10th Annual Whatcom Farm Expo
February 28th | 9AM - 2PM | NW Washington Fairgrounds
Growing a living in Whatcom County takes more than a strong back and good soil. It’s about balancing the daily work in the field, garden, barn, or pasture with the bigger picture — business planning, marketing, water access, processing, and adapting your land for the future. Join us for the 10th Annual Whatcom Farm Expo and connect with the people, tools, and ideas that help make it all work. This year’s event features more hands-on workshops, one-on-one time with experts, a youth engagement area, live animals, local exhibitors, and great local food — all celebrating a decade of growing together. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer, a new homesteader, or just curious about where your food comes from, there’s something for you at this free event on February 28th, 9AM to 2PM at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds.
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2026 Workshop Lineup
Announcing SOME of the planned workshops at the 10th Annual Whatcom Farm Expo! More workshops are to be announced from 4H youth, equine seasonal management, and ag viability!
Cut Sheet Fluency and Custom Exempt Sales
Mieschia Wilson, Next Generation Farmstead
Buying or selling an animal share but unsure what to expect next? Join us as we dive into the world of custom exempt sales. In a workshop designed for both the farmer and the consumer. We will navigate cut sheets, discuss hanging weights, explore breed selection and more. Giving you the tools to build and strengthen the relationship between customer, butcher & farmer.
Mieschia Wilson is the farmer at the center of Next Generation Farmstead, a small, family owned business of 3 generations working together to bring humanely raised proteins to Whatcom County. She raises poultry, pork and eggs on pasture, selling pork shares and whole birds seasonally.
Breaking Down the Whole Hog (and Beef): Cut Sheets from a Butcher’s Perspective
Ernie & Jeanie Klanders, Ten Mile Meats
Accessible Local Beef
Marie Hegarty, Fair Cow’s Path Farm
Let's de-mystify purchasing local beef - it's way easier than you think! Led by local beef producer, Marie Hegarty of Fair Cow's Path Farm, learn how to purchase a "share" of beef confidently and with ease. From chosing a farmer to understanding hanging weight versus take home weight; how much freezer space you'll need, how to fill out a cut sheet to get more for your money, and everything in between, Marie is here to guide you and answer all those questions that can make buying beef shares seem intimidating!
"Marie Hegarty, owner and operator at Fair Cow's Path Farm, is a first generation Whatcom County cattle producer and lifelong lover of all things animal related. She's been running her farm for 14 years, focusing primarily on start to finish grass-fed beef production the last 9 years. Marie sells custom beef shares as well as beef by the cut at local farmers markets. She particularly enjoys helping customers utilize beef in every day meal planning as well as guiding them through the custom beef share purchasing process."
Digital Tools Without the Burnout: Smart Marketing For Busy Farmers
Allen Bush, WSU Skagit Extension
What is the role of marketing in your farm business, and how much time does and should it take up? Do you know what the highest return on investment marketing activities are for an operation of your type and at your scale? This workshop will help you assess how to market your farm effectively without losing time, focus, or alignment with your values. Case studies from livestock and diversified farms will show different paths to success to help you get and stay on track, staying authentic and values-driven while still growing sales. This session is designed for farmers, ranchers, and ag businesses who know they should be marketing but aren't sure where to start, what actually matters, or how to do it without burning out. Using real-world examples and plain language, this talk will focus on practical steps that work in rural and agricultural communities. This is marketing built for people who would rather be out with the cows than stuck behind a screen.
With more than a decade of experience in marketing and communications, Allen Bush helps ag businesses cut through the noise and connect with the people who matter most. He has worked across B2B and B2C industries, leading digital campaigns, content strategy, and brand storytelling that deliver measurable results. Known for turning complex ideas into clear, practical messaging, Allen specializes in making marketing approachable and effective — especially for small businesses and organizations that don’t have time for buzzwords or big budgets. His work spans digital marketing, email campaigns, social media, Content systems, and visual storytelling, with a strong focus on clarity, consistency, and real-world impact. Allen brings a down-to-earth approach to marketing that meets producers where they are — focused on relationships, trust, and getting back to what really works.
