Buy Local Food In Kitsap

The KCAA task force has begun research and education into the topic of assisting young and new farmers get out on the land.

Our August KCAA meeting will feature young farmers from the local 4H Club and Future Farmers of America (FFA). One of the best hidden local food resources is the youth animal auction at the Kitsap Fair. The auction begins at 11:00 am, Saturday, August 29th, 2009. Bidders are able to buy the best, locally grown, grass and grain fed animal protein available at what are usually bargain prices. Joe Keehn of Farmer George’s and Jim Carlson of Minder Meats are available to help prepare the animals for your family locker.

To top it off, auction bidders get free admission to the Fair as guests of the young people and can enjoy the myriad of other available activities that day. You will need a letter from the 4H or the FFA to gain free entry. Contact Stokes Auction to get one.

Meat Up At The Fair

Last modified on 2009-08-24 17:55:40 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

Many Thanks To Randy Smith at CB ParkShore For The Support

Young Farmers Make Big Impression At The August KCAA Meating.

Kudos to Diane Fish, Mark Boardman, Mike Shepherd, Kelly Fisk, Nancy Rauch and Katie Vetter for making our last educational meeting one to remember. Building a local food network can sometimes seem like impossible work but it was such a shot in the arm for all of us to have the future in our midst, up close and personal. Here is the list of presenters for the evening:

· Steers (Allie Burgh, Tim Crabtree)
· Lambs (Kayleigh Randall, Kaitlyn Eckles)
· Hogs (Katie Vetter, Amber Holloway, Bryan Patison, Amber Bumbalough, Kyle Stroble, Josh Wilson)
· Goats (Michelle Turk)

Cheryl Ouellette, president of the Puget Sound Meat Producers Co-op came to demonstrate how young animal farmers can utilize the co-op to build their future with expanded access to markets for protein.

Erin Frederichs and two friends who are interns with Brian McWhorter at Butler Green Farms this past season gave us some insight on how things are going for them and what their future might be in farming.

The young people were all very impressive and I hope that they all consider a future in farming and animal husbandry. You know, the KCAA has decided to focus our efforts on young and new farmers for the next few months. From this first meeting I can tell that we will be having a lot of fun.

Diane Fish has provided us with a report on the auction rules and procedures. Market Animal Auction Facts

The KCAA will be forming a group to buy one or more animals to be prepared for the Peninsula Local Food Chef Showoff coming up on September 15th. Anyone who wishes to join our buying pool should contact me, Jim Freeman, at jimfreeman@jimfreeman.com. More to follow about our big September event but this will take the place of our regular meeting so no meeting on the second Tuesday.

The purpose of the evening was to showcase their efforts to raise animals for the Kitsap 4-H and FFA Market Animal Auction to be held at the Kitsap Fair on Saturday, August 29th, beginning at 11:00 am. The auction could be the best place for peninsula residents to get quality, local protein at a bargain price. Proceeds of course will help the young farmers and their youth programs. These are well worth supporting if the poise and maturity are any indication of what these programs do for them. It was very refreshing to witness how they had learned about taking responsibility for the care of an animal, learning about food production, health, biology, economics, etc.

The Kitsap Fair begins Wednesday, August 25th and continues through Sunday the 30th. Operating hours are 10:00 am to 10:00 PM through Saturday and 10:00 to 6:00 pm on Sunday. For more information and to get a free pass to the fair on Saturday visit

www.MeatTheProducers.com

Real Life For Young Farmers

Last modified on 2009-07-31 21:51:15 GMT. 6 comments. Top.

Do I hear a 20, how about 30, now a 30, who’ll bid 40, now a 40….

On August 29th, this is the type of rapid-fire patter you’ll be hearing from Mark Boardman, auctioneer and president of the Junior Livestock Auction Committee for the Kitsap County Fair as he cajoles an eager audience to buy one of the quality meat animals raised by 4-H and Future Farmers of America kids.

And one of the premier animals to be sold is the steer Timmy Crabtree will bring in.  The youngest of four Crabtree children who have all brought market animals to auction, Timmy, 13, and headed for his 8th grade year at West Sound Academy,  claimed last year’s grand champion and hopes to win the top award  again this year with another hefty animal from the family’s prize registered black Angus herd in Kingston. In addition to his market animal, Timmy will also bring four other steer in to show.

Timmy Crabtree With His Market Animal Angus

“The minimum weight for a market steer is 1,000 pounds and I think he’ll weigh in at more than 1,300 – my animal last year weighed 1,365,” Timmy  said.

While it twists and turns in a stanchion, Timmy brushes and washes his animal in preparation for the Othello County Fair this weekend…which he says it’s the only fair on the West Coast that does a type of ultra sound that measures the amount of marbling and other qualities prized by knowledgeable beef buyers.

1350 lbs

As he brushes his steer’s belly, the young 4-H Club member, says his animal requires a lot of food – he’s 18 months old and eats 24 pounds a day of a premier cattle feed called “Barnyard Buffet”. When the animal is auctioned Timmy says he will have about $1.25 per pound of expense in him. Keeping track of expenditures and income from an animal is one of the requirements of a market animal project.

