Maine Grain Alliance

What Maine Grain Alliance does

Maine Grain Alliance (MGA) is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Skowhegan, Maine, with a mission to inspire and empower people building local grain economies. It operates an event- and education-centric portfolio anchored by the annual Kneading Conference (250+ attendees from New England, the U.S., and Canada) and the free Maine Artisan Bread Fair (3,000+ visitors), supplemented by year-round virtual and in-person workshops, a subscription Video Library with 75+ hours of content ($100/year), and tiered memberships ($25–$450/year). The organization also runs the Heritage Seed Restoration Program — the largest holder of Sirvinta wheat seed in North America with 40+ varieties under cultivation — plus Technical Assistance Grants ($250–$1,000) and an Emergency Relief Fund for grain-based businesses.

MGA's revenue model is diversified across event registrations, recurring memberships, multi-tier corporate sponsorships (Presenting $10,000+ down to Patron $200), tax-deductible donations, merchandise sales (sourdough kits $75, pizza kits $90), and video library subscriptions. It serves a horizontal community of grain farmers, professional and home bakers, maltsters and craft brewers, food entrepreneurs, and educators across New England. Key operational anchors include the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds (event venue), Kennebec Valley Community College (host partner since 2022), UMaine Rogers Farm (field trials with researcher Tom Molloy), and a deep partnership with Maine Grains — the related-organization grist mill processing 800+ tons/year whose co-founder Amber Lambke also co-founded MGA.

Strategic positioning centers on community convening and ecosystem buildout rather than technology platforms: partnerships with USDA's TOPP, Somerset Woods Trustees, Old Canada Road Scenic Highway Association, Ocean Organics, and NEEOGRAIN extend its reach into organic grain research and on-farm demonstration work. The organization has disclosed approximately $146,842 in cumulative grant funding from the Maine Technology Institute across 2016 and 2020, and operates with a lean 1–10 person staff footprint, relying heavily on volunteer-supported events and a board-led governance structure.

Name

Maine Grain Alliance

Legal name

Maine Grain Alliance

Website

https://kneadingconference.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maine Grain Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit in Skowhegan, Maine that convenes farmers, bakers, maltsters, and food entrepreneurs to build regional grain economies through the annual Kneading Conference, Bread Fair, heritage seed restoration, workshops, and grant programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Grain and Baking Education

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), All Other Grain Farming (111199)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty/Heritage Grain Farming (Ancient Grains: Spelt, Einkorn, Emmer, Teff) (AFAGAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Farm Grain Quality Testing & Sampling (Mycotoxins, Dockage) (AFAOABAH), Grain Quality Testing (Moisture, Protein, Oil, Test Weight) (AFAOAMAB)

Keywords

• Artisan grain education
• Heritage seed restoration
• Regional grain economy
• Artisan baking workshops
• Craft bread events

Headquarters

HQ city

Skowhegan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Registrations: Kneading Conference full registration tickets at $375, workshops, and work study scholarships. Annual conference held in July at Skowhegan State Fairgrounds.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships ranging from $25 (student/senior) to $450 (business 10+ employees). Provides access to members-only content, video library, workshop discounts, and conference benefits.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship program with five tiers: Presenting ($10,000+), Contributor ($5,000), Leader ($2,500), Sustainer ($500), and Patron ($200). Sponsors receive recognition at events, logo placement, and promotional benefits.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Can be tailored to specific programs or general organizational support.
5. Video Library Subscription: Baking and Grain Education Video Library access for $100/year. Contains over 75 hours of educational content.
6. Merchandise Sales: Conference merchandise including t-shirts ($25), aprons ($20), Maine Craft Pizza kits ($90), sourdough bread kits ($75), and gift cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Maine Grain Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit that delivers the annual Kneading Conference and Maine Artisan Bread Fair in Skowhegan, Maine, along with year-round grain and baking education workshops, a subscription video library, and a Rare & Heritage Seed Restoration program. The organization operates a tiered annual membership program (student, individual, family, nonprofit, and business) and offers Technical Assistance Grants and Emergency Relief funding to grain-based businesses. It also sells educational product kits such as sourdough bread kits and Maine Craft Pizza kits through its online shop.

Product overview

Maine Grain Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit organization offering a portfolio of educational programs, events, and products focused on building local grain economies. The core offerings include the annual Kneading Conference (two-day intensive workshop event) and Maine Artisan Bread Fair, supplemented by year-round Grain & Baking Education workshops and a subscription-based Video Library (75+ hours of content). The organization operates the Rare & Heritage Seed Restoration Program to restore heritage grain varieties, and offers Technical Assistance Grants and Emergency Relief Funding for grain-based businesses. Membership tiers provide access to exclusive content, workshops, and conference discounts. Additional products include Maine Craft Pizza programming, sourdough bread kits, and Portland Bread Crawl events. The organization connects farmers, bakers, millers, maltsters, and food entrepreneurs to rebuild regional grain networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kneading Conference: Annual two-day conference celebrating grains, craft breads, malting, milling, wood-fired oven building and Maine's food heritage
• Maine Artisan Bread Fair
• Heritage and Landrace Grain Network
• Maine Craft Pizza

