JUNCTION CITY, Ore. — On a sunny late winter morning in Lane County, Quinn Butterfield found herself in the cafeteria at Junction City High School, unsure of what to expect from her first Oregon State University Extension Service event.
"This is a way to connect with people who haven’t ever been exposed to Extension.”
Earlier that day, she had left her home outside McMinnville and driven south through the Willamette Valley to attend Rural Living Day, a daylong event designed for rural residents looking to gain knowledge and confidence in managing their land.
Rural Living Day, hosted by OSU Extension, drew 85 participants — many of them new to Extension. The event offered a wide range of classes, including composting, water rights, well-water management, small engine maintenance, and wildlife management.
Butterfield and her partner, Courtney Roggenkamp, were among the first-time attendees. The couple had recently purchased their first home and attempted to start a vegetable garden the year before — with disappointing results.
“We bought a lot of plants, but we didn’t have any clue what we were doing and most of them died,” Butterfield said. “It was a waste of money and felt disheartening.”
Building a strong foundation
Butterfield had been studying gardening on her own, but she said the event provided the foundational knowledge she needed.
“We learned about our soil, how to get it tested, and additives to amend it if needed,” she said. “We learned about seed germination, which will save us money compared to buying plants. We learned how to prep the soil, sow seeds, and when to start different vegetables.”
The event also included information on food preservation, an important topic for the couple.
“Knowing how to preserve the food we grow is really important,” Butterfield said. “We left with a ton of resources to continue our learning and be able to reach out for help should we encounter issues this year.”
Connecting with new audiences
Rural Living Day was held before OSU Extension postponed in-person events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now in its third year, the event aims to connect with people who are not commercial farmers but who want to better understand and manage their land.
“This is a way to connect with people who haven’t ever been exposed to Extension,” said Melissa Fery, associate professor of practice and small farms specialist for the south Willamette Valley. “They’re not commercial producers or part of commodity groups. Many rural landowners aren’t farming for profit — they’re just managing their land. We thought Rural Living Day would be an opportunity to reach them.”
The first Rural Living Day was held in Roseburg in 2018, followed by Harrisburg in 2019.
Butterfield appreciated the knowledge and approachability of the instructors.
“The speakers for all the classes we went to were extremely knowledgeable and willing to answer questions,” she said. “Everyone was very kind and helpful throughout the process.”
