Many farmers are looking for assistance understanding how to build fence and understand the types and values of different fencing materials.  The fencing schools allow for a classroom portion to explain some types of fencing materials and their costs, the basic structure of a fence (fixed know and electrified smooth wire high tensile) as well fencing law and new technologies in fencing.  My talk is an introduction to fencing materials and their costs. The workshop also includes an afternoon portion to provide hands on opportunities for farmers and service providers to experience building a fence.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being "Not at all useful" and 5 being "Very useful," the overall program was ranked at 4.79 and my session on fencing basics was ranked at 4.71 based on 44 participants.  Perhaps the most impressive was the 4.89 ranking for the hands on portion of the program indicating the value of allowing folks to actually handle the fencing materials and build braces with supervision and direction, which empowers them to do the same at home.  With at least half of the cost of all fencing typically tied to labor, this ability for farm owners and managers to take this knowledge and build their own fences