The Lewis County Agriculture & Natural Resources agent approached the Lewis County Cattlemen’s Association and Rip’s Farm Center with the thought of teaching farmers the proper way to build and utilize electric fence. The three organizations worked in collaboration to set up a hands-on demonstration field day.

 The demonstration was set up on the George Sparks farm. The ANR agent coordinated with a local fence builder and set post, advertised the event, and worked with Rip’s Farm Center and True Test to set up a 1000 feet of demo electric fence. Farmers learned how to properly build a brace, tie proper knots for wire, how to properly tension the wire, and how to properly set up a grounding system. A properly built fence will last 30 years verses a poorly built fence may only last 10 years. That mean a much better return on investment.

  Over 30 farmers from Lewis and surrounding counties attended the event. In addition to the positive feedback received from these farmers, a local fence contractor also learned how to build a different type of brace, a floating brace that he can now use to improve the offerings of his business.