“Last year’s steer was his full brother and he went for $2.10 a pound so I’m hoping to do the same or better with him,” says Timmy, who is the lone remaining member in his 4-H Club, Awesome Animals.

He adds that there are only four steers at the market auction this year – two from 4-H and two from FFA members. Timmy will be one of the speakers at the KCAA meeting on August 11, at 7 p.m. at the Norm Dicks Center in downtown Bremerton.  Most of the meeting will be devoted to young farmers and the future of farming in Kitsap.

Cooling Off Dazey

But large meat animals are not the only ones being auctioned at the Fair. In Port Orchard, nine-year-old Ryleigh Randall, a member of the Kids of Kitsap 4-H Club, has been raising her animal, a Suffolk lamb named Dazey for the sheep auction.  Dazey leaps and runs away while Ryleigh tries to spray her down in the 100 degree heat.  This is Ryleigh’s first market animal – she picked it because she thought hogs were “too smelly” and sheep were cuter.  Dazey became the market animal because her twin brother, Dillon, nearly died of hypothermia and in the course of saving him he stayed in the house for two weeks and became somewhat of a pet.

Ryleigh Randall and "Dazey"

As the daughter of Farmland, Inc. owners, Ryleigh’s mom, Shannon, also raised market animals and was a member of 4-H. She’s happy that her daughter has shown an interest in animals and says Ryleigh been an animal lover since she got her first guinea pig at around age two.

“I don’t feel bad about Dazey going to be meat because she will be feeding some people,” says Ryleigh.

Michelle Turk With Her Market Animal Goat

Another member of the Kids of Kitsap 4-H Club is Michelle Turk, 17, of Fox Island, who will also be a speaker at the KCAA meeting. Outreach, marketing and education are other components of the market animal project. Originally involved in 4-H with horses six years ago, she’s now raising seven goats and will be bringing one of them to auction.  She hopes to educate people at the meeting and Fair about the value of goat meat and milk. She says her family loves goat milk and she’s invented lots of recipes for tasty puddings and other goodies using the milk.

A Working Farm Partner - Clearing Brush

“Good goat meat can be very tasty and it’s used often in many countries around the world, though it’s not as well-known here,” says Michelle.  “I had some great goat curry recently at a Thai restaurant.”

Mark Boardman of Stokes Auction is in his second full term as president of the Junior Livestock Auction Committee for the Kitsap County Fair.

“The numbers are down from 70 last year, probably due to the economy, but we will have around 50 good meat animals for auction in four categories – swine, steer, goats and lambs”, says Boardman.

In his two terms of office, Boardman is credited for cleaning up the rules and by-laws of the market auction into one document for both FFA and 4-H members so that everyone is on the same page and going by the same set of rules and regulations.  He says the animals can be viewed beginning at their check-in on Tuesday evening, August 25th until the auction which begins at 11 a.m. on the 29th in the swine area of the Fair grounds and will continue through a good part of the day.

All animals are grain fed and must make certain weight limits for each class. Careful records are kept of any medications or vaccinations the animals have had. They are also judged on such things as appearance and grooming, ability of the owner to answer judges’ questions, and are auctioned according to award class with the grand champion going first, then the reserve champion, followed by blue and red ribbon holders.

“Raising a market animal gives children a good sense of  responsibility as well as educating them about marketing and economics because they have to keep track of how much expense they have into the animal versus what they can expect to get for it,” says Boardman.

There are a number of businesses such as Farmer George, Central Market, Les Schwab Tires, Larry and Shirley Stokes, Kitsap Bank, Red Apple markets, and Tim Ryan Construction who have supported the Junior Livestock Auction during its long history. For an individual who wants to experience the auction for the first time, Joe Keehn of Farmer George says the auction committee is on hand to walk you through the process and make it easy. And with his auction experience of more than 20 years, Keehn will also be available and more than happy to answer questions.  He can provide certain services and give you advice on an auction animal that takes you through the process from gavel to slaughter to packaging and storage.

‘I would say that the majority of the small animals are purchased by individuals and a first-time animal auction buyer shouldn’t worry about the process – there are plenty of people to help you through it – in turn, you are helping out a young farmer by buying one of these quality meat animals,” says Keehn.

For more auction details please visit:

http://www.stokesauction.com/marketanimal.htm

What Inspires Young Farmers?

Last modified on 2009-08-07 19:31:34 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Sharron, Jonathan and Ray Etheridge

Most of us would agree that the future of farming in Kitsap County lies in the hands of our younger generations.  It rests with the kids who initially experience the joy of planting something, tending it, watching it grow, and harvesting it.  And it’s hoped that some day these children will develop a passion for farming and pursue their interest in it.

But how do we plant that interest and keep it thriving?

The Carlson Family - Growing The Next Generation of Farmers

Many feel that one of the most effective ways is to introduce children as early as possible to farming, gardening, and animal raising with enjoyable hands-on experiences and make sure they have fun while learning.

