Small Acreage Program

The Small Acreage program provides educational workshops and other outreach to residents on how to manage issues such as mud and manure management, fencing and pasture management, and other water quality topics unique to rural properties. If you are interested in receiving emails about upcoming classes and events, please send an email to terry.koper@wsu.edu to request to be added to the Small Acreage Listserv.

Classes, workshops, tours, and other events are offered throughout the year. See below for upcoming events and resources:

– Living on the Land
– Harvest Celebration
– Small Farm Tours
– Workshops and Training
– Small Acreage Expo
– Well and Septic Workshops
– Model Property Assessments
– Agriculture Business Planning
– Publications and Videos

Well and Septic Workshops

How do I sign up? See below for upcoming Well and Septic Workshops. For future workshops, contact terry.koper@wsu.edu to be added to the notification list for upcoming Well and Septic Workshops.

Upcoming Workshops:

When: Tuesday, March 31st, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM-8:30 PM
Where: In-person at the 78th St. Heritage Farm
Registration (required): https://WS033126.eventbrite.com

What: Homeowners with septic systems and wells are invited to attend the Well and Septic workshop to learn valuable tips about maintaining their septic system and protecting their water supply. Clark County homeowners with owner-occupied, gravity fed septic systems can get certified to perform their own septic inspection at the workshop, saving money while learning important maintenance tips. Gravity fed septic systems must be inspected every three years with every other inspection performed by a certified O&M professional.

Septic inspection training and well safety tips will be presented by officials from Clark County Public Health, who help homeowners meet regulations protecting surface and ground water by ensuring septic systems and wells operate properly. By participating in the workshop and taking a short exam, homeowners can perform their next septic inspection and file it with Clark County Public Health rather than hiring a certified O&M professional to do it.

For more information or to be informed when upcoming workshops are available: contact WSU Clark County Small Acreage Program Coordinator at terry.koper@wsu.edu or 564-397-5729

Small Acreage Expo

WSU Clark County Extension – Small Acreage Program will celebrate our 19^th Annual Small Acreage Expo on May 2nd, 2026.

What: 19th Annual Small Acreage Expo: – Full day event
When: Saturday May 2nd, 2026, 8:30am-4:00pm
Where: 78th St. Heritage Farm, 1919 NE 78th St., Vancouver, WA 98665

For more details and to register, visit: (coming soon)

For questions: contact WSU Clark County Small Acreage Program Coordinator at terry.koper@wsu.edu or 564-397-5729

Agricultural Entrepreneurship (Farm) Business Planning

Are you a small acreage farmer looking to improve your business? The Ag Entrepreneurship & Business Planning Class can help you develop a successful business plan for your farm business.

This multi-week course occurs every winter. Class topics include business planning, marketing, research methods, budget and record keeping, taxes, regulations and much more. Classes are taught by local farm marketing specialists, accountants, attorneys, agricultural professionals, and farmers sharing their farming and marketing experience. At the end of the course, students will emerge with a full business plan to take with them to guide their farm business decisions into the future. Offered in English and with Spanish interpretation.

Past Course (the next course will take place in January 2026):

When: Online – Tuesdays, January 20 – March 10, 2026, 6:00pm-8:30pm with  a one-day in-person intensive

Registration is $200/family/farm. Scholarships are available. For more information and to register

For more information, contact the WSU Clark County Small Acreage Coordinator at terry.koper@wsu.edu or 564-397-5729

Curso de Emprendimiento y Planificación del Negocio Agricola

Este curso le guiara en los pasos necesarios para crear un plan de negocio agrícola por medio de clases semanales en línea con expertos y agricultores invitados, y conexiones en grupos regionales.  

Martes el 20 de enero – al 10 de marzo 6-8pm con intensivos regionales en persona el 28 de feb y el 7 de marzo.

Formato: Virtual por Zoom en todo el estado con interpretación en español
Costo: $200 Becas disponibles para cualquier persona para quien la tarifa de la clase sea una barrera

https://www.cultivatingsuccesswa.org/courseregistration 

 

Living on the Land

Living on the Land is a multi-week class series where small acreage land managers learn stewardship practices to help better care for their land. Living on the Land participants learn about important topics pertaining to soil, water, plants and animals that guide sound stewardship decisions for small acreage management. Topics are presented by local and regional experts and include pasture management, controlling weeds, wildlife, soil health, well & septic maintenance, and many more. Graduates of this training come away with knowledge about how different aspects of their land interact, practices that enhance natural resources, and helpful strategies for improving their land stewardship by taking a whole farm approach.

Class Series:

NOTE: The next series will be offered in the Fall of 2026. If you are interested in taking part in a future Living on the Land series, please first take this pre-survey.

Class size is limited to 30 students and registration fills quickly, so fill out the survey soon! Upon completion of the survey, you will be contacted and given a registration link. Please allow several days for your survey to be reviewed and registration link sent.

