- This event has passed.
Southwest Ranch/Farm 101
September 21, 2019 @ 8:00 am - September 22, 2019 @ 5:00 pm
Ranch/Farm 101
San Juan Ranch, Saguache, CO
Saturday, September 21 | 9 am – 7 pm & Sunday, September 22 | 9 am – 1 pm
Are you considering a career in farming or ranching? Are you interested in learning how to sustainably farm or ranch using regenerative practices?
Join Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program (NAP) mentors George Whitten and Julie Sullivan, on their certified organic, grass-fed cattle ranch in Southern Colorado for a 1.5-day Ranch/Farm 101 workshop to discuss regenerative practices and apprenticeship opportunities to help you achieve your agrarian goals!
We invite you to spend the weekend camping at the San Juan Ranch in the beautiful San Luis Valley to learn the fundamentals of regenerative agriculture and discuss what to expect from an agricultural apprenticeship on a working ranch or farm. The workshop will cover basic pasture and grazing management tools, demonstrate how animal behavior can be your ally, and explore what kind of farm or ranch might be the right next step for you, as you explore agriculture as a lifestyle and a livelihood. It may just be that a NAP apprenticeship at one of our 13 mentor sites in California, Colorado, New Mexico or Montana is a great fit for you!
This workshop is free. Tools, gloves, and handouts will be provided during the workshop. Attendees are encouraged to camp Friday and Saturday night at the ranch and will be responsible for camping gear. Attendees will need to bring dinner on Friday, but all other meals on Saturday and Sunday will be provided. In order to ensure a productive learning environment, this workshop will have limited space and involve an application process. Please submit an application as soon as possible! Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants will be notified of their status no later than Friday, September 15.
Tentative Schedule
Saturday, September 21 (9:00 am – 7:00 pm)
- Program overview and Goal setting
- What is Regenerative Agriculture? What is Regenerative Ranching?
- The role of livestock and art of grazing grasslands
- Basics of pasture/ range management
- Tools and Terms
- Rotational Grazing: Moving, building and caring for fence; haying
- Biological Monitoring: biodiversity in pastures/range; soil health
- Introduction to New Agrarian Apprenticeships
Sunday, September 22 (9:00 am – 1:00 pm)
- Livestock are a part of Land Management
- Intro to Animal Behavior
- Basics of working with cattle
- “What am I looking for and what can I offer”
- Life and livelihood in agriculture
- Thriving as a learner on a ranch or farm
- Closing/Re-visioning