2025 Fall Microgrant Program

AGC Fall 2025 Technical Assistance and Equipment Microgrant Program

Recipient Snapshot

No. of recipients: 10 (8 AGC Members, 2 Non-Members)

Amount awarded: $24,400

Grain Chain Roles: Farmers (50%), Bakers (20%), Brewer (10%), Maltster (10%), Food Business (10%)

Geography: Minnesota (30%), Michigan (30%), Wisconsin (20%), Illinois (10%), Ohio (10%) 

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of AGC’s second round of Technical Assistance and Equipment Microgrants! 

AGC Fall 2025 Technical Assistance and Equipment Microgrant Program Funded Projects

Farm Club (Farmer in Traverse City, MI)

Expanding Bakery, Mill, and Value-add Operations 

Farm Club’s microgrant will go towards the purchase of a semi-electric pallet lift. The new pallet lift will be a critical tool for Farm Club as they grow into their new mill, bakery, and market building, helping expand their direct-to-customer and wholesale grain-based product lines while increasing spending with their regional grain growers.

Firefly Fields (Farmer in Delton, MI)

Upgrading Cleaning Equipment

Firefly Fields’ microgrant will be used to purchase parts to upgrade a Clipper M2B seed cleaner. Achieved at a fraction of the price it would cost to purchase a new grain cleaner, this upgrade will increase Firefly Fields’ capacity for grain cleaning and improve their confidence and ability to grow and process specialty grains with a long-term goal of selling food-grade grains to Consumer Packaged Good manufacturers, restaurants, and retail consumers.

Heartland Craft Grains (Farmer and miller in Lodi, WI)

Increasing On-Farm Grain Storage Mobility

Heartland Craft Grains’ microgrant will go towards the purchase of a used forklift. The forklift will expand their grain-handling capacity and efficiency by allowing them to safely move heavy totes and pallets, utilize vertical storage, and organize grain and ingredient inventory more efficiently. This allows them to contribute to a stronger, more connected regional grain value chain that supports growers, millers, and food businesses working toward a more sustainable and localized food system.

Meristem Malt (Maltster in Janesville, WI)

Expanding Craft Malting Technical Knowledge

Meristem Malt’s microgrant will be used to attend a multi-day malting course in the spring 2026 to increase their technical experience and knowledge related to the malting process. Meristem Malt aims to increase their own capacity to produce malt from small grains as well as, in the long-term, provide technical assistance to others in the Midwest and the local grain supply chain that have interest in producing craft malt. 

Ohio Till Farmstead (Farmer in Marysville, OH)

Expanding Grain Cleaning Equipment 

Ohio Till Farmstead’s microgrant will go toward the purchase of a used gravity table to improve the quality of their on-farm grain cleaning, with the goal of providing a product that is ready to cook, mill, or distill right from their farm. Additionally, they hope to take what they learn and offer grain cleaning and educational services to other small farms and those looking to join the value-added food-grade grain community. 

Perennial Pantry (Food Business in Northfield, MN)

Upgrading Dust Collection in Grain Processing Facility

Perennial Pantry’s microgrant will go toward the purchase of a dust collection system to improve air quality, safety, and product cleanliness in their grain processing facility. The new system will create a cleaner, safer workplace, strengthening their ability to bring regionally-grown grains to market.

River Rock Bakery and Kitchen (Baker in St. Peter, MN)

Spiral Mixer Upgrade

River Rock Bakery and Kitchen’s microgrant will go toward the purchase of a used spiral mixer. Investing in a newer, more reliable mixer will allow them to continue growing their wholesale accounts while increasing their capacity to purchase and use more regionally-grown grains in their products.

Upstart Bakery (Baker in Rives Junction, MI)

Croissant Sheeter for Whole-Grain, Locally Sourced Pastries

Upstart Bakery’s microgrant will go toward the purchase of a countertop reversible dough sheeter to bring organic, whole-grain pastries made with locally-sourced flour to their geographic area. The sheeter will support Upstart’s efforts to regularly produce laminated pastries and grow as a business while expanding a niche outlet for grain growers in their area.

PrairiErth Farm (Farmer in Atlanta, IL)

Strengthening Grain Quality and Farm Resilience

PrairiErth Farm’s microgrant will go toward the purchase of a moisture tester to improve the quality, efficiency, and resilience of their small grain operation. The tester will make it easier to manage harvest timing, reduce risk, and ensure that their grain meets the high-quality standards required for organic and specialty markets. They also hope to make the equipment available to other small grain farmers in their area.

Wooden Ship Brewing Co. (Micro-Brewery in Minneapolis, MN)

Small Mill for Adjuncts like Kernza

Wooden Ship Brewing Co.’s microgrant will go toward the purchase of a small adjustable stone mill to do in-house on-demand milling of small and unique lots of grain (Kernza and other regional adjuncts), move pilots into production, and source more flexibly from Midwest growers and processors. Gaining the ability to mill their own grain helps bridge connections between farmers, brewers, and upcyclers, strengthening both ends of the grain chain and advancing a more resilient, circular grainshed in the Midwest.

Funding for the Fall 2025 microgrant program is possible through the The Soil Health Opportunities & Tools (SHOT) Fund and Clif Family Foundation.