Working with local farmers offers distillers a connection to the stewards of their agricultural inputs. It's an opportunity to explore new flavors from unique grain varietals, a chance to make spirits with a sense of place, and a concrete way to support local farm economies. Explore the resources below to learn more about how to work directly with local grain farmers, find growers in your region, and connect with like-minded distillers at our 2026 field day events.

The Guide: A New Distilling Resource for Navigating Local Grain Sourcing

AGC is pleased to present a new reference guide designed especially for distillers interested in working with local growers for their distilling grains. Developed with a wonderful team of contributors, the guide orients distillers to Midwest grain agriculture, working with local growers, and grain quality checks to confidently handle locally sourced grains in the distillery. Copies of the printed guide will be available at three 2026 Distiller Field Days, and the digital edition can be accessed from the button below. We recommend bookmarking this page!

View the Guide

2026 Distiller Field Days

The Artisan Grain Collaborative (AGC) invited distillers to a series of special educational events for Midwest craft distillers to learn together and celebrate the release of The Midwest Craft Distillers Guide to Local Sourcing. Each event included a distillery and/or farm tour, an educational panel or featured speaker experienced with sourcing and using local grains, appetizers, and a spirits tasting focused on the specific event's theme.

Granor Farm

The Michigan Grain Value Chain + Rye Varietals

Wednesday, June 3, 2-6 PM ET
Granor Farm
3480 Warren Woods Rd, Three Oaks, MI 49128

Granor Farm is a diversified organic farm turning farm-grown ingredients into unique products for their CSA, farm store, farm dinner series, and microdistillery. Attendees will be treated to a rye tea and farm field walk to learn about Granor’s initiative to produce small-batch spirits and liqueurs made from their own grains and botanicals. After the tour, enjoy farm-inspired appetizers from Chef Alex Skrzypczyk and Granor culinary staff. A panel discussion will explore perspectives from across the Michigan grain value chain on topics ranging from emerging grain varietal research, tips for distilling with local grains from fellow Michigan craft distillers, and strategies for engaging consumers with Michigan-grown craft beverages. The evening will conclude networking, paired with a rye sampling and featured cocktail.

Grain Handling + Distilling in Season

Tuesday, June 16,  1-5 PM CT 
Wollersheim Winery & Distillery
7876 WI-188, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578

Set amongst the rolling hills of the Wisconsin River Valley, Wollersheim Winery & Distillery crafts products borne of its agricultural surroundings. Head Distiller Tom Lenerz will lead a distillery tour followed by a field trip to the neighboring Keller farm, which supplies the distillery’s corn. From farm to still, we will learn about forecasting and planning with local growers, grain cultivation, grain handling, and grain quality control checks along the way. Attendees will be treated to a whiskey tasting, featured cocktails, and appetizers from Wollersheim Bistro.

Wollersheim Winery & Distillery

Judson & Moore Distillery

Digging Into the Terroir of Whiskey

Tuesday, August 4, 3-6:30 PM CT
Judson & Moore Distillery
3057 N Rockwell St Building 5, Chicago, IL 60618

Judson & Moore Distillery released its first bottle in 2022 with the aim to make whiskey with a sense of place— Midwest grain, Great Lakes water, and Minnesota white oak. Their red corn bourbon whiskey uses an heirloom corn variety, Bloody Butcher, unique to the Illinois farm where it has been raised through years of careful seed selection. Head Distiller Collin Moore will lead a tour of the distillery to cover grain handling topics for distillers interested in working directly with local growers for sourcing unique grain varieties. After the tour, Collin will be joined by Mike Swanson, farmer and distiller from estate distillery Far North Spirits, and Ari Klafter, head distiller at Thornton Distilling, Co. to discuss their experience cultivating spirits with a sense of place. Collin, Mike and Ari will lead a whiskey tasting comparing flavor profiles of different grain varieties, including estate grown rye varieties from Far North’s farm, locally sourced malted barleys, and heirloom corn. Join us for an exploration into how seed is the soul of whiskey.

Finding Grain Farmers

Find a farmer in your area from our member map, searchable by state and by grain chain role. Experienced farm and mill operations are a good first step to learn about working with local growers when sourcing grains for distilling.

Find Your Farmer

The Land Connection

Distiller Technical Assistance

Need additional information or want to learn from like-minded Midwest craft distillers on how to source from local growers? Click the button below to submit your request for more information or to connect directly with distillers who can help. AGC’s Brewing & Distilling Member Coordinator will follow up with next steps.

Distiller Support

About the Artisan Grain Collaborative

AGC is a peer education network of farmers, makers, and advocates working to strengthen the Midwest grainshed from seed to table. Click the button below to learn about the benefits of joining the AGC network and how to apply for your free membership.
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Become a Member

Contributors

Thank you to the community of farmers, millers, distillers, researchers, and advocates whose contributions made these resources possible!

‍Authors
Gabe TothBarb McDonald

Contributors
Mark Anunson, State Line Distillery - WI; Jill Brockman-Cummings, Janie's Mill - IL; Bentley Gillman, Tattersall Distilling - WI; Dallas Glazik, Silver Tree Spirits & RoseLee Farms - IL; Andy Hazzard, Hazzard Free Farm; Jennifer Henshaw - IL; Gary Hinegardner, Wood Hat Spirits - MO; Ari Klafter, Thornton Distilling Company - IL; Tom Lenerz, Wollersheim Distillery - WI; Jace Marti, Black Frost Distilling - MN; Collin Moore, Judson & Moore Distillery - IL; Felicia Ohnmacht, Whiskey Sisters Supply and Gergen Farms - CO; Christian Ramsberg, Hartville Elevator Co. - OH; Katie Ruebush, Ruebush Farms - IL; Nicole Shriner, PhD., Michigan State University - MI; Mike Swanson, Far North Spirits - MN; John and Halee Wepking, Meadowlark Organics and Meadowlark Community Mill - WI; Brook Wilke, PhD, W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University - MI‍‍


Funding provided by Builders Vision Philanthropy