LEWISTON, Minn. — Are you looking to improve profitability from rotationally grazing livestock by marketing your grass-fed and pastured-based meats directly to the consumer? A workshop featuring local farmers sharing their experiences with direct marketing grass-fed meats will be held Thursday, Dec. 12, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Church of the Brethren near Lewiston (25335 County Rd. 25). This Land Stewardship Project (LSP) workshop will feature presentations by southeastern Minnesota farmers Eric Klein, Mike and Jennifer Rupprecht, Valerie Luhman, and Rachelle and Jordan Meyer. Workshop highlights will include farmer-to-farmer learning, ideas for building a customer-base, processing considerations, Internet marketing strategies, and audience Q & A.

The cost is $10 per individual and $20 per family, which includes a dinner. To register by Dec. 10, contact LSP’s Alex Romano at 507-523-3366.

DIRECTIONS: From I-90, take exit 242 and head north on Co. Rd. 29; after 3 miles, turn right on Co. Rd. 106, continue onto Co. Rd. 25, heading east. The church will be on your right.

Farmers trying out direct-marketing want another option to feed people high-quality food, diversify their business enterprises, and capture more of the food dollar. Although direct-marketing sounds like a good idea, many farmers lack information on how to make it happen. Direct-marketing is a skill that people can learn.

To address this learning curve, Klein (Hidden Stream Farm), the Rupprechts (Earth-Be-Glad Farm), Luhman (Grass Fed Cattle Co.), and the Meyers (Wholesome Family Farms) will share how they got started direct marketing and how they are making it work on their farms.

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