WSU Extension Stevens County Newsletter
August 2025
Latest news, projects, workshops, free resources, and more. Keep Reading!
In This Issue
Agriculture
- Local Food System Infrastructure Grant – NOW OPEN
- Explore Your Farm Dreams – Webinar 6-9 p.m. on August 18th
- Whole Farm Planning course – Mondays, Sept 22 – Nov 3rd
Master Gardeners
- Washington Green School – registration opens today! Earn your Washington Gardener certificate.
- Master Gardener training starts in October. Applications due by September 15th
- Fall Plant Exchange coming September 20th
4-H
- See you at the Fair!
August Calendar and Resources
Agriculture
Local Food System Infrastructure Grant NOW OPEN
Visit the grant website to learn more about the two grant categories with different funding amounts and project/application timelines. Will not reopen until 2027!
The purpose of the Local Food System Infrastructure Grant program is to support local food supply chains and market access for Washington farms, ranches, food processors, and food distributors. The grant funds projects that expand and strengthen collaboration across linkages in regional food supply chains in Washington. This includes equipment, and facilities for post-harvest handling (including slaughter), aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, distribution, or sale of Washington grown, caught, and raised food.
How to Apply
When you visit the grant website, you will need to:
- STEP 1: Read the Grant Guidelines for your Grant Category, including entity/project eligibility, application and award timelines, and evaluation criteria.
- STEP 2: Review recorded webinars and sign up for virtual Q&A sessions.
- STEP 3: Submit your application in the online grant portal for your Grant Category.
Infrastructure Grant | Washington State Department of Agriculture
Explore Your Farm Dreams
Monday, August 18th 6-9 p.m. on Zoom
Dreaming of beginning or expanding your own small farm? The WSU Cultivating Success™ series of courses combines workshop and farmer-direct learning experiences to help foster the success of new and existing farms. First up in the series is Explore Your Farm Dreams, a 3-hour workshop designed to help you explore the development of a small farm enterprise offered on August 18th from 6-9pm. Following that, our Whole Farm Planning Course will be held on Mondays, 6:00pm to 8:00pm, September 22 through November 3. Offered statewide, courses will be conducted online using the Zoom platform with in-person field trips available in regions of WA state.
This 3-hour workshop is designed to help you explore the development of a small farm enterprise and create a plan of action for achieving your small farm dream.
Location: Virtual, statewide with Spanish interpretation
Cost: $15 Scholarships available to anyone for whom the class fee is a barrier
Whole Farm Planning
Mondays, September 22nd through Nov 3rd 6-8 p.m. on Zoom (with regional in-person opportunities)
This fall course will cover a broad range of topics including production and markets for today’s small farm! Whether you are just exploring the opportunities available or already have an existing operation, you’ll learn what it takes to create sustain, and grow a viable small farm.
Location: Virtual, statewide with Spanish interpretation
Cost: $200 per farm (up to 3 participants). Scholarships available to anyone for whom the course fee is a barrier.
For information about our Agriculture program, visit our website: Agriculture | Stevens County or contact Kathryn Hoogheem, 509-684-2588
Master Gardener News
Washington Green School – Registration is now open!
Washington Gardener Certificate track
Frustrated with your garden? Wish you understood Washington’s unique growing conditions better? WSU Extension has been cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973. Now, you can benefit from that expertise with our Washington Gardener Certificate course.
Become a confident gardener. Green School provides practical skills and knowledge to help you thrive, even in a changing climate. Learn from horticulture experts through flexible online modules, with the option of attending live review sessions via Zoom.
Deepen your understanding of gardening. Over 20 weeks, explore 28 topics including botany, plant identification, entomology, soils, plant problem diagnosis, integrated pest management, and pollinators. Gain the skills and confidence to create the garden of your dreams.
Master Gardener Volunteer track
We are always looking for volunteers interested in education, outreach, and life-long learning. There is absolutely no need to be an expert or even an experienced gardener. If you have an interest in gardening and want to learn more, we want you! As a WSU Extension Master Gardener, you’ll be rewarded by learning new gardening skills, making new friends, and by giving back to your community in meaningful ways.
Extension Master Gardener volunteers are university-trained educators who empower and sustain diverse communities with relevant, unbiased, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education to address priorities like water conservation, pollinators, soil health, wildfire preparedness, nearby nature, climate change, and access to local food.
All About Pollinators!
Find our booth at the NE WA Fair Aug 21-24
Lots of fun kids activities!
- Get a bumblebee handstamp
- Make bee or butterfly antennae to wear!
- Color a bee or butterfly mask to wear!
- Learn what plants attract pollinators
- Look at different types of bee homes
- Talk to Master Gardener volunteers about the importance of pollinators, native plants, and many other subjects!
Find us at the Chewelah Farmers Market
- Friday, September 5th
- Pressure Canner Gauge testing available!
Find us at the Colville Farmers Market
- Saturday, September 6th
- Pressure Canner Gauge testing available!
For more information about Master Gardener programs offered by WSU Extension in Stevens County, visit our website: Gardening | Stevens County, email: Linda Teller or call 509-684-2588
4-H Happenings
See you at the NE WA Fair!
Registrations are in, posters are being judged.
NE WA Fair – August 21-24. Visit Northeast Washington Fair Grounds – Stevens County WA for information.
Clayton Community Fair – August 22-24. Information available online at Clayton Community Fair.
For information about our 4-H program, visit our website: 4-H Youth | Stevens County or contact Shannon Rowley, 509-684-2588
Events Calendar
Aug to Sept (also see Events page)
- Aug 18th, 9-11a – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
- Aug 18th, 6-9p – Explore Your Farm Dreams webinar
- Aug 21st, 9a-7p – Find our Booths at NE WA Fairgrounds
- Aug 22nd, 9a-7p – Find our Booths at NE WA Fairgrounds
- Aug 23rd, 9a-7p – Find our Booths at NE WA Fairgrounds
- Aug 24th, 9a-3p – Find our Booths at NE WA Fairgrounds
- Aug 25th, 9-11a – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
- Aug 28th, 1-3p – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
- Sep 1st – OFFICE CLOSED for Labor Day
- Sep 4th, 1-3p – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
- Sep 5th, 11a-3:30p – MGs at Chewelah Farmers Market
- Sep 6th, 9a-1p – MGs at Colville Farmers Market
- Sep 8th, 9-11a – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
- Sep 11, 1-3p – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours