From music professor to farmer (and mother of triplets)
Anne Waltner returns to this agriculturally-rooted land for the love of community
Grass farming: A good alternative in more than one way
As conventional, commodity oriented farmers struggle with low commodity prices and a burdensome debt load, grassland farming might provide an attractive option.
Side-by-side in Farming and faith
Tom and Jenna Graber grew up with an interest in animals and agriculture, but came at it from different perspectives. Now, after marrying in 2014, they farm together 7 miles south of Marion. Jenna and Tom Graber started farming together in 2014, the same year they were married. Their farm is located 7 miles south of Marion, and features a commercial cow/ calf operation and minimum tillage crops.
Herding goats with success
Goats do well across the world — and that includes on the Lee & Marilyn Brockmueller farm
Keeping Those Fields Covered
For the Ortmans, crop diversity & rotations are essential
Rural Revival Display at Schmeckfest
This year, Rural Revival will again have a display table at Schmeckfest. This year, the display will be in the Heritage Hall Museum building instead of Sterling Hall as in years past. All are encouraged to visit the display to learn more about Rural Revival. Local producers will also have information at the table. The theme of this year's display is Beekeeping, and there will be an informative video playing during the festival.
Farm Transitions
A recent issue of The Land Stewardship Newsletter (No. 4, 2013) featured articles highlighting a new initiative of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), the well-established, Minnesota-based “rural revival” effort to keep “land and people together.” The initiative is “farm transitions.” It is designed to counter “current land consolidation trends,” and provides tools to assist farm owners and would-be farmers transition land to the next generation. LSP and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) have developed a Farm Transitions Toolkit for this purpose which can be accessed by calling 800-909-6472 or at www.