Beginning at WSU Extension, Spokane, we will load the bus and take producers to visit both USDA and WSDA processors and meet 3 farmers to learn about their production and marketing:

Featured Farmers, Processing Facilities and Speakers:

Al Kowitz, Community Agricultural Development Center (CADC), Mobile Slaughter Unit, Mobile Poultry Processing Unit

Sheryl Templeton, poultry producer

Brent Olsen, Olsen Farms (beef producer, direct marketing)

Doreen Nelson, Smokey Ridge Meats

Rande Kummer, Kummer Farms, WSDA poultry processor

Dale Smith, innovative livestock handling and marketing of lamb and beef

Each stop on our tour will represent different scales of production or processing.  We will see both USDA and WSDA licensed operations and discuss the relative merits of both. 

The farms produce and sell broilers or red meat and each has a unique production system.  At each stop, host producers will share in-depth coverage of the steps it takes to be a licensed processor as well as regulations and strategies for direct marketing poultry or meat. Business and financial planning will also be covered by producers. While on the bus we will discuss additional risk management tools, regulations and enterprise budgets.

Who is this workshop for? Women farmers currently producing poultry or meat or farmers who plan to add this production to diversify their farming operation. (All farmers welcome)...

Itinerary:           

 8:30 am: Load Bus at Spokane WSU, 222 N. Havana St.

 8:40 am: Bus departs

1st stop: Smokey Ridge Meats, Chewelah (This will be a multidemensional stop covering the CADC Mobile Poultry Unit, the USDA MSU, and the USDA meat processing facility)

2nd stop: Kummer Farms, Deer Park, WSDA poultry processing 

3rd stop: Dale Smith Farm, Chatteroy

4:30 pm: Return to WSU Ext., Spokane - tour ends