CARLTON -- Greg Judy, grazier and featured writer in The Stockman Grass Farmer, will be the keynote speaker at the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota’s Grazefest Minnesota 2009 on Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, in Carlton County in northeast Minnesota.

Pre-registration is required for all Grazefest activities. Scholarships are available. For more information visit www.sfa-mn.org or contact Anne with the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (SFA) at communications@sfa-mn.org or 320-226-6318. All are invited to attend.

Greg and Jan Judy of Clark, Mo., run a grazing operation on 1400 acres of leased land made up of 10 farms. Greg and Jan went from near bankruptcy in 1999 to paying off a 200 acre farm and house in three years with custom grazing on leased land and are completely debt free. Today they own three farms and lease seven farms. Holistic High Density Planned Grazing is used to graze cows, cow/calf pairs, bred heifers, horses, and stockers. They also own a 250 head grass genetics cow herd, a 300 head hair sheep flock, a goat herd, and graze Tamworth pigs. They direct market grass-fed beef, lamb and pork. For more information about Greg and Jan Judy’s grazing operation and techniques, go to www.greenpasturesfarm.net.

Greg has also authored “NO RISK RANCHING, Custom Grazing On Leased Land” and “COMEBACK FARMS, Rejuvenating Soils, Pastures and Profits with Livestock Grazing Management.” He is a popular speaker all over the United States on the benefits of Holistic High Density Planned Grazing, leasing land, multi-species grazing and custom grazing.

Grazefest Minnesota 2009 kicks off on the evening of July 17 with a Grazier’s Forum & Supper featuring Greg Judy and Minnesota grazing specialists at the Carlton County Fairgrounds from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Grazefest main events take place on July 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and feature three innovative grazing operations: Sandy Hills Ranch, Troy & Chris Salzer family; Green Pastures Dairy, Hedquist family; and Fleece Force Flocks, Pete & Carol Jelinek family.

Grazefest is an extraordinary networking opportunity for graziers, grazing specialists, grazing suppliers, and educators. The event also features delicious, pasture-raised and locally grown meals and snacks. Due to limited space and the popularity of this event, walk-in admission cannot be guaranteed and pre-registration is required. For more information and to register online, go to www.sfa-mn.org or call 320-226-6318.

SFA hosts Grazefest Minnesota to promote the health benefits of pasture-raised foods, the positive environmental impacts of grazing, and the economic benefits of from local, pasture-raised foods. Grazefest Minnesota highlights well-managed grazing systems that result in healthy animals and excellent living and working conditions for farmers and rural communities.

Grazefest Minnesota 2009 Sponsors: Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service, Mill City Farmers Market, Minnesota Dairy Initiative, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Farmers Union, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education-North Central Region, and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture.

Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota is an agricultural non-profit organization whose mission is to support the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through farmer-to-farmer networking, innovation, demonstration, and education. Grazefest™ Minnesota is a trademark of Eating Fresh Publications.