On September 22 and 23, 2001, Rutgers and Penn State Cooperative Extensions will be sponsoring the first Northeast Regional Small Farm and Rural Living Expo and Trade Show. The Expo will be held at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert, Pennsylvania, which is located at the foothills of the Pocono Mountains.

Assisting in the planning of the event are representatives and directors of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, the Monroe County (PA) Conservation District, Pocono RC&D, Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit, Northeast Organic Farming Association, Warren County (NJ) Department of Economic Development & Tourism, weaver's guilds, agricultural businesses and local farmers and producers.

Small farm operations provide a significant impact on the economics, aesthetics, and rural character of communities in the Northeast. The number of small farms is rapidly increasing in many areas of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. In many regions, small farm agriculture is becoming the mainstay of the farming community.

Greg Solt, a Penn State Agricultural Extension agent located in Northampton County, regularly works with people who purchase small farms. He reports, "People choose this lifestyle for many different reasons. Many are escaping the pressures of city life, and seeking to enjoy the pleasures of country living. Others are interested in deriving an income through farming."

David Reder is a small farm owner in Monroe County who fits this profile. David and his wife Kathy are owners and mangers of Pocono Alpacas in Reeders, PA. Prior to moving to the Poconos, David worked in Boston, Massachusetts, as a civil engineer. Looking back at this period in his life, David recalls that he actually received a great deal of gratification from his career, in spite of working 60 to 80 hours a week.

David's life changed when he married Kathy and began to think about starting a family. He began yearning for a career change that would allow him more time to enjoy life and afford him more opportunities to be at home with his children. As a result, David and Kathy moved to the Poconos and began to research agricultural opportunities that would generate enough income to support this new way of life. After a great deal of research, the Reders decided to raise alpacas. Smaller relatives of the llama, alpacas are prized for their soft, high quality fiber. The true economic value, however, is in the sale of breeding animals.

Alpacas are relatively easy to care for and they do not require a great deal of space. David presently shares his farm with 29 alpacas, a llama, potbellied pig, miniature goat and several chickens. He maintains this number of animals on only 11/2 acres of pasture by carefully managing his fields. According to David, "The number of alpacas continues to grow in the US, with 35,000 animals existing across the nation. Most people raising alpacas are women whose children have grown and people that are seeking to escape city life and high-pressure jobs. People involved in raising alpacas are often seeking a simpler way of life that is based on a new set of values." David reports that "Children become an important part of the farm. They learn how to respect life and how to assume responsibilities through caring for the animals."

David admits that starting a small farm enterprise can be difficult at times. New farm owners as well as people experiencing country living for the first time face many challenges. According to Everett Chamberlain, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agent located in Warren County, New Jersey, "People who want to develop a small farm enterprise or establish an agriculturally related business need to put a great deal of thought and pre-planning into developing the business. Whether you decide to raise animals, produce wine or maple syrup, or raise vegetables, it is important to amass a great deal of information and knowledge in order to avoid costly errors. It is important to identify where and how the livestock or agricultural products are going to be marketed before buying the animals or planting the crops."

One of the biggest obstacles new farmers face is locating support agencies that can provide sound, unbiased, research-based information. Rural residents starting an agricultural business may also have difficulty initially locating sources of equipment and supplies. According to Bob Mickel, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agent located in Hunterdon County, the goal of the Northeast Small Farm and Rural Living Expo and Trade Show is to link rural residents and new farmers with successful small farm producers, representatives of service agencies, agricultural businesses and associations. The large trade show that has been organized as part of the Expo will play a key role in providing this link.

Donna Foulk, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Regional ICM Coordinator, reports that to assist new farmer and new rural residents, the educational committee has scheduled more than seventy-five workshops and demonstrations that will take place concurrently over the two days. Many workshops have been developed with the new farmer in mind. These sessions feature topics such as: locating market opportunities, organic certification, free-range poultry, farmer-owned stores, raising fiber animals, specialty cattle breeds, Christmas tree production, woodlot management, boarding horses, beekeeping, maple syrup, specialty and heirloom vegetables, bison, alpacas, wine-making, protecting livestock from disease, entertainment agriculture, small farm equipment and buildings, and fencing options. Other sessions have been designed to interest anyone living in the country or visiting the area. Draft horse and oxen driving demonstrations will take place through out the two-day event. Other demonstrations and exhibits include a parade of horse breeds, heritage cattle breeds, wool spinning and weaving, life on 19th century farms, border collie herding demonstrations, and alpaca costume classes. Participants in the Small Farm Expo will be able to experience all of the sights, tastes, sounds, and smells of country living.

The cost of the Expo is $5 per adult. There is no additional charge for parking or admission to the exhibits, demonstrations or educational workshops.

Protecting farmland and open space has become a major initiative of states and local municipalities in the Northeast. By serving as a source of education and providing a networking conduit, the Northeast Small farm and Rural Living Expo and Trade Show will aid in the effort to preserve agriculture. The Expo has attracted the interest of many local businesses and agencies that have volunteered to serve as sponsors for the event. These sponsors include: Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit, Rutgers University, Penn State University, Pocono Northeast R.C.&.D, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, The Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau, the Warren County (NJ) Department of Economic Development & Tourism, Ray Price Ford, PP&L, East Stroudsburg Savings Association, Sprint, and Kistler Printing.

The Northeast Small Farm and Rural Living Expo and Trade Show will provide a wonderful educational opportunity for rural residents and small farm owners and managers. For more information about the Northeast Regional Small Farm and Rural Living Expo and Trade Show, visit the Northeast Small Farm and Rural Living Expo and Trade Show web site at www.smallfarmexpo.org or call Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Warren County at 908-475-6503 or Northampton County Extension Service at 610-746-1970.