Mentor Training Call #2: Evaluating Written Applications How do you sort through written applications? We will share strategies for tackling the pile of applications, share evaluation templates, and sample email responses to applicants who you would like to interview and those you will decline. This workshop is part 2 of a seven-call series on mentoring […]
Farm employment law feels intimidating but with just a few key rules and operating principles, the farm or ranch business can navigate this potential minefield with confidence. This webinar will teach the fundamentals of farm employment law including classifying workers and the obligations of every farm employer. Folks will learn where they need to learn more and where they can sit back with confidence, no matter where they are in their farming journey. Led by staff from Farm Commons.
Mentor Training Call #3: Effective Interviews What interview questions will reveal the skill level, motivation and aptitude of an applicant? What questions can’t be asked, for legal reasons? How do you find out what you most need to know? And how do you evaluate interviewees? We’ll discuss both phone/video and on-site interviews, which are recommended […]
After the Flames webinar After a season of major fires and flooding, communities across New Mexico need support in rebuilding- structures, soils, waterways, and more. While there are many resources out there, navigating the systems to access that support can feel nearly impossible. The New Mexico Coalition to Enhance Working Lands (NMCEWL) has partnered with […]
Mentor Training Call #4: Setting Expectations You’ve chosen your apprentice and are preparing for their arrival. How do you set clear expectations of job responsibilities, days off, work schedules, team meetings, and your workplace culture? Writing an apprenticeship agreement, creating a skills list, and setting clear boundaries at the beginning can support a successful apprenticeship. […]
Mentor Training Call #5: Balancing Work and Education How do you structure the workday, week, and month so that priorities are established, and both work and education happen? Strategies shared include weekly planning meetings, how to find those ‘teachable moments’ during a workday, and ways to do up-front training to get your apprentice going and […]
Are you motivated to build engaged teams on working lands that successfully implement management activities aligned with healthy soil principles? Do you want to increase resilience in ranching and farming by working together to build healthy soil? In this webinar series we will introduce Quivira’s Soil Health Planning Program and provide instruction and coaching of […]
Mentor Training Call #6: Mentoring to Develop a Self-Starting Apprentice A great mentor-apprentice experience depends on both parties co-creating relevant goals that take advantage of the built-in learning at your operation, and identifying ways your apprentice can engage in solo study, find local resource people to learn from, and visit other operations. Skill sheets are […]
In this webinar, Alexis Bonogofsky will empower you to share your story, no matter how big, small, weird, or normal. Using social media, creative writing, podcasts, videos, etc. you can create a platform that not only builds your professional image for future career opportunities, but you will hone important life skills and maybe even help to inspire others and change narratives.
Come watch the premier of our interview with Christy Miller of Marfa Meats. Marfa Meats was a groundbreaking whole animal butcher shop and sustainable meat processor in far West Texas that established an offal composting system to manage animal remains on-site. Join us as Christy leads us through the challenges and successes of building pathways to sustainable waste management solutions.
Join Fort Union Ranch, Triangle P Cattle Co., Bill Zeedyk and more for 2 days of education and fun on the land at Fort Union Ranch!
We'll learn about building erosion control structures, setting up an aerated static pile compost system (no-turning!) for rangelands, grazing and stewardship for water and wildlife, beaver dam analogs, tree thinning for wildlife habitat, organizing a water management plan, and more!
Tips on giving constructive, actionable feedback that catalyzes learning and motivation; and how to get the feedback you need to mentor effectively. We offer a variety of tried and true methods and tips to generate objective, honest, and open conversations in scheduled and impromptu feedback sessions. This call will be offered on April 25 at 12 -1pm MT and on April 27 at 7 - 8am MT to accommodate schedules.
Join us May 6-7 out at the beautiful Red Canyon Reserve in Magdalena, NM! This will be a casual campout event with a plant ID walk and some additional optional activities like a canyon walk and annual monitoring.
While cattle can be an amazing tool for managing land, beginning agrarians often struggle with accessing enough land, capital, and infrastructure to start a cattle operation. However, many folks find success in beginning with small ruminants like sheep and goats. NCAT (National Centers for Appropriate Technology) staff members Linda Poole and Tracy Mumma along with Tracy’s daughter, Lina Sturman, will cover small ruminants in the West: wool sheep, hair sheep, goats, small multi-species grazing, soil health and custom grazing weed control.
Join us for 1.5 days of learning out on the land in beautiful Abiquiu, NM. We’ll do a land walk to observe the ecosystem, look for signs of degradation and land health, learn about Indigenous land use history, and and discuss the small and big things we can do to support the land.
Join the Carbon Ranch Initiative team and Reunity Resources to learn how composting transforms waste into a valuable soil amendment! We'll discuss how diverting organic waste from landfills to make compost plays a role in mitigating climate change, and improving nutrient and water cycles.
Soil health can be a really abstract topic for those of us who are out working on the ranch everyday and it is not always easy to get creative and try new practices to improve the soil. In this webinar, we will learn from other ranchers and farmers and hear what they have tried and in which ways it has succeeded or not succeeded. Joining us as speakers will be Nancy & Steve Oswald (Oswald Cattle Company, Cotopaxi, CO), Mihail Kennedy (B Bar Ranch, Big Timber, MT), and MJ Pickett (Calder Farm, Gunnison, CO). We will hear stories and takeaways from all three speakers, who have tried different approaches to improving soil health on their ranch/farm and see pictures of the setups and outcomes.
Quivira and Seven Oaks Ranch are excited to provide a multi-day workshop to learn about organic amendments, soil health, and wildlife habitat. June 16-19, we will learn how to make and use biochar, hear about pollinators, and enjoy a star party on a dark skies ranch in Ozona TX. We encourage women and young people to attend to build networking and capacity for regenerative rangeland stewardship.
Join us in Ocate, NM and learn both how to produce compost, then about organic amendment application for rangeland soil health. Experts from Reunity Resources will demonstrate the Aerated Static Pile (ASP) composting system. ASP is a no-turn process that uses the naturally occurring microbial population in the feedstocks along with the appropriate oxygen supply and moisture to rapidly mature and age the organic waste into a valuable soil amendment. ASP is a useful method for agriculture producers or rural area residents who want to dispose of organic waste without taking it to the landfill. In addition, participants will learn about compost & biochar applications on rangelands as well as a couple soil health field monitoring techniques. Quivira Coalition staff will share preliminary results from case studies of compost, biochar and bale grazing applied at other ranches.
When you’re faced with an interesting opportunity to take stewardship of a land base, to expand an enterprise or to create your own operation, how do you make the decision whether or not to pursue it? Do you just follow your gut, or trust the results of late night kitchen table conversations with your partner? Do you make a pro/con list, and then perhaps lose it? As a beginning rancher, the opportunity to build your own business will likely present itself sooner or later. Maybe your boss allows you to lease a piece of land for a poultry enterprise. Perhaps your neighbor will let you run cattle on her property in exchange for some meat. Opportunities may be great, but are they great for you, now?
