Indoor Pasture Walk March 18
The Kosciusko and Whitley County Soil and Water Conservation District offices will be hosting the 10th Annual Indoor Pasture Walk from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the Whitko Middle School located in Larwill.
The meeting is open to the public, with no registration fee and will include a free Subway meal for all of those who attend.
The evening’s program will feature a “virtual tour” of the Right As Rain Ranch located in Kosciusko County. Ranch owners Bret and Sue Wolf will be in attendance and discuss their future plans for the ranch “from the beginning.”
Amy Lybarger, Whitley County District Conservationist and Victor Shelton, Indiana’s state agronomist and grazing specialist will visit with Wolfs as the ranch is toured.
Other featured presentations will include master gardener Kim Jewell, who will be sharing information about where our food comes from. Attendees will learn how to be self-sufficient with a simple raised garden and flower pots.
Additionally, local resident Kathy Adams will share information on how to successfully pasture poultry. Adams has been raising chickens for over 14 years. She uses “chicken tractors” to move her 200 bird flock around pastures and her yard. Adams also grazes a small herd of goats.
In addition to these two topics, people will be able to learn about Community Supported Agriculture. Jeff Hawkins and his family from North Manchester own Hawkins Family Farms, a very successful CSA.
Hawkins and his family are third generation and live on the “family farm.” He will be sharing information concerning their CSA which includes: garden vegetables, pasture chickens, turkeys, grass-fed beef and pork.
To round out the evening, Victor Shelton, Indiana’s state agronomist and grazing specialist, will be speaking to the group on how to plan for the extreme weather conditions such as, high and low temperatures, record snows, ice, wind, flooding and drought.
Shelton will share his knowledge and in-sight on this type of planning.
The Kosciusko and Whitley County SWCD’s would like to thank their sponsors for helping host and support this informative meeting: Cisco Seed Company, Gallagher Animal Management, Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation, Ag Plus, Levy Company, George’s Grain-Etna Green Elevator, and Hometown Maintenance & Repair.
Whitko Middle School is located at 710 N. SR 5 in Larwill, one-half mile south of U.S. 30. The school is located on the east side of the highway. Look for signs.
Reservations are needed to attend this event. For more information and reservations, contact the Kosciusko County SWCD at 574-267-7445 ext. 3 or the Whitley County SWCD at 260-244-6266 ext. 3 or email [email protected].
RSVP’s are needed by close of business of Monday, March 17, to reserve space and a meal.