us!

The 2026 Grain Fair

Hosted at the Rodale Institute, the fair is a free, family-friendly event for food enthusiasts and community members passionate about local agriculture. The Showcase features vendors offering foods and beverages made with Mid-Atlantic grains alongside demonstrators leading hands-on activities, talks, and displays.

With farm tours and a festive marketplace atmosphere, the Grain Fair offers a dynamic entry point into the regional grain movement—bringing the seed-to-table journey to life and connecting community members with the people and products building a resilient Mid-Atlantic food system.

Grain Fair Highlights

The Grain Fair is designed as a relaxed, welcoming day to explore how grains fit into a thriving regional food system—whether you’re a farmer, food maker, or curious community member.

This year’s Grain Fair is more than a marketplace — it’s an immersive, hands-on opportunity to see regenerative agriculture in action and understand how research, farming, and food production intersect in the Mid-Atlantic.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

  • Free refreshments featuring grain-based foods and beverages

  • Live music throughout the day to keep the atmosphere festive

  • A local food truck offering hearty fare for purchase

  • Guided farm tours of the Rodale Institute, including:

    • Agroforestry operations

    • Hog facilities and integrated livestock systems

    • Vegetable systems trials

    • Long-term research fields

    • Compost systems

    • Emerging research areas, including hemp and innovative weed control strategies

Kids Activities at the Grain Fair

Vanessa Bolin, an Indigenous farmer, artist, and educator, will be leading hands-on activities for children at the Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair. Kids are welcome to drop in anytime to explore grains, learn about farming, and get creative with a few light crafts.

Example activities include:

  • Collaborative grain art: children contribute to a large, colorful design made from wheat, corn, rice, and other grains.

  • Corn jewelry making: kids can create bracelets or necklaces while learning about the history and importance of corn in Indigenous cultures.

Vanessa has founded community projects including the Eyes Wide Open Project, Richmond Indigenous Society, and Community Roots Garden, and has worked across the U.S. and internationally supporting communities and sharing Indigenous knowledge. She’s excited to guide children in fun, educational, and creative activities that spark curiosity about grains, farming, and the natural world.

All materials will be provided, and no sign-up for these activities is required.

Join us in the Grain Fair Showcase as a Vendor or Demonstrator!

Sign up through the registration form below, or contact <lindsay@commongrainalliance.org>

  • Grain Fair Vendors

    Vendors feature Mid-Atlantic grains in their food or beverage offerings, or provide products/services that support the regional grain economy.

    Vendors must supply their own signage and point-of-sale system.

    Alcohol vendors other than those featuring regional grain-based beverages cannot be accommodated due to PA ABC regulations.

  • Grain Fair Demonstrators

    Demonstrators share knowledge through engaging talks, demos, or hands-on activities related to grains, agriculture, milling, food, etc.

    Examples include:

    -tabletop milling demonstrations

    -educational displays about indigenous grains

    -corn husk crafts and other children’s activities

    -local food and farming publications

GRAIN FAIR TICKETS FOR ATTENDEES, VENDORS, AND DEMONSTRATORS

Free and Family-Friendly | March 15, 2026

The Grain Fair is hosted in partnership with the Rodale Institute located at 611 Siegfriedale Road / Kutztown, PA 19530-9320

For Directions, visit: https://rodaleinstitute.org/contact/directions/

This work is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).