8:30am – 5:30pm CST

Help Desk Open

Help desk open: We have staff on call during the entire conference to help with any questions or issues you may have. 

For questions please email us at [email protected]

8:30am – 9am CST

Yoga with Nelle Rutecki

Join a restorative yoga practice focused on longevity for the perennial work we do. A slow flow practice for all experience levels. Mat or rug optional.

Nelle is a mom, farmer, and student of yoga for nearly two decades. Alongside her husband and three children, she grows a wide variety of annuals, helps attend to a herd of cattle and sheep and a flock of hens. They live on a piece of heaven on planet earth in north central Wisconsin (Wausau).

8:30am – 9:30am CST

Get Your Hoof in the Door with Grazing: Landscape-Appropriate Livestock Selection and Management

Cherrie Nolden, 1dr Acres Farm
Jacob Grace, Grassland 2.0
Moderated by Monika Shea, Savanna Institute

Many experienced graziers describe silvopasture as an “expansion pack” for farmers who have already mastered the skills of management-intensive rotational grazing. But it can be more than that – silvopasture offers a way to reintroduce herbivores into agroforestry systems, contributing to soil health, nutrient cycling, and pest management. Selecting the appropriate types and breeds of livestock for your landscape and management are key to the success or failure of your silvopasture system.

Cherrie Nolden and her husband Allen own 130 acres and operate 183 acres between Dodgeville and Ridgeway, WI. Their focus is rotationally-grazed meat goats and sheep, and draft horses. They have a forage-based, low-input meat goat and sheep production system.

Jacob Grace, host of the Perennial AF podcast, manages communications projects at the Savanna Institute and Grasslands 2.0, a managed grazing and perennial agriculture project at UW-Madison’s Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS).

9am – 9:30am CST

Coffee with Policy Experts

Beverly Paul, Gordley Associates
Cristel Zoebisch, Carbon180
Moderated by Renee Gasch, Savanna Institute

Let’s chat policy over a cup of coffee with two experts working on advancing public support for agroforestry and their markets. Beverly Paul of Gordley Associates and Cristel Zoebisch of Carbon180 are members of a national coalition of leaders working to lift the field of agroforestry to better serve farmers and the environment. Bring your questions, comments and a cup of coffee to chat about where ag policy is headed and how it might affect your farm.

Cristel Zoebisch works on federal agriculture policy that supports carbon removal at Carbon180. Previously, she has worked on conservation and climate policy solutions for sustainable farmers and ranchers. She is based in Baltimore, Maryland and enjoys hiking with her family.

Beverly Paul works with Gordley Associates specializing in agricultural conservation and climate, food and nutrition, crop insurance and research issues. She previously worked on agriculture and trade issues for Senators Ben Nelson and Bob Kerrey, both of Nebraska. Bev grew up on a farm in Nebraska and, before coming to Washington, worked for American Agrisurance in Iowa. 

9:30am – 10:30am CST

Tools for Agroforestry

Eric Wolske, Canopy Farm Management
Seth Gillim, Propagate Ag
Matt Wilson, Savanna Institute
Moderated by David Bruce, Savanna Institute

Come learn the tools of the agroforestry trade in this session! We’ll focus on methods and software for mapping and gathering site data, including selecting suitable tree species for your site and crunching some economic numbers. We’ll also take a look at equipment and innovations for installing, maintaining, and harvesting agroforestry systems. 

Eric Wolske is the Illinois Hub Manager for Canopy where he utilizes UAV’s to collect data on currants, perennial grasses, and agroforestry systems. He has managed woody crops in conventional and agroforestry systems at the University of Illinois and at vineyards in Southern Illinois. He enjoys fermenting wines, ciders, and seltzers to enjoy with friends and family.

Seth Gillim is the Director of Farm Service for Propagate Ag and has co-managed the Intervale Conservation Nursery.

Matt Wilson a Wisconsin Technical Service Provider and author of Perennial Pathways: Planting Tree Crops. He has worked as a small farm production advisor with Grow Appalachia and served as the organic farming coordinator at Berea College Farm. On their own farm, Matt’s family has raised sheep, goats,  poultry, honey bees, sweet sorghum syrup, and tree crops.

