Eagle Lake fishing derby: Jan. 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Eagle Lake, north of Willmar. Entry is $10 for adults, $5 for kids under 16. Check in at the public access or at Sunray Cafe. Fish anywhere on the lake, can use shelters and houses, moving around the lake is permitted. All fish must be checked in by 3 p.m. The fundraiser for cancer is in memory of Ron Shimek. Bad weather date is Feb. 13.
Prairie Sportsman: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, and repeats at 12:30 p.m. Monday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Pioneer PBS. Join host Bret Amundson for “Outdoors with Ray Ruiz.” Enjoy fishing at Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis with Ray Ruiz, who introduces Latino people to outdoor sports; go on a dove hunt on a hemp field near Blue Earth; and learn how to cook with “hempura.”
Prairie Sportsman: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, and repeats at 12:30 p.m. Monday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Pioneer PBS. Join host Bret Amundson for “Diving Deep and Eating Insects.” Explore mine pit lakes, growing and eating insects and backyard pocket prairie kits.
Prairie Yard and Garden: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, and repeats 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Monday on Pioneer PBS. Host Mary Holm visits with Gary Johnson from the University of Minnesota who explains how to prune different varieties of shrubs correctly.
Ag to Energy – Biofuels Workshop: Jan. 27, 7:30 to 9 a.m., free, online. Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission workshop with Jamey Cline, business development director at Christianson PLLP and an involved advocate for the renewable fuels industry. Cline will speak on the interaction of the agriculture and renewable fuels industries. Register at christiansoncpa.com.
Women renting it out right: Jan. 29, 1:30 to 4 p.m., free, online, register at upcoming events on the Land Stewardship Project website at landstewardshipproject.org. Women face unique challenges when navigating the agricultural world, either as farmers or as landowners. This workshop is a woman-only space to share experiences and ask questions in a supportive environment.
Women in Ag Network Conference: Feb. 3, 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., online. Cost is $35, students are $15, register at z.umn.edu/WAGN2021ConferenceReg. Theme is “Building Bridges, Cultivating Connections” with keynote speaker Michele Payn and three breakout tracks and closing panel discussion.
Farm safety webinar series: Four Thursdays, 11 a.m., free, choose any or all to attend. Register in advance at z.umn.edu/FarmSafetyWebinars, presented by Emily Krekelberg, University of Minnesota Extension, and Angie Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension. Feb. 4 will be tractor and equipment safety, Feb. 18 is youth farm safety, March 4 is livestock safety and March 18 is mental health.
Multi-generation farm transition planning: Thursday, Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25, noon to 1 p.m., free, online. The University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota State system have partnered to offer hands-on farm transition education focused on multi-generation farm businesses. An emphasis of the sessions is how to transfer both the “financial business” and how to transfer the “management and responsibility” of the farm business. The retiring generation and incoming generation should attend the sessions together, including spouses, partners and other relevant parties. The instructors will be Jim Molenaar, Farm Business Management instructor at St. Cloud Technical and Community College, and Extension educators Megan Roberts and Amber Roberts. Advance registration is required at extension.umn.edu/event/multi-generation-farm-transition-planning.
Sustainable Farming Association: Feb. 8-13, annual conference. Dozen sessions held throughout the week and concluding with Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen speaking on initiatives and challenges in expanding processing opportunities laid bare by COVID-19. To close the conference, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will be interviewed by the association’s executive director Theresa Keaveny on the state’s response to meatpacker concentration and antitrust enforcement. Association members may register for free and nonmembers for $40 on the website at sfa-mn.org/conference.
Hemp forum: Feb. 10-11, noon to 4 p.m., free, online, register at www.mda.state.mn.us/hempforum. Minnesota Department of Agriculture forum for anyone interested in hemp and hemp production, federal and state regulations, plant breeding and agronomy, and market opportunities. This will be the first time Minnesota’s program will operate under a new state plan that was federally approved in July that governs production and regulation.
Soil Health Field Day: Feb. 16, 1 to 4 p.m., online, free, register at upcoming events on the Land Stewardship Project website at landstewardshipproject.org. Soil health experts Jay Fuhrer and Jon Stika will talk about why soil health matters and how you can assess soil health on your farm and how to incorporate soil health into practices. Hear information and data from planting cash crops into green cover crops (planting green) and grazing perennial/annual covers at Menoken Farm.
