FARM TOMORROW

HAND ON HORSES- THIS FOCUS OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO MAKE THE KNOWLEDGE OF WORKING HORSES A SKILL THAT IS MORE WIDELY USED AND APPRECIATED. THIS INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE SKILLS NEEDED TO CARE FOR, HANDLE, HARNESS AND DRIVE THE HORSES, BUT ALSO THE MECHANICAL SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT APPROPRIATE FOR HORSES; BOTH HOW THE EQUIPMENT FUNCTIONS TO UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHY TO IS USED AND ALSO HOW TO REPAIR IT. THERE ARE SEVERAL TIERS TO THIS PROGRAM. THE FIRST IS WIDENING THE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION OF DRAFT HORSE USE. MANY PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT DRAFT HORSES ARE A VIABLE CHOICE IN AGRICULTURE TODAY. WE TRY TO RAISE THIS AWARENESS BY DOING DEMONSTRATIONS ON PUBLIC SETTINGS TO SHOW THE NATURE OF THE WORK AND THE APPLICATIONS OF DRAFT POWER. THE NEXT LEVEL IS INTRODUCING PEOPLE TO HORSES AND DRIVING. WE ALLOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO TRY OUT THE IDEA OF DRAFT POWER, TO INTRODUCE THEM TO HORSES AND THE CARE BEFORE THEY COMMIT OR DISMISS THE IDEA OF DRAFT HORSES. IT GIVES SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN THE IDEA OF DRAFT POWER A CHANCE TO TRY IT BEFORE BUYING HORSES. THE FINAL LEVEL IS A MORE INTENSE TRAINING OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO LEARNING THE CRAFT OF BEING A TEAMSTER. THESE CLINICS ARE MORE FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC SKILLS OR PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.

FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS- THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A FARMING AND AGRICULTURE CONNECTION FOR THE LOCAL SCHOOLS AT THE ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVELS. BY WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS AND THEIR CURRICULUM WE CAN PROVIDE A PLACE FOR THE STUDENTS TO LEARN THEIR LESSONS IN A HANDS ON WAY. WE HAVE HOSTED CLASSES TO LEARN ABOUT MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION, EIGHTEENTH CENTURY FARMING, FOOD PRODUCTION, ORGANIC FARMING AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF AGRICULTURE