WALDOBORO — University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host the third event of the annual Pasture Walk Series on Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., at East Forty Farm and Dairy, 2361 Friendship Road, in Waldoboro. 

The third session in the series' highlights the business and culinary side of sustainable grazing, focusing heavily on value-added production. East Forty Farm showcases how high-quality forage directly transforms into premium farm products.

"Here, rotational grazing supports a specialized ecosystem: milk from the dairy herd is crafted into award-winning Lakin's Gorges Cheese, heritage-breed pigs are raised on a specialized whey diet from the cheesemaking process and 100% grass-fed beef is ethically produced," said an Extension news release. 

Participants will walk the pastures with Extension forage educator Jaime Garzon to examine how forage quality and specific plant species influence milk flavor and cheese production. The owners will be on hand to answer questions about the logistics of building an on-farm creamery, managing swine on pasture without degrading the soil and marketing grass-fed products directly to Maine consumers. 

The Maine Pasture Walk Series is free and open to all, including both beginner and experienced farmers. To register, visit the event webpage. For additional event details or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Melissa Libby Babcock at 207.581.2788 or melissa.libby1@maine.edu.

Additional stops in the Pasture Walk Series include Bethel on July 22 and Leeds on August 14. Full details are available on the series webpage.

About University of Maine Cooperative Extension

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine's land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.