Wallace State’s Small Farmer Training program offering variety of courses beginning in April

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State Community College’s Small Farmer Training program is offering an exciting variety of courses beginning in April and continuing into the fall semester.

Offerings include online courses, one-day classes and specialized summer camps. A spring plant sale will also be conducted between April 5-30. Sale hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Interested individuals can register beginning at https://www.wallacestate.edu/programs/technical-division/farmer-training/small-farmer-training-courses#

Travis Kress, Wallace State’s Small Farmer Training Manager, will first offer a free online Open House session on Tuesday, March 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., for those interested in Small Farmer Training.

Small Farmer Training class sessions begin in April and continue through October, featuring online class options on Mondays and live campus classes on Tuesdays. Labs will be conducted on Tuesday, covering the same material as the Monday online classes.

Mondays Online – 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Part I: April 5-May 10; $150

Part II: May 24-June 28; $150

Part III A: July 12-Aug. 2; $100

Part III B: Aug. 16-Aug. 23; $50

Part IV: Sept. 13-Oct. 18; $150

Tuesdays On Campus – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Part I: April 6-May 11; $250

Part II: May 25-June 29; $250

Part III A: July 13-Aug. 3; $165

Part III B: Aug. 17-Aug. 24; $85

Part IV: Sept. 14-Oct. 19; $250

One-day classes will also be held beginning in April, mainly on Wednesdays. Each class is from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fee is $40.

Wednesday, April 7: Transplant Production

Wednesday, April 14: Fertilizer Calculation and Application

Wednesday, April 21: Intro to Soil and Soil Preparation

Wednesday, April 28: Plasticulture System Installation

Wednesday, May 5: Farm Equipment Operation and Safety

Wednesday, May 12: Pesticide Usage and Safety

Thursday, May 27: Farm Marketing and Sales

Wednesday, June 2: Sprayer Calculation and Calibration

Wednesday, June 9: Plant Nutrient Management

Wednesday, June 16: Soil Testing and Results Interpretation

Wednesday, June 23: Conservation in Agriculture

Wednesday, July 7: Irrigation Systems

Wednesday, July 14: Pest ID and Management

Wednesday, July 21: Vegetable Harvest and Storage

Wednesday, July 28: Trap Cropping and Pollinator Habitat

Wednesday, Aug. 4: Intro to Greenhouses

Wednesday, Aug. 18: Intro to Agriculture Assistance Agencies and Programs

Wednesday, Aug. 25: Seasonal High Tunnel Production

Summer camps will be offered for women, young farmers and veterans interested in agriculture.

  • Women’s Camp: May 17-19 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and May 20 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fee is $200.
  • Young Farmer’s Camp (Ages 16+): June 28-30 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and July 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fee is $200.
  • Veterans Camp: Aug. 9-11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Aug. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fee is $200.

Gardening continues to grow in popularity and is among the outdoor activities and hobbies many individuals have adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kress is a fifth-generation farmer, and through each class, helps participants appreciate the benefits of growing one’s produce: including saving money, eating healthy, relieving stress, staying active and enjoying the satisfaction of the end products.

For more information, contact Kress at 256.352.8115 or by email at travis.kress@wallacestate.edu

For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.

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 ______________________________ 

Russell Moore

Wallace State Community College

Creative and Content Services Coordinator, Communications and Marketing

Speech Adjunct Instructor

 

256.352.8443 | office

256.339.2422 | mobile

russell.moore@wallacestate.edu

 

Click here to submit a Marketing request.

 

______________________________

 

Kristen Holmes

Assistant to the President for External and Cultural Affairs

Communications | Marketing | Museum | International | Government Affairs

 

256.352.8118 | office

256.339.2519 | mobile

kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu

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