A press release from the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota:

CARLTON -– Multi-species grazing is the focus of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota’s Grazefest Minnesota 2009 on Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, in Carlton County, northeast Minnesota. Pre-registration is required for all Grazefest activities. Scholarships are available. For more information visit www.sfa-mn.org or contact Anne with the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (SFA) at communications@sfa-mn.org or (320) 226-6318. All are invited to attend.

The keynote speaker, Greg Judy, and participating farms will cover multi-species grazing in a variety of ways. Greg Judy, grazier and featured writer in The Stockman Grass Farmer. He is a popular speaker all over the United States on the benefits of Holistic High Density Planned Grazing, leasing land, multi-species grazing and custom grazing. On his Missouri farm he raises cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs, and chickens on grass pasture in balance with nature. He is the author of NO RISK RANCHING--Custom Grazing on Leased Land and COMEBACK FARMS--Rejuvenating Soils, Pastures & Profits with Livestock Grazing Management. For more information about Greg’s grazing operation and techniques, visit his website www.greenpasturesfarm.net.

Three innovative grazing operations in Carlton County Minnesota will play host to Grazefest Minnesota 2009 – Sandy Hills Ranch, Troy & Chris Salzer family; Green Pastures Dairy, Hedquist family; and Fleece Force Flocks, Pete & Carol Jelinek family. These farms range from a cattle breeding/custom grazing farm that also direct markets beef, pork and vegetables -- to a small, family-owned, grass-based farm that produces farmstead cheese and meats -- to a grazing flock of ewes and Nubian goats.

Highlights of Grazefest will include: pastured egg, pork, sheep, goat, dairy cheese, and beef production; innovations in cooperative marketing; mob grazing—will it work for you; delicious locally-grown, pasture raised foods; an afternoon bus tour to Green Pastures Dairy, a diversified pasture-based farm owned and operated by the Hedquist family, featuring on-farm cheese making and a farm store; forage production and economics, build your own low cost parlors, feeding systems and safe handling facilities with recycled materials; and a tour of a dairy barn converted to lambing facility with an indoor fenceline feeding system.

Grazefest Minnesota 2009 kicks off on the evening of July 17 with a Grazier’s Forum & Supper featuring Greg Judy and Minnesota grazing specialists at the Carlton County Fairgrounds in Barnum, MN from 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. On July 18, activities run from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., starting at the Sandy Hills Ranch.

Grazefest is an extraordinary networking opportunity for graziers, grazing specialists, grazing suppliers, and educators. Due to limited space and the popularity of this event, walk-in admission cannot be guaranteed and pre-registration is required. For more information and to register online, go to www.sfa-mn.org or call (320) 226-6318.

SFA hosts Grazefest Minnesota to promote the health benefits of pasture-raised foods, the positive environmental impacts of grazing, and the economic benefits of from local, pasture-raised foods. Grazefest Minnesota highlights well-managed grazing systems that result in healthy animals and excellent living and working conditions for farmers and rural communities.

Grazefest Minnesota 2009 Sponsors: Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service, Mill City Farmers Market, Minnesota Dairy Initiative, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Farmers Union, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education-North Central Region, and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture.

Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota is an agricultural non-profit organization whose mission is to support the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through farmer-to-farmer networking, innovation, demonstration, and education. Grazefest™ Minnesota is a trademark of Eating Fresh Publications.

The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota supports the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through innovation, demonstration, education, and farmer-to-farmer networking.

Become a member, renew your membership, or make a sustaining contribution to the SFA of MN by visiting www.sfa-mn.org.

Visit the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota and the Youth Experiencing Sustainable Agriculture (YESA) community on Facebook.