Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.
Our autumn magazine is on its way to mailboxes (if you're a Practical Farmers member) – and the digital version is now available on our website. On the cover, Martha McFarland prepares to work on fencing in one of her bison pastures on a late-September day at Hawkeye Buffalo Ranch near Fredericksburg, Iowa.

In this livestock-themed issue, learn about:
  • Finding a Path Through Livestock and Mentors
  • Grazing the Prairie
  • Expanding Local Meat Markets
  • PFI's forthcoming feature film, "Livestock on the Land"
  • And more!

The issue also features a profile of the Bouska sisters, PFI's 2020 Farmland Owner Legacy Award recipients who were honored on Tuesday; our 2020 member survey results; stunning photos by Sarah Krumm, PFI's graphic design and photography coordinator; TWO book reviews; and more!
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Home is different for each of us. Over the past two centuries as our economy has become more industrial, people have increasingly called urban and suburban areas home. Yet while rural areas are often portrayed as dying, there are glimmers of hope and a shifting tide for the rural U.S.

Bestselling author and journalist Sarah Smarsh, who grew up on a rural Kansas farm, will share stories of people who are coming – or choosing to stay – home in rural places and small towns. She will reflect on ingenuities and the struggles people face in their commitment to making a good life for themselves and their communities.
Lightning is powerful, focused, illuminating and – over quickly. During the 2021 PFI annual conference, we are introducing lightning talks to our session offerings!

As the name suggests, lightning talks are short, focused and, hopefully, exciting to watch! We know many of you are evaluating new practices or have figured out a process that would be cool to share with others. And we know some of you don’t want to talk for an hour. How about 8 minutes?

If you’d like to deliver a lightning talk during the conference, we want to hear from you! Please let us know using this linked form, and we’ll follow up.
NEWS
Expanding integrated crop-livestock systems can offer a range of benefits for farmers, the environment and rural communities. But accessing land to graze, or finding livestock farmers to partner with, can be a barrier.

The Midwest Grazing Exchange is a free matchmaking service that aims to connect graziers seeking land to graze with landowners in six Midwestern states. It was created to help farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin find livestock or land to graze.
Practical Farmers of Iowa is seeking an outgoing and dedicated professional to join our staff as horticulture coordinator.
 
This full-time position is based in our Ames, Iowa, office and will work with PFI staff, farmers and members to design, coordinate and execute farmer-led educational events, and will serve as the primary relationship- and network-builder for horticulture crop farmers in the PFI community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Missed a virtual field day that you wanted to attend? There are a few ways to watch recordings:


Hosted by: Regina Frahm
October 27 | 2-3 p.m.
Hosted by: Maren and Tom Beard
October 24 | 4-8 p.m.
Enjoy pizza made with local ingredients at Luna Valley Farm, and support PFI in the process. Maren and Tom will donate 20% of the proceeds to PFI.
Oct. 24: Pizza for PFI - Pizza Night at Luna Valley Farm
4-8 p.m. | Decorah
Oct. 27: Virtual Field Day - Sheep Facilities
2-3 p.m. | Online
IN THE NEWS
Members in the News
Story City Locker of Story City was featured in Civil Eats: The Pandemic Has the Potential to Finally Transform Meat Processing in the U.S.

Zack Smith of Leland and Meghan Filbert of Pilot Mound were featured on Iowa Public Radio: Iowa Farmer Invents 'Cluster Cluck 5000' To Bring Livestock Back To Crop Fields

Will Lorentzen and Adrian White, of Garber, and Steve Beaumont of Strawberry Point were feature in the Clayton County Register: Jupiter Ridge Farm: Ethically sustainable, naturally

Nathan and Sarah Anderson of Aurelia were featured in Country Folks: Wild habitat as part of field conservation
Have you been featured in the media? Tell us when and where to find a link to the article, and we'll feature you in a future issue of Practical News.