By Nathan Winter, University of Minnesota Extension

“Living on the Land…. An EXPO for Rural Property Owners” will be Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Scott County Fairgrounds in Jordan. The Expo will include seminars on issues related to living on small acreage including livestock, crop production, crop season extension and zoning rules. This event is a must-see for rural property owners that want to learn more about managing their acreage and for those looking to utilize their land and resources.

There will be vendors showcasing products, programs, and equipment designed for acreage owners. A special feature will be the “Aisle of Breeds” featuring livestock suited for small farms and acreage.
The Expo is organized by the University of Minnesota Extension and will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with seminars starting at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 4:00 p.m. Vendors will be available throughout the day. Concessions will be provided all day by local 4-H clubs.

Some of the educational workshops include Water Quality, Soils 101, Pastures, Lawn and Tree Care, Hay Testing, Weights and Measures Without a Scale, Cheesemaking, Purchasing Used Farm Equipment, Starting a Veggie Garden, Beekeeping, Transplanting Trees, Starting a Poultry Flock, Parade of Species and Breeds, Milk Goats, Chicken Coop Design and Construction, Constructing a Compost Bin, Stock Dog Demos, Farming with Horses, and much more.

Admission to the Expo is $10 per person or $20 per family, children 12 and under are free.
Check out the University of Minnesota Extension’s Small Farm Web site www.extension.umn.edu/smallfarms [1], for information on attending, as well as becoming a sponsor or vendor.

Questions on attending the Expo as well as vendor or sponsor interest can be directed to Tana Haugen-Brown at the Sherburne County Extension Office at (763) 241-2720 or thbrown@umn.edu [3].

(Nathan Winter is an agricultural productions systems educator — McLeod and Meeker counties with University of Minnesota Extension.)