It is now being offered throughout western Washington. The training sessions cover a variety of subjects such as poultry, sheep, beef, swine, horse, rabbits, goats, vertebrate pest management, nutrition, water quality, and mud management. Other areas also taught are pasture management and organic farming. The trainees receive a course outline and free extension publications as well. A take-home quiz is given on each major subject matter area to verify that the new Livestock Advisors are ready to serve as resource people in the community.
Training is held annually.
Each Livestock Advisor Volunteer must complete a total of 80 hours of volunteer service in the first year. Each new Livestock Advisor spends a minimum of 8 hours helping at the Marysville Livestock Sale Yard extension field office answering livestock questions. Advisors will also spend 12 hours at the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe staffing the Livestock Advisor Foundation Petting Farm. The remaining activity hours during the first year, and in subsequent years, are fairly flexible, as long as they are an accepted part of the WSU Extension Livestock Education Program. Activities for volunteers include writing and editing articles for our web page, giving talks and demonstrations to groups in the community, and staffing booths at fairs and civic events, making presentations at Small Farm Workshops, returning phone queries on livestock issues and making farm visits.