For more information or to be added to the notification list for future Living on the Land classes, contact WSU Clark County Small Acreage Coordinator at terry.koper@wsu.edu or 564-397-5729

Workshops

The Small Acreage program offers workshops throughout the year on issues of interest to rural land stewards. Topics include mud and manure management, pasture management, wells and septic maintenance, fencing for livestock, and more! See below for our upcoming offerings:

Past Workshop:

What: Weeds Management Workshop
When: Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
Time: 7:15 PM – 8:30 PM
Where: Online
Cost: $10/household (scholarships area available, contact terry.koper@wsu.edu)
Registration (required): https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6743932
For questions: contact WSU Clark County Small Acreage Program Coordinator at terry.koper@wsu.edu

Harvest Celebration – Tour of Clark County Farms

What: 25th Annual Harvest Celebration took place in 2025. This is an annual celebration where multiple farms open their gates to the public to show the bounty of local agriculture in Clark County and give neighbors an opportunity to tour and meet their area farmers. Generally, over 700 area residents came out to participate in the Harvest Celebration. A variety of fun-filled events such as feeding barnyard animals, hay rides, self-guided tours, u-pick pumpkins and other produce, family-fun games, and photo ops with alpacas. Many of the farms offer tours and sell farm fresh produce.
When: September 20th, 2025 (typically the 3rd Saturday in September)
Where: Multiple farms throughout Clark County
Cost: FREE
Registration: none needed

2025 Program: Harvest Celebration Farm Descriptions and Map 2025

If you would like to help with this event or for more information, contact WSU Clark County Small Acreage Coordinator at terry.koper@wsu.edu or 564-397-5729.

Small Farm and Stewardship Tours

Come tour a farm and learn about nut and fruit orchards, old tractors, chickens, preventing soil erosion, dry farming, and hedgerows and riparian buffer strips.

Past Events:

What: Forest Land Stewardship Tour
When: Monday, September 22nd, 2025
Time: Noon – 1:00 PM
Where: Rural Residence near Ridgefield, WA
Cost: Free
Registration: https://092225tour.bpt.me/

What: Pasture Land Management Tour
When: Thursday, September 25th, 2025
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Where: Cattle Ranch near Battle Ground, WA
Cost: Free
Registration: https://fallpasture2025.bpt.me/
This event is co-hosted by the Small Acreage Program of WSU Clark County Extension, NRCS, and Clark Conservation District.

What: Dry Farming – Small Farm Tour
When: Wednesday, August 27th, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: Blueberry Learning Farm in NE Portland, OR
Cost: $45, sliding scale $20-$45. Scholarships are available to all those to who the cost to attend is a barrier.
Registration: https://handmadegardenspdx.com/year-round-harvest-course/class-8a-dry-farming/
This event is co-hosted by Handmade Gardens – Regenerative Homestead Education and the Small Acreage Program of Clark County Extension.

For more information: contact WSU Clark County Small Acreage Program Coordinator at terry.koper@wsu.edu or 564-397-5729

 

Small Acreage Recognition Program

The Small Acreage Program, supported by Clark County’s Clean Water Program, wishes to publicly recognize residents who are implementing clean water management practices on their acreage. If you or someone you know are doing good things on their small farms or rural property to protect our water, please let us know!

Do you manage your small acreage in ways that also protect our waters? Do you …

1. Drainage – have gutters and downspouts on your buildings; and your runoff does not discharge directly into streams, creeks, or ditches?
2. Vegetation features – have vegetation around steams, creeks, and wetlands; livestock fenced out or restricted from waterways?
3. Limited erosion & compaction – have limited areas of bare soil?
4. Inspected septic – know the location and type of septic system and when it was last inspected; limit activity on drainfield?
5. Protected Wellhead – know where your well is located and wellhead is adequately protected?
6. Safe chemical & fuel storage – store your chemicals and fuels properly away from wells and septic systems?
7. Livestock manure – manage manure to minimize nutrient runoff?
8. Manage pasture – have few weeds, limited bare soil areas, and little compaction in your pasture?

If you do some or all of these, you should consider applying to receive a Clean Water Sign. The Clean Water Sign shows your neighbors and the public that you are managing your land in ways that also protect our precious local waterways.

Completing our Assessment Guide for Small Acreages will give you an idea if you might qualify to receive this free Clean Water sign. Send your completed survey to the Small Acreage Coordinator at smallacreage@clark.wa.gov and you will be contacted for a site visit to determine if you qualify for a sign.

Small Acreage Expo

WSU Clark County Extension – Small Acreage Program will celebrate our 18^th Annual Small Acreage Expo, date TBD.

Past Event:

What: Small Acreage Expo: – Full day event
When: Saturday June 8, 2024, 8:30am-4:00pm
Where: 78th St. Heritage Farm, 1919 NE 78th St., Vancouver, WA 98665

For more details and to register, visit: http://SAexpo2024.brownpapertickets.com

For questions: contact WSU Clark County Small Acreage Program Coordinator at terry.koper@wsu.edu or 564-397-5729

Annual Report & Impacts

Small Acreage Program 2021 Annual Report (3.4 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2020 Annual Report (1.7 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2019 Annual Report (1.4 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2018 Annual Report (4 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2017 Annual Report (3.2 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2016 Annual Report (4 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2015 Annual Report (4.9 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2014 Annual Report (7.9 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2013 Annual Report (6.5 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2012 Annual Report (5.5 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2011 Annual Report (3.7 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2010 Annual Report (1.8 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2009 Annual Report (467 KB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2009 Annual Report: Appendices (3.9MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2008 Annual Report (516 KB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2008 Annual Report: Appendices (2.7 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2007 Annual Report (792 KB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2007 Annual Report: Appendices (7 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2006 Annual Report (572 KB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2006 Annual Report: Appendices (6.4 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2005 Annual Report (570 KB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2005 Annual Report: Appendices (6.6 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2004 Annual Report (400 KB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2004 Annual Report: Appendix A (6.8 MB PDF)
Small Acreage Program 2003 Annual Report (1.9 MB PDF)

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