Click here for our Spring Events Flyer and registration form

Kerr Center Events

Field Day: From Field to Buyer:
Making the Most on Your Growing Crops :: May 29
Deadline: 2008 Meat Goat Performance Test :: May 30
Field Day: Organic Soils Building Workshop
and Fruit and Vegetable Variety Trials :: July 10
Conference: Future Farms :: August 5-6
Field Day: Season Extension and Hoop Houses :: September 14
Field Day: Organic Farming :: July 10
Workshop: Growing for Local Markets :: September 20

Other Events

Workshops: Milking and Cheesemaking :: May 10 and 17
Conference: 17th Annual Langston University Farming Conference :: May 21 - 23
Workshop: Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
for the Landscape Professional :: May 28
Field Day: Lane Ag Center Annual Field Day  ::  June 21
Workshop: Growing Your Own Food in Small Spaces :: August 9 and 16

Kerr Center Events

Field Day: From Field to Buyer: Making the Most on Your Growing Crops*

May 29, 2008
5 – 8
Peach Crest Farm
Stratford

Susan Bergen will host this field day at Peach Crest Farm, north of Stratford.  The 9,000-tree peach orchard gave its first harvest in 2003. 

“What you will see is how a non-farming person, with the help of many farming people, has made a farm work,” says Bergen.

To maximize freshness and quality, the peaches come straight out of the field into a special wash to remove fungal spores and bacteria.  They then plunge into a cooling bath before drying, sorting, and grading.

“You will see how we irrigate, integrate and implement what the customer is looking for on this acreage: great tasting produce, grown in environmentally friendly constraints, and sold at a reasonable price,” she says.

Some of the peach trees share forty acres along the highway with a display garden area, as well as the packing sheds and barns.  An additional 160 acres grows a variety of vegetable crops: cantaloupes, tomatoes, onions, and more. 

Twelve of those acres, certified organic in 2006, gave an initial harvest of organic turnips and sweet peas, followed by vegetables and herbs last summer.

Directions: The farm is on the west side of Highway 177, 4.5 miles north of Stratford.
From the north, go a little over 1 mile south on Highway 177 from the intersection of Highway 59.

From the south, go 4.5 miles north on Highway 177 from the four-way stop in Stratford.

Registration is $10, due by May 23. Call Kerr Center at 918.647.9123 or print out the registration form in the spring events flyer (above) or register via pay pal (below). Event will be held rain or shine; bring a lawn chair and wear shoes appropriate for walking in fields.

Register with Paypal:

Deadline: 2008 Meat Goat Performance Test

May 30

With the popularity of last year’s meat goat forage buck test (see sidebar), the Kerr Center and the OSU Cooperative Extension Service are again teaming up to conduct the 2008 Meat Goat Forage Performance Test.

Meat goats are booming in Oklahoma agriculture, and it’s important to know which lines perform best on pasture. The forage performance test helps answer that question.

This year’s test encompasses a larger pasture area (35 acres), and the scoring system has been changed to place more emphasis on parasite resistance.

Goat producers wishing to test their bucks' performance on forage are invited to enter bucks in the test, which will run from mid-July until the end of October.

Fee is $120 per buck, and nominations are due by May 30, 2008.

More information and nomination forms

Field Day: Organic Soils Building Workshop and Fruit and Vegetable Variety Trials

July 10
2 – 6
Lane Ag Center
Lane

“Healthy soils make healthy plants.”  Learn how to build healthy soils organically through cover cropping, crop rotation, composting and more.  The soil workshop will be followed by dinner and then a tour and discussion of Lane's certified organic fruit and vegetable variety trials.

Conference: Future Farms

August 5-6

Details forthcoming

Field Day: Season Extension and Hoop Houses

September 14
2 – 6
Trebuchet Gardens
Norman

Fall is the perfect time to build a hoop house to extend your growing season. Join Tod and Jamie Hanley at Trebuchet Gardens to see how they built a 25’ x 96’ hoop house for under $1000 and grow produce in it year round. They market their produce through three local food markets and to individual customers, and also work with children through the Farm to School program.

Workshop: Growing for Local Markets

September 20
Connors State College
Warner

Details forthcoming.

Other Events

Milking and Cheesemaking Workshop

May 10th and 17th, 2008
7 AM – 1 PM
Talala
HLA Country Farm

Did you ever want to learn how to milk a goat or cow and then make  cheese with that milk that you just worked so hard to get? Here is your chance to do just that.

The HLA Country Farm will host three hands-on milking and cheesemaking workshops on May 10th and 17th.  Cost is $50 per person.

Each participant will have the opportunity to learn how to milk both cows and goats.  After milking and cleanup are completed, the cheesemaking portion of the workshop will begin.  From the fresh milk a very simple Spanish cheese called Cuajada will be made. This cheese is ready to eat in 1 hour.  After that, the making of  Mozzarella from goat milk will be demonstrated. Then a fresh pressed cheese called Queso Fresco will be made.  These cheeses are all easy to make in your own home.

The purpose of the workshop is to share knowledge of the daily working and running of a raw milk dairy farm. Therefore, workshop organizers ask that any minors atending the workshop be focused on the day's activities so as not to distract from the experience for other persons attending the workshop.

Openings are limited to 8 people per workshop, so register early to ensure a place.

For more information or to register, contact Judy Calvert at 918.371.5367 or visit HLA Country Farm’s website.

17th Annual Langston University Farming Conference

May 21 - 23
Langston University OKC Campus

Langston University’s 17th annual farming conference features one day of farm tours followed by two more of breakout sessions and awards.

On Wednesday, May 21, tours depart at 1:30 from the university’s Oklahoma City campus. One tour goes to the main Langston campus for stops including forages, aquaculture, and goats.  The other goes to Chandler, with stops highlighting a winery, forages, and best management practices.

Thursday, May 22, offers a full day of breakout sessions on various topics.  Breakout sessions continue on Friday, along with awards and a luncheon.

For more information, contact Mathilda Hall at 1.866.466.2231 or 405.466.6154.

Workshop: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for the Landscape Professional

May 28
Oklahoma State University Botanical Garden
Stillwater

This broadly focused workshop will address the many facets of a landscape IPM program. This program will benefit pest control operators, professional landscape
maintenance personnel, park & recreational employees, nursery & garden center personnel as well as individuals who have a desire to hone their landscape
management skills. Attending this event may satisfy CEU requirements for commercial applicators and arborists.

Download brochure

Lane Ag Center Annual Field Day

June 21 , 2008
9-3 pm
Lane

The Lane Agriculture Center Annual Field Day is open to the public and will provide an opportunity for those attending to learn about new developments with topics such as vegetable production, biofuel and biofumigant crops, weed, insect and disease control, and production practices for certified organic vegetable production.  

In addition to the educational aspects of the Field Day, the event will include food, entertainment and opportunity to visit with the Center staff.  An antique tractor show and competition is open to all who want to bring their favorite tractor along.

For more information, visit www.lane-ag.org.

Workshop: Growing Your Own Food in Small Spaces

August 9 and 16
10 - 5
Red Rock

These workshops offer hands-on experience at building 4’x4’ raised beds, mixing an organic growing medium, planting, composting, vermicomposting, irrigation, and more.

Workshops are held at Turtle Rock Farm. Cost is $65 per adult and $50 per child 12 and under.

To register, visit the Turtle Rock Farm website or call Ann McFerron at 580.725.3411 or Pat Hoerth at 580.917.6011.