GrassWorks Grazing Conference

The Midwest’s premiere Grazing learning and networking event

Thursday, January 22 – Saturday January 24, 2026

Where Ideas and Community Meet

The GrassWorks Grazing Conference brings together hundreds of farmer graziers, researchers, and agriculture and conservation professionals for three days of learning, networking, and innovation. This premier annual event features over 30 expert-led sessions covering everything from managed grazing techniques and animal care to strategies for building sustainable and profitable grazing businesses. Whether you’re looking to refine your pasture management, connect with fellow graziers, or discover practical solutions to real-world challenges, GrassWorks offers an unmatched opportunity to grow your knowledge and expand your network in the grazing community.

2026 Conference

The 2026 GrassWorks Grazing Conference, January 22–24, 2026, at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Our 2026 theme is Pastures to Prosperity: Building financially smart grazing systems for today’s land stewards focusing on practical, innovative, and profitable approaches to grass-based livestock production. 

We are excited to announce 2026 GrassWorks Grazing Conference keynote speakers Melinda Sims, a cattle rancher in Wyoming and Ranching for Profit instructor, and Dwayne Estes, Executive Director of the Southeastern Grasslands Institute.

Proposals to present at the 2026 GrassWorks Grazing Conference were due in September and our planning committee is working hard to sort through all of the outstanding submissions. Therefore, if you submitted a proposal expect to hear back by mid to late October on the selection status of your submitted workshop.

Questions? conference@grassworks.org

Learn in Engaging Sessions

Each year the GrassWorks Grazing Conference offers a diverse lineup of sessions covering key topics such as  grazing economics, animal health, and the principles of managed grazing. Led by experienced graziers and agriculture experts, these sessions provide valuable, practical knowledge to help you manage your land and livestock more effectively in an ever-changing agricultural landscape.

Our 2026 GrassWorks Grazing Conference will focus on profitable grazing practices and accordingly the conference will feature sessions that explore practices to boost profitability on grazing operations.

Conference kick off will take place early in the afternoon on Thursday, January 22nd and the event will wrap up with an ice cream social in the afternoon on Saturday, January 26th.

GrassWorks is currently reviewing proposals and setting the schedule for the 2026 conference.

Connect With Your People

Looking for more than just educational sessions? The GrassWorks Grazing Conference is a lively opportunity to network and connect! Enjoy meals featuring grass-fed products from local Wisconsin farmers alongside others passionate graziers. Dance or relax to live music. Bump into an old friend or make a new one around the snack table. Above all, this is where you build lasting relationships within the grazing community!

In order to give even more people the opportunity to attend, GrassWorks is fortunate to work with organizations who provide scholarships to farmers to attend educational events. Check out these opportunities below if you are looking for scholarship funds to attend the grazing conference!

Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) scholarship opportunities

Discover Resources at the Trade Show

Explore the Exhibit Hall, featuring a wide range of exhibitors from fencing suppliers and feed providers to conservationists and technical service experts. Whether you’re looking for new tools, resources, or advice, this is the perfect place to connect with suppliers and professionals who support grazing practices.

Conference Accommodations

There are 3 options for Hotel blocks for the GrassWorks Grazing Conference this year. The Radisson, (connected to La Crosse Center via Skywalk), Pearl Street Hotel and Suites, and Home 2 Suites by Hilton. Reservation blocks will be released after December 21st, 2025. 

Sponsorship Levels for 2026

We’re excited to continue with our on-brand sponsorship levels for the 2026 GrassWorks Grazing Conference. These tiers are aligned with our commitment to resilience and growth— Sprout, Leaf, Stem, Boot, and Flowering—capturing the journey of regenerative farming, from initial innovation to full fruition.

Each level offers tailored benefits designed to foster meaningful connections with our community. For those seeking to make the most significant impact, the $10k Flowering level provides an exclusive opportunity to address attendees during a plenary session, placing your brand at the forefront of our conference.

Join us in cultivating the future of grazing!

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR SPONSORSHIP PDF
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR ACCESS TO FULL SPONSORSHIP BROCHURE

2026 Conference Sponsors

Boot Sponsors

Stem Sponsors

Leaf Sponsors

 

Cutler Fence

Sprout Sponsors

Nonprofit Sponsors

Audubon Great Lakes

Clean Wisconsin

National Grazing Lands Coalition

Practical Farmers of Iowa

Sauk Soil & Water Improvement Group

Exhibitors

Albert Lee Seeds

Wisconsin Cattleman’s Association

Prior GrassWorks Grazing Conferences

The GrassWorks Grazing Conference has, for year, brought together farmers, ranchers, educator, researches, conservation, and agriculture professionals. Our gratitude goes out to all who have contributed financially and with their expertise to the long running success of this event!

2025: Conference theme was Resilience by Design 2025 GrassWorks Conference Schedule

Advance Your Grazing

Learn from the experts, connect with other grazing enthusiasts, and build your community.

The GrassWorks Grazing Conference is the premier educational event for regenerative agriculture and sustainable livestock management. This annual grazing conference brings together cattle producers, sheep farmers, dairy graziers, pasture management professionals, and conservation specialists for hands-on learning and networking.

Attendees gain access to over 30 expert-led sessions covering rotational grazing systems, pasture health, soil regeneration, livestock nutrition on pasture, grazing infrastructure, and farm profitability strategies. Whether you’re practicing managed intensive grazing, mob grazing, or adaptive multi-paddock grazing, you’ll find actionable insights from leading researchers, experienced ranchers, and agricultural extension specialists.

The conference serves farmers and ranchers seeking to improve forage quality, reduce feed costs, enhance animal welfare through pasture-based systems, and build resilient, profitable grazing operations. Conservation professionals will find valuable opportunities to connect with working graziers, explore collaborative approaches to land stewardship, and learn how grazing can support wildlife habitat, water quality, and ecosystem health goals.