Amazing Grazing II Event Calendar

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Amazing Grazing II: For Ruminants Great and Small, an evolution of the Amazing Grazing: Enhancing Risk Management Education for Kansas Graziers and Livestock Producers Project, starts July 1, 2014 and concluding June 30, 2015.
This project offers two conferences, two 2-day intensive events, seven full-day workshops and several hands-on learning opportunities across the state.
Amazing Grazing II enables producers to improve their understanding of grazing management, water development, fencing, low-stress handling, and biological control of invasive species. Other topics include areas of personal/business liability, emergency management planning for natural disasters and value-added/direct marketing opportunities.

Amazing Grazing 2: EVENTS

AUGUST 2014

Managing Forages and Winter Cowherd Nutrition
Jim Gerrish
August 13-14.
Topeka Ramada, 420 SE 6th ST, Topeka KS  66607
Learn more
REGISTER ONLINE

Pasture-based Sheep and Goat Production and Marketing
Jim Gerrish
Dr. Brian Faris
    Sheep and Meat Goat Specialist
    Kansas State University
August 15-16
Sheraton 4 Points, Manhattan, KS
Learn more
REGISTER ONLINE
 

SEPTEMBER 2014

Livestock Fencing and Water Development
Mark Green
September 9
Topeka Ramada, 420 SE 6th ST, Topeka KS  66607

Mark Green, NRCS Specialist, from Missouri will return to Kansas for a workshop that is always in high demand. Water availability is the number one limiting factor in grazing possibilities. Fence is also extremely important. The use of electric fence offers many more options for managed grazing that in turn benefits the health of the soil and range, as well as improved production and profitability.


OCTOBER 2014

Farm Tour: Extending the Grazing Season with Cover Crops
Dale Strickler, Agronomist and Kansas Graziers Association President
October 31 and November 1
Courtland, KS 
Read more about the tours here.

Tours are offer at no cost, but RSVP is requested:
RSVP for FRIDAY Tour here.
RSVP for SATURDAY Tour here.


NOVEMBER 2014

Hands on Herd Health Workshop for Sheep and Goats
Dr. Brian Faris
    Sheep and Meat Goat Specialist
    Kansas State University
November 22  10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Manhattan, KSU Sheep and Meat Goat Facility

Dr. Faris will focus on herd health, reproduction, parasite control that will include hands on opportunities for producers to improve their stock care skills in tasks such as trimming hooves, proper vaccination, ultra-sound etc in the new, modern sheep and goat facilities at Kansas State University.

DECEMBER 2014

Kansas Beginning Farmers Coalition Conference
Sessions include: Farming Transitions, Getting Started with Multiple Species/Enterprises, Apprenticeships and More!
Cody Holmes
    Rancher/Mentor /Educator, Rockin H Ranch/Real Farm Foods
December 5-6
Sheraton 4 Points, Manhattan

Cody Holmes presents on holistic labor management, training the next farming generation, and his multi-enterprise farm. Cody and his wife Dawnell mentor individuals dreaming of farming to prepare them with the skills needed to fulfill their dreams. Cody presents a “How To” workshop to all ages interested in this unique concept. The Holmes family own and operate the Rockin H Ranch, a sustainable grazing operation utilizing a Holistic System for Stockmen with specialized ranch management. They utilize multi-species grazing of grass-fed and finished beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, Jersey milk, goat milk products, and eggs. In addition to livestock, they have vegetable production and run a CSA.

Emergency Planning for Farm and Ranch: What to Do When Disaster Strikes and Living Barns: Windbreaks for Winter Protection
Charles Barden, Ph.D., State Extension Forester, Kansas State University
December 10 & 11    10:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m.
Locations TBD in Central and Southwest KS   

This workshop assists producers on how to develop a management plan to have in place when faced with destruction and casualties. Producers will learn animal disposal regulations including burial, rendering and composting, as well as how to properly document livestock losses.
Dr. Barden presents the elements of windbreak design and the reduction in wind-chill factor in the protected zone near a windbreak. He is an author on numerous KSU windbreak publications. He conducts research on windbreaks, and has made many presentations on windbreak establishment and management.


