Leadership Development
Dr. Don Wyse: a dynamic force
By Connie Fernholz Carlson • Crow River Chapter member; former SFA Board member and President It is with deep sadness that I share with all of you the sudden passing of University of Minnesota professor, Dr. Don Wyse, on July 2, 2024. Dr. Wyse was a dynamic force for clean water, healthy soil, sustainable agriculture…
Read MoreNow hiring: Climate Smart Seedling Production Network Project Lead
**July 23, 2024 update: This position has been filled. Fast Facts: This position is a part-time, remote consulting contract that will sunset in October of 2027.Time commitment: 30-40 hours/monthHourly rate: $40-$55, depending on experienceTravel within Minnesota and occasional overnight lodging required. Mileage and travel expenses are reimbursed. Overview:The Climate Smart Seedling Production Network (CSSPN) Project…
Read MoreDrink for a Cause!
On Tuesday, May 21 from 4:00-7:00 p.m., you can support a sustainable future for Minnesota farmers (and eaters like you) just by grabbing a drink or dinner at Wooden Hill Brewing Company in Edina. 10% of all taproom sales will go directly to SFA’s programming! Wooden Hill has an extensive selection of beers, hard seltzers, ‘beertails,’ and several non-alcoholic options.…
Read MoreLuhman: What I’m looking forward to at the Midwest Soil Health Summit
By Jared Luhman • Soil Health & Grazing Lead Over the past year I have taken a significant step back from my responsibilities with SFA to focus on farming with my family! However, I have stayed involved to assist Jonathan and the team in the planning of our Midwest Soil Health Summit! This is one of…
Read MoreAnnual Conference registration open
Come one, come all! Registration for the 2024 Annual Conference is open. We can’t wait to reconvene with hundreds of you farmers, ag professionals, aspiring growers, homesteaders, and local foods supporters. Join us at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Members can take advantage of a $25 Early Bird discount. Register…
Read MoreUrban Roots Farm Tour and Soil Discussion
Twin Cities Metro Growers Network event, September 11, 2023 Writing and photos by Lia Spaniolo, University of Minnesota Extension Educator “Prepping the beds” and “harvesting” are Nana’s and Malachi’s responses when asked about their favorite farming activity on the farm. They both are youth interns who work at Urban Roots, a non-profit organization based on…
Read MoreMidwest Soil Health Summit 2024 Early Bird registration open
Early Birds get the deal! We’ve got some big news… Early Bird registration for the next Midwest Soil Health Summit is open! Our biggest soil health event of the year will be held at the Courtyard Marriott in Mankato on March 13 & 14, 2024. We’re excited to really dig into our theme: “Managing for Profit with the Soil Health…
Read MoreSay ‘Hey’ to SFA at FarmFest
Will you be at FarmFest this year? Come say hello at the Soil Health Tent! We will be at the Redwood County event all three days, August 1-3, co-hosting the Soil Health Tent with Minnesota Soil Health Coalition and a whole crew of great partners. We’ll have rainfall demonstrations, cover crop and Kernza plots, live…
Read MoreNew Case Studies Tell Hopeful Stories
A brand new volume of farm case studies are hot off the press. This time, the case studies highlight farms and their soil health practices who are certified through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). Angie Walter, the MAWQCP Outreach Coordinator with SFA, began working on this project in 2021 thanks to a boots-on-the-ground…
Read MoreSFA Welcomes Derek Schmitz
We are excited to have dairy grazier Derek Schmitz join us as our Minnesota Dairy Initiative (MDI) coordinator! Derek farms near Cold Spring with his wife Taylor and two (soon to be three) children. They milk 70 grass-based dairy cows, raise hair sheep, custom graze, and direct market beef. You may have been to their…
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