BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine - ECPv6.18.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T150000
DTSTAMP:20260921T185846Z
CREATED:20260921T183540Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T185846Z
UID:10233-1791021600-1791039600@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:Poultry Processing Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Hands-On Education for Small Poultry Producers\nN.C. Cooperative Extension’s Watauga County Center will hold a Poultry Processing Workshop on October 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 252 Poplar Grove Road in Boone. \nThe training is particularly relevant to small farms\, homesteaders\, and poultry producers interested in processing birds on a smaller scale. Registration is required through Watauga County Extension. \nThe October 3 Poultry Processing Workshop also serves an important practical purpose: Watauga Extension requires first-time users of its Mobile Poultry Processing Unit to complete Extension-organized processing training before renting the equipment. The county specifically lists the October 3 workshop as its next qualifying training session. \n\n\nAccess to Mobile Processing Equipment\nWatauga County’s Mobile Poultry Processing Unit gives trained producers access to equipment that can otherwise represent a significant expense for a small operation. \nThe unit includes kill cones and a stand\, a poultry scalder\, a mechanical plucker\, stainless steel work tables\, a food-grade water hose\, and other processing equipment. Extension provides the unit for short-term rental after required training is completed. \nThe rental program is not limited to Watauga County residents. Extension notes\, however\, that other mobile processing units are available in North Carolina and producers may be directed toward equipment located closer to their farms. \nCurrent rental fees for the Watauga unit are $50 for rentals of up to three days. \nTraining Matters for Food Safety and Farm Planning\nProcessing poultry involves more than learning how to use equipment. Farmers must also understand safe handling\, sanitation\, and the regulations that may apply to poultry processed for sale. \nN.C. Cooperative Extension resources emphasize food safety\, animal welfare\, and proper handling during poultry processing and advise producers with regulatory questions to consult the appropriate state agencies and Extension specialists. \nFor farms considering small-scale meat poultry production\, access to shared equipment and training may reduce processing-related infrastructure barriers. \nWatauga Extension has not posted a detailed session-by-session agenda for the October 3 Poultry Processing Workshop\, so participants who need specific regulatory or certification information should contact the county Extension office before attending. \nAdvance registration is required. \n  \nRead our full-length articles about educational opportunities here!
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/poultry-processing-workshop/
LOCATION:Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center\, 252 Poplar Grove Road\, Boone\, NC\, 28607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pexels-ralph-407274-7323135-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T180000
DTSTAMP:20260923T160147Z
CREATED:20260913T153930Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T160147Z
UID:9681-1791302400-1791309600@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:Herd & Forage Improvement Farm Field Day
DESCRIPTION:See Forage Research in a Working Beef Operation\nVirginia State University’s Small Farm Outreach Program will hold the Herd & Forage Improvement Farm Field Day on October 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at A&W Ranch in Penn Laird\, Virginia. \nThe Shenandoah Valley field day will show livestock producers how forage management\, grazing practices\, and animal nutrition come together on a working Angus beef operation. Rancher Glenn Anderson and VSU Small Farm Agent Tim Sexton will lead the program and discuss on-farm research comparing lespedeza and novel endophyte fescue. \nThe research focuses in part on how those forage choices affect cattle nutrition and weight gain. \n\n\n\nLearn From a Working Angus Ranch\nAnderson will lead participants on a tour of A&W Ranch\, where he raises Angus beef cattle using rotational grazing practices. \nVirginia State University says Anderson has raised livestock for 22 years. During the field day\, he will discuss both the challenges and successes he has encountered while participating in the Herd Health and Forage Improvement Program. \nThe farm setting gives participants a chance to see management practices in use rather than only hearing about them in a classroom. \nRotational grazing can require producers to think carefully about forage availability\, animal movement\, stocking rates\, and pasture recovery. The field day will allow farmers to see how one Shenandoah Valley producer incorporates those considerations into a beef operation. \nCompare Forage Options\nSexton will discuss the research trials comparing lespedeza with novel endophyte fescue. \nForage quality can influence cattle performance\, herd health\, and how much supplemental feed a producer needs.   