It’s called a country living expo, but it’s an event with something for just about everyone whether they live in the country or not.
Among the dozen of classes being offered are those on cast iron cooking, lefse making, how to grow luscious tomatoes in the Northwest, Instant Pot cooking, baking Scandinavian cookies, how to construct a cheese board for entertaining, frosting cupcakes and baking bruche noel, the traditional French Christmas cake.
With an event named The Country Living Expo & Cattlemen’s Winterschool, you can expect some courses on farming and animal raising. It doesn’t disappoint. Some of the topics include how to raise heritage turkeys, farming with oxen, sheep shearing, horse keeping and one entitled “Camels: The Other Livestock.”
Temple Grandin, an author and professor of animal science at Colorado State University who has gained national attention for candidly speaking on her life with autism, will make two presentations at the Jan. 26 event at Stanwood High School.
She will talk about working with farm animals, geared toward small farmers, said Joan DeVries, with WSU Skagit County Extension, and who is coordinating the event.
Grandin is in such demand as a speaker that they scheduled her for this year’s expo about 18 months ago, DeVries said.
About half of the expo’s classes are on topics related to livestock, forestry or farming. Among the 60 classes being offered for the first time at the annual event are how to build a pollinated garden, how to care for heritage quilts, how to bred cows, and raising pigs.
A live camel, named Banjo, will participate in the class on raising the hump-backed animals, led by a professional camel trainer, DeVries said.
If you need a few more examples of the variety of topics being offered: there are classes on motorcycle maintenance, welding, sustainable gardening, attracting hummingbirds and how to pour concrete slabs.
“It will be a fantastic day,” DeVries said. “In the winter, it’s a nice day to refresh their spirit and point them toward spring.
“A fun day for people — that’s our goal,” she said
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
If you go
The Country Living Expo & Cattlemen’s Winterschool is scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 26 at Stanwood High School, 7400 272nd St. NW, Stanwood. Registration is $75 for adults, $40 for students 12-18 and $10 for a student sponsorship.
Registration available online through noon Jan. 20 at bit.ly/2RBal98 or at the door on Jan. 26. For more information, including class schedules, go to extension.wsu.edu/skagit/countrylivingexpo.
About Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, and who is autistic, is known for her unusual insights into animal behavior and as an autism activist. She developed the “hug box” to calm those on the autism spectrum.
Grandin is the author of a number of books on living with autism, including “The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger’s,” and on animal behavior, such as “Animals Make Us Human.”
Her latest book is “Calling All Minds: How To Think and Create Like an Inventor.” She will be making three presentations locally:
In Everett: Her talk begins at 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave. Tickets are $40 and available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3820710.
In Stanwood: She will be speaking at morning and afternoon sessions at the County Living Expo on Jan. 26 on how to reduce stress in animal handling.
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