Participants will learn how to slaughter and process broiler chickens by hand in small batches on the farm. Participants will also see and discuss mobile chicken coup options
Teachers:
Doug Havemann, Army Veteran, Co – Owner, Mesquite Field Farm
Kevin Ellis, NCAT, Poultry Specialist
Skills Taught:
- How to harvest chicken
- How to process chicken
- Farm tool safety
- Perform post harvest handling
- Food safety and sanitation
- Post harvest packaging
- Federal and State regulation requirements for small farm processing
- Discuss and see mobile chicken coups.
What is Bio-Char? Come learn about bio-char and build a “J” shape rocket stove to make bio-char.
Join us as we talk about this 2,000 year-old practice converts agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that can hold carbon, boost food security, and increase soil biodiversity, and discourage deforestation. The process creates a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal that helps soils retain nutrients and water.
Participants will learn the importance of Bio char and why is it good for soil health and crops. They will also learn how to build a J shaped rocket stove out of standard farm equipment.
Skills Taught:
- Understanding the basics of soil health
- Organic matter management
- Understanding Culture needs of crops
- Designing bio diverse systems
- Determining moisture needs
- Fabricate tools & equipment
- Build soil health & productivity
Register HERE
Join Mesquite Field Farm for a tour of a USDA beef processing facility and learn about beef labelling and requirements.
Skills Taught:
- USDA Processing Facility Tour
- Product label requirements and development
- Developing a cut list
- Beef cattle processing requirements
- Developing relationships with your processor
- Product labels and marketing
It is always difficult for new livestock producers to understand all of the moving parts required to move their livestock from farm to table. This class provides a site visit to a USDA certified processing facility, cut list development, and labeling requirements for TDA and USDA.
Skills Taught:
- USDA Processing Facility Tour: How beef is processed
- Product label requirements and development
- How to develop a cut list for processing
- How to use customer input and marketing data to develop cut lists
- Beef cattle processing requirements
- How to develop relationships between you and your processor
- Product labels and marketing
Instructors:
- Doug Havemann, Army Veteran, Co – Owner, Mesquite Field Farm
- Melissa Havemann, Co-Owner, Mesquite Field Farm
Registration link coming soon. Contact Doug Havemann for details.