WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — GrassWorks hosted its 2018 Grazing Conference at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells from January 30-February 1st. GrassWorks is a grassroots membership organization that provides leadership and education to farmers and consumers for the advancement of managed grass-based agriculture to benefit present and future generations. GrassWorks links farmers with the resources they need to be successful graziers.
Managed grazing is an economically and environmentally-sound method of livestock agriculture. For over twenty years, managed grazing has been a foundation of the sustainable agriculture movement in the upper Midwest and we are proud of the role that GrassWorks has played in its development. We provide leadership, education and resources for grass-based farmers and regional organizations that support graziers. This is done through many projects and programs, but the largest and most effective of these is the grazing conference.
Over 420 people attended the conference this year to learn from grazing experts, Hue and Suzanne Nelson Karreman, Greg Gunthorp, Joe Tomandl and Kit Pharo, plus many other speakers. Highlights also included the Closing Time Barbershop Quartet who provided grand entertainment throughout the night. A Grazing Handy Hints competition sponsored by Hoard’s Dairyman declared five innovating winners: Noreen Thomas of Moorhead, MN; Robert Winkel of Waupun, WI; Olaf Haugen of Harmony, MN; Steven Kling of Taylor, WI and Lyle Guralski of Athens, WI. Five individuals or teams answered our call for grazing parodies and put together compositions performed for the crowd. It was all great fun and we again recognized a lot of un-tapped talent in the community.
Thanks to a generous grant from Organic Valley Farmers Advocating for Organic GrassWorks was able to award scholarships to 13 individuals to attend the conference.
There were 42 tradeshow vendors and sponsors who provided information and resources for attendees. Time for networking, conversation, and entertainment was a major component of this successful annual educational conference. Two of the major sponsors for this conference include Byron Seeds and the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program.
A quote from BP from Soldiers Grove, WI: “Third year attending the conference. Every year has been great. I appreciate the networking and opportunity to meet other graziers and individuals involved in the grazing industry. The sessions got me thinking again about my future goals as a grazier. Very energizing.”
Charles Optiz grandsons Lane Fredrich and Niles Optiz accept the Jerold Berg Grazing Advocate Award for Charles.Lastly, the GrassWorks Board of Directors awarded Charles Opitz of Baskin, LA with the Jerold Berg Grazing Advocate Award. This honor is awarded to individuals each year to recognize their enthusiastic efforts to educate farmers and consumers about the many benefits of managed grazing.
To learn more about Grassworks, visit www.grassworks.org.
— GrassWorks Grazing Conference
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