Contact Information: Dale Hodges, Advisor California R-1 High School 1501 West Buchanan, California, MO 65018 Office phone - (573)796-8624 Cell - (573)533-1576
The Adult Agriculture Education program and the Young Farmers organization involve adults in educational and leadership activities at the local, district, state and national levels. Membership in the organizations is open to persons of any age. Each Young Farmer chapter is tied in with its local adult Ag education program. The adult ag ed teacher serves as an adviser to the chapter, but the extent of the activities are completely up to the members of the chapter. Activities can include things such as educational classes, factory tours, fundraisers, social events, agricultural promotion, and much more. Many of the Chapters have recently changed their name to "Ag Leaders" instead of "Young Farmers" to help promote the fact that you do not have to be a farmer to be a member of this organization, there are activities that people from all walks of life can take advantage of.
2022/2023 Schedule of Meetings Meetings are held in the High School Horticulture classroom and start at 7:00 PM
. September 1 - Planning Meeting for 2023 for MO Young Farmers Summer Tour California will be the host of the 2023 Missouri Young Farmers Summer Tour. I would like to have a large attendance to our first planning/organizational meeting for the tour . We will discuss the dates for the tour and form committees for the various jobs that will need to be done. There's an old saying, “many hands make light work.” The idea that a grand task is made easier by many hands shouldering the same burden. Please plan to attend so that we may put on a good tour here in 2023. Meal at 7:00 with meeting to follow
October 6 - 2023 Summer Tour Planning Meeting Bring ideas for tour stops and a theme or slogan for the tour. November 3 - Planning Meeting for 2023 for MO Young Farmers Summer Tour
November 10 - What Insurance Do I Need On The Farm? Jerrod Leathers with Leathers Insurance Agency in California will address different types of insurance that farm and rural residents should carry.
November 17 - Solar Power, Is It Feasible ? - Tom Hulse, CoMo With the rising popularity in alternate energy a lot of solar panels have appeared around the country. Tom Hulse will tell us some things to consider when thinking about installing a solar system and if solar energy installation is feasible here in Missouri. December 1 - No Meeting This Week - National Young Farmers Institute
December 8 - Planning Meeting for 2023 for MO Young Farmers Summer Tour
December 15 -Agriculture Dept. Meat Science Lab Tour and Demonstration The Agriculture Department has acquired a fully equipped meat processing and food science lab that we will use to process a hog carcass and demonstrate methods that the carcass can be processed. We will also discuss packaging, curing, canning and dehydrating meat. January 5 - 2023 Summer Tour Planning Meeting
January 12 - 2023 Summer Tour Planning Meeting
January 19 - 2023 Summer Tour Planning Meeting
January 26 - "Pasture and Range Improvement”- David Moore, Pasture & Range Specialist, MFA Do you have problem weeds in your pastures? What can you spray and not kill clover? What is the best practices to get the most from your pasture? David will answer these and any other questions you may have on improving your pastures.
February 2 - Tour Planning
February 9 - Doug Selby & Corey Lieberman - Horse Retirement Farms Doug and Brenda Selby board retired horses, offer RV campsites and even a large treehouse that you can camp on. Cory and his wife, Alison own and operates Little Tree Horse Retirement which is a specialized equine retirement facility that provides a comfortable environment for over 100 retired horses. Selby Horse Retirement Farm and Little Tree Horse will be another stop on the 2023 Missouri Young Farmers Tour.
February 16 - "Beginning Farmer Loans & Other Loan Programs" - Jessica Groose, FSA Jessica will explain the different loan programs available through the Farm Service Agency. February 23 - 2023 Summer Tour Planning Meeting March 2 - Liz Graznak, Happy Hollow Farm Liz is entering her 11th year of certified organic production and has expanded to nearly 9 acres of veggies, fruit, eggs & flowers that she sells thru the CSA, at the Columbia Farmers Market and to a number of local restaurants and grocery stores. Happy Hollow Farm is nestled among the rolling hills along the Missouri River and welcomes all who are interested in supporting local sustainable agriculture to become a CSA member. Each member receives a box of seasonal produce every week during the 32 week growing season. This farm will be one of the stops on the 2023 Missouri Young Farmers Tour in July.
March 9 -"Greenhouse Planting" 6:00 - 8:00 PM If you would like to get a head start on gardening, come out and plant some seed in the greenhouse to get started growing. A variety of flower and vegetable seed will be available along with the containers and soil. You may also bring seed of your own if you have something special you want to plant. The plants will remain in the greenhouse until you are ready for them. They will need to be picked up before school lets out for the summer.
March - 16 "Private Pesticide Applicator Training" - 6:00 PM Training will be given if you need to get certified or renew your private pesticide applicator license in order to be able to purchase restricted use pesticides. If you are renewing, bring the manual from the previous certification meeting you attended to avoid paying the fee. If you are a new certification there will be a required fee. Please be on time!
March 23 - 2023 Summer Tour Planning Meeting - 7:00 PM We will need to decide if we want to plan another stop to take the place of Hentges or just go with the other three stops. There are also a lot of details yet to be worked out and positions on the volunteer lists need to be filled.