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ADWA Introduces Deer Farming into Texas Ag Program

Raising deer has been practiced in North America for than a century, but the industry itself has never been perceived as ‘mainstream’ when compared to traditional livestock options, such as cattle or goats. Today, however, deer farming might soon be part of children’s homework in Texas.

The American Deer & Wildlife Alliance (ADWA) is pleased to announce a ‘first-of-its-kind’ Deer Farming 101 workshop to be held at the Professional Development Conference of the Agricultural Teachers Association of Texas in July 2010. The conference brings together Ag teachers from across the state, and this workshop will provide an informative basis for teachers to bring deer farming instruction to their schools as early as Fall 2010.

“We are working to introduce deer farming to a new generation and make the industry a more mainstream part of basic agricultural education,” says John Meng, president of the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance. “With low livestock and produce prices and rising expenses, family farms are having tough times and many farmers are looking for alternatives to make good economic decisions under the circumstances. Students, teachers and we are all in agreement that introducing a new curriculum that includes deer farming is a huge benefit for both FFA students and the cervid industry.”

Last year, ADWA also conducted lectures that addressed more than 100 teachers and students from the FFA Stony Point Chapter, located north of Austin. The sessions introduced students, grades nine through 12, to the lucrative aspects of deer farming, plus increased their awareness for issues affecting the wildlife industry, sportsmen and conservationists.