Country Expo

Katya Bergeron, of Bellevue, chats with Glode MacConnell at the 2012 Country Living Expo & Cattlemen’s Winterschool Saturday, at Stanwood High School. PHOTO BY SARAH ARNEY | STANWOOD/CAMANO NEWS Susan Cole learned how to grow luscious tomatoes at the 2012 Country Living Expo & Cattlemen’s Winter School Saturday.

She was also a vendor at the winter school exhibition, offering information about her Camano Canine Resort along with her daughter-in-law, Sue Cole, who took a class on horse teeth.

Cole also planned to attend a session on red worm composting in the afternoon, because, she said, “I have a lot of red worms.”

The winter school, hosted by the Stanwood FFA, offered more than 160 classes presented by Washington State University Extension, WSU Livestock Master Foundation and the Cattlemen’s Association, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A SHS sophomore and beef farmer, Glode MacConnell attended two classes in the morning, one on liming and another on calving.

Joshua McConnaughey, of Arlington, took a class on poultry processing, which started with a live chicken, he said. The father of five children under 9 years old, McConnaughey said he told his kids that they would be harvesting a chicken when he got home. He was signing up to be kept informed about the Port Susan Food & Farming Center before the afternoon sessions started.

“We are budding farmers,” he said.

He was planning to take another class on growing vegetables in the winter.

“We have big gardens, but I won’t be giving up my day job working from home for Hospice Home Health Care.”

Vendors at the expo ranged from farm credit services, forestry and metal barns, to wool and alpaca suppliers, and the Stanwood Sashayers Square Dancing Club. Beekeeping and honey, handmade soaps and knitted hats were also available, along with classes on chainsaw safety and arc welding, among so many more.

“I learned not to hold the tomatoes by their stems,” Cole said.

Staff Reporter Sarah Arney: 629-8066 ext 115 or sarney@scnews.com.