Understanding how different forage species perform under local conditions can help livestock managers make better decisions about pasture renovation and long-term grazing systems. \nThe field day will also examine factors producers should consider when raising animals for profit\, including animal health and weight gain. \nLearn About Improvement Funding\nSexton will also explain VSU’s Herd Health and Forage Improvement Program and funding opportunities available to livestock managers who want to improve forage species\, animal health\, weight gains\, and related parts of their operations. \nThat component may be especially useful for farmers who recognize problems in their pasture or herd-management systems but are unsure what technical or financial assistance is available. \nVirginia State University’s Small Farm Outreach Program provides education\, technical assistance\, and connections to financial resources for small farmers across much of Virginia. Its programs include livestock and forage management\, farm business development\, and hands-on field training. \nA Regional Opportunity for Livestock Producers\nThe Penn Laird location places the field day in the Shenandoah Valley\, making it relevant to beef and livestock producers in Virginia’s Appalachian and western agricultural regions. \nThe program is especially suited to producers interested in rotational grazing\, pasture improvement\, forage selection\, cattle nutrition\, and herd performance. \nAdvance registration is available through Virginia State University’s Small Farm Outreach Program. Farmers seeking additional information can contact the program through the event page. \n  \nRead our full-length articles about educational and grant opportunities here!
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/herd-forage-improvement-farm-field-day/
LOCATION:A&W Ranch\, 160 South Montevideo Circle\, Penn Laird\, VA\, 22846\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Herd-Forage-Shenandoah-1-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Virginia State University Small Farm Outreach Program":MAILTO:afletcher@vsu.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261015T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261015T200000
DTSTAMP:20261014T222042Z
CREATED:20261014T222042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261014T222042Z
UID:11102-1792089000-1792094400@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:Marketing for All 3.0: Farm Branding
DESCRIPTION:About this session\nFarm Branding is the featured topic Oct 15\, 2026 in Marketing for All 3.0. Consider the words\, images and information you already use to describe your farm. Before the session\, choose one example you want to improve\, such as a market sign\, package label or business introduction. Think about who needs to understand that message and what you want them to remember. This is optional preparation\, not a request to submit branding materials or a promise that instructors will redesign each participant’s identity. \nA course for direct-market businesses\nThe University of Kentucky Center for Crop Diversification is offering Marketing for All 3.0 as a free six-week online course for small and midsize farmers and food entrepreneurs. Sessions meet on Thursdays from Oct. 15 through Nov. 19\, 2026\, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Eastern through Zoom. The course covers branding\, photography\, graphic design\, web presence\, online sales and email marketing. Farmers selling through markets\, farm stores or online channels can consider how those subjects connect with the way customers currently find and buy their products. Organizers encourage participants to attend all six sessions because the lessons build on one another. \nRegister and put the learning to work\nUse the official course page to register and follow the confirmation instructions for Zoom access. The sessions have separate calendar entries so you can reserve the time for the full sequence. Check the date on each listing\, especially as the course moves from October into November. Before the evening program\, test your audio and internet connection and have a way to record ideas you want to revisit. After each meeting\, choose a small piece of work to review before the next session rather than trying to revise an entire marketing system at once. These are optional ways to prepare and follow through\, not extra assignments from the organizer. If you have questions about participation or access\, contact the Center for Crop Diversification through the course page. Keep your registration confirmation available for schedule updates and joining instructions. \nOfficial event information
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/marketing-for-all-3-0-farm-branding/
LOCATION:Online — Zoom
CATEGORIES:Education,Educational
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261022T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261022T150000
DTSTAMP:20261009T170054Z
CREATED:20261009T170027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261009T170054Z
UID:11008-1792674000-1792681200@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:Small Farm Orientation — Online Option
