-
Image
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The annual Great Plains Growers Conference will bring together fruit and vegetable farmers, researchers and industry leaders to St. Joseph, Mo., Jan. 9-10, 2026.
“The event is the premiere fruit and vegetable conference in a four-state region and has been a staple for growers for more than 25 years,” says Justin Keay, a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist and co-chair of the event.
The two-day conference is preceded on Jan. 8 with three daylong workshops: “Community Supported Agriculture Models for Small Farms,” “Small Farm Livestock” and “Produce Safety Grower Training.”
“The value this conference provides to growers is substantial,” says Keay. “I’m always excited to see attendees engaged with researchers and farmers, building relationships with peers and leaving the conference feeling energized to implement solutions to solve their problems and improve their bottom line.”
The 2026 keynote speaker, Curtis Millsap, is a Missouri farmer and longtime conference attendee. Millsap has been operating a 25-acre diversified farm for 20 years, producing vegetables, cut flowers and local food in partnership with dozens of other farmers. Their 200-plus-member CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), farmers market stand and restaurant sales make them a hub for local food in southwestern Missouri.
Keay says the conference offers something for everyone, with 50 different class sessions addressing topics in fruit, vegetable and cut flower production, as well as business management and marketing.
New this year is a farmer forum to help attendees build strong and supportive peer networks. Attendees can also join the Grower Innovation Night to share their solutions to problems on the farm.
“MU Extension must think beyond state lines to truly maximize the land-grant mission,” says Denice Ferguson, MU Extension agricultural business specialist and conference director. “By collaborating regionally and pooling resources, we not only deliver cutting-edge education to growers but also create measurable benefits for local communities. The Great Plains Growers Conference is a perfect example, bringing over 525 attendees to St. Joseph and injecting nearly $280,000 into the local economy. This kind of impact shows why partnerships matter, both for agriculture and for the vitality of northwest Missouri.”