10:45am – 12pm CST

Approaches to Alley Cropping (90 minute panel) 

Dylan Bruce, Circadian Farms in Ferryville, WI
Andrea Miller, Rural Action in Athens, OH
Katlyn Kadow, Canopy Farm Management in Champaign, IL
Jena Hood, EarthDance Organic Farm School in Ferguson, MO
Moderated by Kaitie Adams, Savanna Institute

How can alley cropping help to bridge the gap between annual and perennial production? What are different options for alley cropping? What considerations should you have in planning this system for your operation? Join us for a lively discussion on the how, what, and when of alley cropping. We will be looking at several sites to see the wide range of options with the agroforestry method.

Dylan Bruce co-founded Circadian Organics in 2018, which has grown into a 100-member CSA and about 2 acres of certified organic, reduced-tillage production practices. They are active members of the Wisconsin Farmers Union. Dylan also co-founded SeedLinked, an app for farmers and gardeners to find and buy seed.

Andrea Miller is the sustainable forestry program manager at Rural Action, an asset-based community development organization in Athens, Ohio. She also serves on the Athens Conservancy board of directors, the Native Foods Educational Organization board of directors and the leadership committee for the southeastern Ohio Women Owning Woodlands Chapter. Andrea’s background is in conservation biology and botany. Through her work, she helps landowners across central Appalachia implement agroforestry practices on their land.

12pm – 12:30pm CST

Perennial Bioenergy Crops with American Farmland Trust

Shelby Best and Marlee Giacometti, American Farmland Trust
Bradford Kasberg, Argonne National Lab
Moderated by Jacob Grace, Savanna Institute

Join American Farmland Trust and Argonne National Laboratory for a brief presentation and casual lunch time discussion on the potential of growing perennial bioenergy crops on marginal farmland. The presentation will briefly introduce perennial bioenergy crops and the discussion will allow for participants to ask questions and provide their thoughts or feedback on key barriers and interest.

Shelby Best manages farmland protection and stewardship projects across the Midwest for American Farmland Trust. Before joining AFT, Shelby was the Sustainability & Resiliency Coordinator at Region 1 Planning Council, where she led sustainability planning work for local governments across the Northern Illinois region.

Marlee Giacometti supports crop diversification efforts in the Midwest for American Farmland Trust. She has managed environmental compliance programs at Marquis Energy’s ethanol plant and barge terminal and has served in AmeriCorps, working on conservation & agriculture projects for various non-profit organizations.

Brad Kasberg is a Sustainable Landscape Specialist at Argonne National Laboratory. He has a background in landscape ecology, conservation, and regional planning. Brad holds a BSc in Geography from Miami University and a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan.

12:30pm – 2pm CST

Woody Plant Propagation (part 1)

Eliza Greenman and Jenn Ripp, Savanna Institute
Mark Hamann, University of Minnesota
Moderated by Scott Brainard, Savanna Institute

In this session, we’ll classify a variety of woody tree species into propagation techniques and give an overview of each. This session will also provide information on where to source tree genetics and propagation materials. We encourage attendees to form regional groups in order to bulk order supplies and save! 

Eliza Greenman is Savanna Institute’s Germplasm Specialist. She assembles large seedling populations for several key agroforestry crops. Greenman is a fruit explorer and horticultural historian. She designs and implements agroforestry plans that integrate livestock (and humans) into tree crop systems/orchards and runs a small business, HogTree.

Jenn Ripp is the Education Coordinator at the Savanna Institute and a long-time advocate for perennial agriculture. An orchardist at heart, Jenn found a home in Decorah, IA managing the vast diversity of apple tree varieties in the Seed Savers Exchange orchard. She brings a deep love of fruit and nut trees to the role.

Mark Hamann is a Hazelnut Research Technician at University of Minnesota where he assists Dr. Lois Braun in hazelnut breeding, agronomics and propagation, and also the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative.Prior to working at UMN, he worked at Badgersett Research Farm in Canton, MN.