Upper Midwest Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) is a farmer-led training alliance organized by alternative agriculture farmers in the Stateline region: northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and Chicagoland. ​​We welcome all levels of experience, whether you’ve never farmed before, you seek advanced training, or you’re transitioning to sustainable agriculture. ​​

Join our network

Upper Midwest CRAFT is built on the practice of farmer-to-farmer training where shared farmer experiences, wisdom, methodology, discussion, and place-based knowledge strengthen the community of regional growers at any and all levels of skill and experience. ​

Membership Types

• Farm Membership - $50 per year
  • ​For those who own, operate, manage, or partner in a farm business
  • Membership for two (2)
• Trainee Membership - $30 per year or $10 add-on to Farm membership
  • For farm employees, interns, and volunteers in a non-managerial role
  • Membership for one (1)
• Friend Membership - $50 per year
  • ​For aspiring farmers, organizations/schools, supporters of the green economy, and partners (chefs, photographers, etc.)
  • Membership for two (2)

​US Military VETERANS: contact us to receive FREE membership!

Membership Benefits

Annual membership includes:

• Membership for TWO people
• Inclusion in the UM CRAFT Farm Directory (with submission of Farm member profile)
• FREE registration to UM CRAFT Field Days
• Access to our 200+ member listserv of local sustainable farmers & friends
• Subscription to our weekly e-newsletter 
• Discounted rates on Angelic Organics Learning Center programs
• Discounted rates on  Michael Fields Agricultural Institute sponsored-workshops
• Farm members receive publicity in our online Stateline Farm directory
• Collaboration opportunities and lifelong friendships from a supportive alliance of sustainable farmers​

US Military VETERANS: contact us to receive FREE membership!

History

​​​The first CRAFT program was founded in Hudson Valley, New York in 1995. In 1997, ten farmers from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin founded the second program in the United States - Upper Midwest CRAFT. Since then, the alliance has become one of the leading efforts to train the next generation of alternative agriculture practitioners: organic, biodynamic, silvopasture, regenerative, permaculture, no-dig/no-till, and conservationist farmers. Graduates, who now lead dozens of new local farms, are trained by some of the most accomplished farmers in the Midwest. More than 85 sustainable farms in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin belong to the Upper Midwest CRAFT. Coordination is provided by Angelic Organics Learning Center.

CRAFT Outside of the Stateline Region

​Visit www.craftfarmer.org to find a CRAFT organization near you!

Membership

Events

Stateline Farm Directory

Questions?

Contact Farmer Training

Upper Midwest CRAFT is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
​under award number 2019-49400-30072.