Blog

By Jonathan Kilpatrick  • Farmer Education Director

It’s hard to believe that in just two weeks, we’ll be right in the middle of the inaugural Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit! Still on the fence (no pun intended) about attending? Let me give you a few reasons—beyond our all-star lineup of speakers—why you should reconsider.

Beyond the session titles

Maybe you’ve skimmed the session list and felt like none of the topics directly apply to you. But here’s the thing: one of my roles in putting this summit together is working closely with our speakers to shape their presentations. And I can tell you firsthand, it’s impossible to capture everything they’ll bring to the table in just the title and description.  

Just yesterday, I was on the phone with one of our speakers. As he gave me an overview of his presentation, it was clear he would be tying together some of the most pressing issues for farmers today. He practically read my mind when I first asked him to speak!

Click here to register.

Learning from those in the trenches

Research shows that farmers and ranchers learn best from other farmers and ranchers — SFA’s bread and butter. Every speaker and panelist at this summit works the land themselves. This isn’t a conference full of theory. It’s a place to hear real, practical ideas from people who understand the challenges firsthand. And when they leave the summit, they will put their boots back on (just like you will) and go back to their profession of farming and ranching.

We intentionally mix local voices with nationally recognized speakers because bringing in ideas from different regions and climates broadens our perspectives. It’s easy to get stuck in the same cycle of ideas, but when we challenge our paradigms, we discover new opportunities that might just change the way we farm.

Making it more accessible

Worried about the cost to attend? We get it. That’s why we worked hard to shave costs where we could. Thanks to the generous support of our Presenting Sponsor, the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association (and all our sponsors), we were able to cut ticket prices by about 10% from last year. Plus, we’ve introduced a special student rate to encourage younger generations to attend.

Sidenote: If you’re reading this and would like to contribute to a scholarship fund for next year’s summit targeted at young/beginning/emerging farmers, please get in touch with me.

Highlights from local speakers

Come to Willmar prepared to ask questions, take notes, and connect with the grazing community before the season gets busy for all of us! This is going to be an incredible event, and I can’t wait to see you there! I’ll leave you with some local speaker highlights:

Anneliese Walker – A livestock producer, educator, and SFA member, Anneliese also works for Maia Grazing, helping ranchers build more profitable operations with advanced grazing planning software. Her breakout session will connect the dots between stocking rates, grass inventory, and business finances.  

Jeff Duchene – As Minnesota’s NRCS State Grazing Specialist, Jeff will provide an overview of infrastructure and technical assistance programs available to producers. Attendees can also check out NRCS’s grazing equipment and demonstration trailer, packed with fencing, watering systems, and other essential tools.  

Margaret Chamas – As Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Livestock Viability Manager, Margaret will dive into the world of virtual fence technology, sharing her experience and where and when it makes sense for producers. She’ll also lead a breakout session for those who are interested in getting started with small ruminants and the opportunities and challenges of raising sheep and goats.

Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association Panel – A dedicated session on grazing infrastructure for multiple livestock species featuring MN farmers and ranchers with decades of insights on fencing, water systems, and more.

Click here to register.