Welcome to GrassWorks!
GrassWorks is a grassroots membership organization that provides leadership and education to farmers and consumers for the advancement of managed grass-based agriculture to benefit present and future generations. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, GrassWorks links farmers with the resources they need to be successful graziers.
Managed Grazing is an economically and environmentally sound method of livestock agriculture. For nearly thirty years, managed grazing has been a foundation of the sustainable agriculture movement in the upper Midwest and we are proud of the role that GrassWorks has played in its development. We provide leadership, education and resources for grass-based farmers and regional organizations that support graziers.
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!
Show your support for managed grazing, GrassWorks, and all the great work the organization and it's farmer-members do! Looking to get more involved? Feel free to reach out to the GrassWorks Board and Staff, and we'd be happy to have your input and connect you to opportunities and resources!
Membership Form - CLICK HERE
GrassWorks is hiring!
GrassWorks SUMMER Picnic
August 23rd!
Mark your calendars!
This year's annual picnic will be hosted by GrassWorks board member, Vance Haugen and his family!
Spring Side Dairy LLC was purchased in 1993, and is starting their 30th year of managed rotational grazing!
The farm is about 270 acres, and is owned by Vance and Bonnie Haugen, as well as their son Olaf and his family. Olaf is the farm manager. They are currently milking approximately 165 three way cross cows OAD. No row crops, just forage and grazing.
Address is: 12620 Deer Rd, Canton, MN 55922
More details to come!
* If you'd like to help plan or if your organization would like to be a collaborator for this event, feel free to contact rachelbouressa@gmail.com
Meet our New Full-time Executive Director
Patty Laskowski Morren
Patty grew up on the farm that she now lives on with her husband and two children. They have been organic dairy graziers since 2004. Patty has a deep appreciation for her farm and its history in the Driftless Region and is passionate about sustainability, stewardship, and improving the land. She has a BS in Biology from UW Oshkosh and an MS in Environmental Studies from Ohio University. After graduate school, Patty enjoyed several short-term or seasonal projects that worked toward environmental solutions including surveying businesses on recycling practices and research on limiting reproduction in lampreys and zebra mussels. At this time Patty also discovered that she was drawn to instruction and has taught anatomy, natural science, and botany courses. Patty has a strong history in agricultural nonprofit development and management and is happy and excited to bring this background to GrassWorks. Engaging with GrassWorks combines many of her career interests and allows her to work toward advancing grazing. And what could be better than that?! Patty enjoys many outdoor recreational activities such as camping, canoeing down the Kickapoo River, and hiking state and national parks. Patty also shares a love of basketball at her local school, coaching and co-coordinating in the girls' youth program.
Ask a Grazier!
Do you have a grazing question or conundrum? Or maybe you have some advice or experience to share.
Ask-a-Grazier Groups provide a resource for more information about fencing, water, soil health, animal health, seeding, forage, funding and programs, direct-marketing, local networks, etc.
Insight and answers will be provided by the GrassWorks grazing community: members and advisors, as well as agency and university affiliates.
Grassland 2.0 is a collaborative project involving producers, researchers, policy makers and supply chain players working together to create a pathway toward a regenerative food and farming system that delivers stable profits for farmers, rural community vitality and protection of the ecosystem on which we all depend. Grassland 2.0 seeks to reshape Midwestern agriculture as a perennial, livestock-integrated, grazing-based system in the image of the original native prairies (Grassland 1.0).
To do this, we need your help! We are taking an integrated approach, working to develop technical and financial tools, expand grass-fed markets, cultivate positive institutional policy changes, and empower producers and consumers to make that vision a reality. Your ideas will fuel this transformation! Please take a minute to share your ideas via this link: www.grasslandag.org
If you have questions, or would like more information on the Grassland 2.0 project, reach out anytime to our Grassland 2.0 outreach coordinator Laura Paine at: lkpaine@wisc.edu, 608-338-9039 or 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706
While you are visiting our website:
Check out Pasture Walks in your area to gain first hand knowledge from experienced graziers.
Order your Grazing Guide which explains the steps to successful grazing practices.
Order your Grazing Stick to help you decide when the time is right to move your livestock.
If you're hosting a grazing event in your area - please send us a copy to place on our Calendar of Events. Check back often to find out about local pasture walks, demonstrations, workshops or network conferences.
EDUCATION is one of GrassWorks' greatest resources. In our continued efforts to bring you, producers and consumers, the most current information on Managed Grazing. Please take a moment to browse our site. We have many educational resources (fact sheets, grazing guides, pasture sticks and articles/book titles) for you to use in the management of your operation or share with your local agency personnel or policy makers.
Meet the GrassWorks 2023 Board Of Directors:
Kevin Mahalko (President), Deb Jakubek (Vice President), Amy Fenn (Treasurer), Aaron Pape (Secretary)
Drew Carlson, Vance Haugen, Kirsten Jurcek, Cherrie Nolden, Ashly Steinke, Melissa Weyland and Otto Wiegand
Wisconsin's rainfall simulator is a tool used to teach soil health principles to landowners, farmers, and the general public.