JANUARY 2015

Goat and Sheep Dairy Enterprise Exploration: Getting the most out of your milk 
Charuth van Beuzekom-Loth, Dutch Girl Creamery Owner 
January 17
Lawrence

Charuth shares her extensive knowledge and experience in goat dairying, cheese production, and marketing. Charuth recently completed the construction of an on farm Grade A goat dairy facility and was previously a co-owner of Farmstead First, LLC, a cooperatively-owned cheese processing facility in Raymond Nebraska. An additional presenter will cover opportunities with body products and a representative from Kansas Department of Agriculture will cover dairy regulations.

Kansas Graziers Association Conference: Healthy Soils, Healthy Landscapes
Frederick D. Provenza, Ph.D.
    Professor Emeritus, Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University
January 31   9:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Salina

Dr. Provenza will demonstrate how the interrelationships among soils, plants, animals and people affect the landscape. Nature and nurture work in concert to influence animal behavior. Human health is tied to the health of the land. By understanding those connections land managers can increase profits while enhancing the health of landscapes socially, economically and environmentally. For 30+ years, Fred has produced groundbreaking research on the behavior-based livestock research. His presentation will also help producers understand how they can use livestock as biological control of invasive plant species.

FEBRUARY 2015

Meat Processing and Marketing for Optimal Sales
Pre-conference workshop at Women Managing the Farm
Event open to all livestock producers!
   Brad Dieckmann, Clay Center Locker
   Roseanna Bauman, Producer and USDA-Inspected Poultry Processing Facility Owner
   Melissa Wahl, Producer
February 4    2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Manhattan

This team of three addresses areas producers need to know when direct-marketing meat. The two processors will discuss differences they see in carcass quality of the animals brought to them, and will help producers better navigate cut lists and learn about available cuts that may not be listed. Both will also share tips on how producers can build strong relationships with their processors.

Brad Dieckmann is a third generation meat processor and soon to celebrate 25 years of owning his own locker in Clay Center, KS. Brad does processing for home use, retail sales and catering.  Brad will share his knowledge, ideas for successful business strategies, as well as work through pricing structure to establish the value of a meat product.

Rosanna Bauman runs the only on-farm USDA-Inspected poultry processing facility in Kansas. Her facility processes the majority of direct-marketed poultry raised in NE Kansas. She and her family have raised their own poultry since 2001 and now market their birds exclusively to restaurants, grocers and area co-ops.

Melissa Wahl raises beef and pork in North Central Kansas. The majority of her animals are sold in quarters, halves or whole. Her presentation will address how the grower can assist consumers to understand how the animal is turned into various cuts and products.  Consumers often need help knowing what to ask for and how to get meat products that fit the family needs and cooking abilities. This presentation will improve a producers ability to increase sales while retaining strong customer satisfaction levels.

Animal Fiber Production Opportunities to Diversify Small Farms
Sally Brandon, Owner/Operator of Shepherd’s Mill
Rachel Boyle, KSRE Rooks County Livestock Agent
February 21    10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Phillipsburg

Sally and Rachel help producers understand the opportunities they have to develop value-added products from their hair/wool-producing animals. Often the opportunities for additional revenue from the animals is missed for various reasons unknown to the producer. Sally operates a mill that takes the raw product and turns it into a product that is very salable to a fiber arts consumer. Sally, Rachel, and two presenters to be determined will present the following class topics:
  Fiber Arts for the non-artist:  What are the end-users looking for… A beginning primer
  Not all Fiber is created equal… natural benefits and detriments of different types of fiber. .
  Choosing and working with a Fiber Mill:  Asking the right questions.
  Where’s the Value in Value Added:  is this value stream is for you.
  Managing a Menagerie:  Choosing animals that compliment your operation. 
  Storytelling 101: To market local product we have to be able to tell our story well. 
  Marketing Socially:  social media is a powerful, inexpensive marketing tool.

MARCH 2015

KSU Sheep Day
March 7   9:00a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
KSU Sheep and Goat Facility, Manhattan

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