amily Farm Field Day promotes self sufficiency and sustainability
By Kyle Valentini
July 18, 2011
265
Summary: The 7th. Annual Family Farm Field day was held July 15-16 at the Hershbergers Schontal Farm near Barrs Mills. Thousands attended to enjoy vendors, demonstrations, workshops and delicious food. The annual event is coordinated each year by the Small Farm Institute to promote sustainability and self sufficiency in grass based agriculture.
Schontal Farm at Sugarcreek is home to Henry and Susie Hershberger. A grass based organic dairy, the Hershbergers milk fifty cows and also have a Gerber chicken house.
On July 15-16, the Hershbergers opened their farm to host the 7th annual Family Farm Field Day, a two day long event organized by the Small Farm Institute.
Small Farm Institute (SFI) is a nonprofit organization committed to the development, promotion and support of Ohios small family farm agricultural and forestry ventures within the Appalachian region of Ohio. SFI works to nurture new farm endeavors as well as help existing farmers explore different production, marketing and restructuring options.
The SFI office is located at the Northern Appalachian Experimental Watershed Station near Coshocton.
The mission of the event is to provide an educational format for grass based agriculture that supports low energy and non-industrial farming, encourages family lifestyles that promote cohesive, economical and healthy rural living skills and seeks to build morale and enthusiasm in the farming community.
Thousands attended the well organized event held on the 118 acre farm near Barrs Mills.
Jack Lazor from Butterworks Farm in Vermont was the keynote speaker. Lazor and his wife Anne operate their 175 acre farm and have purposely kept it small. All their cows are born on the farm and herbicides, pesticides or toxic chemicals are never used on the various grasses and clovers the cows eat as they graze. In addition, no antibiotics or hormones are used on the cows, in keeping with the Lazors philosophy on farming and food.
My father had gardens when I was a kid but I never imagined Id be a farmer. My father was a research chemist for Monsanto, said Lazor. That is proof that anything is possible when a kid with Monsanto in his blood can grow up to be an organic dairy farmer.
Lazor shared his farming methods to a captive audience in the keynote tent.
The days events included pasture and timber walks where visitors could learn about flowers, dragonflies and butterflies. Various workshops throughout the day included the history of grazing by David Zautman, composting, apple butter making, horse training, trapping, and the basics for pasture based poultry, solar battery water pumping, butchering beef, backyard berry basics, preserving foods and more.
Panel discussions were held on the applications and facts of solar, wind and battery powered systems, growing lambs to market, home orchards and marketing timber.
Vendors shared products and information in the various tents set up on the farm. Everything from nutritional products, homemade soaps, books, hunting supplies, chicken coops, greenhouses, books, herbs, produce, alternative energy supplies and much more were displayed for visitors to see, purchase, or ask questions.
Mary Reiman, Clinical Research Coordinator with Shriners Hospitals at Cincinnati was on hand demonstrating a new burn prevention teaching tool developed with the support of the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation. The magnetic storyboard was developed by Reiman, a local teacher, bishop and natural healer so that it would be acceptable to the religious community and to parents. The storyboards are available at no cost to Amish teachers that express interest.
Amish children are often at a higher risk for burn injuries, said Reiman. We developed this tool to help teachers explain burn prevention to their students.
Various food stands were sponsored by the parochial schools special education parents. With no set prices, donations were accepted and help to fund the special education programs.
Lloyd Miller, a planning committee member said, It takes an enormous team effort to do this event. We really want to promote self sufficiency and sustainability. It is unbelievable how few people in our society understand the importance of this.
The event was free to the public. The Hershbergers will open their farm again next year for the 2012 Family Farm Field Day on July 12.
For more information about this event or the Small Farm Institute call 740-545-6349 or visit them on the web.
