Press release from Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture:
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is pleased to announce a workshop on Raising Meat Goats, hosted by farmers Nona and Jeff Cullen. This FREE workshop will occur on September 9th at the Cullen’s farm in Lansing, NC.
At the workshop, the Cullens, who raise Kiko meat goats, will lead participants on a walking tour of their farm as they discuss signs and symptoms of health issues in goats, and what to look for as you move your goats between paddocks. They will also discuss moveable, solar powered fencing options. Jeff and Nona will share some of the problems they have encountered raising goats in the High Country as well as their creative solutions. This workshop is for aspiring, beginning, and established farmers, as well as members of the community. The walking tour will be followed by a potluck dinner.
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture invited Jeff and Nona to host a workshop on their farm after they applied for and received one of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture’s Direct to Farmer grants. The Cullens used the grant to purchase 12000 feet of solar powered, electric fencing and a solar charger. “This fencing has allowed Jeff and Nona to expand the number of paddocks that they utilize for rotational grazing of their herd,” said Dave Walker, Programs Director at Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, “They now plan to expand their grazing system to incorporate an additional 13 acres of hillside. The grant also allowed for the purchase of goat panel fencing and goat panel connectors to be used as kidding pens.”
This workshop is a part of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture’s efforts to provide educational resources for farmers and landowners. The workshop is a part of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture’s CRAFT program, which cultivates meaningful mentor relationships between aspiring and experienced farmers in the High Country.
CRAFT stands for Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training. The program connects aspiring farmers with experienced farmers, encourages innovative on-farm educational and professional experiences, and provides tools to established farmers that will enhance their mentorship abilities. The program does this through an Apprenticeship Opportunities webpage, summer on-farm peer-to-peer workshops for aspiring and established farmers, and winter farmer-driven gatherings.
Workshop Details
Location: 1043 Little Windfall Rd. Lansing, NC
Cost: FREE
Date: September 9th, 2018
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
RSVP: craft.brwia.org/workshops or by calling 828-386-1537.
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