Mission

The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota supports the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through innovation, demonstration, education, and farmer-to-farmer networking.

Grass based dairying focus of Grazefest Minnesota 2008

06/04/08
VERNDALE, Minn. –  Grass based dairying is the focus of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota’s  Grazefest Minnesota 2008 on Friday and Saturday, August 1-2, rural Verndale, MN.    Pre-registration is required for all Grazefest activities.  Scholarships and family rates are available.  For more information visit www.sfa-mn.org or contact Anne with the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (SFA) at communications@sfa-mn.org or (320) 226-6318.  All are invited to attend.

Grazefest Minnesota 2008 starts on Friday August 1, at 9:00 a.m. at MiddMinn Dairy.  Host farm families are Dan & Rosie Middendorf of MiddMinn Dairy and Kent and Linda Solberg of Seven Pines Dairy.  Joel McNair, editor/publisher of Graze magazine, is the keynote speaker.  Farmers and other distinguished experts will speak on starting a grass-based dairy, low cost parlor design, New Zealand style swing parlors, low-cost/low-labor dairying, selling your carbon credits, pastured egg production, forage production and economics, irrigated pastures and pasture tours.  Working parlor demonstrations run from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  A concurrent evening program at England Prairie south of Verndale, MN will feature grazing specialists, grazing information, exhibits, grazier networking and include a delicious locally-grown, pasture raised evening meal.  Overnight camping is available for a nominal fee at the England Prairie site. 

Grazefest activities continue on Saturday, August 2, with the Grazefest Minnesota Bus Tour.  Breakfast will be served at England Prairie, and the dairy tour buses will depart from England Prairie at 9:00 am.  The tour will take you to dairy grazing systems in close proximity, allow you to network with grazing specialists, scientists, conservationists, experienced graziers, and include a locally grown and pasture-raised lunch.   If your interest is in beef grazing, the Wadena Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has an excellent beef tour that will run concurrent with the dairy tour.  The beef tour bus will leave Sebeka, MN at 8:30 am.  Contact Molly Costin with the SWCD at (218) 631-3195 for more information about the beef grazing tour.

SFA hosts Grazefest Minnesota to promote the health benefits of pasture-raised foods, the positive environmental impacts of grazing, and the economic benefits of from local, pasture-raised foods.  Grazefest Minnesota highlights well-managed grazing systems that result in healthy animals and an excellent living and working conditions for farmers and rural communities.  Natural Resources Conservation Service, Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture are major sponsors of Grazefest.  Make plans now to attend Grazefest Minnesota 2008.