MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — With more than 100 classes to choose from and 64 speakers, the Country Living Expo/Cattlemen’s WinterSchool 2009 will offer something for everyone.
Interested in raising quality beef cattle? There are plenty of classes for you. Want to learn how to make cheese, or prune the fruit trees in your backyard, or make soap, or raise honeybees? There are classes to develop those skills, too. There are even classes on how to select the right tractor and how to buy used farm equipment.
The Country Living Expo will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Stanwood High School, 7400 – 272nd Street N.W. in Stanwood.
According to Joan DeVries, Livestock Advisor Program assistant with Washington State University Skagit County Extension, last year’s Country Living Expo attracted more than 500 participants.
“This is a popular event and it’s not just for small-scale farmers and ranchers, it has got something of interest for anyone interested in learning skills associated with country living, including the urban backyard gardener,” she said.
The expo will open with a keynote address by Grays Harbor native and founder of the Chuckanut Valley Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Greg Ingman.
Pre-registration is $45 per person and includes a continental breakfast, the keynote address, five class sessions from a selection of more than 100 offerings, a smoked prime rib lunch and an all-day trade show.
Thanks to the sponsorship of Northwest Farm Credit Services the first 200 youth to register will attend for free.
Pre-registration must be received by Friday, Jan. 23. Please allow time for mailing. Classes are expected to fill quickly so early registration in encouraged.
Details including the day’s full schedule, a listing and descriptions of classes, registration information and access to online registration is available at http://skagit.wsu.edu/CountryLivingExpo/. If you have questions regarding registration, call 360/428-4270 ext. 0.
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