July 22-24, 2025
Summit Grazing School
Join us for a hands-on workshop led by the South Dakota Grassland Coalition. Learn practical strategies to manage and preserve your private lands.
During this 3-day intensive program, you will not only learn new grazing management techniques, but you will also get hands-on experience.
The producers who put on this grazing school share the experiences that lead them to this new way of grassland management and how they overcame the challenges they faced throughout the implementation process. Additionally, the agenda features presenters from state and federal agencies, and universities so that you will be instantly connected with people who can help you implement the new grazing management plan you develop during the Grazing School. Participants will gain experience with hands-on activities in the field and hear presentations in the classroom.
The Eastern Grazing School is held at the Abbey of the Hills, near Summit, SD.
Lodging
Abbey of the Hills
(605) 398-9200
Contact:
Judge Jessop
605-280-0127
judge.jessop@sdconservation.net
Members: $300
Non-members: $335 (one-year membership included)
*Additional $150 for each person from the same operation.
*Fee includes session materials, snacks and meals.
Send registration form and fee to:
South Dakota Grassland Coalition
Attn: Judge Jessop
24690 299th Ave
Presho, SD 57568
*Please make checks payable to: South Dakota Grassland Coalition
why attend the grazing school
Connect
Connect and network with producers in various stages of implementation as well as agency professionals who can help with any questions along the way.
Learn
Learn from various professionals who have not only put in the work to transform their own operations but also helped land managers from around the state.
Grow
Take home everything you learned at the Grazing School with unlimited access to the resources we provide throughout the 3-day event.
What is the Grazing School?
The agenda features presenters from state and federal agencies, and universities. Area producers share their expertise about various topics related to grazing techniques and grassland management. Participants will hear presentations in the classroom and gain experience with hands-on activities in the field.
Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged.
schedule
| Day 1 | |
|---|---|
|
7:30-8:00 |
Registration & Light Breakfast |
|
8:00-9:45 |
Welcome, Student Introductions, Intro to Action Plan & Grazier’s Math |
|
10:00-10:45 |
BREAK & Travel to Pasture |
|
10:45-12:15 |
Field Sessions A, B, & C: Graziers Math & Clipping Demo; Pasture Allocation Intro; Pasture Allocation |
|
12:15-12:30 |
Break & Discussion |
|
12:30-1:00 |
Plant ID/Diversity |
|
1:00-2:00 |
LUNCH |
|
2:00-2:30 |
Paradigm Shift |
|
2:30-3:30 |
Instructor Introductions |
|
3:30-4:00 |
Grazing for Healthier Plants |
|
4:00-4:30 |
Rangeland Plants Value |
|
4:30-5:00 |
Grazing for Healthier Soil |
|
5:15-6:30 |
Managing for Diversity, Part 1 |
|
6:30-7:30 |
Supper with Instructors: Table Topics, Q & A |
| Day 2 | |
|---|---|
|
7:00-8:00 |
Breakfast & Travel to Pasture |
|
8:00-10:30 |
Rangeland Soil Health |
|
10:30-11:00 |
Rangeland Plants |
|
11:00-12:00 |
Pasture Allocation |
|
12:00-1:30 |
Travel to Abbey & LUNCH |
|
1:30-2:00 |
Bugs in the Dung |
|
2:00-2:30 |
Livestock Parasites |
|
2:30-3:00 |
Animal Nutrition |
|
3:00-3:15 |
BREAK |
|
3:15-4:00 |
Ranch Resource Inventory |
|
4:00-5:00 |
Managing for Diversity Part 2 |
|
5:00-5:15 |
BREAK |
|
5:15-6:00 |
Mission & Vision; Facilitated Discussion |
|
6:00 |
Supper with Instructors: Table Topics, Q & A |
| Day 3 | |
|---|---|
|
7:00-8:30 |
Breakfast, Grazing School Follow-up Program, & Travel to Pasture |
|
8:30-9:30 |
Plant ID |
|
9:30-11:30 |
Pasture Allocation & Return to Abbey |
|
11:30-12:00 |
Forage Planning |
|
12:00-12:30 |
Winter Grazing; Cover Crop Grazing |
|
12:30-1:00 |
LUNCH |
|
1:00-1:45 |
Infrastructure – Fencing & Water; Plant ID Wrap-up |
|
1:45-2:00 |
Action Planning Review, Evaluations, Certificates, & Awards |
instructors
Dugan Bad Warrior
Rancher, SDGC Board Member • Dupree, SD
Pete Bauman
SDSU Extension Range & Natural Resources Specialist • Watertown, SD
Ryan Beer
SD NRCS Range Management Specialist • Bison, SD
Brett Blank
SD Game, Fish & Parks • Watertown, SD
Joe Blastick
Program Manager, TNC • Clear Lake, SD
Bart Carmichael
Rancher, SDGC board member • Faith, SD
Jenita Derga
Grazing Management & Profitability Consultant • Onida, SD
Ryan Forbes
SD NRCS Area Resource Conservationist • Brookings, SD
Pat Guptill
Rancher, Former SDGC Board Member, Wall Grazing School Host • Quinn, SD
Jay Hermann
SD NRCS Range Management Specialist • Redfield, SD
Riley Kammerer
Rancher, SDGC Board Member • Rapid City, SD
Tanse Herrmann
SD NRCS Grazinglands Soil Health Specialist • Rapid City, SD
Judge Jessop
SD Grassland Coalition Executive Director • Presho, SD
Josh Lefers
Director of Conservation, Audubon Great Plains • Corsica, SD
Owen McElroy
Program Habitat Manager, SD GFP • Watertown, SD
Mike McKernan
Rancher, SDGC Board Member • Twin Brooks, SD
Chuck Pyle
Assistant State Partners for Fish and Wildlife Coordinator, US Fish & Wildlife Service • Huron, SD
Dan Rasmussen
Rancher, Coordinator-Grazing School Follow-up Consulting Program • Belvidere, SD
Robin Salverson
SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist • Lemmon, SD
Jori Smiley
Rancher, SDGC Board Member • Red Owl, SD
Bruce Staufer
Rancher • Watertown, SD
Rod Voss
SD NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist • Mitchell, SD
What Attendees Have to say
Need more info?
If you have questions, feel free to contact Judge at 605-280-0127 or by email at judge.jessop@sdconservation.net. You can also submit a question through the form below, and Judge will get back to you as soon as possible.
