The 2026 Southern Grazing School began the evening before the field day with a social hour and supper at the Branding Iron in Preston. It was a great opportunity to enjoy conversations that spanned three generations of the Grover family. Travis and Vanette Grover, along with their children, shared stories about their operation and welcomed attendees before opening their farm the following morning.

Nestled in the rolling hills along the Minnesota-Iowa border, Grover Land & Cattle is a showcase of what intentional grazing can accomplish. Fillmore County has steep hills and rich limestone soils, which have made grazing a natural fit for generations. Today, those same landscapes are home to some of the state's most innovative grazing operations. Through thoughtful pasture management and well-designed watering systems, the Grover family has transformed challenging hillsides into productive, lush grazing land.

One unique feature of the operation is the Grovers' continued use of cutting horses to work cattle across the rugged terrain. Their passion for good stockmanship and livestock handling is evident, and their family is well known in the cutting horse world.

The day's program, led by Dean Thomas, Southeast Minnesota Grazing Specialist and Soil Health Technician, covered a wide range of practical grazing topics. Participants toured the farm while discussing pasture management, fencing and water infrastructure, livestock handling, clipping demonstrations, grazing stick measurements, plant identification, forage testing, and pasture renovation and cover crop grazing. Every stop sparked thoughtful questions and conversations as producers shared ideas and experiences with one another.

One of the greatest strengths of a field day is the opportunity to see a working operation firsthand. Walking the pastures together allowed participants to ask questions, compare management strategies, and leave with practical ideas they could apply to their own operations.

A special thank you to the Grover Family for generously opening your farm and sharing your time, experience, and hospitality. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Dean Thomas for leading an outstanding day of learning, and to Lance Smith and Jeff Duchene, NRCS grazing specialists, and Troy Salzer, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, for sharing their knowledge and helping make the event a success.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for another successful Grazing School. We look forward to seeing you at a future MNGLCA event as we continue learning from one another and building better pastures and better returns.