East of the Depot on Hyway 69 4 mi north of Wagoner. Across from Twin Oaks Baptist Church presented by Robert Butler.

This workshop has been postponed until further notice (posted May 11 2012)

Marketing Workshop to be held at the Wagoner Community Center on Jefferson and Cherokee in Wagoner on Sat June 16,2012 9-3
What does it take, where do I start here in Oklahoma to market my products.

Presented by Shirley Butler and Mike Everett

Saturday April 14,2011 9-3
Phone:
918-230-5266
Meet behind the Depot on Hyway 69 4 miles north of Wagoner.
Bring your lawn chairs and wear appropriate shoes and clothes this is a hands on in the field
workshop.

MFSI Announces: Herb Growing Training Session

Okmulgee, OK – Herb grower Richard Belcher of Checotah will be teaching a follow-up to his
January Herb Class, with an evening training session on growing herbs Tue., March 27 at 6 p.m. at
Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative located at 100 E. 7th, Suite 101.

Belcher, who has been growing herbs for several years, will offer information on growing and
drying herbs which are commonly used in the kitchen, such as cilantro, sage, tarragon, chives and
basil.

Belcher is the manager of the Community Food Project (CFP) in McIntosh County. Part of his
work in this capacity includes overseeing Eufaula Indian Community Garden. He is currently
completing the construction of a hoop house that will be used to start seedlings, as well as grow
vegetables year round.

Please RSVP for the herb training session by calling Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative at
(918)756-5915 or (918) 759-0817 or email sberryhill@mvskokefood.org.

Mvto,
Melodie Sivadon Reader
MFSI Communication, Marketing & Research Coordinator

LINKS TO DOCUMENTS:
PDF: Herb Class 03/27/2012

An Introduction to Holistic Management®

March 16 and 17, 2012
New Hope Baptist Church
Oktaha, OK

Mike Everett, Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers Association (OFRA) Consultant and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program Co-director will be offering an Introductory Holistic Management® workshop on Friday, March 16 from 5 – 9 pm and March 17 from 9 am – 5 pm at the New Hope Baptist Church, east of Oktaha, OK as part of the OFRA Conservation Innovation Grant 3 workshop series.

Topics covered during the workshop will include:

What is Holistic Management® and Why Should I Care?

A New Decision-Making Approach

The 10 Principles for Effective Resource Management

What Are You Managing and Where Are You Going?

Why Bare Ground is Public Enemy #1

What’s in Your Toolbox?

Testing Your Decisions Before You Make Them

Why Keeping Your Eyes Open and Mind Alert Matters

Mike Everett, raised on a traditional farm in the Texas Panhandle, has worked as a Field Technician for ATTRA, the Southwest Plains Field Coordinator for Heifer International, and presently is Consultant and the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program Co-Director for OFRA. He has received extensive training in Holistic Management®, visiting farms and ranches from California to South Africa as part of the training. He continues his training and shares his knowledge with farmers and ranchers throughout Oklahoma and Texas.

Oklahoma Market Gardening School Course

This is an 8-week course in Chickasha, OK.
Instructors from OSU, Noble Foundation,
OSU Lane Ag. Center and Okla. Dept. of
Ag, Food & Forestry will be teaching the
classes.

For more information visit: http://www.hortla.okstate.edu/events/pdf/2012OKMarket.pdf

Where:
Wilson Livestock Training – Wilson Community (map)

Description:
Dr. Ann Wells
Wilson Livestock Training – Wilson Community

Dr. Ann Wells, DVM will teach a 10-week course on Sustainable Livestock Production from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m, Sat.. Lunch is pot luck. Cost- is $20.00 for non members, free to members

For More Info:
Robyn Withrow at (918) 650-9221 or Rita Williams at (918) 759-1891.

Dr. Ann Wells and Dr. Ron Morrow will be the speakers.
Wilson Livestock Training – Wilson Community
Dr. Ann Wells, DVM will teach a 10-week course on Sustainable Livestock Production from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m, Sat.. Lunch is pot luck. Cost- is $20.00 for non members, free to members

Wilson Community- John Holman – (Electric Fencing Workshop)

For More Info:
Robyn Withrow at (918) 650-9221 or
Rita Williams at (918) 759-1891.

Applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher program are due October 21. Space is limited, and early application is strongly encouraged.

The program’s purpose is to assist “beginning” farmers and ranchers with training, resources, and mentoring. It provides an in-depth, year-long training course at the Kerr Center near Poteau.

Participants choose either a livestock or horticulture track.

Eligible “beginning” farmers and ranchers are those have been operating a farm or ranch enterprise for ten years or less, and have gross annual farm income of less than $150,000.

Men and women completely new to agriculture can also participate, along with those who already have a farm or ranch, but want further training.

The program is open to all age groups, including retirees from other professions.

Preference will be given to applicants from Oklahoma, but those in nearby states are eligible.

The course consists of six all-day Saturday training sessions at the Kerr Center’s Farm and Ranch. Mornings will be focused on classroom instruction, while afternoons will be outside with a focus on hands-on skills.

Participants will also learn about business planning and natural resource management.

The program begins with a meeting on November 12. After a break for the holidays, it will resume in February, with one session every other month until the final session in October 2012.

At the end of the course, participants will have a plan to establish or improve existing farm enterprises, and have the resources to move forward and be successful.

Those who want more information or to apply should visit
http://www.kerrcenter.com/beginning-farmer/index.html or call the center at 918.647.9123.

Successful applicants will be notified by October 28.

The Kerr Center’s partners in the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program include the Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers Association (OFRA), the Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative (MFSI), the Rural Smallholders Association (RSA), and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. The program is supported by a grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).