Who are SFA members? Meet Dayna Burtness.
Who are SFA members? We call ourselves the “farmer-to-farmer network,” but our ecosystem is far wider. We attract and partner with people and organizations interested in shifting the agricultural paradigm from an extractive model to a regenerative one. Our 1,300 members include both seasoned and new farmers and ranchers, as well as agricultural educators, agency staff, local food advocates, homesteaders, eaters, and conservationists.
During our Fall New Member Drive, “meet” some of our members and see how they’ve benefited from joining SFA, in their own words. We’d like to introduce you to…
Dayna Burtness
Dayna did not grow up on a farm, in fact, she didn’t even grow up in a farming community. She grew up in a suburb of the Twin Cities with no exposure to farming. At 19 years old, she was unsure of what direction to go. When a friend recommended she try farming, she gave it a shot and fell in love!
Her career in agriculture started off as a vegetable producer, but in 2015 she and her husband purchased a farm in Houston County and began raising pastured hogs. Today they raise and direct market more than 70 pastured hogs per year, and house two incubator farmers who raise pastured chickens, ducks, sheep, and goats.
“Learning from innovative farmers from all over the state is one of my favorite parts of being an SFA member. Our farm is always evolving to meet our quality of life and ecological goals, so as we consider different enterprises or practices, it feels good knowing that there’s a large network to tap into with questions or ideas. Plus the monthly newsletter is always chock full of useful info, so that’s practically worth the cost of membership alone. Thanks, SFA!”
Dayna Burtness, Nettle Valley Farm
Spring Grove, Minn.
Become a member during our fall member drive to tap into diverse programming, educational events, and networking opportunities powered by our network. The first 50 new members to join will get some sweet SFA swag for free: an SFA fleece-lined knit cap! Click here to learn more about membership benefits, or join here now.