From the Barns: School is in session

I am excited to share an announcement regarding early fall grazing schools to be held in our state in September. The new voice of grazing in our state, the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition, along with our partners, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and University of Illinois Extension, will host two schools featuring classroom as well as on-farm, in-the-pasture instruction covering a lot of the most important topics for today’s modern regenerative grazers and presented by teaching experts.

The Southern School will be held on Sept. 8 and 9 at Farraway Farm, 20534 E. Fairfield Road, Bluford. The Northern School will be held on Sept. 15 and 16 at All Grass Farms, 18N681 IL-31, Dundee. Both of the sites offer immediate access to grazing areas and an under roof instruction spot.

The schools will begin at noon on the first day with lunch and end around 4 p.m. the second day. For more information, contact ILGLC Grazing Coordinator Christian Lovell at christian@ilgrazinglands.org, or 317-650-6161. Stay tuned for more information and how to register. If these dates don’t work, never fear, there are more schools and conferences coming at other locations.

When you read this, the Illinois Beef Association Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony will be over. I am looking forward to attending, networking, seeing friends and enjoying the spacious new headquarters of IBA. The IBA will be electing new leadership and honoring outstanding cattlemen and cattlewomen in our state. Always enjoy hearing about those operations.

Here at River Oak, we spend some time complaining about no rain and then just move on and get the work done. I was spraying fence line brush this morning and it is a big year for that. When I got back to the shed, Carson had already moved the 75 pairs to a new paddock, checked on the 56 bred cows, adjusted the drooping wings on the batwing mower and fixed my seat in the 4430 batwing tractor. Oh, to be young again and full of power and motivation. Just so happy to have a partner who has that kind of a motor!

Our grazing operation has been going smoothly, even though we are covered up with mid-maturity grass and seed heads. But the weather is telling us we are going to catch up.

Pasture walks and grazing groups will be beginning soon. Watch for dates and locations throughout the state. Interested in hosting a pasture walk? Give Christian a call, text or email at the contacts listed above.

Take time with those kids and grandkids during this summer season. Some of my most cherished memories are of summertime with family and friends doing things that there is no time for when school is in session.

Mark your calendar for one of those grazing schools and stay safe and sane!