Planning on Your Land (Doris Room) [Sold Out]

It is essential for landowners to understand that activities on their land impacts the natural resources and surrounding neighbors. In this class you will be able to develop a conservation plan on your land that will meet your goals and objectives. Learn about various tools and techniques that will help you, inventory your property, gain knowledge on state and local regulations that affect your property, and understand basic economics which can make your dream into reality. This class lays the foundation to many other classes presented at the workshop. Presented by Todd M. Peplin, Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District (DSWCD), Lead Planner.

Developing and Executing Your Business Plan (Elk Room) [5 remaining]

Cultivating Success: Expand your knowledge and tools to successfully develop an effective business plan for your agricultural operation and answer the question; "What do financial institutions look for?" Understand an agriculture lender's perspective of financial statements, along with how and why these financial statements are crucial to use and understand within your operation. Westin Fowler, AgWest Farm Credit, Relationship Manager-Vice President, will lead this workshop.

Raising Poultry (Eastlake Room) [16 remaining]

A Passion for Poultry: This class is for both for the small hobbyist or commercial producer, whether your a novice or experienced producer. This class will cover breed selection, management and housing, and health and nutrition. Time will be allocated for your specific needs and issues. Dr. Jim Hermes, OSU Professor Emeritus will lead this workshop.

Pasture and Grazing Management (Eileen Room) [Sold Out]

Join Scott Duggan, OSU Extension, for a class on pasture and grazing management. Topics include the sins of overgrazing, techniques for rotational grazing, pasture grass species, and a brief talk about poisonous plants in pastures. If you are a beginning to intermediate pastoralist and want to increase your pasture knowledge, please join us!

Water Rights and Laws (Elk Room) [5 remaining]

Water rights can be difficult to maneuver when running a small farm, this class will break down the difference between private water rights, district water rights and what groundwater exempt uses are allowed without the benefit of a water right. In addition we will discuss how private water rights work and what is a legal rate and duty and how appurtenance plays into your water right. Presented by Jeremy Giffin, Oregon Department of Water Resources (OWRD), District 11 Water Master.

Marketing for the Small Fearless Farm (Eileen Room) [11 remaining]

From start-up on, small farm businesses, like all small businesses, need to create unique value for a targeted set of potential customers. Join serial entrepreneur and School of Ranch founder Mark Gross for a hands-on workshop that will help you identify your best market segment and communicate your unique value. If you can craft a memorable story it can be the basis for all your marketing. Here’s what worked for one entrepreneur several times over. Presented by Mark Gross, Founder and Executive Director, School of Ranch.

Bee Keeping and Pollinators (Doris Room) [5 remaining]

Learn about the joys and challenges when keeping a honey bee hive in your backyard. This presentation will give you an idea on time commitment and equipment required, how to get started, and where to find great resources for “newbee” beekeepers in Central Oregon. You’ll also get an overview of the honey bee life cycle and management tasks throughout the year! Heike Williams, Bio Science Research Tech 3, will lead this workshop.

Soil Health Management (Eastlake Room) [Sold Out]

Managing for Healthy Soil in Gardens, Farms, and Pastures: Healthy soil can bring myriad benefits to your small farm. In this class, we’ll delve into the practical and scientific aspects of soil health, benefits of healthy soil, approaches to monitoring and testing for soil health and practices to improve your soil health. You’ll leave with skills to assess the soil on your small farm and strategies to meet your soil health goals. Gordon Jones, OSU Extension Agronomist, will lead this session.

Agri-Tourism 101 ( Eileen Room) [5 remaining]

Are you interested in adding agricultural tourism activities to your farm or ranch operation? Do you want to know more about what to consider before adding it? Then this session is for you! Topics covered will include types of agri-tourism, legal considerations, risk management, marketing, and more. This session will give you tools and resources to consider before opening up your operation to the public.

Agritourism includes welcoming visitors onto your farm to sell products, engage with customers, offer various agritourism activities, enhance the visibility of local farms, and build connections in the community. It can provide a new source of revenue and boost sales of agriculture products, possibly employ a family or community member, help with farm succession, and educate the public about agriculture. Presented by Audrey Comerford, OSU Agritourism Coordinator.

Funding Your Plan (Doris Room) [2 remaining]

Come hear from the experts! This panel discussion of local, state, and federal agencies will provide awareness of various programs available to landowners that can provide financial incentives and assistance to your farming operation. Panel includes representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), WyEast Rural Conservation and Development (WyEast RC&D), AgWest Credit, and the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District.

Animal Nutrition (Elk Room) [9 remaining]

This class will cover the basic nutritional needs and differences between ruminant vs monogastric’s digestive systems of various livestock animals and how that determines nutritional requirements for healthy animals. Presented by Greg Roush, Purina Animal Nutrition sales & cattle specialist.

Weed Identification and Management (Eastlake Room) [5 remaining]

This class will give an overview of why weed control is an important consideration for land owners and describe priorities like: noxious weeds, weeds and fire hazard, weed identification, how to manage weeds, and resources for weed management. This is an interactive class and will allow time to address specific weed problems from participants. Presented by Dan Sherwin, Vegetation Management Consultant.

Food Safety (Eileen Room) [5 remaining]

Selling Your Processed Product. The ability to sell processed, or manufactured, food product is a critical part of any Small Farm operation. In this class, you will learn what regulations and licensing may or may not apply to your envisioned product. This class will cover good manufacturing practices of safe food production, licensing and exemptions, local and state regulations, assistance on bringing a product to market, and how to set up a production facility that meets consumer demand. Presented by Adam Miller, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), Food Safety Inspector.

Business Owners Roundtable (Doris Room) [6 remaining]

Learn from farmers that made it work! In this panel discussion landowners will discuss their farming and ranching operation, the ups and downs of farming, and the successes. If you want to get in the business you will not want to mis this class! Panel includes managers from livestock, organic, hay, and row crop operations.

Horse Health and Pasture (Elk Room) [9 remaining]

This class will focus on horses and how pasture can be too much of a good thing. Pasture-Associated laminitis, colic, sugar content of pasture grasses, poisonous plants and laminitis prevention will be discussed. Presented by Scott Duggan, OSU Extension Livestock Agent.

Irrigation Management (Eastlake Room) [1 remaining]

This class will provide an overview of irrigation water techniques and tools to manage your irrigation water in times of drought. In this class you will learn how to manage your irrigation water for optimum crop growth, tools for scheduling and managing your irrigation water, techniques for soil moisture monitoring, methods to evaluate your irrigation system, and technologies to apply your irrigation water more efficiently. This session will be lead by Todd Peplin, Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District (DSWCD), Lead Planner.