The Buckingham 4-H Livestock Club participated in the Dillwyn Christmas parade on Dec. 16. The livestock club’s float featured a front porch and rocking chairs as the theme was “A Hometown Christmas.” Members enjoyed riding in the parade and giving out candy to onlookers.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is bringing the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training to Virginia and surrounding area growers. Buckingham residents are invited to attend. Southside Virginia Community College, John H. Daniel Campus, Workforce Development Center on 200 Daniel Road, Keysville, will host this event on Monday, Jan. 8 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Lunch and refreshments will be served.

The lead trainer is Dr. Laura Strawn and other trainers include Eric Bowen, Amber Vallotton and Tommy Saunders. Please RSVP as space is limited to Nottoway Extension Office at (434) 645-9315 or to Eric Bowen at bowen@ vt.edu. Register by Jan. 3, payments may be mailed to VCE Nottoway, P.O. Box 22, Nottoway, Virginia 23955-0022. You must attend the full day in order to receive the certificate of completion from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). This educational program will help fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The trainers will spend instruction time covering content contained in these modules: Introduction to Produce Safety; Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training; Soil Amendments; Wildlife, Domesticated Animals and Land Use; Agricultural Water — Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water; Postharvest Handling and Sanitation; and How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan. In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of: microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm; how to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm; parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one; requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.

Spreading God’s Gifts wishes everyone a happy new and wants to thank the community for all of its support and encouragement in 2017. The next event will be Feb. 10 at First Baptist Church at 5 p.m. More information to come. Stay tuned.

The annual Virginia Shepherd’s Symposium will be held Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona. The one-day program will include educational sessions focusing on parasite management, forages, hay feeding, lamb and wool marketing, and animal health. On Friday afternoon, Jan. 12, open meetings of the Virginia Sheep Producers Association and the Virginia Sheep Industry Council will be hosted. For more information, contact Scott Greiner at (540) 231-9159 or sgreiner@vt.edu or visit Virginia Tech Sheep Extension website https:// www.apsc.vt.edu/extensionandoutreach/ Sheep-Extension.html. The deadline to register is Jan. 8.

SHERRI WISE can be reached at wise.buckingham@gmail.com or (434) 983-1393.