Field Day at Veteran-owned Shupp Hill Farms in Wyoming County

Help us get the word out to military Veteran farmers and their spouses to attend a field day at Veteran-owned Shupp Hill Farms in Wyoming County, 103 Shupp Hill Road, Tunkhannock, PA 18657, Saturday August 21st from 10 am until 1 pm.

With funding from USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, the event is free to military*, eligible veterans, and their spouses; cost is $10 for the general public. Lunch will be served and registration is limited to 20 attendees. Contact Mimi Thomas-Brooker with the PA Veteran Farming Project at 724-219-3873 or pavetsfarm@gmail.com

Join United States Marine Corps and PA National Guard veteran Corey Read and his wife Esther on their third-generation Dexter Cattle farm in Wyoming County, PA. They began transforming their dairy farm into a Dexter cattle operation about two years ago. The Reads chose the breed for its versatility and are curating their herd through managed breeding. They sell cow/calf pairs, are developing the A2A2 milk genetics through managed breeding, and sell steers for meat. This season they purchased a bull from Colorado to improve their breeding program.

Dave Hartman, Penn State Extension livestock team, will discuss grazing systems, pasture management, and the basics of agroforestry.

Dave McCoy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will join Corey on a field day demonstrating how farmers can receive no-cost technical assistance, and access funding programs to promote clean water and healthy soil. Guests will see a variety of best-management practices in progress on the farm, including improving animal walkways, fencing for rotational grazing, and a barnyard improvement project set to begin this summer. The Reads have used USDA funding and Pennsylvania REAP tax credits for some of these projects.

A representative from Wyoming County Conservation District has been invited to speak on agricultural programming and funding, including Pennsylvania’s Conservation Excellence Grants, which are open for applications now.

Event details and registration information is available at https://www.troopstotractors.org/events The event is outdoors, rain or shine, so guests should dress for weather conditions and uneven footing typical of any livestock farm. Questions may be directed to pavetsfarm@gmail.com or 724-691-1087.

*Those serving or those who have served in the US military and been other than dishonorably discharged, and spouses of these.