The skies were overcast and drizzling as 26 attendees gathered at Port-Haven Farm near Sleepy Eye on June 11 for our GrazeHERs field day — but after a week of heat, nobody was complaining. The cooler weather was a welcome relief, and as farmers, we always welcome moisture to grow our pastures.

A Family Farm Transformed

The day opened with our hosts, Tom Portner and his daughters, Sabrina Florentino and Isabella Portner, sharing the story of their family dairy and how they downsized their milk cows and added pastured beef and lamb farm. Their journey set the tone for the day: grazing is a transition many families are navigating together.

Out in the Pasture

Mercedes Moffett of University of Minnesota Extension followed with an overview of forages and why variety selection matters for a productive pasture. Then Mae Petrehn of Ducks Unlimited took us out to the pasture for a hands-on clipping demonstration, teaching everyone how to estimate available forage — both by clipping and with a grazing stick. While we were out there, Kelly Andersen from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture led a discussion on grazing infrastructure and watering systems.

Attendees Become the Herd

One of the highlights of the day: Mercedes ran a grazing simulation where the attendees became the "cows." Each participant was given a plush toy cow patty emoji and an area to graze. As days were simulated, the group watched grass growth and quality change under different grazing styles — continuous versus rotational. There were plenty of laughs, along with great discussion about how adaptive and rotational grazing can improve grass quality and increase your forage.

Lunch from the Prairie

Lunch was provided by Sleepy Acres Bison, who served up bison burgers and sweet, thick-sliced watermelon. The local family behind the meal adaptively grazes their bison, too — mimicking the animals' natural movement across the prairies. A delicious reminder that good grazing makes good food.

Sheep, Cattle, and Hands-On Learning

In the afternoon, Dr. Angela Varnum, Extension Livestock Veterinarian, walked us through how to review a flock of sheep for parasites, including management tips for deadly ones like the barber pole worm. Participants got hands-on experience touching the sheep to assess body condition score and seeing firsthand how a FAMACHA score is evaluated.

From there we moved to the cattle, where Tom Portner shared how he moves his herd adaptively and discussed cover crop options and permanent pasture mixes.

A Stormy (and Inspiring) Finish

As the sky darkened, we headed back to our home-base tent for the closing session: a producer panel featuring four local women — Mary Fischer (K & M Fischer Farm), Dawn Breitkreutz (Stoney Creek Farm), Sarah Fischer (Nature's Pantry), and Isabella Portner (Port-Haven Farm). They gave overviews of their operations and fielded questions on everything from mental resiliency and getting started, to land access suggestions and work-life balance.

Mother Nature had the last word, though. A strong storm blew in during the panel, sending the whole group into a nearby barn — where the conversation carried right on. Several attendees jumped in to help MNGLCA staff quickly pack up the tents before the worst of it hit. We greatly appreciate the help!

Thank You

A huge thank you to the Portner family for hosting, to all of our speakers and panelists, and to every attendee who came ready to learn, laugh, and lend a hand. Days like this are exactly what GrazeHERs is about: women in agriculture building knowledge, community, and resilient grasslands together.

Keep an eye out for upcoming GrazeHERs events — we'd love to see you in the pasture!