2016 - 2017 L.E.A.F. Workshop Series

Overview of the 2016-2017 Workshops

View our Information Packet here!

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program is excited to announce a variety of upcoming educational workshops. The L.E.A.F. (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Series is open to beginning farmers, established farms looking to diversify and grow, agriculture enthusiasts, homesteaders, and EVERYONE in between! The L.E.A.F. (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Program is made possible through the generous support of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Key Information about the 2016-2017 L.E.A.F. Workshops

• Each workshop is $5/workshop/family
• Pre-registration is required by mailing in the form attached to this publication or by visiting www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua/leaf1617 at least 3 days prior to the workshop you are hoping to attend. This is needed to give our staff adequate time to prepare workshop materials.
• All of the workshops will be held at the Frank W. Bratt Agricultural Center, 3542 Turner Road, Jamestown, NY 14701. 
• Light Refreshments will be offered at each workshop.
• The L.E.A.F. Workshops are designed to be interactive - bring your questions and ideas!
• The best way to keep in touch with CCE-Chautauqua’s programming is to subscribe! Visit www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauquau/subscribe or give us a call to get subscribed.
• FSA Borrower Training Credits will be offered for the L.E.A.F. Workshop Series. 
• Please contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll, 716-664-9502 ext. 202 for more information.

Register Here!

2016-2017 Workshop Descriptions

So, You Want to Start A Farm?

Tuesday, October 18th, 2016; 6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

Saturday, February 4th, 2017;  10am – 12pm;  $5/family

This workshop is for participants who have ever dreamed of having their own farming operation! Topics covered will be broad and include enterprise selection, insurance, marketing, and resources for future exploration of owning your own farm business. The instructor for this workshop will be Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Animal Science and Ag Business Management, and owns and operates a diversified livestock farm.

New York State Sheep/Goat Health Assurance Program

Saturday, October 22nd, 2016; 10am – 12pm;  $5/family

If you are a sheep or goat owner, you won’t want to miss this workshop! Learn about biosecurity for your herd/flock; important diseases; parasite management and herd planning. An overview of NYSSGHAP will be presented (a voluntary disease management program offered by NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets). The goal of this program is to increase herd/flock health, production and profitability. The presenters will be New York State Veterinarians, Dr. Shannon Carpenter and Dr. Melanie Hemenway, who have experience with this program and have previously worked with sheep and goat operations as private veterinarians.

Running A Successful CSA

Wednesday, October 26th, 2016;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

Saturday, February 25th, 2017;  10am – 12pm;  $5/family

CSA's, or Community Supported Agriculture, are a unique way to connect consumers to farmers. Learn about starting, organizing, managing, and marketing a CSA as well as deciding what type of a CSA will work best for your farm business. Adrienne Ploss, owner of Hickory Hurst farm, a fourth-generation family farm that produces USDA Certified organic cut flowers, herbs, and produce, will be this workshop’s instructor and will incorporate her own experiences with running her farm’s CSA. She has more than 25 years of experience as a horticulturist, as well as a Master’s Degree from Purdue University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell University.

Maple Syrup Production

Thursday, October 27th, 2016;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

Have you ever wanted to make and/or sell your own maple syrup? This workshop is for you! Learn the basics about tree selection and tapping, sap collection and storage, syrup grading and packaging, equipment selection, and much more! Lloyd and David Munsee of Big Tree Maple (www.bigtreemaple.com), who have many years of experience with maple production, will be leading this introductory workshop.

Introduction to Sheep Production

Saturday, October 29th, 2016;  10am – 12pm;  $5/family

In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of sheep production and care from lamb to adult animal. This will include information on housing and supplies, nutrition, breed selection, production, animal wellness, and marketing. Leading this workshop will be Breanna Waild-Halla, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Cornell University with a focus in production animals and sheep production and has many years of experience with raising sheep.

