Graziers' Session   |  A Day for Eaters  |   Bus Tour   |  Grazefest Home

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Schedule
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You can improve water quality and protect and enhance wildlife on your farm while using agriculture practices that can earn you living via grazing and grassland management.  To see examples of farms working toward these goals, register now for the “Grazefest Minnesota™/Working Lands Bus Tour,” scheduled for Tuesday, July 31st from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  The tour is aimed at graziers and conservationists, but all are invited to attend.  There is no charge, though pre-registration is required by July 23rd.  To register email Anne with SFA of MN at communications@sfa-mn.org or (320) 226-6318.

Hosted by the Pope County Working Lands Initiative, the purpose of the Grazefest Minnesota/Working Lands Bus Tour is to demonstrate various grazing and grass management options that will increase perennials on the landscape and provide economic options for farmers and beginning farmers.  It is also designed to help connect farmers, grazing systems and grassland management experts, interested faculty, staff and landowners.

The event begins and ends at Luverne and Mary Jo Forbord’s Prairie Horizons Farm, 31008 State Hwy 29, 11-miles north of Benson, MN.  At 9:00 a.m. the buses will leave Prairie Horizons Farm for the farm of Randy and Vicky Anderson.  They will discuss their grazing system and use of solar powered watering system on native prairie.  The second stop will be at Fredrickson Hereford Farms, where Mark Fredrickson will provide an overview of his grazing operation located near Glacial Lakes State Park.

The buses will return to Prairie Horizons Farm for a locally produced lunch.  After lunch the Forbords will discuss management intensive rotational grazing on native prairie pastures and established pastures.  Howard Moechning, Midwest Grasslands Grazing Consultant, and Jason Garmes of the DNR Private Lands/Prairie Stewardship and Dennis Johnson of the University of Minnesota will speak on the environmental aspects and achieving greater productivity in grazing.  Also presenting are Don Struxness, Double D Natural Meats Farm, and Jeff Jensen, Rural Advantage.  The day will end with small group pasture tours lead by grazing and conservation specialists.

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Schedule

8:30 am - Registration (Coffee and Muffins at Prairie Horizons Farm)

9:00 am - Buses Leave Prairie Horizons Farm

9:30 am - Arrive at Randy and Vicky Anderson’s Farm

10:30 am - Bus departs Anderson Farm

11:00 am - Arrive at Mark and Mary Kay Fredrickson – Fredrickson Hereford Farms

12:00 pm - Bus departs Fredrickson Farm

12:30 pm - Arrive at Prairie Horizons Farm for lunch

1:00 pm - Overview of Prairie Horizons Farm from Luverne and Mary Jo Forbord

1:15 pm - Presentation by Howard Moechnig, Midwest Grasslands Consultant

1:45 pm - Presentation by Jason Garmes, DNR Private Lands/Prairie Stewardship

2:15 pm - SARE Grant Presentation—Don Struxness, grazier and 3rd Crop Demo Plot—Jeff Jensen, Rural Advantage

3:00 pm - Small group Pasture Tours

4:30 pm - Grazefest Minnesota / Working Lands Bus Tour Ends

Directions to Prairie Horizons Farm

Directions from the south:  From Benson, take Hwy 29 north approximately 11miles, to just past the mile 43.  Turn east (right) unto the Prairie Horizons ½ mile long driveway.

Directions from the north:  From Starbuck, take Hwy 29 south approximately 11miles, to just past the mile 44 marker. Turn east (left) unto the Prairie Horizons ½ mile long driveway.

Sponsors

Pope County Working Lands Initiative
SFA of MN
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
US Fish and Wildlife Service
DNR
U of  M – West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership & WCROC
Chippewa River Watershed Project
Pope County Farm Service Agency

Grazefest™ Minnesota is a trademark of Eating Fresh Publications.  Grazefest Minnesota is a proud participant in Grazefest America, a national campaign to promote the multiple benefits of grass-fed and pasture-raised foods. Grazefest America is sponsored by Eating Fresh Publications, Global Resource Action Center for the Environment, the Eat Well Guide, and the Weston A. Price Foundation.