2016 – 2017 L.E.A.F. (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Workshop Series

CCE-Chautauqua Announces 23 Workshops to be held in October, November, and February

-by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (October 10th, 2016) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program is excited to announce a variety of upcoming educational workshops. The 2016-2017 L.E.A.F. (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Workshop Series is open to the general public, including homesteaders, beginning farmers, established farmers looking to diversify and grow, agriculture enthusiasts, and everyone in between! The 2016-2017 Workshop Series will feature 23 workshops to be held in October and November of 2016 and February of 2017. This season’s L.E.A.F. Program is made possible through the generous support of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

This is the second year that CCE-Chautauqua has offered the L.E.A.F. (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Program facilitated by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County. “We are so excited to be offering such an incredible variety of workshops this year,” said Walley-Stoll. “After the success of last year’s L.E.A.F. pilot program, we have worked hard, with the financial support of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, to continue to grow and expand our offerings to better meet the community’s needs and interests. This program is unique in that it has workshops for everyone, whether you’re just a community member who wants to raise backyard hens or learn how to compost and preserve foods, or a person who is looking to start or continue to grow their farm business. This is a great opportunity to help improve the profitability of our area farms, increase agricultural production, and improve the self-sufficiency of our area’s families.”

This year’s program features 23 different workshops on a large variety of topics including: Starting a Farm, Running a Successful CSA, Maple Syrup Production, Sheep and Goat Production, Raising Backyard Beef, Small Scale Composting, Soil Properties and Soil Health, Raising Poultry for Egg Production (including Backyard Hens), Business Planning for Beginning Farmers, Farm Record Keeping and Tax Preparation, Using Social Media for Your Farm, Managing Food Plots and Woodlots for Wildlife, Pasture Management and Grazing, Growing Medicinal and Culinary Herbs, Using Greenhouses to Grow Vegetables, Basic of Home Food Preservation, Resources and Access to Capital for Beginning Farms, and Small Scale Hops Production. Full workshop descriptions, including instructor biographies and Workshop dates and times, can be viewed by visiting www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua/leaf1617 or by contacting Katelyn Walley-Stoll at 716-664-9502 ext. 202.

Each workshop will be 2 hours long and led by an experienced instructor. The cost to attend is only $5/family/workshop and light refreshments will be offered. The L.E.A.F. workshops are designed to be interactive, so participants are encouraged to bring their questions and ideas to this collaborative environment! All of the workshops will be held at the Frank W. Bratt Agricultural Center located at 3542 Turner Road in Jamestown, NY.

Pre-registration is required at least 3 days prior to the workshop to allow for adequate time to prepare printed resources and materials. Interested participants can register online by visiting www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua/leaf1617, by emailing kaw249@cornell.edu, or by calling 716-664-9502.

The L.E.A.F. Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua) in line with the County’s 20/20 Comprehensive Plan. CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated October 10, 2016