CSU Extension's first Urban and Small-scale Farm Conference

By Cyril Ibe

Central State University Extension hosted its first Urban and Small-Scale Farm Conference on Jan. 24 and 25 on the main campus in Wilberforce and drew more than 30 farmers and farm professionals, and about a dozen youth participants. 

The two-day conference focused on highlighting resources from the US Department of Agriculture that can help Ohio’s urban and small-scale farmers increase sustainability and profitability for their farms. Participants met and interacted with CSU agricultural researchers to learn about applicable research designed to help their farms.  

Land-Grant Communications photo.

Dr. Luke Farno, research associate professor and specialty corn expert, presents on “Heritage Crops to Field Crops.” 

“The purpose of this conference is to connect you with our researchers who are doing a lot of great work,” said Dr. Jose Toledo, Central State’s vice president for Research and Economic Development and director of the 1890 Land-Grant Programs, in welcoming the conference attendees on the first day. “We want you to be aware of that work that they are doing. We want you also to be part of that work and to help us to improve our research.” 

Conference speakers included the following Central State research faculty: Rajveer Dhillon (emerging technologies in agricultural systems); Luke Farno and Mark Campbell (specialty corn); Pratibha Gupta (nutrigenomics); Sakthi Kumaran (soils and water); Robert Korir (food safety); Marcus Nagle and Kathleen Carter (food, nutrition, and health); and Kazi Islam (diabetes and cardiovascular diseases). 

Presentation topics included “Know your soils” with Sakthi Kumaran; “Tools for urban and small-farm efficiency” with Rajveer Dhillon and Eric Smith; “Biomechanics on the farm” with Kathleen Carter and Alvin Wilkerson; and “Food safety and hydroponic growing” with Robert Korir and Denise Natoli Brooks. 

“The purpose of this conference is to connect you with our researchers who are doing a lot of great work. We want you to be aware of the work that they are doing. We want you also to be part of that work and to help us to improve our research.”

Dr. Jose Toledo

Toledo stressed to the attendees that their feedback is invaluable in directing CSU researchers as they toil to find solutions to society’s challenges in sustainable and climate-smart agriculture. 

“We need your feedback to say, ‘hey guys, we want you to pivot in this direction in your research, because what you are doing is not applicable to me, is not useful to me.’ That’s the kind of feedback we need from you,” he said.  

CSU Extension educators also presented, including Michelle Wallace, Marc Amante, Denise Natoli Brooks, Nellie Rowland, Eric Smith, and Alvin Wilkerson. The event also featured break-out sessions where farmers interacted one-on-one with both Extension educators and researchers. 

As a Land-Grant institution, Central State is charged with a tripartite mission of research, teaching and Extension (outreach), Toledo emphasized.  

“Extension is where we transfer the knowledge that we gain here at the university (through research) to our constituents – to farmers like you,” Toledo said. “So, we want to make sure that that knowledge gets to you, so that you can use it to be more profitable, to have more sustainable programs on your farm.” 

The conference was funded with a USDA 2501 grant that provided the resources to host the event for a total of three years, according to Dr. Alcinda Folck, associate Extension administrator.  

Land-Grant Communications photo

A conference attendee participates in a small-group discussion with other farmers.

Land-Grant Communications photo.

About a dozen young enthusiasts participated in the CSU Extension's Urban and Small-scale Farm Conference held Jan. 24 and 25 on the Wilberforce campus.

“I appreciated the educators being available for small group and one-on-one conversation throughout the conference.” 

“Feedback from participants indicated gains in knowledge about research at CSU and intention to become involved when possible," Folck said. "Participants also gained information about resources available to help their farm.” 

According to a post-event survey, most respondents “felt strongly that they were able to make new connections with other farmers, experts, vendors, and others at the conference and learned about resources that they didn’t know before.” One respondent wrote:

“I appreciated the educators being available for small group and one-on-one conversation throughout the conference.” 

The next Urban and Small-scale Farm Conference will be held Jan. 23 and 24, 2026, and will feature an expanded resource fair, interactive presentations, and more topics. For more information, contact Associate Extension Administrator Dr. Alcinda Folck at 937-376-6101, or via email at afolck@centralstate.edu.