By Blake Jackson
Farmers looking to strengthen their direct-to-consumer skills will have an opportunity to learn valuable tools during an all-day Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) workshop on January 8, 2026, in St. Joseph. The University of Missouri Extension hosts the event as one of three preconference workshops held before the start of the 2026 Great Plains Growers Conference.
Organisers explain that many beginning and small-scale farmers want to start CSA programs but often lack the practical training needed to design and manage them effectively. The workshop, called the CSA Farmers School Intensive, aims to fill this gap by offering hands-on learning and farmer-led guidance throughout the day.
The training is modelled after popular CSA Schools first offered at the conference in 2009 and 2010. Participants learn how to plan, launch, evaluate and sustain a CSA program. Topics include crop planning, weekly distribution logistics, communication strategies and long-term business planning. Presenters also focus on CSA budgeting and tools that help farmers stay organised throughout the growing season.
Experienced CSA operators Curtis Millsap of Millsap Farms and Chloe Diegel of Robinette Farms in Nebraska will lead the workshop. Millsap will also serve as the keynote speaker for the full conference on January 9. Both instructors bring years of experience working with CSA members, managing weekly harvest shares and building strong customer relationships.
The CSA model allows customers to purchase a share of a farm’s harvest ahead of time, and in exchange they receive a weekly box of produce throughout the growing season. This subscription approach helps farmers secure stable income while selling directly to local communities. It also allows farms to grow their customer base without spending every weekend at local markets.
By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a draft CSA plan and a set of tools for planning, budgeting and managing their operations. The session also encourages peer networking and mentorship.
For more information, farmers may contact Keay at 573-324-5463 or justin.keay@missouri.edu.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-valentinrussanov
Categories: Missouri, Crops, General