Family Farm Field Days all about community farming
Family Farm Field Days presents numerous seminars with knowledgeable speakers who can provide insight into ways families can create sustainable farming techniques to keep the farm in the family for generations.
Amish Country continues to be a haven of farming, with acres upon acres of farmland still a big part of the area’s economic stability.
Sharing information, providing insight into how people can best capitalize on growing trends and new technology, and promoting hard work are at the heart of the 19th annual Family Farm Field Days, which will take place July 14-15 at the Paul Nisley Farm.
The mission of the event is to provide an educational format for grass-based agriculture that supports low-energy and nonindustrial farming, encourages family lifestyle on the farm that promotes healthy living, and builds morale and enthusiasm in the farming community.
When it comes to the central focus of the event, it’s all about sustainability on the farm, and there will be plenty of knowledgeable farmers and others on hand to dispense information on ways farmers can get the most out of their land.
The keynote speaker will be local farmer John Mark Weaver, who will share his farming experiences on Friday, July 14 at 6 p.m. John Mark and Lisa Weaver and their four children live on a 109-acre farm near Mt. Hope. The family milks 40 Holsteins with an emphasis on mating and developing cows and cow families to their full potential.
One of the objectives of the FFFD committee is to present keynote speakers who are from the area because sustainable farming exists in the community so heartily that it makes sense to bring in speakers who are local.
There will be plenty of events to watch and speakers from which people can glean information.
The Friday show will feature Weaver, along with a horse-training session by Joe Miller, at 6 p.m. and a farm-safety demonstration at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 15 will kick off early with Miller presenting another horse-training show starting at 8:15 a.m.
There will be three main tents set up for a variety of speakers. In the Farmstead Tent, Aaron Pospil, a veterinarian from Sugarcreek, will present Starting Claves Off Right at 8:30 a.m. At 9:30 a.m. there will be a farming panel discussion on diversified dairying: organic, grass-fed organic and conventional. Also, at that time there will be a produce walk at Morning Glory Acres.
At 10:30 a.m. Melvin Fisher will present Regenerating Soils and Improving Plants, and at 1 p.m. Fisher will host Optimizing Nutrition for Higher Brix, Sweeter Flavor and Longer Shelf Life. There also will be another pasture walk at that time.
At 2. p.m. Farming From Above — A Demonstration of Drones in Agriculture for Cover Crops will be offered by Trevor Berger of the Holmes Soil & Water Conservation District.
In the Homesteader Tent, there will be ongoing cabin-building demonstrations throughout the morning. At 8:30 a.m. Utilizing the Homestead Woodlot will be offered by Joseph Miller. There will be a portable sawmill demo at 9 a.m., followed by a make-your-own charcoal demo at 9:15 a.m.
Owen Hershberger will then present Charcoal Making at 9:45 a.m. Don Christner will provide Chicken Butchering at 10 a.m., with Shepherd presenting Raising Your Own Food at 11 a.m.
At 1 p.m. Making the Family Cow the Center of Your Homestead will showcase the knowledge of Shawn and Beth Daugherty, and the 2 p.m. topic will be a continuation of the food-making by Shepherd.
In the Homemaker Tent, Seed Saving and Garden Q-and-A will feature Henry Erb, Jr. at 8:30 a.m. The 9:30 a.m. topic is Healthy Choices for Mother and Baby with Lauren Mix and Linda Elder.
At 10:30 a.m. Home Remedies by Roy Raber will round out the morning shows. At 1 p.m. there will be an herb walk by Roy Raber along with Sharing Homemaking Tips from local homemakers. Alma, Matt and Rebecca Kaufman will wrap up the events under that tent at 2 p.m. with Healthy Cooking.
There also will be a Natural Resource Tent that will feature Chainsaws and Big Bucks by David Hershberger at 8:30 a.m., followed by a 9:30 a.m. topic titled Understanding Eclipses by Daniel Hershberger. At 10:30 a.m. Surprised by Nature, Again and Again will be presented by David Kline, and at 1 p.m. Backyard Mushroom Cultivation by Lewis Wengerd of Forest Fungi will be offered. At 2 p.m. The Wonders of Migration will end that tent’s featured speakers, with Paul Hershberger providing insight.
Outside sessions will include a bird and nature walk at 8:15 a.m., a nature walk spearheaded by John Lorson and Marcus Yoder at 9 a.m., a timber walk by David Hershberger and the Hochstetler Tree Farm at 9:30 a.m., Trapping and Luring Basics by Smokey at 10:30 a.m., and after lunch at 1 p.m. there will be another timber walk, with a butterfly walk hosted by Leroy Yoder and Nathan Mast at 2 p.m. Smokey will present a second show at 2 p.m. while there will be ongoing horse-training shows by Miller throughout the day.
There also will be a Beekeeping Tent featuring New Beekeeper by Joe Yoder at 8:30 a.m., Soil and Field Coordination by Aaron Weaver at 9:30 a.m., Pollinating by Jerry Hayes and Barb Bloetscher at 10:30 a.m., an event by Dwight Wells titled Mites and Pets at 1 p.m., and a Wells’ presentation of Feral Bees, Local Swarms at 2 p.m.
In addition, there was the lineup of close to 100 vendors, under four large tents. The vendors will feature anything and everything farm related and more.
With the lineup of speakers, the vendors market and plenty of food, Family Farm Field Days presents an opportunity for people to gain insight into the world of building a better, sustainable farm designed to last for generations.
The Paul Nisley Farm is located at 2189 County Road 600, south of Charm. There is no reservation needed nor any cost to attend the event. Food stands will be run by area parochial school’s special education parents, and there will be freewill containers available for those who wish to help support the ongoing mission. There also will be planned children’s activities throughout the event including hands-on activities.