The Third Annual North Central Wisconsin Small Farm Conference is planned for Saturday, Oct. 19. Stoney Acres Farm of Athens will host this year’s event. The conference opens at 10:30 a.m. and wraps with at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Conference attendees will be able to choose from two tracks. Session A includes Berry Production and the Berry Marketing Panel for farmers interested in marketing fruit. Session B includes maple syrup production and marketing in the morning and beginning beekeeping in the afternoon. All participants will hear the keynote presentation from Attorney Rachel Armstrong, “Legal Issues for Small Farms,” have the opportunity for Q&A from Armstrong, and will be able to take a walking tour of Stoney Acres Farm.

The host farm, Stoney Acres, is operated by Tony Schultz and Kat Becker and is a third-generation family farm. Stoney Acres is a highly diversified Certified Organic farm which includes a 20-week Community Supported Agriculture Program; vegetable, herb, fruit and flower production; maple syrup; grass fed beef, pastured pork and eggs; organic grains including wheat, sunflower seed oils and oats; and farm to table pizzas May-November.

Early Bird Registration (Oct. 10) is $50 single registration or first person and $40 each additional person (one set of handouts per farm). Registration after Oct. 10 or at the door is $70 first person and $60 each additional person same farm. An optional lunch is available on site for $6 per person. A pizza dinner from Stoney Acres Farm is included with conference fee. Dinner-only tickets are available for $15 per person. For planning purposes, please indicate number attending lunch and dinner.

Registration forms and conference brochures may be found at http://taylor.uwex.edu.

Presenters will include Ray and Pam Melander, of Merrill, who will discuss maple syrup production and marketing. The Melanders were the 2013 Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers of the Year. During this session you will learn about Ray’s modern maple syrup production and marketing practices.

Dan Marzu, Agriculture Educator, UWEX Marathon and Lincoln Counties, will also discuss basic maple syrup production techniques being used on many small farms in north central Wisconsin.

For more information about the conference, contact Sandy Stuttgen, Taylor County Agriculture Agent, at (715) 748-3327 ext. 1.