Kit Pharo of Pharo Cattle Company has made a name for himself and the cattle he produces, so much so that he raises and sells more than 900 forage developed bulls each year. Pharo’s philosophy centers on the thought that a rancher/farmer must fit what they produce (in his case, cattle) to the environment, rather than try to modify the environment to fit the cattle. “We want a cow that can survive strictly on what the ranch produces, with little or no additional inputs,” Pharo claims. At the Pharo Ranch in Colorado, they select for cows that thrive on native shortgrass prairie, with almost no hay supplement. “A cow ought to support the ranch, not be supported by the ranch!”
Pharo will join four other nationally known experts to share expertise at the 26th annual GrassWorks Grazing Conference, January 30 through February 1 in the Wisconsin Dells. This information-packed event is an invaluable opportunity for new, experienced or retiring farmers to learn the many sides of transitioning to or supporting a grass-based system.
The five national experts featured at this year’s 2 ½ day event will highlight the ways managed grazing systems are economically, environmentally and managerially a positive decision for farmers. These experienced producers showcase the diversity of options and bright future for the grazing industry.
- Wisconsin’s own Joe Tomandl III, grazier and executive director of the uniquely successful Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship explores where the dairy industry stands and where it is going.
- The husband and wife pair of Hue Karreman, DVM and Suzanne Nelson Karreman, farming in North Carolina, share their expertise from working with hundreds of dairy graziers, including information about linebreeding and using nurse cows.
- Kit Pharo from Pharo Cattle Company in Colorado explains how he has made his ranch more profitable and enjoyable while producing and selling 900+ forage developed bulls each year.
- Greg Gunthorp, Indiana producer supplying pork, chicken, duck and turkey to some of the best restaurants in Chicago, shares his experience of raising pork on pasture, as well as thoughts on where he sees the sustainable agriculture movement going today.
Along with the inspiration of these grazing success stories, experienced farmers, researchers, veterinarians and industry reps will share their expertise in over 40 workshops and from the 40+ booth exhibit hall. Workshop topics varying from creating free-choice mineral systems to animal handling, from small-ruminant grazing systems to raising livestock on rented land, from looking at the farm as an ecosystem to pasture response to nitrogen, and much more, allow producers to explore specific issues that can enhance success on their grazing operations.
This opportunity to meet a few hundred others interested and engaged in grazing systems, to learn targeted information leading to grazing success, and to relax and enjoy locally raised, pasture produced food should not be missed. Every attendee is guaranteed to bring something back to their farm, operation or business that will make a positive difference.