For Indiana Farmers
Resources to Help Your Farm Grow
Grants, organizations, and marketing tools worth knowing about. This list is not exhaustive, but it is a good starting point for Indiana farmers selling direct.
Grants and Funding
Money on the table for Indiana farms.
Most small farms never apply for grants because they don't know they exist. These programs are open to farms of all sizes.
USDA Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)
Competitive grants to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of bio-based products. Working capital and planning grants available.
Learn More →USDA Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP)
Supports the development and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food business enterprises, and intermediary supply chain activities.
Learn More →USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)
Education, mentoring, and technical assistance grants for beginning farmers and ranchers. Covers business planning, financial management, and marketing.
Learn More →Indiana State Department of Agriculture — Agriculture Development Grants
ISDA offers several competitive grant programs for Indiana agricultural producers, including support for direct marketing, agritourism, and value-added products.
Learn More →USDA SARE Grants (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education)
Farmer/Rancher Grants fund on-farm research and demonstration projects. North Central SARE covers Indiana and is open to all producers regardless of scale.
Learn More →USDA Emergency Relief Program and Disaster Assistance
USDA Farm Service Agency offers a range of disaster assistance and economic relief programs for farmers affected by natural disasters, market disruptions, and pandemics.
Learn More →Grant availability and deadlines change. Always confirm current status and eligibility directly with the program's administering agency before applying.
Indiana Resources
Organizations worth knowing.
State agencies, university extensions, and networks built specifically to support Indiana farmers.
Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA)
The primary state agency for agricultural development in Indiana. Offers resources on marketing, licensing, rural development, and state-specific grant programs.
Visit Website →Purdue Extension — Agriculture
County-level extension offices provide free and low-cost education on farm management, production, marketing, and business planning. One of the most underutilized resources available to Indiana farmers.
Visit Website →Indiana Grown
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture's program connecting Indiana-grown and Indiana-made products with consumers and retailers. Membership includes marketing support and use of the Indiana Grown seal.
Visit Website →Hoosier Harvest Market
An online farmers market platform where Indiana farms list and sell products for local pickup or delivery. A good complement to Buy Hoosier for farms and consumers looking for an online ordering option.
Visit Website →Marketing Help
You grow it. We'll help people find it.
Most farm marketing fails not because the product is wrong, but because the story isn't being told. Consumers buying direct want to know who you are, how you raise your animals or tend your land, and why it matters. That story is your biggest competitive advantage over the grocery store.
Indiana Lakes Marketing is a small marketing firm run by Brett Hahn and his wife. We work with farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses on websites, brand identity, and content that actually connects with the kind of customers you want. If you need help getting your farm online or telling your story better, we are worth a conversation.
We keep our client list small on purpose. We would rather do excellent work for a handful of farms than mediocre work for many. If you think we might be a fit, reach out.
Start Here
Get your farm in front of Indiana customers.
A listing on Buy Hoosier is free. Always. It takes about ten minutes and puts your farm in front of Indiana consumers who are actively looking for exactly what you raise.