WSU South Sound Agriculture Program

08/18/2026

Farm Walk and Talk: Grazing Systems
TCD Equipment Rentals: Electric Fence Demonstration
And Potluck at The Olive Branch Ranch

Presented by SW Washington Grazing Association

Everyone is Welcome

Register by emailing [email protected]

Partners include Ecostudies Institute, Thurston Conservation District, WSU South Sound Agriculture Program, and Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Event Schedule:
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Farm Walk with Imad Ahmad
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Facilitated discussion with fellow ranchers about grazing styles. Share your own experience and learn from other ranchers.
Meet the new Grazing Association Coordinator. Offer feedback about what you want out of the Grazing Association and your ranching needs.
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Thurston Conservation District has new solar-powered mobile electric fencing for rent for both small and large livestock. Learn how to use and rent the equipment.
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Potluck. Engage with other ranchers over food. Bring a dish to share and a chair!

08/18/2026

Today! Grab the family and come experience grasslands and their bounty at the Hoquiam Library, 4-6pm.

Explore grasslands through art

August 18
Hoquiam Public Library, 4-6pm
FREE ENTRY
Family Friendly!

grasslandsproject.org

08/17/2026

Tomorrow! Bring your family and come to the Hoquiam Library, 4-6pm to experience grasslands and their bounty.

View a photo-story presentation that explores the connections between Puget Sound grasslands and the species-rich grasslands of Europe, the important role that restoration and grazing animals play in grassland wildlife conservation, and the social and cultural importance of prairies and their overlap with grazed grasslands today.

Explore the grasslands through art

August 18
Hoquiam Public Library, 4-6pm
FREE ENTRY
Family Friendly!

grasslandsproject.org

08/17/2026

View a photo-story presentation that explores the connections between Puget Sound grasslands and the species-rich grasslands of Europe, the important role that restoration and grazing animals play in grassland wildlife conservation, and the social and cultural importance of prairies and their overlap with grazed grasslands today.

Explore the grasslands through art

August 18
Hoquiam Public Library, 4-6pm
FREE ENTRY
Family Friendly!

grasslandsproject.org

08/10/2026

We've got hay fever! If you’re thinking of incorporating seed into an old, tired pasture or hay field this fall, take advantage of our upcoming Hay Field Rejuvenation workshop. Join PCD's farm planning team at Kathy Mettler’s hay and cattle farm in Eatonville as we discuss improving hay production via no-till seeding legumes into an existing stand as an alternative to applying expensive conventional nitrogen fertilizer.

Thursday, August 13
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Eatonville (address provided on registration to protect farmer privacy)

Through funding from the WA State Conservation Commission's Sustainable Farms and Fields program, free seed may be available to workshop participants that seed via no-till this fall or next spring.

We'll also show off how to use a no-till drill from PCD's equipment rental program. Attending a demonstration is one of the prerequisite options for renting the drill.

Registration required. https://piercecd.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=2858

08/10/2026

Learn to felt with Faith Hagenhofer of Catspaw Studio, using sheep wool from Hercules Farm. Felting is one of the world’s oldest textile arts that originated in Central Asia and Siberia that involves matting and compressing wool fiber together to create a dense fabric or sculpture.

Explore the grasslands through art

August 18
Hoquiam Public Library, 4-6pm
FREE ENTRY
Family Friendly!

grasslandsproject.org

08/03/2026

Create unique and beautiful prints using Hapazome, a Japanese eco-printing technique that uses a hammer to press flowers into fabric, transferring the flowers’ pigments into the cloth. Explore the grasslands through art

August 18
Hoquiam Public Library, 4-6pm
FREE ENTRY
Family Friendly!

grasslandsproject.org

07/27/2026

Learn to make bracelets using Kumihimo, a traditional Japanese braiding technique interlacing threads on a handheld loom to make decorative rope. Go home with a loom and bracelet!

Explore the grasslands through art

August 18
Hoquiam Public Library, 4-6pm
FREE ENTRY
Family Friendly!

grasslandsproject.org

07/23/2026

There's getting to be quite a buzz in the air for the upcoming Thurston County Fair. Thanks Thurston Talk for featuring some of the kids' preparations! It's a swinging door at the WSU Extension Office as club members bring entries by. Mark your calendars and pray for moderate weather!

What do you think of when you think of 4-H? Cattle and sheep? Maybe horses? Or maybe sewing projects and growing produce. For many families in Thurston County, 4-H is going to the birds! Poultry projects have seen huge growth in recent years. You can meet the kids and the birds at the 2026 Thurston....

07/21/2026

Explore grasslands through art

August 18
Hoquiam Public Library, 4-6pm
FREE ENTRY
Family Friendly!

grasslandsproject.org

From “Global to Local” - Photo story telling about grasslands featuring ranchers from Europe to Washington. Learn to felt with artist and farmer Faith Hagenhofer. Kumihimo bracelet making. Hapazome cloth prints using flowers and a hammer. Interactive displays.