2026 Farm Hop
June 26, 2026 @ 9:00AM — 3:30PM Central Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar
Grounded Earth Farm: 11105 Fathke Road Crown Point, IN 46307 Get Directions
FarmHop 2026 – See Local Food in Action
FarmHop is an immersive, one-day event that invites participants to experience the power of local food systems in action across Northwest Indiana. Designed to spotlight the intersection of farming, community health, and institutional partnerships, FarmHop offers two curated tour tracks that bring local food stories to life.
Friday, June 26, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM or Friday, September 25, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Hosted by the Northwest Indiana Food Council
🌿 Tour Option 1: Local Food is Medicine: Friday, June 26, 2026, 9 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. CDT - Tickets on sale now!
This tour highlights a growing “food is medicine” movement through the lens of maternal and child health.
- Tour two women-led farms that are part of a 14-member FarmHer cooperative, providing fresh produce, meat, and eggs to WIC-eligible new mothers
(Hulitt Homestead and Hickory Hills Flower Farm) - The tour includes a visit with Nurse-Family Partnership, whose nurses support new moms with tailored support
- Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared, locally sourced lunch at the Food Bank of NWI in Merrillville, IN. (limited lunch-only tickets available)
- Check out Region Roots Local Farm & Food Hub to see how aggregation and distribution make this model sustainable and scalable
🍎 Tour Option 2: Farm to School in Action: Friday, September 25, 2026, 9 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. CDT - Tickets available beginning June 29, 2026!
This tour showcases how local farms and school districts are nourishing the next generation with locally grown foods and scratch-made meals.
- Visit two working farms actively growing food for school meals
(DeJong Farm, Garwood Orchards) - Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared, locally sourced lunch at LaPorte High School, located in LaPorte, Indiana, where food is celebrated in both the cafeteria and the classroom (limited lunch-only tickets available)
- Visit the Region Roots Local Farm & Food Hub and learn how it connects farms to institutions year-round
🍽 What’s Included
- A thoughtfully prepared, locally sourced lunch
- Guided tours and behind-the-scenes access
- Opportunities to connect with farmers, healthcare professionals, educators, and community leaders
- A compelling look at how local food is advancing community health, education, and regional resilience
📌 Important Details
- Lunch will be served at 12:30 PM for both tour options
- Lunch-only guests should plan to arrive by 12:30 PM (location details provided in advance)
- Tours begin and end at Grounded Earth Farm in Crown Point. Please plan to arrive at Grounded Earth Farm, located at 11105 Fathke Road in Crown Point, Indiana, between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. From there, you’ll board a bus that will take you to the participating farms and our lunch location. We’ll return to Grounded Earth Farm by 3:30 p.m. to conclude the day.
🎟 Ticket Policy
Tickets are non-refundable but may be transferred to another attendee. If unused, tickets will be considered a donation supporting the ongoing work of the Northwest Indiana Food Council.
⭐ Become a Sponsor or Donor
Can’t make it to FarmHop? You can still make a difference. By becoming an event sponsor or making a donation, you’ll help expand farm-to-school initiatives and food-as-medicine programming that connect local farms to our community. Check out our 2026 sponsorship opportunities or contact Cheryl Dornberg, Board President and Sponsorship Manager at cheryl@mrsdornbergs.com to discuss your options.