Gabe Brown recognized as one of the pioneers of the current soil health movement and author of the book “Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture” will be visiting Sycamore on July 15th beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau’s Center for Agriculture 1350 West Prairie Drive. The public is invited to attend this forum hosted by the DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Gabe and his wife Shelly and son Paul own and operate a diversified 5000-acre farm near Bismarck, North Dakota. Their ranch consists of native perennial rangeland along with perennial pastureland and cropland. Their ranch focuses on farming and ranching in nature’s image.

The Brown family holistically integrate their grazing and no-till cropping systems, which include a wide variety of cash crops, multi-species cover crops along with all-natural grass finished beef and lamb.

They also raise pasture laying hens, broilers, and swine. This diversity and integration have regenerated the natural resources on the ranch without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides.

With over 2000 people visiting the ranch annually to see this unique operation, the Browns believe that healthy soil leads to clean air, clean water, healthy plants, animals, and people.

Gabe and the Brown’s Ranch have received many forms of recognition for their work, including a Growing Green award from the Natural Resource Defense Council, an Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and a Zero-Till Producer of the Year Award, to name a few. Mr. Brown has also been named one of the twenty-five most influential agriculture leaders in the United States.

We look forward to Gabe’s discussion on his journey into regenerative agriculture, what works and what didn’t work. Please plan to attend this special event. The program will conclude by 10:30 a.m..

Gabe will have some copies of his book available at the event as well.

If you have any further questions, please contact the DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District at 815-756-3234 ext. 9488 or Dean.Johnson@il.nacdnet.net .