Schedule of Events

9 a.m. to
8 p.m.

Play FARMO, our Bingo-style game, to learn about farming and forestry while meeting our exhibitors. Fun prizes and all ages are welcome to play! Coordinated by NH Agriculture in the Classroom.

Location: Booth #100

Visit our friends from Candia’s Jesse Remington High School in Booth #514 as they build baseball dugouts for a local athletic association.

Location: Booth #514

9 a.m.

9AM

Working to Save New Hampshire’s Old Barns
Beverly Thomas, NH Preservation Alliance
Is your old barn looking a bit shabby? Need some help and advice on its preservation? Join in on a panel discussion with barn owners chosen for the NH Preservation Alliance’s 52 Barns in 52 Weeks initiative. Learn what tools and resources these barn owners are using to help carry their barns well into the 21st century. Do-it-yourself maintenance and repair tips, lessons learned and tax incentives will all be a part of the discussion. Whether you are a seasoned barn owner or a newbie, this session will have something for everyone.

Members of the NH Historic Agricultural Structures Advisory Committee will be present to answer questions about barn resources in NH.
Stark

Seed Starting & Propagation
Ron Trexler, UNH Cooperative Extension
This presentation will discuss the benefits and best practices for starting plants from seed and cuttings. The presenter will discuss seed harvesting, germination requirements, growing methods, growing mediums, common problems, and hardening off and transplanting seedlings.
Dartmouth

Rolling Out the Toolkit for Local Regulation of Agriculture
Theresa Walker, Durham Agriculture Commission
As we all know, conflicts surrounding farms are on the rise, be it neighbors challenging farmers, farmers engaging in activities that stretch or exceed what constitutes agriculture, or entrenched attitudes about property rights. We have created a Toolkit for farmers and municipal decision-makers to guide development of local farm friendly regulatory environments in which agricultural enterprises can operate successfully.

The Toolkit: (1) identifies and provides a flow chart of state laws governing farming and agricultural activities; (2) provides a checklist for assessing the farm friendliness of local regulations and policies; (3) discusses the relationship between state laws and town laws; and (4) contains resources for assistance for farmers and municipalities to address conflicts and pro-actively develop farm-friendly regulatory environments. Join us to learn all about it and get a copy of the Toolkit.
Pierce

Forest Stewardship Committee Annual Meeting
Karen Bennett, UNH Cooperative Extension
Forestry organizations meet to review forest stewardship education and outreach in New Hampshire.
Webster

9 a.m. –

12 p.m.

Join us for a showing of the film, The Last Crop a documentary that explores the lives of small family farmers Jeff and Annie Main of California’s Central Valley. This couple started a farm in the 1970’s and grew it into a successful diversified produce farm. They also were organizers of a long running local farmers’ market. This is the story of a hardworking family and their quest to ensure that their farm continues after they retire. It is a peek into the lives of small farms across the country and how the future of agriculture will be shaped.

Following the film, a panel of local farmers and members of the land conservation community will share their perspectives  and experiences regarding the film and farm planning. Opportunity for audience questions and discussion. The program is free to attend.

Frost/Hawthorne

11 a.m 

Join Manchester’s finest – the Mounted Patrol of the Manchester (NH) Police Department!
The officers and these beautiful horses joined us in 2017 and we are thrilled they will be back in 2018!

Another Expo favorite returns to say hello at 11 a.m. for an hour! Come see Max of the Manchester Monarchs!  Why not make a day of it? Come to the Expo at 11, see Max, walk the Expo, explore Manchester, and finish your day with the Manchester Monarchs hockey game at 7 p.m. at the SNHU Arena?

11:30 a.m.

