Minnesota Soil Health Story: Rhyan Schicker

**Rhyan Schicker planting trees for field windbreaks to decrease wind erosion while providing habitat.**

When I first moved to Minnesota eight years ago, my knowledge of soils and agricultural systems was purely textbook. I live and work in an amazing community that has taught me more than I ever expected to learn, and has pulled back the curtain on our current farming systems and the ways in which they work. I can say from personal experience that until you work within these systems, you really don’t understand the rules and limitations and it’s very easy to make assumptions on “what farmers should do.” I think something we can all agree on is that soil health makes up the building blocks of our food systems.

**Rhyan using custom equipment to plant long shelterbelt tree lines to prevent soil erosion.**

Our soil provides us so much more than we give it credit for. I wish there was a way we could go back in time, before corporate and commercial agriculture, to when we listened to what the land was telling us and responded accordingly, rather than in the quickest, most extractive ways. Nature gets it right, and my hope is that we can refocus to mimic her to the fullest extent possible. Both professionally and personally, I want to continue having conversations and sharing perspectives with farmers, landowners and managers, so that it’s not one or the other, farming versus conservation. Soil health isn’t just good for the environment — it’s an increase in our return on investment, it’s resiliency, and it’s a step towards cutting out unnecessary inputs to gain independence from corporations telling us what we need on the land they’ll never have a relationship with.

**Exploring the roots of Kernza, a perennial crop, via a soil pit.**

I feel honored to work in a soil health-focused field, in a state with some of the world’s best soils. I feel even more lucky to have my own small piece of land to raise healthy food on, while practicing what I preach: prioritizing soil healthy practices that also provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife. We need our state to support farmers’ ability to farm in a way that is both sustainable and economically secure, as we all benefit from clean water, healthy soil, and having small family-run farms on our landscape.

Rhyan Schicker is the district manager of the Lac qui Parle Soil and Water Conservation District in western Minnesota.

**Evaluating pollinator planting on unproductive ag land and finding sphinx moth caterpillars on butterfly milkweed.**

Support Minnesota Soil Health Legislation Today

Building healthy soil across Minnesota is key to creating resiliency in the face of a changing climate and is also incredibly important in supporting clean water. We all want clean drinking water for our families and communities.

Right now, bills are being heard in the Minnesota Legislature that could affect drinking water throughout the state and help farmers adopt practices that build soil health. Please sign the Land Stewardship Project’s petition to show your support for farmers, for soil health, and for clean water in Minnesota!

Two bills are being considered in the House regarding soil health (and two versions of the same bills in the Senate). One is to allocate grants for soil health-related equipment to individual farmers and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). The other supports a Southeast Regional Groundwater Protection and Soil Health Initiative in Minnesota. In this second bill, funding would go to SWCDs in the southeastern part of the state and would be spent on expanding the impact of the Olmsted County Groundwater Protection and Soil Health Program, which has become a model for encouraging farmers to adopt practices that produce results when it comes to improving soil health and protecting water quality.

Upcoming Events

January 2026

Tuesday January 20

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Making the Most of Each Acre: Integrating Livestock onto Cropland
Tuesday January 20
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Making the Most of Each Acre: Integrating Livestock onto Cropland
680 Byron Main Ct. NE Byron, MN 55920
In this interactive workshop, farmers will learn about important soil, finance, crop, and livestock concepts related to crop and livestock integration. In addition to presentations by Extension educators, participants will engage in activities to put their newfound knowledge to the test. Participants will gain knowledge, new connections, and a personalized plan for integrating crops and livestock on their farm.

For details and to register, click here.

Wednesday January 21

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Farm Aid Farmer Listening Session
Wednesday January 21
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Farm Aid Farmer Listening Session
Zoom online
What’s your story?

Farm Aid wants to hear from farmers about what they experienced in 2025 and what concerns they have heading into the 2026 season. Farm Aid will use the information and stories we hear during this listening session to make sure that our advocacy and policy work is grounded in the needs and experiences of family farmers right now.

Come learn more about Farm Aid’s policy and advocacy work, share your story with the Farm Aid community, and hear from farmers around the country about what they’re experiencing.

For more information and to register, click here.

If you can’t make it to this listening session, share your story with us by filling out this form.

Thursday January 22 – Saturday January 24

GrassWorks Grazing Conference

Thursday January 22 – Saturday January 24

GrassWorks Grazing Conference

La Crosse Center, 300 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA

The 34th Annual GrassWorks Grazing Conference will take place Jan. 22–24 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis.

