Local Farmer Awards

Recognizing that farming is essential to our community, we provide funds to selected local farms for necessary farm improvements. Our goal is to strengthen local farmers’ ability to compete in the marketplace so that our region benefits from the environmental, health and economic advantages of local farming. We also hold a farmer appreciation/celebration event in the late fall to promote the importance of local farming.



2024 Update 

Impact of 2024 Projects

Become a Sponsor

 

We are thrilled to celebrate the 11th year of the Local Farmer Awards for capital improvements on farms throughout Western Massachusetts. These grants are made possible by our generous funders: THE HAROLD GRINSPOON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION in partnership with BIG Y, the MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE, the IRENE E. & GEORGE A. DAVIS FOUNDATION, and sponsors Ann & Steve Davis, Charles & Elizabeth D'Amour, Audrey & Chick Taylor, Barbara Deslauriers, PEOPLESBANK, ANDREWS, DENUCCI GROUP AT MERRILL LYNCH, EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION, HP HOOD LLC, BAYSTATE HEALTH, 3 COUNTY FAIR, SMITH COLLEGE, COUNTRY BANK, FRANKLIN FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, and BANKESB.

A FARMER APPRECIATION EVENT is held yearly for all applicants and awardees to honor and recognize our farmers and promote the importance of local farming.
 

Examples of How Local Farmer Awards Have Been Used

Everyday Farm (Gill, MA) used grant funding to help purchase a Grain Bin for Laying Hens. They reported:

“This grant allowed us to more than double our laying hen flock, going from 300 to 700 laying hens!”  

Quabbin Hill Farms (Pelham, MA) used grant funding to help purchase a Greenhouse Heating System. They reported:

“We were able to start plants 6 weeks earlier and will expand our growing season by approximately 2 months. This allowed our farm to participate in three farmer’s markets per week, and increase our profits by around 200%.”  

Award Recipients

 

The team of funders has now supported 788 projects across more than 320 farms, investing $1.78 million in local agriculture. We remain deeply grateful to these farmers who bring fresh food to our tables, care for the land they steward, and continually strive to improve their farms.

Interested in where they work? Find links to maps of the Local Farmer Award Recipients in the right side of this page.

 

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How to Apply for an AwardApplication open Jan 1-31

Congratulations to our award recipients! See past years:

Click below for maps of our Local Farmer Award Recipients
2023 & 2024 WINNERS
2021 & 2022 WINNERS
2018-2020 Winners
2015-2017 Winners

Updates

Impact Reports

 

Farm Features

Justamere Tree Farm, Worthington

Kosinski Farm, Westfield and Feeding Hills

Red Shirt Farm, Lanesborough

Thomas Farm, Sunderland

Contact

For more information please contact Cari Carpenter: cari@hgf.org or 413-276-0831.

The 2025 Local Farmer Awards are generously funded by:

Peoples Bank Logo Charles & Elizabeth D'Amour Ann & Steve Davis Barbara Deslauriers Audrey & Chick Taylor