Mid-Atlantic Grain Conference 2027
March 7 & 8, 2027 | Pearlstone Retreat Center | Reisterstown, Maryland
The Mid-Atlantic Grain Conference is coming to Maryland!
Join grain farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, distillers, food businesses, researchers, advocates, and other grain economy leaders from across the region for CGA's annual gathering.
Registration Opens Soon!
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Registration Opens Soon! 〰️
UNTIL NOVEMBER 30th:
CGA members can register for the 2027 Mid-Atlantic Grain Conference for the Early Bird price of just $125.
Members also get first access to limited on-site lodging at Pearlstone.
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Early Bird Pricing is a New Member Benefit!
Don’t miss it!
CGA members get our lowest conference registration price when they register early.
Until Nov 30th, the Early Bird rate is available to current CGA members. (Beginning December 1, conference registration will increase for everyone, including CGA members.)
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Members Get Early Access to On-Site Lodging
Pearlstone Retreat Center has limited on-site lodging, with accommodations for approx 75 conference attendees.
During the Early Bird period*, on-site lodging is reserved for booking by CGA members. (Once Early Bird ends, any remaining on-site rooms will become available to all registered conference attendees.) *Because on-site lodging is limited, it may sell out before the November 30 deadline.
A New Setting. A New Way to Gather.
For the first time, CGA’s annual conference will bring the Mid-Atlantic grain community together in Maryland—and we’re creating more ways to connect before the main conference begins.
We're gathering at Pearlstone Retreat Center, a one-of-a-kind venue on a working farm just outside Baltimore. On Sunday, March 7, you can arrive early for one of our Pre-Conference Workshops, with four opportunities for hands-on learning and deeper exploration. (Workshops require separate registration and are available through the conference registration form.)
Sunday evening, all conference registrants are invited to kick off the conference together at Pearlstone with a Grain-to-Glass Tasting and Dinner, included with your conference registration. Whether you’ve joined us for a workshop or are arriving that evening, come raise a glass, share a meal, and start building connections before the full conference program begins.
Monday brings the full conference program, with a day of learning, conversation, and connection across the regional grainshed. Conference registration includes Monday breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks, so you can settle in and make the most of the day together.
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Get Hands-On
NEW for 2027! For the first time, the Mid-Atlantic Grain Conference will offer a small selection of immersive pre-conference experiences—from hands-on baking and field-based learning to a behind-the-scenes malt house visit and an interactive grain quality lab.
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Learn Together
Practical sessions and conversations focused on the challenges and opportunities shaping the Mid-Atlantic grain economy. Programming will explore the many interconnected parts of a regional grain economy, with tracks designed to bring together people working at different points along the supply chain.
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Stay Where We Gather
Limited on-site lodging is available for conference attendees, making it easy to stay close to the action and spend more time with fellow members of the Mid-Atlantic grain community.
Lodging at Pearlstone Retreat Center is limited, so we encourage attendees to reserve their accommodations early!
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Connect the Dots
Meet farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, distillers, food businesses, researchers, and other people working across the regional grain supply chain.
Explore the relationships, ideas, and collaborations that can strengthen the regional grain economy.
SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Now accepting proposals for sessions at the 2027 Conference
The strength of the regional grainshed comes from the people doing the work—and we want to hear from you. Whether you have a hard-won lesson, a promising approach, a new perspective, or a conversation you think our community needs to have, we’d love to hear your idea.
Session proposals are due by November 22, 2026.
Help make the 2027 Mid-Atlantic Grain Conference possible while putting your organization in front of farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, distillers, food businesses, and other leaders building the regional grain economy.
Sponsorship packages range from $500 to $7,500, with opportunities for conference recognition, exhibitor space, program advertising, workshop sponsorship, and more. Exhibitor space is also available for $250.
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON
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Baking Academy
Roll up your sleeves for an afternoon of hands-on baking with experienced bakers. Explore the craft of working with regionally grown grains through practical instruction, experimentation, and plenty of time at the bench. Whether you're a seasoned baker or looking to deepen your understanding of grain from field to loaf, you'll leave with new techniques, ideas, and inspiration to bring back to your kitchen or bakery.
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Farm-to-Malt Field Trip
Take a behind-the-scenes trip to Bear Branch Malt House to explore the journey from barley field to malt. Tour the malt house, see where barley is grown, and get a closer look at the malting process and the people building a regional craft malt economy. The afternoon will also include a Mash Hot Steep tasting, offering a chance to experience the flavors and characteristics of different malts.
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Grain Farmer’s Field Lab
What does it take to grow better grain—and build healthier soils at the same time? This farmer-focused workshop will explore the connections between soil health, crop management, grain quality, and the needs of downstream buyers. Through field-based learning, discussion, and practical problem-solving, we'll dig into the challenges and opportunities of growing grain in the Mid-Atlantic.
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The Grain Quality Lab
What makes a grain sample “good”? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore how farmers, buyers, millers, bakers, and other grain users assess grain quality—and why the answer depends on how the grain will be used. Work with grain samples, try basic tests like moisture and test weight, and learn how to interpret quality data and assess food-safety and storage considerations. You’ll leave with a practical framework for evaluating grain and knowing what questions to ask before you buy, sell, store, or use it.
THE MID-ATLANTIC GRAIN CONFERENCE IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS:
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).
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Click here for more information
or contact <lindsay@commongrainalliance.org>