“The grazing conference provides inspiration for all who attend. New people can learn from experienced, innovative and profitable graziers,” says Paul Daigle, recipient of the 2013 GrassWorks Grazing Advocator award. “Experienced Graziers have the opportunity to come and learn from the best from all around the world. All of this is done in an atmosphere of learning and sharing with people excited about grazing-based agriculture.”

Local graziers who have “been there, done that” will participate in a variety of breakout sessions that include marketing pasture dairy products, farmland preservation and AEAs, farm transfer strategies, dealing with stray voltage on your farm, pasture management for upland bird habitat and more.

GW will welcome nationally known speakers Gabe Brown and Professor Emeritus Fred Provenza. The latter will start out Friday with a keynote that illustrates how behavior – the diets and lifestyles creatures learn – links soil and plants with herbivores and human beings. He will follow up with a session about understanding how animals behave on pasture and how to manage their differences.

Brown will give presentations Friday and Saturday on the tools and techniques he has used on his ranch for the past 20 years to restore soil health and organic matter, such as cover crops, no-tilling and livestock integration.

The event features more than 30 workshops, tradeshow, silent and live auctions, locally raised foods and numerous networking and community building opportunities. Cost is $150 for GW members. Non-members are an additional $50. Visit the website to join or renew membership.  FG

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—From GrassWorks news release