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Kickapoo Grazing Initiative kicks off 2017 pasture walk series
Keeley
KEEFE KEELEY, GAYS MILLS OWN, will be the guest speaker at the first 2017 pasture walk event sponsored by the Kickapoo Grazing Initiative. Keeley, Director of the-Savanna Institute, will speak about silvopasture establishment and research on converting degraded woodlots to intensively managed silvopasture.

The 2017 season of pasture walk and facilitated discussion series is in full swing, with the grass turning green and the temperatures warming up.

The series is planned and facilitated by the Kickapoo Grazing Initiative (KGI) along with Crawford County UW-Extension.

For more information about the series, go to the events page at www. kickapoograzinginitiative.com, or call Crawford County UW-Extension Agent, Vance Haugen, at 608-326-0223, or at vance.haugen@ces.uwex.edu.

In the Merry Month of May, KGI will kick off its 2017 pasture walk series on Tuesday, May 2, 10:30 a.m., at the farm of  Mike Lind, 47664 Aspen Road, Soldiers Grove, (608) 627-3735.

The guest speaker will be Gays Mills’ own, Keefe Keeley, Director of theSavanna Institute. Keeley’s topic will be silvopasture establishment and research on converting degraded woodlots to intensively managed silvopasture.

To reach the farm from Gays Mills, take State Highway 131 N approximately 7 miles into old Soldiers Grove. Then turn left onto County Highway C. and proceed for approximately one mile. Then, take a  slight right onto Norwegian Hollow Road. Travel approximately two miles on Norwegian Hollow Road, and take a left onto Aspen Road. Look for pasture walk signs, and fire number 47664.

One more event is planned in May, on Friday, May 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The ‘Buying Cattle Seminar,’ with a field tour to the Matthes Auction Barn, will also feature talks by longtime grass-fed-beef farmer, Jim Munsch; former Driftless Meats & More, General Manager, Tim Rehbein: and Richland County Agriculture Agent, Adam Hady.

Participants will gather in Viola, Wisconsin in Vernon County, and should meet at the Kellogg Pavilion in the park by the river, near the intersection of Highways 131 and 56 . Please RSVP by May 12 as lunch will be served. RSVP by contacting Cynthia Olmstead, KGI Project Director at info@kickapoograzinginitiative.com or by phone at 608-606-6022.

There will be two events in June, July, August, September and October. The series will culminate on November 14 on the farm of Susan and Mike Mueller, with an “Introduction to Pastured Pork and the Back to the Land Pastured Pork Cooperative.