Farmers, Ranchers, Landowners Workshop Set for May 22-23
By Sarah Naron
Messenger Reporter
GRAPELAND – The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), ‘Minority Landowner Magazine’ and the Pineywoods Small Farmers, Ranchers and Landowners of Texas are teaming up to present a workshop Tuesday and Wednesday, May 22-23.
According to Lyn Wooten of the Pineywoods Small Farmers, Ranchers and Landowners of Texas, the event will kick off daily at 8:30 a.m. with Tuesday’s program ending at 3 p.m. and Wednesday’s concluding at 5 p.m.
“We got with Superintendent (Don) Jackson and the vocational ag teachers and asked them would they like for us to help sponsor a raising of a hoop house, which is a greenhouse,” explained Wooten. “The USDA and the ‘Minority Landowner Magazine’ is donating it for us to use as a community project so we can get the community to interact with growing vegetables and help raise awareness of horticulture.”
Wooten added that several Grapeland ISD students will be participating in both the classroom portion of the program and the raising of the hoop house.
“The first day will be classroom portion,” Wooten said. “We’ll have speakers on hand that will give out information on grants and loans that’s made by the USDA and FSA, which is the Farm Service Association. We have quite a few good speakers coming.”
Among the speakers will be Anderson County AgriLife Extension Officer Truman Lamb.
“(He) will be bringing a message on pollinators so that everybody will understand how the vegetables get pollinated,” Wooten explained.
Also in attendance will be Darwin Collins of Houston County and Grapeland Mayor Balis Dailey, said Wooten.
“We’re going to have a meal there for both days, and we hope to get everybody that we can get to participate,” Wooten said.
The workshop is open to the public free of charge. Lunch will be served daily.
Those interested in attending are instructed to RSVP by calling the USDA-NRCS at 936-634-9900, ext. 3 by Monday, May 21.
For more information, contact Wooten at 936-222-0266.