Encouraging Agricultural Innovation.
Training Students in Agricultural Technology.
Exploring Practical Farming Needs.
Encouraging local current and beginner farmers to pitch inventive ideas that would benefit their farm while collaborating with UConn faculty and students.
Why Innovation on Small Farms?
We realize that small farms face many challenges, but from challenges come innovations. We aim to support those innovations by developing a project-based learning curriculum that connects farmers to a collaborative team of students, faculty, Extension, and agriculture service providers, to help bring your ideas to fruition. Each project will recruit students from the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources to work with you and lead the design of these new farm innovations!
Our Goals
What started out as the Storrs Agricultural School in 1881 after a 170-acre farmland donation, UConn—which also went by the name Connecticut Agriculture College in the early 1900s—remains dedicated to teaching students about the importance of agricultural sciences.
We’re excited to be able to help local farmers explore ideas that will benefit the practical needs of their agricultural businesses,
Dr. Tim Vadas
Now, with the support of a USDA Higher Education Challenge grant (USDA NIFA Award no. 2024-70003-41449), UConn’s College of Engineering (CoE) and College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), are enhancing agricultural education by assisting Connecticut farmers through an Innovation on Small Farms Project. Our goals are to:
- Provide farmers with help to explore and/or design innovative ideas for their farm.
- Provide students from the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources a practical, project-based, agricultural design experience
- Encourage agriculture focused career paths for students
- Share our approach with other educators across the country
Our Story at UConn Today Farmers Apply Here! Students Apply Here!
For Farmers
The projects with farms across the State of Connecticut will help jump start innovation and collaboration.
For Students
Students get involved in practical, agriculture centered projects.
For Educators
Interested in starting this at your school? We have some materials to share and are interested in talking with you!
Farmer 2 Farmer Conference
This conference is held annually in January; students and farmers represented to showcase important research findings and lay the groundwork for future collaboration and innovation.
Senior Design Day
Students demonstrate their results of their research, collaborations and their projects! This event is held annually at the end of every spring semester and open to the public.