VCE - Warren County Agriculture and Natural Resources

09/09/2026

Interested in hydroponic growing from inside your own household? Come join me and some wonderful EMGs at Samuels Public Library in Front Royal and learn how to grow your own Buttercrunch lettuce!

Learn about Hydroponic Growing with EMGs at Samuels Public Library!

In this four-week course, Extension Agent Cynthia Fairbanks will teach participants how to grow indoors with a portable hydroponic tower.

Register here: https://samuelslibrary.net/

08/17/2026

Hydroponic lettuce and spinach harvest day!! I’d say everyone enjoyed it 😉

We still have tomatoes coming in the next few weeks 🍅

07/12/2026

🪱 A wonderful class. We were able to certify 7 people showing competence of FAMACHA!

06/26/2026

🐐🐑 Thinking about getting sheep or goats? Or already have them and wondering if you're doing it right?

Last week, I sat down with Extension Agents Elizabeth Baldwin (Page County - Virginia Cooperative Extension) and Cynthia Fairbanks (VCE - Warren County) for an eye-opening conversation about small ruminant herd health — and what every sheep and goat owner in the Shenandoah Valley needs to know.

We cover:
✅ Why sheep & goats are becoming a popular entry point into farming
✅ What you MUST have in place BEFORE you bring animals home
✅ The barber pole worm — and why it's a bigger deal than you'd think
✅ The FAMACHA method — a simple, science-backed tool that could save your animals' lives AND your wallet
✅ Details on an upcoming FAMACHA Certification Workshop (July 11th, Warren County Fairgrounds — open to ALL counties!)

Whether you're a seasoned producer or just daydreaming about a couple of goats to replace your lawnmower, this conversation is packed with practical, research-based advice straight from your local Extension office.

🎧 Listen now: https://thevalleytodaypodcast.com/dont-deworm-everything-the-science-behind-famacha-certification

06/23/2026

Fun day in the office today!! We harvested our hydroponic butter-crunch lettuce and had a salad day with homemade sourdough Focaccia bites 🥗 🤍

06/13/2026

06/03/2026

Interested in becoming FAMACHA certified?

Join us at the Warren County Fairgrounds Saturday, July 11, 2026 from 9am-12pm for a comprehensive course on FAMACHA scoring, 5-Point Check, Dag score, learning how to take a proper f***l sample, and how to do a f***l egg count test.

Sign up virtually: https://register.ext.vt.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=4566332

Or mail/drop by the office with cash/check at 220 N Commerce Ave., Suite #500, Front Royal, VA 22630. The check should be made out to "Treasurer, Virginia Tech."

The fee is $30 per person and covers FAMACHA certification and breakfast. We hope to see you there!

04/28/2026

If you have livestock or make hay this session could be extremely beneficial. If you have any questions contact Emily Bowman at [email protected] or 540-231-2792

Across Virginia, changing conditions this season have a lot of producers planning ahead.

Join us on May 6th at 7PM for an Emergency Drought Management Webinar covering:
- Managing your herd
- Making marketing decisions
- Pasture and Hay management

Join here: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/88282557548

Share with fellow producers who may benefit. For questions, contact Emily Bowman at [email protected] or (540)231-2792

04/10/2026

Interested in being a better chicken tender? Or maybe a new chicken owner? Join us for The Essentials of Backyard Chickens session at Clarke County Parks and Recreation Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 5-7pm. This educational workshop will give you all the tools to learn how to be the best caretaker of your flock from hatching your own chicks, choosing the right breeds, and raising happy, healthy egg layers. There is a $5 registration fee and registration begins April 13th for Clarke County residents and April 15th for non residents.

Go to https://clarke.recdesk.com/Community/Home to make an account, register, and save your seat! Dinner is included 🐥