Monthly Archives: September 2014

Family Friendly Fall Agriculture

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Central & Southside Virginia is a great place to be this fall for family friendly agriculture events! Check out what is still going on around the area:

Owen Farm Tours

Owen Farm will be open on November 8th from 10:00am to 4:00pm with hayrides, pony rides, bounce house, barnyard friends, lots of fun games, scarecrow stuffing, pumpkin rolling, pumpkin painting and much more.  http://www.owenfarmtours.com/

White Fall Farm

Don’t miss the famous hay castle at White Hall Farm!
www.whitefallfarm.com

Gross’ Orchard Apple Harvest Festival

October 18, 2014 is the annual Apple Harvest Festical at Gross’ Orchard in Bedford County. For more information as well as regular hours, check out their website at http://www.grossorchards.com/ or their Facebook page.

Layman Family Farms

Take a trip on over to Bedford County’s town of Blue Ridge, to check out the corn maze, pumpkin patch, haunted harvest and country store at Layman Family Farms. Runs September 13 – November 9, hours vary from month to month, so check out the website for more information: http://www.laymanfamilyfarms.com/.

Previous Family Friendly Fall Ag Events This Year Included:

Family & Farm Day

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THIS SATURDAY, September 13th from 9:00am – 2:00pm at the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Blackstone, VA. (Come check out the Arts & Crafts Festival in town too!) Lots of crafts, animals, and fun activities for youth! For more information about the Southern Piedmont AREC, visit their website. For pictures from last year, check out their Facebook page.

Richlands Dairy
Fall Farm Festival

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Many of you may already be familiar with Richlands Dairy on 460 on the Nottoway – Dinwiddie line from childhood field trips to the dairy. Well, Richlands is branching out to share their farm with you this Fall. They have many different Saturday & Sunday hours and events from October 4 through November 1. Check out the family farm day, pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayrides, animals, zombie maze, and haunted corn maze dates and times! For more information, click on the flyer or visit their website at richlandsdairyfarm.webs.com/ 

Parrish Pumpkin Patch

Welcome to Dundas! Gem of the sandy loams of southeast Lunenburg County, Dundas is home to several local mainstays. Ranking up there with sheep stew, the tank, and Willowland Farm strawberries – Parrish Pumpkin Patch has grown as an attraction for families and school groups alike. Check out their Facebook page for more details! Opening Wednesday, October 1st.

South Hill Farmer’s Day

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October 4th, come visit South Hill for a blast from the past with the antique tractor parade, a petting zoo, and fun and games for the family. Visit the chamber of commerce website for more details.

Ravenelle Corn Maze

Welcome to Forest and try your hand at the Ravenelle Corn Maze, about 15 miles outside of the town of Bedford in Bedford County. Open Saturdays and Sundays September 27th through October 26th. For more information, check out http://visitbedford.com/event/the-ravenelle-corn-maze/.

Morgan Farms

Welcome to Huddleston! Come pick out a pumpkin or test your maze skills at Morgan Farms Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze in Bedford County. Open September 15- October 31, 7 days a week from 10:00am – 5:00pm. For more information visit: http://visitbedford.com/event/morgan-farms-pumpkin-patch-and-corn-maze/

USDA Disaster Programs

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Several questions have emerged recently regarding USDA disaster programs as producers have been faced with unfortunate on-farm losses. Take a moment to check out this pamphlet explaining the different programs  available from the different USDA agencies, including the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Rural Development (RD), and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

If you have further questions, please contact your local USDA center. These are often shared by multiple counties and may not be located in your home county. To locate your center, check out this website or call your local extension agent.

*Click on pamphlet for full .pdf file.

 

USDA Disaster Program Information

 

Forestry & Wildlife Updates

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Here are a few things going on with forestry and wildlife in the area. Check ’em out!

 

WORKSHOPS & TOURS

38th Annual Fall Forestry & Wildlife Tours
Sept. 29-30   –    Chesapeake Bay Bus & Boat Tour
Oct. 10   –   Halifax County
Oct. 30   –   Grayson & Carroll Counties
*Click the flyer for full .pdf pamphlet 

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Waynesboro Tree Care Workshop
This Friday, September 12, 2014
Best Western Inn & Conference Center
104 Apple Tree Lane
Waynesboro, VA
Cost: $100

Backyard Wood Workshops
**Two locations, each is a two day workshop (note: dates are non-consecutive)
September 22 & 29 from 6:00pm – 8:30pm in Warrenton, VA.
September 25 & October 2 from 6:00pm – 8:30pm in Manassas, VA.
Cost: $20, includes manual and CD

Make It Yourself Charcoal Demonstration
October 6, 2014 from 8:00am – 12noon
Madison County Farmers’ Market

1st Annual Trapping Workshop
Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
October 11, 2014 from 10:00am – 5:00pm
Meherrin Volunteer Fire Deparment
64 Moore’s Ordinary Road
Meherrin, VA
*Must register, no walk-ins

Agroforestry Workshop
November 8, 2014
Lord Fairfax Community College
Warrenton, VA
Cost: $15, includes lunch

 

OTHER EVENTS & INFORMATION

Fall 2014 Webinar Series: Non-Timber Forest Products
*Click on flyer to enlarge and use links for registration.

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Virginia Department of Forestry Acorn & Seed Collection
Looking to get involved? The VDOF is seeking your help in collecting seeds and acorns of many tree species across the state. Check out this press release for details!

 

This is just the tip of the iceberg, to check out more events visit the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program page or join their listserv for a monthly update!

Family and Farm Day!!!

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It’s that time again… time for the annual Family & Farm Day at the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Blackstone, VA! Bring the kids out for fun and farm on Saturday, September 13 from 9:00am – 2:00pm for games, crafts, animals, and more!

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Family & Farm Day.pdf