This farm tour in Houston County will focus on understanding the habitat needs of Bobwhite Quail and how to plan landscapes that support their conservation. Participants will explore real world examples, learn about available conservation programs, and see firsthand how a landowner successfully maintains a naturalized Bobwhite population. The event emphasizes practical insights into habitat design, management, and quail ecology.
Join us for a classroom primer followed by a hands on field session focused on identifying native plant species in working conservation landscapes. The classroom segment will build skills in diagnostic features (leaf and stem morphology, inflorescence types, growth forms), seasonal cues, and “look-alike” differentiation.
Join Karin Jokela, Xerces Society and Reva Ruehling, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist, for a half day field based training focused on identifying native plants and common weeds in a first year native vegetation planting. This training will emphasize early stage plant identification to help you better support landowners who are managing weeds during establishment. We will explore key ID features, discuss helpful resources and techniques, and review how site preparation influences successful establishment.
We will be visiting the same site twice this summer to get a sense of how plants change over their growth cycle. Participants in this field based training will learn to identify native and weedy herbaceous plants, practice teaching plant ID skills, and evaluate long term establishment of species in different prairie seed mixes. They will also explore pollinator identification, grassland management practices, and engage in quizzes and discussions to reinforce learning.
We will be visiting the same site twice this summer to get a sense of how plants change over their growth cycle. Participants in this field based training will learn to identify native and weedy herbaceous plants, practice teaching plant ID skills, and evaluate long term establishment of species in different prairie seed mixes. They will also explore pollinator identification, grassland management practices, and engage in quizzes and discussions to reinforce learning.
This training introduces the core principles for designing and evaluating diverse native seed mixes for wet sites, including wetlands, shorelines, and riparian areas. Participants will explore how hydrology, soil conditions, seed biology, and site history influence plant selection and establishment, with an emphasis on building resilient, biodiverse plant communities that support water quality and wildlife.
Education Educators Troy Salzer and Tarah Young (UMN Extension) discuss the basics of pasture soil fertility including soil testing, plant nutrient needs, and liming.
This session provides and overview of whole farm economics with Keith Olander (AgCentric). Historical context, challenges on the farm, the influence of government payments, and planning for the 2026 farm year are covered.
This virtual workshop equips conservation professionals with practical tools, templates, and strategies to design impactful events - from field days to workshops to community meetings. Participants will learn how to set clear goals, choose the right event format, engage diverse audiences, and evaluate success. The session also introduces the Community Capitals Framework as a simple thinking tool to help trainers understand the broader capacity their events can build.
Participants will learn how to design livestock pipeline and watering systems using the Minnesota NRCS spreadsheet design tool. We'll discuss how to gather the information needed to use the design tool as well as run through examples.