Get out and celebrate National Agriculture Week (March 15-21, 2009) by attending an ag-related event in your area. There are activities taking place all across the country.
For starters, take a look at this sampling of educational and entertaining options:
March 14-15
The Best of the Midwest Alpaca Show
Columbus, Ohio
812-94-4880; www.bestofthemidwestalpacashow.com
March 14-15
The Virginia Classic llama competition
Lexington, Va.
434-286-4494; www.llamalife.com/classic
March 15
Make-and-Take Workshop: Rain Barrels
Fernbank Museum, Atlanta, Ga.
404-929-6379; www.fernbankmuseum.org
March 16
Web Marketing for Your Farm
Springfield, Ill.
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/smallfarm/begin_farm.html
March 16
Sixth Annual Local Grower-Local Buyer Gathering
Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, Pa.
215-386-5211, ext. 105; www.whitedogcafefoundation.org
March 16-17
Intro to Holistic Management
(Farm-planning workshop)
Quality Inn, Ames, Iowa
515-294-0887; mrgsmith@iastate.edu
March 17
Irrigation Management Workshop
(presented by Purdue Extension of Elkhart County)
Goshen, Ind.
574-533-0554
March 17
Ohio Swine Health Symposium
Plain City, Ohio
419-523-6294; http://porkinfo.osu.edu
March 17
Soils Workshop
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
607-255-2177; lls14@cornell.edu
March 17
Agricultural Astronomy: Planetary Influences Related to Work on the Land
Benziger Family Winery, Glen Ellen, Calif.
lauraliska@cs.com; www.dennisklocek.com
March 18
Water Quality, Range, Pasture, and Livestock-management Workshop
Monterey County UCCE Auditorium, Salinas, Calif.
805-781-5940; 805-781-5946; abreschini@co.slo.ca.us
March 18-19
Midwest Poultry Federation Convention
Saint Paul RiverCentre, Saint Paul, Minn.
www.midwestpoultry.com/pre/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=3
March 19
Organic Herd Health & Soil Management Meeting
(with Paul Dettloff, DVM)
Stephen F. Stoltzfus' Farm, Dry Run, Pa.
717-687-9222; www.lancasterag.com
March 19
Environmental Business Council Renewable Energy Seminar: Sustainable Regional Agriculture through Renewable Energy
Springfield, MA
413-886-8000
March 19-20
How to Raise Heritage Turkeys on Pasture
Wheatland Hall, Wheatland, Mo.
919-542-5704; 417-282-6337; www.albc-usa.org
March 19-21
North American Farm and Power Show
Owatonna, Minn.
www.tradexpos.com/farmpowr
March 19-21
Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Going the Distance and Shortening it, From Farm to Cafeteria
Portland, Ore.
http://farmtocafeteriaconference.com
March 20
Great Lakes Heirloom Fruit Conservation Heritage Orchard Restoration Workshop
University of Wisconsin Arboretum, Madison, Wis.
heidi_busse@yahoo.com
March 20-21
Advanced Grazing Clinic
Three Miles Lake Lodge, Creston, Iowa
712-830-3281
March 20-21
Georgia Organics Conference and Trade Show
Decatur, Ga.
www.georgiaorganics.org/conference
March 20-22
Ohio Beef Expo
Columbus, Ohio
614-873-6835; www.ohiobeefexpo.com
March 21
Selecting the Best for Breeding
(Turkey workshop)
Wheatland Hall, Wheatland, Mo.
919-542-5704; 417-282-6337; www.albc-usa.org
March 21
Felting Workshop
Garfield Farm Museum, LaFox, Ill.
630-584-8485; http://garfieldfarm.org/calendar.html
March 21
Lambing Workshop
Shelburne Farms Barn, Shelburne, Vt.
802-524-6501
March 21
Springtime at the Garden Festival
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, S.C.
803-779-8717; www.riverbanks.org
March 21-22
Organic Growers School Spring Conference
Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, N.C.
828-450-2026; www.organicgrowersschool.org
March 21-22
Spring Bling Alpaca Show
Neenah, Wis.
812-525-8572; FiveOaksExotics@aol.com; www.springblingshow.com