HVADC Continues Local Lamb Lessons Workshop Series

Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation’s (HVADC) “Local Lamb Lessons,” workshop series continues through May, with presentations and field trips exploring all aspects of sheep farming. The six-part Local Lamb Lessons series began in December, covering the topic of “Planning a Successful Sheep Business” and in January featured “Public Sector Programs.”

With a focus on the characteristics and potential of the local market in the Hudson Valley, classroom sessions run Thursday evenings at Columbia Green Community College in Hudson, New York, with site visits as applicable scheduled for the alternative Thursdays of each month. Upcoming sessions are:

• Dairy: February 1, 2018 (classroom), February 15, 2018 (site visit). Presenters will be Nikola Kochendoerfer and Lewis Fox, both of the Department of Animal Science, Cornell University.
• Fiber Processing: March 1, 2018 (classroom), March 15, 2018 (site visit). The presenter will be Mary Jeanne Packer, President, Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill.
• Meat Production: April 5, 2018 (classroom), May 3, 2018 (site visit), with sheep farmer Kathleen Harris.
• Breed Selection: April 19, 2018 (classroom), May 17, 2018 (site visit) presented by Gary Kleppel, Professor of Biology, University at Albany SUNY and Co-Owner, Longfield Farm.

Throughout the program, local business experts, educators, sheep farmers and wool producers are presenting sessions covering breed selection and product development suited to the local land, dairying, wool development and meat market development. The curriculum also features a module on the necessary business expertise to help new sheep farmers master the balancing act of serving all three market segments within their farm management plan.

To accompany the lessons, HVADC will produce a workbook and a set of videos that will be made available on-line for 24 hour access and broad distribution in any ex-urban location where young farmers are serving high-margin, very demanding clientele.

Local Lamb Lessons sessions may be registered for individually. The classroom presentations will be held at Columbia Green Community College in Hudson, New York, and the site visits as coordinating with the classroom sessions will be at various locations in the Hudson Valley. Each class begins at 6:00 pm, and is scheduled to run approximately two hours. The cost per class is $10, and includes materials, refreshments and corresponding field visit if appropriate to the class topic. Veterans are invited to attend Local Lamb sessions at no cost. Registration, class details and additional veterans’ discount details may be found at: https://www.hvadc.org/local-lamb-lessons. HVADC may be reached at 518-432-5360.