DESCRIPTION:Start with a farm planning foundation\nVirginia State University Cooperative Extension will offer Small Farm Orientation Oct. 22\, 2026\, from 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern through Microsoft Teams. The program serves people with no farming experience and farmers in their first five years. This calendar entry covers the online option\, which lets participants join without traveling to the in-person meeting in Cambridge\, Maryland. The orientation brings together Ben Dukes\, Malique Middleton and integrated marketing specialist Theresa Nartea. Organizers identify the Small Farm Orientation manual as a resource for the program. \nBring your farm questions\nEarly decisions can shape how a farm develops\, and an orientation offers a place to organize the questions that come with starting out. Before the meeting\, consider writing a short description of what you hope to produce\, the land or facilities you can use and the customers you want to reach. Keep immediate needs separate from ideas that can wait until a later season. For example\, you might need to understand your next planning step before deciding on a major equipment purchase. These suggestions help you prepare for the conversation; they do not represent a promised agenda. Participants can also note which parts of farming feel least familiar and ask how Extension resources might support their learning after the orientation. \nConnect through Microsoft Teams\nInstall Microsoft Teams in advance if your device needs it\, and test your microphone\, speakers and internet connection. Joining early gives you time to resolve access problems before the program begins. Register through the organizer’s event page and follow the instructions in your confirmation for the meeting link. The public listing does not state a registration fee\, so contact the organizer if cost affects your plans. Ben Dukes can answer questions at 804-731-7916 or bdukes@vsu.edu. Ask about obtaining the manual\, any materials you should review beforehand and the format for participant questions. Keep the contact information close at hand on the day of the meeting. Use the online registration option when signing up so the organizer can send the appropriate joining instructions. \nOfficial event information | Register
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/small-farm-orientation-online-option/
LOCATION:Online — Microsoft Teams
CATEGORIES:Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261022T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261022T200000
DTSTAMP:20260921T195545Z
CREATED:20260921T190524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T195545Z
UID:10244-1792692000-1792699200@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:Cover Crops Your Way: Session 1
DESCRIPTION:Build a Cover Crop Plan That Fits the Farm\nFarmers and growers looking to improve soil health can join Cover Crops Your Way\, a two-part workshop scheduled for October 22 and November 14 in Morganton. \nThe program begins with a classroom session from 6 to 8 p.m. October 22 at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Burke County Center\, 130 Ammons Drive. Participants will return November 14 from 10 a.m. to noon for a hands-on demonstration at Oak Hill Community Park and Forest\, 820 N.C. 126. Pre-registration is required. \nThe workshop moves from classroom instruction to practical field application. \n\n\nCover Crop Selection\, Soil Testing\, and Establishment\nTopics will include the benefits of cover crops\, different cover crop varieties\, soil testing\, planning\, and establishment. Organizers also plan a cover crop planting demonstration during the field portion of the program. \nThe classroom session will cover different cover crop types and how to use them in production environments. During the November field session\, participants will see how different cover crops are established and gain practical knowledge they can apply to their own operations. \nThat combination may help growers who understand the general benefits of cover crops but need help deciding which species\, planting methods\, or timing make sense for their farms. \nSupporting Healthier Soils\nCover crops can be part of a broader farm-management strategy\, not a one-size-fits-all practice. Producers need to consider their production system\, soil conditions\, planting windows\, and goals when selecting what to grow between cash crops. \nThe workshop aims to help participants develop a cover crop plan rather than simply introducing individual species. \nThe program is being offered through N.C. Cooperative Extension in cooperation with partners including Burke Soil and Water Conservation District\, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina\, and Empowering Mountain Food Systems. \nFor Appalachian Highlands vegetable producers\, diversified farms\, market gardeners\, and other growers interested in soil health\, the two-session format provides both instruction and an opportunity to see cover-crop establishment in the field. \nParticipants must register in advance. Burke County Extension can also provide additional information about the sessions. \n  \nRead our full-length articles about educational opportunities here!
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/cover-crops-your-way-1/
LOCATION:N.C. Cooperative Extension Burke County Center\, 130 Ammons Drive\, Morganton\, NC\, 28655\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education,Workshops & Seminars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pexels-n-voitkevich-4453779-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR