GrassWorks

Field Day: Bouressa Farm Gathering
2024-06-23 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | WI
Hosted by River Alliance of Wisconsin
Register Here
Food, music, fun on the farm. We’ve got that planned for a field day on June 23.
Come to the Bouressa Family Farm to learn about how regenerative agriculture can protect water. This is a family-friendly, fun, and educational event to learn about regenerative agriculture and how to get involved in supporting a sustainable farm future.
Tickets for adults are $20 (or pay what you can) and kids are free. Food is included in the ticket price, along with a bluegrass show, farm tour, hay rides, raffles, screen printing and more.
BONUS – Those who register are entered to win a Happy Camper prize pack from Fontana Sports or a freezer box from Sitka Seafood Market.
The River Alliance crew hopes you can come and see regenerative agriculture in action. Kids are welcome and may leave inspired by seeing earth-friendly farming up close.
Questions? Contact Mike Tiboris at mtiboris@wisconsinrivers.org
Want to volunteer? We could use helpers with set up, clean up, and even direct folks from the parking area. If you want to help with the event, contact Mike at mtiboris@wisconsinrivers.org.
This event is brought to you by River Alliance of Wisconsin and Bouressa Family Farm. Groups that will share information about regenerative farming include Savanna Institute, GrassWorks 2.0, the Sand County Foundation and the National Resources Conservation Service.

Pasture Walk with Christopher Baird: Farm Financial Overview
2024-06-25 15:30 - 17:30
Hosted by Great River Graziers
Farm financial overview of a 50 cow Jersey dairy.
Great River Graziers Pasture Walks

Meeting Market Opportunities and Farm to Food Access Needs: Marketing Cattle, Sheep and Goat
2024-06-25 23:00 - 2024-06-26 00:30
Hosted by Wisconsin Local Food with Abdullah Hussaini of Equity Livestock
Are you a cattle, sheet, or goat farmer looking for new markets?
This WILFPA Program webinar will share on strategies to keep WI meat producers competitive while increasing wholesale capacity in a changing landscape, by engaging both ethnic and commercial livestock markets to feed Wisconsin communities.
Register at:
wilocalfood.org/events/meat-marketing

Field Day: Starting a Commercial Sheep Farm from Scratch
2024-06-26 14:30 - 18:00
Hosted by Sand County Foundation
Register Here
Jeremie Favre and Ellen Geisler began a commercial meat sheep ranch centered around managed grazing in 2022. They are eager to share their experiences with others interested in making a similar transition.
Come learn:

How managed grazing provides excellent nutrition for productive livestock
The importance of the right grass-legume mix
How to raise prolific sheep that lamb every 8 months

A rainfall simulator will also demonstrate how different field management practices impact soil erosion and water infiltration.
This event is free.
POTLUCK LUNCH – Please bring a dish to pass. Refreshments will be provided.

Wagner Family Farm
2024-06-26 23:30 - 2024-06-27 01:30
Hosted by River Country RC&D and River Country Grazing Network
This educational event will include organic dairy, soil health, composting, direct marketing, establishing an on the farm store, silvo-pasture and exploration of farm tourism. Sponsored by River Country RCD/Grazing Network, Eau Claire County American Recovery Plan Act and the USDA-NRCS, under number NR195F48XXXXC008. USDA and Eau Claire County are equal opportunity providers and employers.

Pasture Walk: Solar Watering System & Handling Facilities
2024-06-27 23:00 - 2024-06-28 01:00
Hosted by Marathon County Department of Conservation, Planning & Zoning
Solar Watering System & Handling Facilities @ Bella Hof Family Farm
Jeff and Michaela Levich of Bella Hof Family Farm are hosting a pasture walk Thursday, June 27th from 6PM to 8PM. This pasture walk will be hosted at their satellite farm where they rotationally graze their heifers and steers. This is a remote location, so the cool thing about this site is that they installed solar panels to supply power to their water pump and fence energizer. We will also discuss how they handle cattle at this remote acreage along with pasture fertility on sandier soils, along with any thing else that comes up! Bring your questions. 🙂
The land they graze is located around this address: 173304 Church Rd, Aniwa, WI, 54408. Please do not park in this driveway as it is not owned by the Levich’s. We will park along Church Road. Watch for the Pasture Walk Signs to guide you!
Jeff & Michaela Levich have white park beef cattle on sandy soils w/ solar watering system

Driftless Grazing School
2024-06-28 00:00 - 2024-06-30 00:00
Hosted by the Land Stewardship Project
Learn More Here
Register Here
Join the Land Stewardship Project for a two-day Grazing School in the rolling Driftless Region of southeastern Minnesota. This in-depth grazing school will be led by Jordan and Rachelle Meyer, plus a cohort of regional grazing leaders. Any grazier wanting to take their grazing skills to the next level should attend. Both beginning and seasoned farmers alike will benefit from the comprehensive, in-field experience that will be provided. Come prepared to network and ask questions. This event is limited to 70 people to allow for the best student-to-instructor ratio.
Topics will include:

Soil health & biology
Understanding your context
Pasture establishment
Observation & soil skills
Multi-species grazing
Fencing for multiple species
Watering systems
Managing for diversity in changing conditions
Small-scale farming economics
Technical assistance pointers (i.e. NRCS programs like EQIP)

Speakers:

Jordan & Rachelle Meyer — Own and operate Wholesome Family Farms, a diversified, regenerative grazing farm where they raise dairy cows, goats, sheep, grass-fed beef, raw milk, and more. They prioritize profitability while fostering a love for farming, and are committed to leaving the land better than they found it. The Meyers are constantly innovating and trying new techniques.
Clifford Johnson — Clifford farms 2,000 organic acres and grazes 270 animal units near Paynesville, Minn., with his wife, Heidi, and daughter, Sherlyn, plus his parents and brother.
Jeff Duchene — State grazing specialist for the Minnesota Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Jeff has worked with NRCS for over 15 years as a grazing specialist. During that time, he has worked with producers across the state on planning to improve grazing management.
Nikki Meyer — Nikki is growing her farm to be financially and intentionally simple while also being eco-friendly and a profitable business. Nikki and Cody, along with their family, run a small, conventional farm where they raise beef, corn, soybeans, and forages.
Zach Knutson — Zach Knutson has a master’s degree in agricultural and applied economics from Virginia Tech. He operates a diversified farm near Zumbrota, Minn., with his fiancé, Brooke, where they focus on combining grazing livestock with perennials.

Registration
Registration is required; RSVP by Wednesday, June 26. No walk-ups will be available. Limited to 70 spots. One person per registration form. Register using the form below. No fee. Upon registering, check confirmation e-mail for nearby lodging recommendations. We are accepting free-will contributions to help cover costs of food, speakers, and childcare. To donate, click here.
More Information
For more information, questions, or to change your registration status, contact LSP’s Alex Romano at aromano@landstewardshipproject.org; 641-220-6000.

Pasture Walk: Sheep Grazing Under Solar Panels
2024-07-02 15:30 - 17:30
Hosted by Great River Graziers
Vernon Electric CoopTrevor ClarkRudy Miller
Sheep grazing under solar electric panels. Guest: Carolyn Idhe, UW & lowa Small Ruminant Outreach Specialist.
Great River Graziers Pasture Walks

Bale Grazing Followup – Summer Pasture Walk & BBQ
2024-07-09 23:00 - 2024-07-10 02:00
Hosted by Farmer-Led Watershed Councils of the St. Croix and Red Cedar Rivers
Learn More Here
Farmers Kevin Conard and Laura Domagala placed bales across their pastures last year for the first time to try bale grazing. They worked with UW Extension staff to monitor forage quality as well as soil health this spring and summer.
Meet them in July when they’ll be sharing how the experience worked for them. UW-Madison Extension researcher, Francois Anglade, and Grazing Outreach Specialist, Jason Cavadini, will also talk about the study and herd management as we walk through the pastures and share dinner.

McGraw Farm: A Grassland - Savanna Restoration in Progress
2024-07-11 21:00 - 2024-07-12 00:00
Hosted by Southern Driftless Grasslands
Register Here
See the impacts of 7 years of strategic management effort on a farm once over-run with wild parsnip, multiflora rose, and honeysuckle and now actively managed for quality grasslands and savanna.
See the impacts of 7 years of strategic management effort on a farm once over-run with wild parsnip, multiflora rose, and honeysuckle and now actively managed for quality grasslands and savanna. Visit a savanna restoration in progress – compare two different on-going restoration strategies side by side. Tour a large expansive grassland that supports Henslow’s sparrows, bobolinks, Eastern meadowlarks, dickcissels and more. Discuss grassland management using fire and mowing.

On site will be resource professionals with information about NRCS cost-share programs that support savanna restoration efforts and pasture health improvements.
Come for the learning and stay for the conversation over dinner. Local grass-fed beef and refreshments will be provided. Please bring a dish to pass.

Event contact: Cindy Becker, Southern Driftless Grasslands, cindy@driftlessconservancy.org

Setting Up a Multi-Species Grazing Operation
2024-07-16 20:00 - 22:30
Hosted by Practical Farmers of Iowa
Register Here
Michael and Courtney Gutschenritter, along with their three small children, own and operate Three Brothers Farm in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The 100-acre farm is a conservation-focused, planted entirely in perennials. The Gutschenritters produce pasture-raised eggs from 2,800 laying hens; grass-fed lamb; wool blankets and sheepskins from their flock of 120 Shetland sheep; and custom-graze 25 of their neighbor’s bred dairy heifers. They sell their eggs in local grocery stores and direct-market their lamb and wool products.
They also make and sell innovative farm manuals, including their sliding fence system for their chickens, which allows them to move their coops and electric netting without handling. Join Michael and Courtney to learn how they bring a conservation mindset to establishing, managing and marketing their multi-species grazing operation.
Meal
A meal will follow the field day.
See & Discuss

Building innovative, beginner-friendly fencing
Planning ways to add wildlife habitat into a grazing operation
Financial planning and value-added products
Creating a multi-species grazing operation

Pasture Walk at Hahnalulu Ventures
2024-07-16 22:00 - 2024-07-17 00:00
Hosted by Golden Sands RC&DnnJoin us at Hahnalulu Ventures to hear about how to incorporate annuals into your grazing rotation. Learn about the different annuals and their benefits. Talk with a Byron Seed Representative on how they can help you choose the annuals that best fit your operation.nnMeet your local County Land & Water Conservation Department and NRCS staff to find out about available resources. nnConnect with a Grazing Specialist about assistance and resources.nnRSVP by July 12th to grazing@goldensandsrcd.org or 715-343-6215 x 709nnStay up to date at https://www.goldensandsrcd.org/pasture-walks

Hobby Farm Homesteading Tour at the Thelen Family Farm
2024-07-16 23:00 - 2024-07-17 01:00
Hosted by Glacierland RC&D
Register Here
See regenerative agriculture on a small scale through a tour of the Thelen Family Farm, a small-scale farm raising organically-fed pigs and chickens on rotated, fresh pastures. Visit with local producers and learn how this family farm is beginning its regenerative journey.
Refreshments will be served.
Flyer

Dairy Heifer Grazing at Marshfield Ag Research Station
2024-07-18 15:00 - 17:00
Hosted by Marathon County
Learn how dairy heifer grazing can reduce costs and exceed performance standards.
Contact Brooke Bembeneck with questions at (715) 370-9651 or Brooke.Bembeneck@co.marathon.wi.us.
All pasture walks are free and family-friendly.
Water, milk, and cookies available!
Check out the Marathon County Clover Belt Grazing Community Facebook page for event info as the dates get closer.

Workshop: Efficiencies for Scaled Dairy Grazing
2024-07-18 16:00 - 19:00
This field day is a collaboration between the Klessig family, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, the Wallace Center at Winrock International, GrassWorks, Glacierland RC&D, Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Lunch provided (including grass-fed burgers)
Pre-register here! https://tinyurl.com/SaxonHomestead
Join us for a FREE workshop in partnership with Saxon Homestead Farm!
DUE TO THE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA, THIS EVENT IS BEING MOVED TO AN OFF-FARM LOCATION.
Hosted at: Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center
7001 Gass Lake Road
Manitowoc, WI 54220
(Town of Newton)
Thursday July 18th, 11am-2pmLunch provided (including grass-fed burgers)
Economic pressures in the dairy sector make optimizing scale and providing options to farmers essential, including for graziers. This workshop will focus on infrastructure, management, and technology to increase efficiency when running a larger dairy herd on pasture. The Klessigs graze over 600 cows using both managed grazing and feeding a TMR; They milk in a 24-unit swing parlor.
This workshop is a collaboration between the Klessig family, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, the Wallace Center at Winrock International, GrassWorks, Glacierland RC&D, Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership. Funding support comes from Great Lakes Protection Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and GrassWorks.

Pasture Walk: New Pasture Establishment and Pollinator Habitat
2024-07-18 22:30 - 2024-07-19 00:30
Hosted by Glacierland RC&DRegister HereA comparison of hayfields, newly renovated pasture, CRP land, and pollinator habitat.Hannah Miller, farmer, will share her experience in starting her new sheep operation. Micah Kloppenburg, Xerces Society, will discuss pasture forage quality, quantity, and pollinator habitat.
Flyer

Pasture Walk with Drew Roger: Accurately Estimating Dry Matter
2024-07-19 15:30 - 17:30
Hosted by Great River Graziers
Drew Roger(608) 606-3814
Accurately estimating dry matter production on paddocks for dairy cattle. Guest: Altfrid Krusenbaum.
Great River Graziers Pasture Walks

Pasture Walk at Anathoth Community Farm
2024-07-20 15:00 - 17:00
Hosted by Northwest Wisconsin Graziers Network
7/20 Mike Mile & Barb Kass E. Luck at Anathoth Community Farm.
See website

Pasture Walk with Mike Hoppenjan
2024-07-24 23:00 - 2024-07-25 01:00
Hosted by Sauk County
What does a herd of 250 stocker cattle look like on a pasture? Come to this pasture walk and see for yourself. Cattle handling, vaccination protocols, and watering 250 head at one time will be discussed.
Cattle insurance will also be a topic of discussion.
Sauk County Pasture Walks

Carbon, Crops + Cows
2024-07-29 14:30 - 20:30, 2024-07-30 14:30 - 20:30, 2024-07-31 14:30 - 20:30, 2024-08-01 14:30 - 20:30
Hosted by Professional Dairy Producers
Register Here
There’s a lot of talk about carbon and emissions these days – and now even the cows are part of the conversation. In a one-day session designed specifically for agronomists and conservationists, we’ll take a look at who is driving all this, and why farmers are caught in the middle. This program will help you understand your role and why farmers are deeply involved in these discussions.
As leaders promoting science-based, climate-smart farming practices, agronomists and conservationists have clients counting on them to improve their farms’ sustainability with practical, relevant recommendations.
The program’s topics include:

an overview of sustainability descriptions and a deeper dive into the complexities of carbon and its technical jargon
how to assist farmers whose consumers and up-the-chain customers expect them to adopt sustainable practices
discovering insights from farmers about lessons learned on carbon emissions and sequestration, and how analyzing their data empowers them to ask more questions and try new techniques
exploring how the carbon models FARM-ES, Comet and the international Cool Farm Tool operate, and understanding the pros and cons of each
understanding what developments to watch out for in the future and how to make necessary adjustments

Wisconsin Bison Summer Conference
2024-08-03 13:00 - 22:00
Hosted by Wisconsin Bison Producers Association
Bison Ranching for Beginners and Experienced Producers
Have you ever thought about raising bison but don’t know how to get started? The Wisconsin Bison Producers Association (WBPA) is hosting a one-day conference for interested producers on August 3, 2024, W1930 Trout Ave., Rib Lake, Wisconsin.

Compeer Financial will talk about financing a new operation.
Gallagher Fencing will demonstrate fencing techniques.
USDA-NRCS will discuss funding programs available to new farmers/ranchers
Golden Sands Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc., a USDA partner twill present information about sustainable agriculture through grazing.
Sean Graese, will share his family’s story of growing from a small operation to one of the country’s largest integrated bison ranches.
Bison producers will be on hand to share their experiences and answer questions about raising this magnificent animal, our national mammal.

Registration is free. A delicious bison lunch will be served ($10/person, kids under 8 are free).
Registration is required. For more information and to register go to https://wisconsinbison.com or call or email Rebecca Ries at 920-923-2028 bluestembison@gmail.com

GrassWorks Summer Picnic
2024-08-04 16:00 - 21:00
Hosted by GrassWorks
Register Here
Join GrassWorks for a day filled with food, music, and community!
This year’s GrassWorks Annual Picnic will be at Drew Carlson’s beautiful Farmstead. Drew started managed grazing 4 years ago and his soils are getting better every year. Learn from Drew’s journey and walk his pastures to hear about the farmstead’s history and the unique challenges he faces, including revitalizing sandy, degraded soils. Experts in grazing for grassland bird habitat and silvopasture will join us to share their expertise. We look forward to seeing you there.
11am – Greeting
11:30am – Interactive Pasture Walk– Drew speaks on starting up a grazing system and working with degraded soils– Guest speaker on silvopasture practices
12:30pm – Picnic Lunch!
1:15-1:45pm – GrassWorks News and Short Presenations– Ashley Steinke, Audubon Grassland Ecologist shares on grazing for grassland bird habitat– Chuck Anderas, Michael Fields Institute Associate Policy Director talks about how to engage with grazing advocacy– Josh Miner, Wisconsin Meadows Business to Consumer (B2C) Manager2pm-4pm – Entertainment
Register Here

Kernza Soil Health Field Evening
2024-08-06 22:30 - 2024-08-07 00:30
Hosted by Glacierland RC&D and Cedar Creek Farmers
Register Here
Join us at Ross Bishop’s farm to see his 5 year established Kernza perennial crop.
Guest speakers: Erica Schoenberger and Dr. Valentin Picasso Risso of UW Madison as well as Dr. Nicole Tautges of Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, will discuss this new crop, and its current and future economy in Wisconsin. Jamie Patton of NRCS will be down in a soil pit to demonstrate the soil heatlh benefits of this new perennial crop. Ross Bishop will demonstrate how he combines this unique crop.
* FREE Kernza beer and snacks provided, along with a light dinner

Pasture Walk w/ Don Boland: Maximizing Milk Income and Pasture Quality in Spring Flush
2024-08-09 15:30 - 17:30
Hosted by Great River Graziers
Don Boland(608) 734-3570
Attempting to maximize milk income and pasture quality while managing the spring flush.Guest: Jason Cavadini, UW Grazing Outreach Specialist
Great River Graziers Pasture Walks

Pasture Walk: Diversified Dairy Grazing
2024-08-13 23:30 - 2024-08-14 01:30
Hosted by Marathon County Dept of Conservation, Planning, and Zoning
Diversified Dairy Grazing Pasture Walk @ GM Sandhill Farm
Tuesday August 13 6:30-8:30PM ~ N12038 Sandhill Ave, Unity, WI, 54488
Michelle and Gary Popp graze jersey cows. They keep their calves with their dams and have diversified their product with a line of lotion made from their grass-fed milk.
Contact Brooke Bembeneck with questions at (715) 370-9651 or Brooke.Bembeneck@co.marathon.wi.us.
All pasture walks are free and family-friendly.
Water, milk, and cookies available!
Check out the Marathon County Clover Belt Grazing Community Facebook page for event info as the dates get closer.

Life After Farming… What’s Next for You and Your Land?
2024-08-14 16:30 - 18:00
Hosted by Farmland Access Hub
Register Here
Session 1Session 2 is September 12th 11:30am-1pm
America’s farms have hit a critical point. Most of our food and fiber producers are over 55, while young and beginning farmers—due to debt and insurmountable challenges around farming and farmland access—are only replacing these producers at a rate of 9%. Additionally, the devastating and rapid loss of farmland in the U.S. to poorly planned developmental sprawl and foreign investors is pointing toward an impending food system crisis.
The Farmland Access Hub and Renewing the Countryside, along with the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), Region Nine Development Commission, American Farmland Trust, and others, are working to mitigate these issues by creating educational and networking opportunities for landowners and farmers around legacy planning and farmland transition.
To bring people together for learning and discussion, the Hub is hosting two online webinars—one in August and one in September—to provide resources to farmland owners interested in transitioning their land with a positive community legacy while engaging in peer-driven problem-solving.
Whether you are interested in renting, selling, or transitioning your farm to a new owner, the information provided during these 1-hour programs is geared to help landowners and retiring farmers identify and overcome fears and challenges as they think through the next steps for their land.
Come to Session One with your questions, ready to learn and gather resources. In Session Two, landowners will dive deeper into specific challenges and scenarios with facilitated support from succession coordinators and land transfer specialists.

Pasture Walk w/ Kelsey Vance: New Land, New Grazing Plan
2024-08-21 15:30 - 17:30
Hosted by Great River Graziers
Kelsey Vance (608) 769-6943
What would you do? New land, new grazing plan, what other potentials do we see for this land? Guest: Megan Filbert, rep from NoFence virtual fence company
Great River Graziers Pasture Walks
