FORBES ROAD, Pa. — The PA Veteran Farming Network will host a workshop for beginning farmers at veteran-owned Gracedale Farms will be held June 09 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at 225 W 5th Ave, Collegeville, PA 19426.
Registration is open at https://www.
Host Austin Lamac is a PA National Guard veteran and hobby farmer scaling up. He and his family supplement their income with diversified sales of fruit, vegetables, eggs, pumpkins and firewood from their 10 acre property. Austin and our guest presenters will share lessons learned and information for new farmers to get started on the right foot.
What attendees will see and learn about:
- Gracedale Farm’s high tunnels, outdoor garden, and chickens.
- How to learn from mistakes to build a better farm operation.
- Pumpkins for profit
- Pros and cons of an honor stand.
- Compost production with chickens.
- Insurance for hobby farms
- Farm accounting– legitimate farming expenses with Kelsey Feeg of Horizon Farm Credit.
- Integrating USDA programs into your business plan: USDA Beginning Farmer Coordinator for PA Michael Sherman
- Business planning basics with Jodi Gaulker of Chester County Economic Development AgConnect
- Beekeeping Q&A with Navy veteran Dan Boylan, Past President of the Montgomery County Beekeepers Association
The workshop is free to eligible veterans, military, and their spouses. $10 for the general public. A networking lunch following the field walk.
The PA Veteran Farming Network will host a field day for livestock farmers June 23 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Butler Hill Beef Farm, 303 Butler Hill Rd, Knoxville, PA 16928.
Information and registration can be found at https://www.
US Army Veteran Dustin Butler will host this on-farm workshop for beef and other livestock producers.
Butler Hill Beef Farm, Tioga County, has been home to this family beef farm with angus and limousin cattle, Idaho pastured pigs, and free-range chickens and ducks for eggs since 2017.
Attendees will walk the land where the Butlers are in the process of installing conservation BMPs with technical and financial assistance from NRCS’s EQIP. We’ll be joined by staff from the county NRCS office and Conservation District, who will share information on working with local and USDA agencies, and accessing funding. Dr. Robert VanSaun, Extension Veterinarian & Professor of Veterinary Science, will share his expertise on pregnancy, nutrition, and its influence on animal health.
The workshop is free to eligible veterans, military, and their spouses. $10 for the general public. A networking lunch following the field walk.
–PA Veteran Farming Project
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Today, during Military Appreciation Day at the 107th Pennsylvania Farm Show, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined MG Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA, PA Veteran Farming Network, and farmer veterans to announce the first recipients of the PA Farm Bill’s Farmer Veteran Grant program. “I can’t think of […]
WOODLAND, Calif. — Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) announced $470,000 given in awards and equipment to veterans across the country through the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund. It’s the largest amount awarded in program history. The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund provides direct assistance to veterans involved in agriculture by awarding them equipment and small grants in the amount of $1,000 to […]
MARYSVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s (OCA) Beef Exhibitor Show Total (BEST) program wrapped up the 2021-2022 BEST season on May 7 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. More than 800 BEST exhibitors and families gathered to watch youth receive awards for their show success, cattle industry knowledge, photography skills, community service efforts and […]