The 2026 conference will be centered on the theme: “Pastures to Prosperity: Building financially smart grazing systems for today’s land stewards.” This year’s focus highlights practical, innovative, and profitable approaches to grass-based livestock production, equipping farmers with tools to strengthen both environmental and economic sustainability.

GrassWorks is excited to welcome two nationally recognized keynote speakers:

Melinda Sims, Wyoming cattle rancher and Ranching for Profit instructor, known for her expertise in financial decision-making and resilient ranch business models.
Dwayne Estes, Executive Director of the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, a leading voice in grassland restoration, regenerative grazing, and agricultural landscape resilience.

Conference highlights include:

More than 60 expert speakers from across the grazing and agricultural sectors
Over 45 industry exhibitors featuring the latest in grazing tools, technology, and services.
Workshops for beginning, expanding, and experienced graziers
Panel discussions on farm profitability, land stewardship, and long-term business resilience.
Robust networking opportunities with farmers, technical service providers, and industry partners.

The GrassWorks Grazing Conference draws farmers, agricultural professionals, educators, and conservation partners from across the Midwest and beyond. Attendees can expect practical education, actionable strategies, and meaningful connections.

Registration information can be found at https://grassworks.org/events/grazing-conference.

Tuesday January 27

9:00 am – 3:00 pm: 'Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets' LSP Soil Health Workshop
Tuesday January 27
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
'Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets' LSP Soil Health Workshop
Rochester International Event Center, 7333 Airport View Dr SW, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
On Tuesday, January 27 join Land Stewardship Project for our signature winter workshop. This year’s theme is “Beyond Exports: Rebuilding Local Markets”.

The workshop will be held from 9am to 3pm at the Rochester International Event Center (73333 Airport View Dr SW, Rochester, MN 55902). Our featured keynote speaker is Martin Larsen, a farmer who is a founding member of the “Oat Mafia” in south-central Minnesota. In the morning session, Martin will highlight the challenges and opportunities facing all farmers as they look beyond export load-out at the elevator and instead look to recreate the local markets that once served our farmers and consumers. He will share his journey establishing food grade oats and founding the “oat mafia” and the agronomic, economic, and market impacts it has made for his farm.

After the keynote, attendees will have the option to choose two of three breakout sessions with local experts:

Session 1: Economics of Diversifying Your Rotations
Session 2: Marketing Your Alternative Crops
Session 3: Derisking Diversifying Your Rotations

Breakfast and a catered lunch will be provided.

For details and to register, click here.

You may also contact event organizer Shea-Lynn Ramthun at 651-301-1897 or slramthun@landstewardshipproject.org.
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm: LSP Farm Transition Planning Course
Tuesday January 27
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP Farm Transition Planning Course
Zoom Online
The Land Stewardship Project’s long-running course for farmers and other landowners looking to transition their agricultural operations to the next generation is expanding into South Dakota in 2026. The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) Winter Farm Transition Planning Course, which enters its 10^th session in 2026, provides a holistic opportunity to dig into important topics and learn from experienced farmers and professionals about the options that farmers and landowners have when looking to pass their farm on.

The standard Zoom online LSP course will be held on seven Tuesday evenings starting on January 27 and running through March 10. The sessions build on one another, so attendance at all sessions ensures the greatest understanding and planning opportunities. The course fee is $250 per family, and registration is open through Jan. 9 at https://landstewardshipproject.org/transition2026.

New this year is an expanded course offering for South Dakota attendees as part of a partnership LSP has formed with Dakota Rural Action and Rural Revival.

The South Dakota course, led by Dakota Rural Action and Rural Revival and using the LSP curriculum, includes seven weekly in-person sessions, with a full-day Saturday kick-off session, and another full-day session to close the training. Sessions two through six will take place on Tuesday evenings for two-and-a-half hours. The dates are: Jan. 31, Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17, Feb. 24, March 3 and March 14. As with the fully online course, the course fee is $250 per family, and the registration deadline is Jan. 9. To register for the South Dakota course, visit https://qrco.de/farmtransitions2026.

Presenters at both workshops will include other area farmers who are implementing farm transition plans, as well as professionals representing the legal and financial fields as they relate to agricultural businesses. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to begin engaging in the planning process as well as to learn about resources for continuing the process after the workshop has ended.

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