Calendar of Events

Workshop Full

Poteau
Kerr Stewardship Ranch

The health of livestock depends on the health of the soil.  This two-day workshop will show ranchers how to use management intensive grazing as a tool to improve the health of both their soil and their animals.

Ray Archuleta  will lead off the workshop with a discussion of soil health and how it relates to healthy cattle. Ray’s passion is applying ecological principles to agricultural systems to use and improve the most amazing resource we have: the soil.

Archuleta has over 25 years of experience with the NRCS, most recently as a member of the Soil Quality Team.  He is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist with the Soil Science Society of America.

David Sparks, D.V.M., of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES), will lead sessions on hands-on animal assessment (covering body condition scoring, frame size, and reproductive efficiency), animal health, and pasture assessment topics including pasture plant identification and soil health. 

Sparks has worked as a food-animal veterinarian for over 30 years in Arizona, Kansas, and Oklahoma.  He is active in research on multi-species grazing, and assists his wife Linda with the management of their own meat goat operation.

Brian Freking, LeFlore County Extension Agriculture Educator, will discuss fencing for “management intensive grazing 101.”  Freking maintains his own registered Angus & Chiangus cattle operation.

Together with Kerr Center herdsman and technician Andy Makovy, Freking will also lead a session on water systems.  Makovy, who has years of experience using management intensive grazing with his own herds, will also present an introduction to that subject.

Kerr Center Pineywoods Cattle manager Mary Penick and program director Ann Wells, D.V.M., will also contribute their own expertise.  Penick will share insights on genetics for grazing, with an emphasis on the Kerr Center’s experience with heritage breed Pineywoods Cattle.

In addition to her veterinary practice, Wells has more than 25 years experience in livestock production, including producing and selling natural lamb and now grass finished beef.  She will package that experience in sessions on “cowboy arithmetic and pasture allocation” as they pertain to the layout and design of grazing systems.

Sessions will be divided between an indoor classroom setting, and pastures on the Kerr Ranch for hands-on experience.  Breaks, as well as a Friday evening session, will also offer ample opportunity for informal discussions with presenters.

The $60 registration covers all materials as well as lunch for both days.  Others from the same farm may register for $50 each (only one set of resource materials will be provided per farm).

Workshop is full.

For more information, see the workshop agenda: Healthy Soils, Healthy Livestock Workshop Agenda (39.44 kB)