Dig deep into on-farm soil health with local farmer-led group Sauk Soil and Water Improvement Group (SSWIG). Learn from soil health experts, join in round table discussion, and network with others while enjoying a locally sourced lunch. You can do all this at the Annual Soil Health Workshop.
This workshop will feature keynote speaker Tom Cotter of Cotter Farm in southern Minnesota. He’s become a vocal advocate for conservation practices. These practices can enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, increase carbon sequestration, boost farm resiliency, ensure financial viability, and revitalize rural communities. Guest speakers include Randy Zogbaum of DATCP, and Craig Ficinec of the Sand County Foundation. Attendees will hear Tom Cotter’s story and how diversity and cover crops work on his operation. They will also learn state producer led findings from the past year from Randy Zogbaum. Thwy will also hear about a new producer led funding opportunity from Sand County Foundation and more!
Details
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 9am-3:30pm
Location: Frank Fischer Senior Center, 20 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy S, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Cost: $20 per person. This includes a locally sourced lunch
Sponsorship opportunity: Sponsors of $100+ includes one registration, table space, and name/business recognition.
Register online or mail by January 30, 2026: https://www.sswig.org/events
Hosted in partnership by the Sauk County Land Resources and Environment and area producer-led watershed protection groups. This is including the Sauk Soil & Water Improvement Group, the Producers of Baraboo-Redstone, the Lake Wisconsin Farmer Watershed Council, and the Farmers of the Lemonweir Valley.
Everybody has a story to tell. Keynote speaker, Tom Cotter, a fourth‑generation farmer from southern Minnesota, shares his story of turning a century of full tillage into living‑roots agriculture. Tom Cotter believes that when you do good things, other good things happen. He’s seen it firsthand. After he and his dad saw drastic differences four feet down with cover crops in the late 1990s, Tom added diverse cover‑crop “cocktails” after canning crops that are also grazed. As the First certified Clean Water Farm in Mower County, he raises crops and grass‑fed beef and shares practical lessons nationwide: observe, adapt, and improve.
