Economic development group to host meat poultry seminar
(Mineral Point) March. 8, 2012 – Lorin Toepper, chairman of the Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation, will be among the experts providing tips and techniques at a free seminar titled “Raising Meat Poultry for Fun and Profits,” on Saturday, April 14, 2012. The free event is scheduled from 9 a.m. – noon at Sam and Maddie’s restaurant in Dodgeville and is open to the public.
Seminar topics will range from the selection of poultry breeds and how to brood chicks to constructing portable pens, direct-to-consumer marketing strategies, and processing techniques. Attendees will also be able to inspect a mobile line of poultry processing equipment that the ICAEDC has purchased and learn how they can rent the equipment to farm-process their chickens.
Dr. Toepper, who also serves as executive director for Economic and Workforce Development at Madison College, is among three local farmers who volunteered for a pilot program to raise, process, and market pastured poultry last summer. “Our goal was to learn how to raise local chickens for direct sale to consumers and then teach other people how to do it,” Toepper says. Joining him in the project were Steve Christianson and John Adametz, both of whom will also be presenting at the seminar.
The Iowa County Poultry Project is one of several value-added food processing strategies the Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation (ICAEDC) is promoting to help rural residents increase their incomes while satisfying the growing demand for locally raised chickens. According to a National Restaurant Association survey of over 1,800 professional chefs, locally sourced meat and seafood is this year’s hottest food trend, followed by locally grown produce and healthful kids’ meals. A recent USDA survey reports that the top three motivations for the “Buy Local” food trend with consumers are freshness, a desire to support the local economy, and knowing the source of the product.
“In addition to the health and nutritional benefits of raising pastured poultry, we are trying to boost the local economy,” Toepper says. “For every $1 spent at local businesses, about 45 cents is reinvested locally. By raising and selling chickens to consumers in our area, we are boosting the local economy.”
Seating is limited, so attendees are encouraged to register early. For more information or to sign up for the free seminar, visit http://www.eventbrite.com or contact Rick Terrien, Executive Director, Iowa County Area Economic Development Corp., at 608-341-6797 or rickt@iowacountyedc.org.