Backyard Beef

Tuesday, November 1st, 2016;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

This workshop will be led by two Chautauqua County Beef Producers, Ted Card and Dave Schauman, who have years of experience raising high quality beef cattle. The instructors will cover the basics of small scale beef production including animal sourcing and selection, health and nutrition, housing and fencing, and marketing. This workshop is designed for beginners interested in raising a few head of cattle for both home consumption and sale - Bring your questions as this will be a very interactive workshop.

Small Scale Composting Methods for the Home

Saturday, November 5th, 2016;  10am – 12pm;  $5/family

This workshop will provide an introductory overview of small-scale composting and composting methods that encourage home and garden waste-stream management and soil enrichment. A variety of simple to complex composting methods and goals will be discussed. Steve Rees, CCE-Chautauqua County Master Gardener Volunteer, will be leading this workshop. He is a retired Professor of Theatrical Production having taught 28 years at SUNY Fredonia. He is particularly interested in shrubs, compost and supporting his wife's avid perennial flower cultivation.

Introduction to Meat and Dairy Goats

Tuesday, November 8th, 2016;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

This introductory workshop will cover the care, basic nutrition, common diseases, and marketing outlets for goat products of the most common breeds in the US – a perfect workshop for the homesteader or beginning farmer interested in raising goats. Kate Ewer, a crazy goat lady whose love for goats began as a 4-H youth fifteen years ago, will lead this workshop. She has experience with dairy, meat, and working goats and now keeps a few Boer Does for a hobby. She’s currently the 4-H Community Educator with CCE-Chautauqua.

Soil Properties and Soil Health

Thursday, November 10th, 2016; 6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn how to inventory the soils on their property, use a soil survey to determine the suitability of their soils for various cropping programs, and how to use crop rotations, cover crops, and the application of organic materials to build a healthy soil. Participants will receive a copy of the Chautauqua County Soil Survey. Leading this workshop will be Robert (Rob) Halbohm, who is currently the Water Quality Technician with the Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District. He retired from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service two years ago, after working for 35 years in the field of assisting landowners in the development and implementation of conservation plans to protect their natural resources and maintain a profitable farm operation. He currently works on the District’s Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program.

Raising Poultry for Egg Production

Saturday, November 12th, 2016;  10am – 12pm;  $5/family

Tuesday, February 28th, 2017;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

Backyard Chickens are a popular way to get started with homesteading and farming! In this workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn about raising egg-layers from baby chick to productive adult including information on housing and supplies, nutrition, breed selection, chick care, pest control, and marketing. There will also be a discussion on regulations and labelling requirements for sales of farm-fresh eggs. The instructor will be Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator and “Chicken Lady” with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County, who has had many years of experience raising poultry for egg production.

Business Planning for Beginning Farmers

Thursday, November 17th, 2016;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

This seminar introduces the new farmer to the basic format and concepts expected in a business plan. In addition to the actual farming, a farm operation requires management, record keeping, taxes, financing, marketing, permits, competition analysis, and research. Research is ongoing for suppliers, competition, new products and services, resources and most important - customer needs. Once your farm is established, you can revisit each area for improvements on a regular basis. It’s your business so make it the best it can be. Don't underestimate the importance of planning. While it is possible to start with minimal planning, successful businesses typically have a plan, know their market, their customers and have a good understanding of the financial requirements of the business. A farm business plan is also necessary in most instances when seeking financing. This workshop will be taught by Scott Miller, Business Advisor with the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College who has had several years of experience working with beginning farm business owners in our area. 

Farm Record Keeping and Tax Preparation

Tuesday, November 29th, 2016;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

Running a farm is hard work, but it’s even harder if you don’t have a good record keeping system! With good recordkeeping you can improve your farm business performance and make your life easier. Get back to the basics with this workshop that will cover business structure, accounting and bookkeeping terms and methods, important financial reports, and best practices along with tax planning and important tax considerations for farm businesses. Instructors for this workshop will be Lindsay Eckman and Shannon Mardino, Farm Business Advisors with Farm Credit East in Mayville, NY.

