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NRCS Field Day at Wild East Farm

Join us for a full-day field day at Wild East Farm, an innovative diversified farm and agroforestry operation in McDowell County, NC. This event is designed for farmers and agricultural professionals actively exploring NRCS conservation practices and cost-share opportunities.

Wild East Farm is a working 45-acre farm with 5 full-time farmers producing pastured meats and annual vegetables, with 12+ acres of early-establishment tree crops. As an EQIP grant recipient with a strong working relationship with their local NRCS office, the farm offers a real-world look at how NRCS-funded practices are implemented across multiple systems.

What to Expect

The day kicks off with a presentation by Wild East Farm's own Noah and Lyric East, who will share how they have built NRCS-funded conservation practices into a holistic, integrated farm system. From there, we'll head out for a walking tour of the farm where you can see those practices on the ground firsthand.

After lunch, Jaimie McGirt of the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) will walk through NRCS programs and the application process in depth. The afternoon wraps up with hands-on breakout sessions where small groups will work through the application process together, with NRCS staff and technical service providers on hand to answer questions and provide personalized guidance.

See NRCS Practices in Action

The farm tour will highlight how Wild East has put NRCS EQIP funding to work through three implemented practices:

• High Tunnel (Practice 325) — supporting season-extended vegetable production
• Brush Management (Practice 314) — applied to forest pig paddocks and agroforestry systems
• Pasture and Hay Planting (Practice 512) — as part of their silvopasture operation

This Event Is Ideal For:

• Farmers interested in applying for NRCS/EQIP funding
• Producers who want to understand the application process before committing
• Agricultural professionals working with conservation practices or wanting to learn more about NRCS
• Anyone exploring agroforestry as a viable farm enterprise

Local lunch and refreshments will be provided at no cost.

Accessibility Note

This event takes place outside at a working farm, with some portions under a covered barn. Chairs will be provided for seated portions. The tour will include walking on unpaved ground through pastures. The tour and bathroom facilities are not wheelchair accessible.

This event is hosted by the NC Conservation Outreach Project (NCCOP), a USDA NRCS Cooperative Agreement NR243A750003C105, in partnership with the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI).

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Agenda:

8:30 – 9:00 AM | Morning Welcome Arrive, grab refreshments, and connect with fellow farmers and agricultural professionals before the day gets started.

9:00 – 10:00 AM | Farm Story: NRCS Practices in a Holistic System Noah and Lyric East of Wild East Farm share how they have integrated NRCS-funded conservation practices into a thriving, diversified farm and agroforestry operation — and what they've learned along the way.

10:00 – 11:30 AM | Farm Walking Tour See it on the ground. Walk the farm and observe NRCS practices in action, including a High Tunnel (325), Brush Management (314), and Pasture and Hay Planting (512) across silvopasture, forest pig paddocks, riparian buffers, and annual gardens.

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM | Local Lunch Enjoy a delicious lunch provided by local caterers and engage in informal conversation with farmers, NRCS staff, and technical service providers.

12:45 – 1:45 PM | NRCS Programs and the Application Process Jaimie McGirt of RAFI walks through available NRCS programs, cost-share opportunities, and what to expect when navigating the application process.

2:00 – 3:00 PM | Hands-On Application Breakouts Work through the application process in small groups with direct support from NRCS staff and technical service providers who can answer your specific questions.

3:00 – 3:30 PM | Debrief and Closing Wrap up with a group debrief, closing remarks, and additional resources to take home.