And some of these opportunities can come through joining a Kitsap 4-H club says Kelly Fisk, Kitsap WSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Educator.  She says there are more than 50 4-H clubs serving about 550 youths with more than 175 leaders in Kitsap County.  There are also more than 215 youths through programs at Naval Base Kitsap.

But how many children are involved with growing edible crops?

Warren and Morgan Carlson - Harvest Time

Roseanne and Jim Carlson own ten acres north of Kingston that they started farming just last year with their three boys, Forrest, 17; Warren, 15; and Morgan, 12.    They say their boys were the only ones entering 4-H vegetable projects in the Kitsap County Fair last year and they plan to enter their produce again this year through their 4-H club, the Renaissance Roosters.  Currently they are the only members and Roseanne is the leader.

Roseanne Carlson - Searching For Young Farmers

“The name of the club reflects how we feel about the art and science of raising our own food,” says Roseanne.  The property has no electricity but does use solar panels and a small wind mill that assist a generator.  They also have cisterns for rain collection in addition to a well.

The entire family plants, raises and harvests all of their many bountiful crops using only organic, microbial science methods.  Last year, they stored and canned enough of their produce and fruit to last through the winter and spring.   And they saved the seeds for planting many of this year’s crops. The boys all say they love farming.  Each points with pride to some of the flourishing crops (including berries and fruit from pear and apple trees) they’ve planted and are tending. The family also has a green house for tomatoes located on Bainbridge Island.

Forrest Carlson's Pumpkin Project - Feeding The Hungry

But perhaps the greatest source of family pride is Forrest’s pumpkin project.  For three years he has grown pumpkins, on a plot behind Bay Feed that are sold at the Bainbridge Farmers Market. The proceeds from the sales have gone to the Helpline food bank.

“Last year we took the $2300 pumpkin money we earned, went to Safeway and bought food totaling $1800 plus we gave them a check for $500,” says Forrest. “I’m hoping I can do even better this year and I’d like to see other farmers markets join us in doing something like this.”

So far the Carlsons have planted about 3/4ths of an acre and will be doing more.  And they are planning some experimental new crops such as wheat that will help feed their laying-hens and will be used for bread-making.  They’re also doing experimental work with the planting of different crops directly in manure and experimenting with water saving methods such as putting their potatoes in buckets where they say they require a half to a quarter less water.

Warren Carlson waters his crop of peppers

And there are other groups and individuals promoting youth farming. Establishing school programs is one of the Future Farmers of America goals, though currently only South and North Kitsap High Schools have FFA programs. But these two schools have a number of participants and both have had active programs for many years.

Denise Watson, a horticulture, agriculture and aquaculture teacher for ten years at South Kitsap, is also the FFA advisor. She says 120 – 140 kids are usually involved annually with the FFA which is designed to help kids hone their skills as well as teaching leadership. But she says the number interested in crop farming is down right now though she says it varies from year to year.

“A lot of students who enjoy working in the soil are seeing their niche as doing things like landscape design – where they can go out and get a job without having to invest a lot of money they don’t have,” said Watson.

Jon Houk will be a new teacher and FFA advisor at North Kitsap this coming year. He’s gained previous experience working with Watson and others while he taught at Cedar Heights Junior High.  He’ll take the place of John Waller who served in that capacity for many years and will now become an assistant principal.

“I’m really excited about stepping-up the FFA program and I’m particularly interested in teaching correct methods of aquaculture with fish and even lobster – seafood is another “crop” of our county,” said Houk.

Other members of the farm and garden community say they hope to see children and youth get involved with more farm and garden projects again.  Alice Hamm has been a 4-H leader for 23 years, first with her own children and now with her grandchildren.

“I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs in 4-H membership over the years and  I think the current economy may have something to do with kids doing fewer farm projects right now, especially raising animals where the expense factor is greater,” says Hamm.

Carol Henning, Open Class Horticulture Supervisor at the Kitsap County Fair, agrees but says there are also 17 – 20 children and youths involved in the “open class” categories of vegetables and fruit rather than with an FFA or 4-H project.

“A lot of younger kids like to grow fun little things like animal-shaped carrots and there are some who do unusual things – like the one who went out behind the Fairgrounds and picked Himalayan blackberries to enter,” she says with a laugh.

But she also pointed out that there are some serious young gardeners who are growing crops in places like the childrens’ garden at Anna Smith Park in Tracyton. Here children’s garden supervisor Judith Martin says there were about 30 children out recently tending their little gardens.  Each child may have a two-foot square plot to plant – all edible harvests go to the local food bank.

Jonathan and Ray Etheridge - Working Together

Ten-year Master Gardeners Ray and Sharron Etheredge of Seabeck have planted a gardening interest in their grandson, ten-year-old Jonathan Etheredge, who stays with them during the summer. He carefully tends his square at Anna Smith this year and is looking forward to his harvest.

“I really like seeing them (his crops) grow and I think gardening is fun,” says Jonathan.

Jomathan Etheridge - Young Farmer

The KCAA will have young farmers as feature speakers at their meeting next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Norm Dicks Center in downtown Bremerton.  Anyone interested in youth farming in Kitsap should attend…or just go out and support these enterprising kids who may well be providing our food in the future.