BURLINGTON, Wash. – The 2011 Country Living Expo & Cattlemen’s Winterschool will offer something for everyone with more than 150 class offerings to choose from, nearly a third of them new offerings.
Classes will cover a broad range of topics from how to raise backyard chickens, naturally dye wool and fabric, and prune fruit trees, to learning about having your own family milk cow. Other popular classes will cover raising a variety of livestock including beef, swine, sheep, horse, goats, poultry and alpacas, developing and marketing your small business, growing tomatoes, making cider, preserving food and many more educational classes on rural living.
The 2011 Country Living Expo & Cattlemen’s Winterschool will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29, from 7:30 am to 5 pm, at Stanwood High School, 7400 272nd Street N.W. in Stanwood.
According to Joan DeVries, Livestock Advisor Program Coordinator with Washington State University Skagit County Extension, last year’s Country Living Expo attracted more than 1,000 participants.
“This is a very 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. “Given the popularity of the event, we encourage people to register early.”
Early registration is available until Dec. 31. The cost is $55 per person and includes a selection of five class sessions from the more than 150 offerings, a smoked prime rib lunch and an all-day trade show with over 70 vendors. After Dec. 31 the cost will be $60 per person.
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Northwest Farm Credit Services, Snohomish County Farm Bureau, Sno/Skagit Cattlemen’s Association and others, at least the first 150 youth will receive a reduced registration rate of $10
Details, including the day’s full schedule, a listing and description of classes, registration information and access to online registration are available at http://skagit.wsu.edu/CountryLivingExpo/.
Events sponsors, small farm vendors and non-profits are welcome to part of the trade show. For more information contact Program Coordinator, Joan DeVries 428-4270, ext. 240.