Montezuma County Fairgrounds, Cortez, Colorado
2012 Ag Expo Grange
The 2012 Ag Expo Grange Brings Ag Education to a Wide Audience
We in the agriculture community share the common goal of producing foods that nourish and sustain. We can learn from each other to build, expand or improve our programs and advocate for the industry as a whole. In seminars and hands-on workshops, 2012 Ag Expo Grange participants can learn about...a community food system, the genetics of horse coloring...noxious weed control and identification....seed starting basics, vertical veggies for small spaces, edible landscaping, pruning and planting fruit trees, local farm to school and school to farm programs, how to start a profitable dairy goat business, Ag 3.0; from efficiciency to profitability, Farm Servie Agency programs and how conservation easements can help to keep your land in the family.
Whether you make your living from the land, enjoy farming at the hobby level, or have simple curiosity about how and where your food is produced, you will find helpful information at the Ag Expo Grange. Related exhibits will also be found at the CSU Ag Adventure Barn, where regional agriculture is in the spotlight for school children (Thursday and Friday) and visitors of all ages on Saturday and Sunday.
(All events are included in the Ag Expo general admission.)
This Year's Ag Expo Grange Programs are Sponsored by
Sunnyide Meats of Durango, CO:
Ag Summit - Open Forum
The Four States Ag Expo is pleased to welcome Ellen Roberts, Colorado Senator, J. Paul Brown, Colorado State Representative and Chris Whitney, Colorado Brand
Commissioner to discuss current legislative issues that affect us all.
Date: Saturday, March 17th from 10 am - 12 pm in the Sunnyside Meats Tent.
"Keeping it in the Family: How Conservation Easements Can Benefit your Family and Your Land":
Description: As a landowner in Montezuma or Dolores County, there may be significant tax and financial incentives for protecting your land. Join us for a FREE seminar to learn how conservation easements work and how they can help keep your land in the family.
Date: Friday, March 16th from 4:00pm-5:00pm, in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
Presented By: Staff of Montezuma Land Conservancy
Back Country Horseman's "BCH Fest":
The BCH chapters of the Four Corners area are hosting their 4th annual
“BCH Fest” at the Four States Ag Expo
Date: Sunday March 18, from 10:30 – noon in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
Click Here for more Info
Farm Service Agency (FSA):
The Farm Service Agency administers farm commodity, crop insurance, credti, environmental, convervation and emergency assistance programs for farms and ranchers.
Program and Service Highlights:
- Farm Loan Programs
- Disaster Assistance
- Price Support
- Conservation Programs
- Daily Market Prices
- Commodity Procurement
Date: Friday, March 16th from 1 pm - 2 pm & Saturday, March 17th from 1 pm - 2 pm. In the Sunnyside Meats Tent. FSA Web site
4 Corners Regional Food System:
Description: A “community food system” is one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution and consumption are integrated to enhance the environmental, economic, and social and nutritional health of a particular place.
Date: Friday, March 16th from 10 am - 1 pm & Saturday, March 17th from 2 pm - 5 pm. in the Sunnyside Meats Tent. Click Here for Flyer
Horse Color Genetics:
Synopsis: We all do well identifying the blacks, bays, and sorrels. But how do you really tell a dun from a buckskin and what about those spotted horses? In this session you will learn about dilution and white distribution genes and how they act on or modify the basic horse colors. The leopard complex will also be introduced and we'll look at some interesting coat color patterns and combinations. This program will be of interest to all levels of horsemen.
Date: Saturday, March 17th from 12 pm - 1 pm in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
Presented By: Ann Streett-Joslin (Click for Bio)
Montezuma County Weed Program: "Noxious Weed Identification and Methods of Control"
Don Morris, Montezuma County Weed Program Supervisor, will be providing a presentation on noxious weed identification and methods of control. Following the presentation, time will be set aside for question and answers. Identification information will be available to participants at no cost.
Dates: Thursday, March 15th, 2:00 - 3:00 & Sunday March 18th, 12:00-1:00 in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
Vic Vanik, Four Season's Nursery:
"Seed Starting Basics" - Combine Vic's love of gardening with his over 40 years experience in the greenhouse and you've got a winning combination for a seed starting instructor. Join us for this informative class and we'll have your garden growing in no time!
Date: Thursday, March 15th from 11:30 - 1:00 in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
"Small Spaces & Vertical Veggies" - Do you only have a very small space in which to garden? Then go vertical! Many vegetables can be raised in very small spaces. Join us for this class to learn some tips and tricks for using your small space to the max!
Date: Friday, March 16th from 9:00 - 10:00 in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
"Edible Landscaping" - Do you think that there is no value in a plant unless you can eat it? Then this class is for you! Learn how to incorporate edibles into your existing landscape to help provide the food you want and lower your grocery bills.
Date: Sunday, March 18th from 2:00 - 3:00 in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
Live Well Montezuma: "Farm to School, School to Farm and School Gardens, What's Happening in Montezuma County"
(Presented by Livewell Montezuma and Montezuma School to Farm)
Farm to School: Learn what is happening with the Farm to School program in Montezuma county, how producers and food service directors are making connections and putting local food on the menu at school.
School to Farm: See what students are experiencing when they visit local farms and ranches, interact with the producer and learn facts about healthy eating. Find out more about this program.
School Gardens: Mancos and Dolores have successful and innovative garden projects at their schools. Learn about the exciting ways kids are getting engaged in growing food, preparing healthy soil, weather stations and so much more.
Cooking Matters: How learning to cook encourages healthy eating at our local high schools.
Dates: Thursday, March 15th, 1:00 - 2:00 & Sunday, March 18th, 1:00 - 2:00 in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
"Ag 3.0: From Efficiency to Profitability"
(Presented by Matt Mecham,VP Ag & Commercial Relationships,
First National Bank, Cortez)
Agriculture is moving into a new era. The emphasis in this new era will be one of profitability and sustainability through the entire "tractor to table" process. Until recently, many agricultural producers have focused on improving efficiency for only one part of this process. Now, successful farmers and ranchers will need to understand their product, the industry in which they operate, and how other industries directly and indirectly affect their business.
Dates: Thursday, March 15th, 3:00 - 4:00 & Sunday March 18th, 10:00 - 11:00 in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
"Fruit Trees, From Planting to Pruning"
(Presented by Dan Fernandez)
Date: Thursday, March 15th, 10:00 - 11:30 in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
Jan Bradbury: " How to Start a Small, Profitable Dairy/Meat Goat Business"
Learn how to create a profitable goat business, either dairy or meat goats. You can start small, as a hobby and expand to make a profit with as few as 4-5 goats. Produce your own backyard dairy or learn how to share with other families.
Date: Thursday, March 15th, 4:00 - 5:00 in the Sunnyside Meats Tent
History and agriculture meet at the Grange:
The original Grange* movement began after the Civil War to promote ways to rejuvenate war-ravaged agricultural lands and industries. As it evolved, the Grange encouraged interchange among farmers and strengthened agricultural literacy in the general public. The Four States Ag Expo hopes that our Grange programs will follow this tradition by welcoming a community of today's farmers, ranchers, industry participants and consumers, and offering a venue for facing and solving modern agricultural challenges together.
*Read related article: Four States Ag Expo Grange Comes from Honorable Rootstock.