LSP Farm Beginnings Tour on Livestock Production/Marketing Near Hutchinson June 2

CONTACT: Amy Bacigalupo, LSP, 320-269-2105 or amyb@landstewardshipproject.org

5/16/07
HUTCHINSON, Minn.—The Lamb Shoppe near Hutchinson will host a Land Stewardship Project Farm Beginnings tour Saturday, June 2. Featured topics will be on-farm meat processing, retail sales, fencing and animal health. To register for this public event, contact Amy Bacigalupo in the Land Stewardship Project’s Montevideo office at 320-269-2105 or amyb@landstewardshipproject.org.

The hosts for the field day are Connie Karstens and Doug Rathke, who own and operate a grass-based livestock farm. Karstens and Rathke believe diversification is essential, and they practice their belief by raising sheep, cattle, chickens and turkeys. They process the meat in an on-farm facility and sell it in an on-farm store called the Lamb Shoppe. The farm also sells products to several retailers and restaurants in the Twin Cities area. For more information, visit www.ourfarmtoyou.com.

The nationally-recognized Farm Beginnings course provides participants an opportunity to learn firsthand about low-cost, sustainable methods of farming. The course consists of a series of classes that take place twice a month between October and March. After March, course participants have the opportunity to attend on-farm educational field days. Farm Beginnings participants learn goal setting, financial planning, business plan creation, alternative marketing and innovative production techniques. The course consists of 34 hours of class time, on-farm education, skills sessions and one-on-one mentoring.

This is the 10th year the Land Stewardship Project has offered Farm Beginnings in the region. The Minnesota course has over 300 graduates to its credit—60 percent of whom are farming. Farm Beginnings courses are also being offered in Illinois, Nebraska and North Dakota.

The registration deadline for the 2007-2008 Minnesota-region Farm Beginnings session is Aug. 30. Classes will be held in La Crosse, Wis., and Marshall, Minn. For more on Farm Beginnings, see www.landstewardshipproject.org/farmbeg.html.

-30-