Grazefest Alabama Celebrates Pasture-based Farming

Grazefest Alabama 2004 is a new grazing event that brings together farmers, grazing experts, and culinary professionals to explore and celebrate the many benefits of pasture-based farming. Grazefest Alabama will provide inspiration and resources for farmers who seek to improve their pasture-based farm strategies or who are considering transitioning to pasture-based farming.

Grazefest Alabama is being organized by Teddy Gentry and the US Grass Fed Society and will be held on September 11 and 12 in Montgomery, Alabama. The two-day event is aimed at beef, dairy, pork, lamb, and poultry producers as well as researchers, ag students, and the culinary world. Talks, demonstrations, exhibits, and other events will highlight the environmental, human health, animal welfare, and economic benefits of raising and finishing meat and dairy animals on grass.

Day One (September 11) will be a day of educational programs covering a wide range of topics related to producing high quality meat and dairy products from pastured animals. Speakers include Jo Robinson, Joel Salatin, Tilak Dhiman, Teddy Gentry, and more. A banquet of pasture-raised meats will be held on Saturday night. The featured speaker at the banquet will be James Horne of the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Day Two will celebrate the culinary qualities of grassfed meats. There will be tastings of pasture-raised beef, lamb, pork, and chicken. Alabama pitmasters, chefs, and culinary authorities will take BBQ back to the farm in a BBQ competition entitled From the Pasture to the Pit: Southern BBQ with Pasture-Raised Meats. And there will be children’s activities, music, livestock demos, and the Grazefest Alabama bookstore where noted chefs and authorities on grass-based farming will be signing copies of their latest books.

Grazefest Alabama will close with a concert by Charlie Daniels and the Charlie Daniels Band with special guests.

Day One is free but participants must preregister. To register, please contact Kathy Lacy at the US Grass Fed Society 256-845-3009 or klacy@benttreefarms.com. The banquet dinner is $20 and the cost of entry on day 2 is $10. Children 12 and under may attend the banquet and day 2 for free.

For more information, please visit http://www.eatingfresh.com/ and http://www.usgrassfed.com/ or contact us at grazefest@eatingfresh.com.

$100 scholarships are available to qualified ag students who attend Grazefest Alabama. Contact Kathy Lacy for details.