Grasstravaganza 2023:
PLANET GRAZE: Growing Resilient Grazing Systems
July 20-22, 2023 | SUNY Morrisville | Register Now
Make your farms and grazing management more resilient to short and long-term changes in climate, economics, soil health, consumer preferences, and more.

Lectures from outstanding speakers.
Speakers have been hand-selected based on their knowledge and experience.

Hands-on workshops and farm tours.
We’ll be visiting SUNY Morrisville’s Dairy Complex and neighboring farms to show best practices in-action.

Vendor trade show.
Leading vendors in the industry are invited to showcase their business at our Trade Show. Learn how to become a sponsor.
Meet our amazing speakers.

Keynote Speaker: Hugh Aljoe
Director of Producer Relations, Noble Research Institute
Aljoe serves as the director of producer relations, providing oversight to the consultation and education programs for producers in the Southern Great Plains. He is also a pasture and range consultant. Aljoe joined the Noble Research Institute in 1995.
Before coming to the Noble Research Institute in 1995, Aljoe was the ranch manager of Belvedere Land & