Workshop series to feature ‘A Year in the Life of Pork Producer’

MILFORD, NEBRASKA – Military veterans interested in agriculture are invited to attend a series of workshops intended to navigate a year in the life of a veteran local farmer.

Hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs, “A Year in the Life of a Pork Producer” will run from Feb. 7, to Oct. 1. The workshops will rotate between online classroom sessions and on-farm sessions with an online option.

“In our classroom sessions, participants will hear from experts and learn business and financial skills and resources applicable to any type of agricultural operation,” said Kirstin Bailey, senior project associate for the Center. “In the on-farm sessions, an experienced farmer will go through the ins and outs of pork production and demonstrate knowledge of a particular enterprise on his farm. We will also take videos of on-farm sessions and post them online for our out of state participants, and those who cannot attend.”

Each month, topics covered will range from obtaining the proper equipment and maintaining adequate facilities to setting up grazing systems to working with a butcher

This year’s focus farmer, who will help lead these sessions and where in-person sessions will be taking place, is a pork producer specializing in KuneKune pigs, which hail from New Zealand. Farmers/leaders with experience in various types of agriculture, such as poultry, pork, beef, and beekeeping, will also be available to help participants throughout the course’s online platform.

For more information or to register, contact Bailey at 402.870.2390 or kirstinb@cfra.org.

Find a full, detailed schedule at cfra.org/events.

Programming is funded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Center for Rural Affairs is an equal opportunity provider and employer. NIFA USDA fund Award #2020-77028-32890.

The Center recommends that all participants wear face masks at indoor events.

# # #