Rachel Bouressa opened up her family farm for a Women Caring for the Land workshop this past Friday, July 20th. The workshop, hosted by the Wisconsin Farmers Union, in partnership with Pheasants Forever, is part of a series of events that are geared toward women farmers or landowners interested in learning more about conservation. The day started off with coffee, muffins, and lots of rain. Luckily, the event planners thought ahead and had a white tent set-up to provide cover. The coffee provided a wonderful opportunity for networking as people arrived. Around 10am the workshop began with introductions during which everyone described their favorite spot on the land. Once the rain let up, Rachel gave the group a tour of her farm including a walk out to the pasture where her 100% grass-fed cattle were grazing. Her cattle are on the pasture year-round and are managed holistically which, she feels, leads to healthier animals and a better product.
While we were watching the cattle, Rachel described her grassfed and finished beef operation including how she moves the fences to prevent overgrazing and maximize production. She also showed us her chickens including her homemade movable chicken coop that has special wheels to allow the coop to move both horizontally and vertically. Once we made it back to the farmhouse, we enjoyed a potluck lunch. After lunch we reconvened under the white tent to learn more about resources available for people interested in conservation practices.
If you are interested in attending a similar event, there are several more on their schedule. The next one will be held in Omro at the Buser Cattle Company.
For more information about these events contact Deb Jakubek at 715-590-2130. Please register under the corresponding event at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com/upcoming-events or RSVP to the WFU State Office at 715-723-5561. For a full list of events, CLICK HERE.
The Women Caring for the Land series was developed by the Women, Food and Agriculture Network. Learn more at www.womencaringfortheland.org.