11:30AM

Utilizing Your Forest Land
Steve Gaines, NH Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA)
Do you own forestland and are unsure what your management options might be?  NHTOA will host an informative workshop focusing on what a landowner might include in a forest management plan, how a forester may be of service in meeting management objectives, and how your property can benefit from active forest management.
Dartmouth

Farm Accounting and Taxes
Mary Welles, Farm Credit East ACA
Your farm is up and running. Now it’s time to file your tax return. Where do you start? This session will focus on best practices for tracking your farm income and expenses for both compliance (taxes, payroll) and management purposes. We will address common misconceptions regarding expenses and how to report different types of income. The session will include an overview of the most frequently required tax forms. Beginner farmers and as well as experienced farmers looking to fine tune their accounting practices will benefit. This session will be instructor led with group discussion encouraged.
Pierce

Building and Sustaining Effective Collaborations for New Hampshire’s Farmers’ Markets
Sue Cagle and Sharon Cowen, UNH Cooperative Extension
NH’s Farmers Markets are growing in size and sales, so what’s next?  Collaboration across many sectors of the community is essential for long term, community level successful farmers’ markets. However, building effective partnerships is a significant challenge that takes conscious effort and design. This session will focus on tools and strategies to help you identify partners not currently at the table and build collaborations that are both effective and sustainable. This workshop will be interactive and focused on applying tools to real world challenges, and participants will have the opportunity to share specific examples happening in their farmers’ markets.
Stark

2 p.m.

2PM

Exploring a Women’s Agriculture Network in New Hampshire
Kelly McAdam, UNH Cooperative Extension
To support women in agriculture in New Hampshire, Cooperative Extension is exploring the development of a women’s agriculture network. While other Northeast states have successfully implemented these programs, New Hampshire has increased education offerings for farm women in New Hampshire over the past several years. A network can be many things, with education as a centerpiece. Join in on the conversation to give your input on the need for a women’s agriculture network here in New Hampshire, and help shape what that could look like. This session will be a facilitated discussion to help frame the need for the network and potential next steps, as well as to illustrate the need to pursue funding for the network.
Pierce

Pollinators to the Garden
Ruth Droescher, UNH Cooperative Extension
This presentation will discuss ways to attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden, including the best types of plants to attract different pollinators and how to provide habitat that encourages pollinators near your garden.
Webster

Food Safety for the Gardener
Ann Hamilton, UNH Cooperative Extension
This presentation will discuss important food safety practices for the home gardener.  We will cover the basics of handling food safely from gardening to preserving. The workshop will also touch upon the basic process of food preservation using boiling water and pressure canners.
Stark

Building on a Solid Past for Expanding Future with New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station Research
Anita Klein, NH Agricultural Experiment
Familiar and new faces from the NH Agricultural Experiment Station will present brief research talks followed by question and answer opportunities.  This year’s presentations include: 1) favorable impacts on calves of niacin prepartum supplementation to dams 2) New England’s role in the global battle against wheat stem rust 3) new findings on soil carbon balance 4) evaluating plant performance related to wood fiber substrates and nitrogen drawdown in the Greenhouse 5) season extension with day neutral strawberry through the multi-institutional TunnelBerry project and 6) ongoing experiments to recycle nutrients within paired fish and vegetable production (aquaponics).

For the Forest industry, learn more about: 1) ecological effects and control options for Glossy Buckthorn 2) current research on New England Cottontails 3) human impacts on bobcats and 4) how using unmanned aerial vehicles improves the accuracy of remote mapping of NH forestry resources.
Frost/Hawthorne

Location: Booth #100

Visit Candia’s Jesse Remington High School as they build baseball dugouts for a local athletic association.

Location: Booth #514

Are you a fan of Animal Planet’s North Woods Law?  Come say hello to Officer Ron Arsenault from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the NH Fish & Game booth!

Location: Booth # 113

9AM

Wool?  Adventure in Processing for Profit
Lindsey and Susan Rice, Bartlettyarns, Inc.
Processing your wool for a return on your investment has many options,
not just selling it at the wool pool! From selecting hand spinning fleeces, individual fleece to whole lot processing, join Lindsey and Susan Rice, owners of Bartlettyarns, who will navigate the process from scouring to finished product. See how this 197-year-old business has helped shape the wool processing industry from small to large flocks. They will talk about receiving a National Grant from NSCII and how the benefits of a scouring plant could help you. In addition, they have an Emmy award winning segment done by MPB along with a presentation on selecting hand spinning fleeces.
Dartmouth

Building a Successful Market Gardens
Christine St. Clair, Small and Beginner Farmers of New Hampshire (SBFNH)
The Small and Beginner Farmers of New Hampshire (SBFNH) will be working with several agricultural organizations to offer specialized trainings and technical support for specialty crop producers to build sustainable, successful farms and market gardens. The project will include in-depth workshops and farmers will be able to work with a professional farm consultant focusing on goal setting, financial management, marketing development. Workshops will focus on record keeping, enterprise analysis, wholesale success, direct marketing, LEAN Systems, growing specialty crops, cultural practices, IPM systems, irrigation, soils, season extension, harvest & post-harvest, food safety, FSMA, GAP and organic certifications. 

