Weeds, Gardens, Manure and Crops, OH MY!

Looking for a place to learn, visit and enjoy the day with others like yourself?
Well, there's a special place for you created once a year at the King County Fairgrounds in Enumclaw and it's the upcoming 4th Annual Small Farm Expo, Saturday, March 19th from 9:00am - 3:00pm. Admission is free.

This free event provides the opportunity to look at tractors and learn about implements you are thinking about purchasing. Rich Gross from Jennings Equipment looks forward to the yearly event "because it's for the people who are our main focus, both small and large farms in the rural areas, this is a great show for us". He looks forward to talking with rural landowners and farmers again this year.

Thinking about getting livestock or adding to your current stock? Come and "talk turkey" with owners of various types of livestock such as Susan Becker a WSU Extension Livestock Advisor who will be in the Livestock Barn with several of her turkeys to share her knowledge about rare domestic breeds. Susan says, "The Expo is a fun event where I can visit with people about turkeys. It's exciting when I can almost hear them thinking 'if she can do this so can I', and to know I am helping promote turkeyraising".

No need to be "sheepish" around Enumclaw sheep farmer and KC Agriculture Commissioner Gaylia Bullock who will be there with some of her flock. Gaylia feels "As a producer I find the Expo a very beneficial event that provides an excellent way to meet and converse with people who are specifically interested in raising sheep".

Featured speakers are local Northwest Garden expert and enthusiast Marianne Binetti, sustainable farmer extraordinaire Henning Sehmsdorf and WSU's compost guru Andy Bary. There are also concurrent education tracks on insects, weeds, growing berries, livestock health, hay growing, composting and mud management and more.

Additional highlights include:

• A wool spinner's circle, antique tractor display, yaks, turkeys, highland cattle, llamas, alpacas, pigs, sheep, goats and horseshoeing demonstration
• Amazing animal demonstrations of goat harnessing, Argus Ranch dog agility, pony driving, sheep herding, and Dr. Jason Henke, a local horse chiropractor
• 4-H horse, dog, and rabbit shows and 4-H public presentations
• Hands-on Chainsaw Safety workshop. Register to ensure space by calling 206-205-3206
• Delicious concessions provided by New York Catering and Mt. Rainier Espresso

Come and learn new ideas, improve on current practices and celebrate the rural lifestyle.

The event is sponsored by WSU King County Extension, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, From the Heart of Washington, Kiwi Fencing, and King and Pierce Conservation Districts. Reasonable accommodations are available to people with disabilities upon advance request by calling Laurie Clinton, King County Water and Land Resources Division, 206-296-1471 or TTY 800-833-6388.

For more information go to our website at: www.metrokc.gov/wsu-ce/farmexpo or contact Hannah Cavendish-Palmer, 206-205-3206 hacp@wsu.edu