Bethany Prairie Farm: Bethany Prairie Field Day 2010

August 3, 2010, morning has come.

Field Day is here and we are up with the chickens!

Laurie had made the last pass over the grass the night before. Sheryl Smith our official photographer is here early to take the fun scenery pictures before the workshops start.
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The broiler chickens were already in the freezer, but she managed to find a few blossoms that the little goats left us.

Susan Long and Marilyn Isaacson from NPSAS and Carol Peterson, Sheyenne James RC&D are ready to register guests.

Yvonne Lawley and Steve Zwinger from the NDSU Carrington Research Station show the purpose of cover crops

Paul DuBourt, Griggs Co NRCS, and Linda tell about the CSP and Organic EQIP programs and how they relate to the pasture and crop rotations.

Karri Stroh, FARRMS, visits with Jack Olson, one of the farmer members in the Prairie Farm Pilot Project SARE Farmer/Rancher group grant.

Anthony our NDSU intern from Uganda taking notes in the field.

Jeff Hemmenway, SD NRCS used the Rainfall Simulator to show how different soils react to rainfall. "That was the most facsinating demonstration that we have ever seen!" was one of the comments.

Members of the Bethany Prairie soil science team, Susan Samson-Liebig, Lance Duey,

and Fred Aziz, gave demonstrations on soil quality and Web Soil Survey.

ARS in Mandan sent people to show simple soill tests that can be done by farmers.

Paul Aakre, University of MN - Crookston, was on hand to present the project that UMC, Bethany Prairie, and the NW MN Regional Sustainable Development Partnership are working together on to evaluate the constraints of a family farm operation to produce its' own fuel.

Dick Lovestrand explained the workings of the oilseed press - farmers had specific uses and questions in mind. Some were a bit surprised and disappointed that you can't just put straight vegetable oil into diesel engines without modifications.

A Scottish Highland roast beef dinner with creamed potatoes and all the trimmings was provided by ND Ag Department and the Barnes Co Farm Bureau and served by a great kitchen crew!