Attend our workshop to learn more information about this project and how you can attend.
Frost/Hawthorne

Look-No Soil!
Michelle Bersaw-Robblee, UNH Cooperative Extension
Hydroponic growing systems are becoming a popular way to grow plants year round without using soil. In this hands-on workshop participants will learn the basics behind hydroponic growing systems and build one to take home.  This activity can be done at home or in a classroom.
Webster

NH Harvest of the Month
Stacey Purslow, NH Farm to School, The Sustainability Institute, UNH
New Hampshire Harvest of the Month is a program run by New Hampshire Farm to School in the Granite State. Our goal is to promote seasonal eating, encourage healthy diets and support the local economy. Our calendar is based on the seasonality of crops in our state and region. Harvest of the Month is a farm-to-school campaign that provides ready to go materials for the classroom, cafeteria, and community that promotes the use of local, seasonal foods.

In this workshop we will explore the program, try out some of the classroom activities, sample some of the recipes, and test your vegetable knowledge with a chance to win a set of Harvest of the Month posters.

Pierce

New Hampshire Vegetable & Fruit Meeting
Pemigewasset

11:30AM

Chainsaw Operation & Maintenance
AJ Dupere, NH Division of Forests and Lands
Topics will include safety considerations, felling, bucking and routine maintenance.
Pierce

Introduction to Permaculture for the Home Gardener
Roz Mason, UNH Cooperative Extension
Discuss the founding ethics and principles, basic design tools and how to implement.
Webster

2PM

Grazing Basics and Beyond
Elaina Enzien and Daimon Meeh, Board Members, Granite State Graziers
Are you interested in rotational grazing, or maybe have some questions on how to implement or move forward with your system? Maybe you’re not even sure where to start…

Join The Granite State Graziers for a panel discussion on the ins and outs of rotational grazing in New Hampshire. We will talk about the basics of getting started, the benefits of grazing, overcoming challenges, tools for grazing management, and much more. The Granite State Graziers exist to support New Hampshire residents who raise animals on pasture and seek to implement pasture management systems, so don’t be shy and join in for some great discussion, sharing, and learning.

Pierce

Edible Landscapes – For Health, Habitat, Families and the Future
John Forti, Bedrock Gardens
An illustrated lecture to help you explore how to eat locally and enjoy the fruits of your own labors. This talk delves into planting edible gardens and landscapes that offer healthy alternatives to our lawns and hedges. Whether learning to explore our own back yards or the newest landscape style of the 21st century, this talk offers meaningful ways to engage ourselves, our kids and our community in cultivating a sense of place from seed to table.  Our speaker John Fortihttp://www.jforti.com is the executive director of Bedrock Gardenshttp://www.bedrockgardens.org, and founder of Slow Food Seacoast http://www.slowfoodseacoast.com.
Webster

An Introduction to Invasive Plant Management for Small Woodlot Owners
Ethan Belair, UNH Cooperative Extension
Landowners in New Hampshire are facing issues with invasive plant species more often than ever before. Invasive species can impact the ability of landowners to hike, hunt, or harvest timber on their properties, and populations of these non-native plants can increase quickly if left untreated. There are, however, options available for all types of landowners to manage their properties and combat invasive species. These management techniques can be used to foster recreational opportunities (think hiking, birdwatching or hunting), resource production (timber, firewood), wildlife habitat and general aesthetics.

In this seminar designed for small woodlot owners (2-50 acres), we will discuss:

• What makes a plant invasive?

• What effects do invasive species have on New Hampshire’s forests?

• What management options are available for landowners dealing with invasive species?

• How can landowners access cost-share programs for invasive species management?

Stark