UW, Partners Lead Working Lands Field Day in Sheridan Aug. 10

The University of Wyoming’s Sheridan Research and Extension Center, agency partners and local producers will host a field day Wednesday, Aug. 10, focused on soil health, cover crops and grazing on irrigated forages.

Participants will meet at the Sheridan Research and Extension Center, located at 663 Wyarno Road. The center is operated by the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station (WAES), the research arm of the UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources.

The Working Lands Field Day program begins at 7:30 a.m. and includes visits to two local operations: the Little Horn Ranch and Koltiska Cattle and Hay. Transportation between sites is available, and all ages are welcome to attend.

Participants must register by Monday, Aug. 1. A $10 entry fee will be collected on the day of the event. Those who are unable to attend the full program are welcome to join for one or more of the sessions but are still asked to RSVP.

Partners involved in the event include UW Extension; UW’s College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources; Sheridan County Conservation District; Sheridan County Farm Bureau Federation; Natural Resources Conservation Service; Young Producers Assembly; Millborn Seeds; Sheridan Community Land Trust; Plank Stewardship Initiative; North 40 Ag; and the Powder River Basin Resource Council.

Other partners include the White Ranch, Broken Arrow Ranch and Double Rafter Ranch.

UW Extension Educator Caitlin Youngquist will deliver the opening remarks.

“Soil and regenerative agriculture are very popular concepts right now,” she says. “My intention is to help explain some of the basic science and provide some context for folks.”

With rising hay prices and drought conditions, the event is timely, adds fellow Extension Educator Alejandro Orozco-Lopez. The field day is an opportunity for producers to consider “OK, this is working here. What will fit best for my operation, my goals?” he explains.

The program will include three site visits, starting at the Little Horn Ranch with a discussion on managed grazing on irrigated forage and stockpiled winter forage.

Lunch will be served at the Sheridan Research and Extension Center at 12:15 p.m. Partner presentations and door prize drawings will take place during the meal.

After lunch, field visits will resume. On a site at the research and extension center, Tyler Jones, assistant farm manager, will present a tillage method study and dryland cover crop species evaluation.

The final site visit of the day, focused on dryland soil regeneration, will be held at Koltiska Cattle and Hay.

The program concludes at 4 p.m. at the Sheridan Research and Extension Center.

To learn more about the event, visit www.sccdwy.org. The online registration form can be found at bit.ly/working-lands-registration-sccd-2022.

About the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station

WAES supports fundamental and applied research on agricultural, natural and community resource issues related to the current and future needs of the state, region and beyond. Its mission is to lead research at UW that stimulates the profitability, diversification and sustainability of the agricultural economy. For more information, call (307) 766-3667 or email aes@uwyo.edu.

About UW Extension

Since 1914, UW Extension has provided lifelong learning opportunities to Wyoming citizens across the state. With roots in agricultural education, UW Extension supports rural communities facing contemporary challenges and changes. UW Extension brings the university’s resources to each of the state’s 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation.

To learn more about UW Extension, call (307) 766-5124 or visit www.uwyo.edu/uwe.