Details

Friday, June 6th - Saturday, June 7th Stoneridge Events Center

7373 Comfort Inn Drive Warrenton, VA 20187

Friday: Full-Day Classroom Session Saturday: Farm Tours Registration Fee: $95

From

Service to Stewardship

www.LivestockConservancy.org

A Workshop for Veterans on Farming with Heritage Breeds of Livestock and Poultry
Join Virginia Cooperative Extension, The Livestock Conservancy, and the Farmer Veteran Coalition on June 6-7, 2014, for a two-day intensive workshop that will help transform todays veterans into tomorrows farmers. This one-of-a-kind workshop will educate and train Americas service men and women on the skills necessary to steward some of Americas most historic and endangered farm animals. Fridays program will include a full-day classroom session featuring local farmers speaking about a variety of topics. On Saturday, attendees will select a track and visit local, successful small farm operations where they will get an up-close look at the realities of heritage breed farming. Over the course of the two days, veterans will learn how to: Get started with livestock Choose and raise Heritage poultry Farm with heritage sheep Select and raise Heritage cattle and hogs In addition, veterans will be introduced to the marketing aspects of raising heritage breeds.

I enjoyed every single second of the workshop, from the classroom time to the on-farm tours. - Kioska
Lubula, 2012 attendee

Register
The two-day workshop fee includes all workshop materials, lunch on Friday and Saturday, and farm tours on Saturday. Online: www.livestockconservancy.org By mail: PO Box 477, Pittsboro, NC 27312 By Phone: 919-542-5704 Questions: albc@albc-usa.org

Our goal is to help returning veterans and retired service members succeed financially in heritage breed, sustainable agriculture by providing them with the knowledge and skills they need. Eric Hallman,
Executive Director

Reservations for this workshop are on a first-come-first-serve basis. Priority will be given to service men and women. After st May 1 , The Livestock Conservancy will accept registrations from the general public.

Scholarships
Scholarships are available through The Livestock Conservancy; email amartin@albc-usa.org to apply.
P 919-542-5704 E albc@albc-usa.org www.livestockconservancy.org

Program Agenda
Friday, June 6
Welcome and Intro Learn about the programs and opportunities available through Virginia Cooperative Extension, The Livestock Conservancy, and Farmer Veteran Coalition and how they may help you get started with your dream of farming with heritage breeds. The Sustainable Home and Small Farm Flock Harvey Ussery Intro to Heritage Sheep production Kathy Donovan Intro to Heritage Hog Production Will Morrow Lunch featuring Heritage Breed Meats Intro to Heritage Cattle Jeremy Engh Getting Started Tim Mize Panel Discussion: Economics and Marketing Heritage Breeds

Why Veteran Farmers?

Veterans are especially suited for heritage breed agriculture due to our unique connection with the heritage of our country. For many of us, farming and being in the military is part of our personal heritage and pride in being an American. - Althea Raiford, attendee
from Brunswick, Georgia

Saturday, June 7
Students may sign up for one of three tour opportunities on a first-come first-serve basis. Students will be on farm from 9:00am 12:00pm. A boxed lunch will be served following the tour. 1. Grass Fed Cattle: Doug Werner / Carl Stafford Lakota Ranch is a production model for grass-finished beef operations. You will see a large herd of Devon cattle and learn the fundamentals of breeding herd management and forages. Lakota Ranch is located in Remington, VA. 2. Integrated Farming for Fun and Profit: Jeff and Ginny Adams blend the best of historic and modern farming practices using heritage cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry, and horses on Walnut Hill Farms at Elm Springs, VA. This tour could include discussions of rotational and multi-species grazing, conservation methods, and onfarm poultry processing. 3. On the Farm with Sheep and Chickens: Kathy Donovan raises Karakul sheep and a variety of poultry on her farm in Bluemont, VA. She will demonstrate lowimpact techniques that make animal handling less physically demanding, and explain how she successfully markets meat and wool. Continue flyer text here. Continue flyer text here. Continue flyer text here. Continue flyer text here. Continue flyer text here. Continue flyer text here. Travel Continue flyer text here. Continue flyer text here. Continue flyer text here. By Air: flyer Dulles Intl Airport, 40 min Continue text here.

By Train: Amtrak to: Continue flyer Continue flyer text here. Manassas or Culpeper, min text here. Continue flyer text 20 here. Continue flyer text here.

Local Area & Hotels

www.visitfauquier.com www.discoverpwm.com www.visitculpeperva.com www.visitloudoun.org

The Livestock Conservancy is working to provide transportation to Saturdays farm tours, but at this point in time, transportation has not been secured. You may need to plan to provide your own transportation to the farm tours. If the Conservancy is able to secure transportation, we will inform attendees in advance.