Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Terry Gompert, Certified Holistic Instructor, talks to the students about knowing how fast grass grow-back is occurring.
Terry and the class examine the soil organic layer to determine past management practices. Having a 4” litter two layer is a good indication that the soil is growing, accumulating and will sustain plant growth in the future.
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Mark Brownlee – Owner, host and grazier. |
Terry Gompert, University of Nebraska, extension grazing specialist, Steve Hefner, Water Quality NRCS, Mark Brownlee, speaking, Doug Peterson, NRCS Missouri State Grassland Specialist, Curtis Gooch, NRCS Grassland Conservationist listen to the experiences of Mark.
We enjoyed out first Holistic Management workshop this weekend with main speaker Terry Gompert and trainee speaker Doug Peterson. This was the first of several meetings to be held in Bolivar, Missouri this summer and fall. Click here for a pdf file with more information. Click here to learn more about Holistic Management International.
Tina, Richard, Terry, and Doug
Several months ago Don Lucietta, assistant to Representative Roy Blunt, asked us if they could bring the Representative and an ag tour group to see our switchgrass field in August? We said sure, why not? Well, we didn’t hear much about it after that, though they did ask for some promotional information and photos about us a month or so ago for the printed packet of materials they handed out to the group.
Then, this morning things started happening! KOLR 10 TV station called and asked if they could come out earlier and interview us.
Here’s the link to their finished report which appeared on TV tonight!
And here’s the link to the Springfield News-Leader articles in the August 12 issue. We were front page, above the fold in the actual paper!
Richard was interviewed about our switchgrass field, our cattle business, and our low-stress livestock handling!
We enjoyed a trip to Wally Olson’s ranch near Vinita, Oklahoma today to participate in a Red River Grazier’s Group evaluation.
We looked at his current stocker grazing system and offered ideas for future plans.
Richard and I spent a great day at Weston and Beth Walker’s farm just east of Bona, Missouri today while Kit Pharo of Pharo Cattle Co. evaluated the bulls Weston and Beth had been growing out.
They put each bull between the two groups of evaluators and rated them on various categories including fleshing ability, thickness, muscling, masculinity and disposition.
Jim Gerrish and I were speakers at the Powerflex Fencing Customer Appreciation Day today. Jim spoke on “Grazing around the world,” and I spoke on “The Value of Stockmanship.”
Click here for more photos.
Here’s a photo series of moving the cows to another grazing section. Notice how the cows are waiting quietly and calmly for the signal that it’s time to move.
We are often asked about grazing through snow when we visit with people about grazing all year round. Several years ago we had a 16 inch snow, and we photographed the cows grazing through it to show it could be done
At first they walked around the new paddock looking for a hay bale or something they might consider “feed.” Then one happened to notice a little bit of grass extending up through the snow and started eating down it. Another one noticed her eating something and crowded in.
Tina and I attended the 2007 Ultra High Stock Density Event in Creighton & Newport Nebraska. Yesterday, Allan Savory, founder of Holistic Management; Chad Peterson, Nebraska’s ultra high stock density grazier; and Neil Dennis, Canada’s ultra high stock density grazier, spoke and showed photos of their work. About 250 people attended the talks on Friday in Creighton.
Today we spent all day at one of Chad Peterson’s ranches near Newport.