Getting More From Your Milk

Thursday, November 21, 2024 · 9 am– 12:30 pm

Alberta, VA

Stacy West will host this workshop at her dairy farm, Golden View Guernseys, in Alberta, Va. She will talk about the breed of diary cows she selected, the benefits and their care.  She will demonstrate how she makes value- added products for her herd share customers by modifying A2/A2 whole milk, from which she produces cream, buttermilk, butter, yogurt and flavored milks  Register for this workshop today, so you can learn how to expand your milk production to include value-added products.

For more information, contact Marilyn Estes at 804-481-0485 or mestes@vsu.edu.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Small Farm Outreach Program office at smallfarm@vsu.edu or call (804) 524-3292 / TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Successful Lambing in the Southside

Thursday, April 13, 2023 · 10 am–noon

Meet at the Dollar General, 8255 Patrick Henry Highway, Green Bay, VA 23942

The Katahdin is a breed of domestic hair sheep, developed in Maine. It is a breed known for meat-type conformation, high fertility, and flocking instinct. Most Katahdin ewes will have a 200% lamb crop. Spend two hours with Sekou Abdus-Sabur and learn how he manages his lambing season and how he raises his market lambs successfully.

Space is limited to 15 participants

For more information, contact Leonard Elam at 804-894-3095 or lelam@vsu.edu.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Small Farm Outreach Program office at smallfarm@vsu.edu or call (804) 524-3292 / TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Backyard Rabbit Marketing

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 • 10 am–12 pm

Emporia, Virginia

Veteran farmer Al Becker of Emporia Rabbitry will discuss how he uses social media to market a successful rabbit breeding operation. He sells his processed rabbits at farmers markets and animal swaps. He will also talk about equipment, feeding and care, the importance of recordkeeping, and ways to improve breeding stock.

Emporia Rabbitry is dedicated to breeding and raising superior quality New Zealand White meat rabbits. Following the European model of semi-intensive rabbit management, Emporia Rabbitry continually strives to improve the supply of commercially produced meat rabbits for high-end restaurants and individuals. New Zealand rabbits are prized for their quick growth rate and meat production.

Space is limited to 25 participants.

For more information, contact Tammy Holler at 804-229-2730, or tholler@vsu.edu; or Marilyn Estes at 804-481-0485 or mestes@vsu.edu.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Small Farm Outreach Program office at smallfarm@vsu.edu or call (804) 524-3292 / TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Black Angus Cattle Operation Tour

CANCELED—Wednesday, November 9, 2022

West Point, Virginia

This event has been canceled. For more information, contact Tracy Porter at 804-481-2566 or tporter@vsu.edu.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Small Farm Outreach Program office at smallfarm@vsu.edu or call (804) 524-3292 / TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Catch Your Cattle the Right Way

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 • 1 – 3 PM

Crewe, Virginia

Holding pens and cattle corrals are areas to keep livestock in one place when sorting, working, ear-tagging or loading cattle. A good handling facility should contain the following components: headgate, squeeze chute, working chute, holding pens, scale, and loading chute. Barbara Ashmore will share her family’s innovative new way to work and load cattle with workshop participants.

Space is limited to 20 participants.

For more information, contact Leonard Elam at 804-894-3095 or lelam@vsu.edu.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Small Farm Outreach Program office at smallfarm@vsu.edu or call (804) 524-3292 / TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Success with Sheep in the Southside

Wednesday, October 5, 2022 • 10 AM – 12 PM

Meet at the Dollar General, 8255 Patrick Henry Hwy, Green Bay, VA 23942

Join us for a tour of Abdus-Sabur Farms to learn how a family started a successful hair sheep operation in Prince Edward County. Learn how they use a combination of custom-made feed and hay, and find out how they utilize estrous synchronization in their breeding program. Learn innovative management techniques and find out how they market their sheep to a seasonal and ethnic clientele.

Space is limited to 10 participants

For more information, contact Leonard Elam at 804-894-3095 or lelam@vsu.edu.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Small Farm Outreach Program office at smallfarm@vsu.edu or call (804) 524-3292 / TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Graze 300 Pasture Management Training for Professionals

This workshop is a self-paced virtual experience. Register by July 15, and there are 2-hour modules during the months of July, August, September and October.

Join other technical service providers and extension agents and specialists for a short-course this fall on pasture and forage management. Improve your technical skills and expertise so that you can better serve farmers as they develop and manage their grazing systems.

This course is designed to improve understanding of pasture management and design through four 2-hour virtual modules that must be completed by all workshop participants. Each presentation will be available for viewing in Canvas. Each module concludes with a 1-hour live Zoom meeting for an opportunity to interact with participants and instructors. This will begin July 1 with each module needing to be completed in 30 days.

In late October-early November, VSU Small Farm Outreach Program will sponsor a field demonstration where each participant will practice what they have learned. Lunch will be provided.

Space is limited. For more information, contact Tim Sexton at (804) 524-1028, or tsexton@vsu.edu.

Register for FREE at https://tinyurl.com/mumsvhw7

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Small Farm Outreach Program office at smallfarm@vsu.edu or call (804) 524-3292 / TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.