Small Steps, Big Impact: Improving Winter Heavy-Use Areas on Horse Properties in the Pacific Northwest
Chuck Gerdes, Whatcom CD Engineer and North40 Equine Solutions
Learn how practical, phased improvements to winter heavy-use areas can protect animal health, improve site function, and reduce mud and runoff on equine properties. This session will show how you do not have to complete every improvement at once—small, well-planned steps can lead to major long-term results. Presenters will also share available technical and financial, and manure removal and composting resources for horse owners.
Chuck Gerdes is the Conservation District engineer serving four counties in northwest Washington, providing technical design and engineering support for conservation and farm infrastructure projects. He is joined by North40 Equine Solutions owners Joel and Tresie Wiersma. North40 is a Lynden-based equine services provider specializing in manure removal and composting, site planning and practical facility solutions for horse owners. Together, they help landowners design durable, affordable heavy-use area improvements that can be implemented over time.
Byproduct to My Product: Local Wool Revenue and the Farmer's Flock
Caroline Vandenberghe, Fog & Fleece Sheepery
Do you raise dual-purpose livestock, or are you thinking about it? It’s getting harder and harder to get fiber processed and turned into something great, but this hands-on workshop can help you understand your local (and creative) options. As a 101 for wool goods and the local fiber supply chain, we'll go over animal fiber types and what they can be used for, as well as what to expect for upfront cost, local milling options, and potential products. You don't have to throw away or compost your clip, but it's important to understand what goes into turning it from byproduct into revenue.
Caroline Vandenberghe is a fiber enthusiast and shepherd with over a decade of hands-on experience with wool. She owns Fog & Fleece Sheepery, a diverse small-flock fiber farm in Whatcom County, and is an organizer for the Flock Fiber Festival - an annual knitting, crochet, and fiber arts event in Seattle with a focus on community.
Cultivating Hope through Student-Led Urban Agriculture
Ellie Duncan, City Sprouts Farm
Ellie Duncan of City Sprouts Farm will share how a ½-acre urban farm can be a transformational learning space—growing hope and belonging alongside diversified vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Drawing on eight years of experience running a food-access–centered urban farm, Ellie will discuss her work leading university student apprenticeships that reshape how students understand education, food systems, and their role in building a more just and resilient future.
Ellie Duncan is a farmer and food systems educator, living in Bellingham, Washington. Ellie manages City Sprouts Farm, an educational urban vegetable farm and farmer training program for University students which focuses on food access, community engagement and ecological growing principles. Ellie’s work is motivated by helping others pursue the joy and meaning that comes from connecting with food, the land and with one another.
Youth Public Speaking & Civic Leadership Through 4-H
Lynda Williams & Youth Presenters, Whatcom County WSU 4-H Program
Come celebrate youth voice and leadership through the Whatcom County 4-H public speaking program. This session features champion youth presenters and a live judging panel, showcasing how young people develop confidence, communication skills, and civic engagement through public presentation. Attendees will gain insight into how 4-H supports youth leadership development in our local communities.
Lynda Williams is the 4-H Coordinator for the Whatcom County WSU 4-H Program, where she supports youth development through leadership, public speaking, and community engagement programs. She works closely with educators, volunteers, and families to create inclusive opportunities for young people to build confidence and real-world skills. She will be joined by award-winning youth presenters and members of the public presentation judging panel.
Building a Farm Business from the Ground Up: A First-Generation Farm Viability Panel
Mariposa Farms, Primavera Farms, Eden's Garden, Hilda's Farming
Hear directly from first-generation family farm businesses about how they have built viable careers in farming. Panelists will share honest stories about launching and growing mixed-vegetable, direct-market farms, including the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned along the way. This session is designed for aspiring farmers, new producers, and anyone interested in building a sustainable farm business in our region.
This panel brings together local first-generation farm owners who operate direct-market, mixed-vegetable farms in Whatcom County. Each business has navigated land access, infrastructure investments, market development, and family labor while building a long-term farming career. Together, the panelists will offer practical insights and real-world experience for producers considering or strengthening farm businesses: Hilda's Farming, Eden's Garden, Primavera Farms, and Mariposa Farms. Moderator: Alex Perez of Northwest Agriculture Business Center.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J89801 to the Washington State Department of Health. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.