“Parasite Patrol Plus” Workshop Coming to Jefferson County, Iowa Extension Office

Internal parasites continue to challenge sheep and goat operations across the region. Parasite Patrol Plus, designed with sheep and goat producers in mind and open to all interested participants, will be held at the Jefferson County Extension Office in collaboration with Davis County Extension. The workshop provides hands-on training and FAMACHA certification and will be led by Carolyn Ihde, Small Ruminant Outreach Specialist, as part of a combined effort between the UW–Madison Division of Extension and ISU Extension and Outreach.

The workshop will take place at the Jefferson County Extension Office, 2606 West Burlington Avenue, Fairfield, Iowa, on Monday, June 15, 2026, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Workshop Date and Location

📍 Location: Jefferson County Extension Office
2606 West Burlington Avenue
Fairfield, Iowa 52556
🕓 Time: 4:00 – 8:00 PM
📅 Date: Monday, June 15, 2026

What is Parasite Patrol Plus?

Parasite Patrol Plus expands on the foundational Parasite Patrol program by combining classroom learning with practical, hands-on experience and certification opportunities. Participants can choose the level of training that best fits their needs:

Parasite Patrol: Classroom instruction with hands-on fecal egg counting
Parasite Patrol Plus: Full program including classroom instruction, fecal egg counting, and FAMACHA certification

“This program goes beyond the basics,” Ihde said. “Participants take a deeper look at the parasite lifecycle and learn how to use that knowledge to break the cycle on their farms. We also address biosecurity concerns and the risks associated with parasite movement between operations.”

What participants will learn

Participants will gain practical experience and learn how to:

Perform and interpret fecal egg counts
Use FAMACHA scoring for targeted selective treatment
Evaluate dewormer effectiveness and identify resistance
Understand parasite lifecycles to disrupt transmission
Identify biosecurity risks and strengthen on-farm practices

Registration and Fees

Participants will need to register for Parasite Patrol, and Parasite Patrol Plus is optional. However, if a participant attended Parasite Patrol in 2025, Parasite Patrol Plus can be registered separately.