Southern Driftless Grasslands

11/02/2026

Great opportunity for landowners and farmers to engage for either one or two days of this summit coming to Madison.

Join us at the Upper Midwest Farmland Summit to connect, collaborate, and advance solutions for farmland access across the Midwest!

Participate in the summit with like-minded individuals from across the Midwest, including service providers, practitioners, farmers, landowners, conservation organizations, lenders, policymakers, and researchers, for two days of learning and collaboration. Whether you're looking to build partnerships, exchange ideas, or discover new approaches to your work, this is a great opportunity to connect with others working toward the future of farmland access and farm transfer.

At the Upper Midwest Farmland Summit, we bring together knowledgeable practitioners, service providers, and leaders to highlight the challenges farmers face in accessing and retaining farmland. This opportunity is to insight meaningful conversations, strengthen partnerships, and advance innovative strategies that help keep land in our farmers hands along with access to land across the Upper Midwest.

The Farmland Summit will address these critical issues through presentations, panels, and discussions led by knowledgeable experts. Session topics include innovative farm transition strategies, creative financing for land access, new policies that are making a difference, and collective models for farmland access.

Can't attend? Look at our Farmland Access Hub website and how we can help!
https://www.farmlandaccesshub.org/whatwedo

Early Bird Rates:
full Conference (2-day): $220
1-Day: $110

After Early Bird Rates:
Full Conference (2-day) – $300
1-day – $150

Dates: November 18–19, 2026
Location: Pyle Center in Madison, WI

Registration ends November 9

The Farmland Summit has a room block reserved at the DoubleTree from 11/17/26-11/20/26.

To reserve a room at the block rate, book here by 10/27:

https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/msndtdt-frm-594beda2-3dbf-49fe-b0c0-e69f618d666a/

Farmland Summit information & registration:
https://www.farmlandaccesshub.org/farmland-summit-2026

Facebook Farmland Summit Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1784017949509162/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

See Renewing the Countryside's website to see other programs we offer:
https://www.renewingthecountryside.org

Farmland Access Hub is a partnered program of Renewing the Countryside.

10/30/2026

Are you interested in learning how our grasslands in the upper mid-west fit into the larger North American picture? Come join grassland supporters this November 10th for a free event (lunch included!) in Madison that will bring local partners and landowners to the same table, strengthen relationships, share what we’re learning, and identify the priorities and opportunities that are most important and actionable in our Midwest region.

https://www.driftlessgrasslands.org/event-details/summit-2026-central-grasslands-roadmap-initiative-wi-il-regional-node-cgri-abc-fws

10/26/2026

Calling all farmers, ag operators, graziers, and landowners - check out this interesting 3-day watershed focused workshop in La Crosse happening in early December led by the Fishers and Farmers Partnership.

The Nature Conservancy is offering full scholarships to farmers attend this workshop (a $275 value). Contact Andy ([email protected]) for the free registration code.

https://fishersandfarmers.org/workshops/

08/21/2026

SDG will be hosting an open house on 10.1.26. A great opportunity to connect with fellow landowners, conservation professionals and fellow grassland enthusiasts in southwest Wisconsin. There will be a light dinner served. The event is free but we ask that all folks RSVP - we hope to see you there.

An informal gathering with of landowners, conservation professionals, and community members gathering to eat some food, connect and meet each other, and celebrate regional grasslands.

07/23/2026

Join Pheasants Forever Wisconsin and other SDG partners for a pasture walk at Heartwood Farm!

Check out the flyer below for more information and reserve your spot here:

👉 https://www.driftlessgrasslands.org/events

We’d love to see you there!

05/18/2026

Our partner Pheasants Forever Wisconsin is teaming up with the Lake States Fire Science Consortium (LSFSC), UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point, Tall Timbers, and other organizations to host 3 combined National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) classes including S-131(firefighter type 1), S-211 (portable pumps and water usage), and S-219 (firing operations).

Being held at UW-Platteville from Tuesday June 2nd -Saturday June 6th these classes will be taught through a combination of classroom lectures and hands on activities that will include live fire.

This will be a great opportunity for those looking to go from Crew Member to Squad Boss on the fire line!

Visit the registration link below for more details!

"Pumps, Torches, & New Leaders Development" Fire Course, June 2-6, 2026 - combining S-131/S-211/S-219 into 5 day session https://events.pheasantsforever.org/events/nwcg-wildland-firefighting-courses-s-131s-211s-219/1a890c7b-abcb-4406-9067-e4a047f836d8

04/15/2026

This one looks fun! Saturday, May 2nd 9am-11am | Sauk County, WI

Join us May 2nd to explore and identify birds around our farm, learn how pasture management decisions can promote grassland bird habitat, and how to attract beneficial birds to your own land. Recommended to bring: binoculars, .bird.id app, and sturdy walking shoes/boots. FREE to attend! RSVP appreciated (not required) at www.sswig.org/events

04/13/2026

Landowners, did you remember to register?!
Join us next week Friday, April 24th for an all-day prescribed fire training introductory workshop.🔥

Details:
- This is an all day class that will go over all the basics of prescribed fire including why we burn, fire ecology, burning techniques, and more.

- The morning will be a classroom style setting, while the afternoon will include hands on experience with fire equipment, including live fire exercises if weather cooperates.

- To register, or learn more about this class, and other fire classes taking place around the state visit https://www.driftlessgrasslands.org/events

04/06/2026

Don't miss out! Explore more and register at https://www.driftlessgrasslands.org/events

04/06/2026

Apply for the WI Burn Boss Academy! Deadline to apply is July 3rd. 🔥

September 27, 2026 - October 2, 2026 @ All Day - The 2026 Burn Boss Academy will be offered Sept 27 - Oct 2 at UW-Stevens Point's Treehaven facility. Apply below! The Wisconsin Burn Boss Academy is an intense 5 day course that provides the training required to become a Wisconsin Certified Burn Boss....