Products and services

• Kneading Conference Annual two-day intensive workshop conference in Skowhegan, Maine celebrating grains, craft breads, malting, milling, and wood-fired oven building, drawing 250+ attendees from New England and beyond at a $375 full registration.
• Maine Artisan Bread Fair Free annual one-day festival at the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds featuring vendors, live music, and locally produced breads and food, attracting 3,000+ visitors.
• Grain and Baking Education Program Year-round live and online workshops, baking tips, free learning resources, videos, and handbooks for professional and home bakers, farmers, millers, maltsters, students, and community groups.
• Rare and Heritage Seed Restoration Program Program that restores rare and heritage grain varieties by scaling handfuls of carefully kept seed into commercially viable quantities across a network of farms, currently maintaining 40+ varieties including Sirvinta wheat, heritage ryes, emmer, einkorn, and corns.
• Technical Assistance Grant Program Need-based grant program awarding $250-$1,000 to grain-based business owners for technical assistance and equipment that helps secure economic opportunities in Maine.
• Emergency Relief Fund Emergency funding program providing financial relief to grain-based businesses during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Baking and Grain Education Video Library Subscription-based online library of more than 75 hours of educational videos covering baking and grain education topics, including resources, Q&A sections, recipes, and workshop recordings at $100/year.
• Annual Membership Program Tiered annual memberships ranging from $25 (Student/Senior) to $450 (Business 50+ employees), including Individual ($35), Family ($50), Nonprofit ($100), and Business tiers ($150-$450) with benefits such as members-only content, video library access, workshop discounts, directory listings, and conference discounts.
• Maine Craft Pizza Program Program promoting Maine as a craft pizza destination through workshops, events, and kits that highlight locally grown grains, seasonal local toppings, and wood-fired oven techniques.
• Maine Craft Pizza Kit Take-home kit at $90 containing pizza doughs, local tomato sauce, cheeses, toppings, semolina flour, a long-sleeve tee, pizza cutter, beer or root beer, and a recipe flipbook, available for pickup in Portland and Skowhegan.
• Make Your Own Sourdough Bread Kit At-home kit at $75 containing everything needed to make sourdough bread including sourdough starter, banneton, dough scraper, and recipe resources, plus a 50% discount on two upcoming workshops.
• Heritage and Landrace Grain Network Free membership network connecting farmers, bakers, researchers, home gardeners, and experimenters engaged in growing and working with heritage and landrace grains; now housed with Maine Grain Alliance.
• Portland Bread Crawl Annual food odyssey through Portland, Maine tasting bread, pastry, and pizza offerings from beloved local establishments, with an after-party at Night Moves Bread, at $50 registration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 tons of grain processed annually at Maine Grains mill
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USDA Transition to Organic Partnership ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA TOPP partnership supports MGA's field day events at UMaine Rogers Farm, providing funding for small grain variety trials and organic spring cereal research demonstrations.
• Somerset Woods TrusteesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand partnership providing access to Taylor Field, a 16-20 acre field in Skowhegan for MGA's seed restoration and demonstration plot work.
• Old Canada Road Scenic Highway AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for demonstration plots at Robbins Hill site on the Madison-Solon town line. MGA provides grain demonstrations and education at this scenic overlook.
• Ocean OrganicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaweed-based fertilizer company providing products for trial at MGA demonstration plots. Collecting data on results of organic fertilizer on grain growth.
• Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the Kneading Conference since 2022. MGA Board meetings held at KVCC. Partnership with KVCC farm for grain growing demonstrations.
• NEEOGRAIN (New England Eastern Organic Grain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForum for organic grain growers connecting Maine, New Brunswick, and Vermont. MGA participates in information exchange and collaborative growing trials.
• Maine GrainscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRelated organization and 2026 Presenting Sponsor. Maine Grains operates the grist mill in Skowhegan processing over 800 tons of grain annually. Amber Lambke is co-founder of both MGA and Maine Grains.
• Heritage and Landrace Grain NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork launched winter 2018 connecting farmers, bakers, researchers, and experimenters working with heritage and landrace grains. Now housed with MGA to provide member benefits and community connections.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oldways: A nonprofit food heritage organization that preserves and promotes traditional, healthy, and sustainable foodways. Operates a comparable nonprofit education/community model and shares MGA's emphasis on traditional food traditions.
• Artisan Grain Collaborative: An Upper Midwest collaborative of grain farmers, processors, bakers, and researchers working to grow resilient regional grain systems. Operates with a similar multi-stakeholder alliance model and educational programming focus.
• Common Grain Alliance: A Mid-Atlantic regional grain alliance with a comparable nonprofit model, connecting farmers, millers, bakers, and brewers to rebuild regional grain economies. Most direct structural peer to MGA in terms of mission and member-based community programming.

Regional players

• Cascadia Grains Alliance: A Pacific Northwest alliance promoting regional grain economies through educational events, technical support, and networking. Similar nonprofit model and conference-driven programming, but operating in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Organic Seed Alliance: A nonprofit advancing organic seed systems through research, education, and advocacy. Shares MGA's seed restoration ethos and educational programming model, but is more focused on seed advocacy than regional grain community building.

Broad incumbents

• Bread Bakers Guild of America: A national trade and educational organization for professional and home bakers. Larger and broader in scope than MGA, but shares the mission of advancing artisan baking education, training, and community.
• Whole Grains Council: An industry-wide consumer advocacy nonprofit promoting whole grain consumption, with a stamp program used across food manufacturers. Operates at broader industry scale than MGA but shares focus on grain education and demand creation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/search?q=%40kneading_conf&src=typed_query
• Facebookfacebook.com/mainegrainalliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/mainegrainalliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maine Grain Alliance