Using Social Media for Your Farm

Wednesday, February 1st, 2017;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

It is no secret that the Internet has drastically changed how we market and sell our products. Today's customers are Internet savvy and expect more than a quality product – they also expect a level of interaction and engagement from the businesses they buy from. This workshop will provide tips and tools to help you set up your social media platforms (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.) and use them strategically to expand your customer base, sell more products and generate more revenue. Kate Moody, this workshop’s instructor, is a Business Advisor with the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College, where she coordinates the Social Media Marketing Certificate program. As an entrepreneur herself and a former Chamber of Commerce executive, Kate brings 15+ years of experience in small business marketing, sales and training.

Managing Food Plots and Woodlots for Wildlife

Tuesday, February 7th, 2017; 6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

This informative and useful workshop will discuss food plots and managing woodlots for wildlife. Learn the basics of food plots, crop selection, soil testing, plot preparation, and tips and tricks to improve your success rate and well as proper management to ensure the long-term success of your woodlot. David Spann, who has over 15 years of professional experience in conservation and habitat creation, will lead this workshop. Mr. Spann is the District Field Manager for the Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District and has advanced degrees in Fisheries & Aquaculture as well as Forest Technology. He also owns and operates Land Management Services which provides services such as Consultant Forestry and general habitat consulting for landowners.

Pasture Management and Grazing

Thursday, February 9th, 2017;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

Workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn about improving pastures through grazing management, renovating pastures to improve quality and quantity of forage, sizing pasture for different livestock species, fencing options, and providing water in pastures. The instructor for this workshop will be Lisa Kempisty, Dairy/Livestock Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County, who has worked with local dairy and livestock producers for 30+ years on managing pastures and grazing strategies for raising healthy and productive animals.

Growing Medicinal and Culinary Herbs

Saturday, March 4th, 2017; 10am -12pm; $5/family

Saturday, February 11th, 2017; 10am – 12pm;  $5/family

This workshop will cover the basics of growing, processing, and marketing a range of herbs. Participants will touch on both sun and woodland species, the latter offering ways to utilize forested spaces on one's property. The instructor, herbalist and grower Sarah Sorci, will borrow from trainings on Good Agricultural Practices for Medicinal Plants through the NC Extension, and woodland medicinal agriculture training the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmers Coalition. She is the owner of Sweet Flag Herbs.

Using Greenhouses to Grow Vegetables

Thursday, February 16th, 2017; 6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

Eat (or sell) home grown produce 12 months of the year! In this session participants will learn about different season extension structures such as greenhouses, high tunnels and row covers used to grow vegetables. Crops include greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and more. Site selection, structures, crop nutrition and pest management will be covered. Bring your ideas and questions! Judson Reid, Extension Vegetable Specialist with the Cornell Vegetable Program, will be the leader of this interactive workshop. He has worked for Cornell Cooperative Extension for several years, and focuses on cultural practices, small farm operations, and season extension techniques through his work.

Basics of Home Food Preservation

Saturday, February 18th, 2017;  10am – 12pm;  $5/family

Come and learn all about preserving your bountiful harvest! This workshop will provide an overview for safely canning, freezing and drying foods including the basics of the necessary equipment, trusted sources for recipes and important food safety information. Samples of preserved foods will be available for taste-testing. The instructor will be Cheryl Wahlstrom, a registered dietitian who is also a CCE Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver.

Resources and Access to Capital for Beginning Farmers

Tuesday, February 21st, 2017; 6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

Finding funding for your farm business can often times be the most difficult task for starting a farm business. Join Amanda Ritchey, Farm Loan Manager with the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) staff to learn more about the various resources available through USDA and their associated federal agencies including FSA, Rural Development, and NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). Learn about low-cost loans, insurance programs, disaster payments, and more!

Small Scale Hops Production

Thursday, February 23rd, 2017;  6pm – 8pm;  $5/family

This workshop will provide an overview of hops production from site selection, choosing varieties, plant nutrition, Integrated Pest Management strategies for hops, to harvesting, processing and marketing. The instructor will be Tim Weigle, Senior Extension Associate with the NYS IPM Program who has been growing hops for 6 years at the Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Laboratory in Portland, NY.

Register Here!

Last updated July 26, 2019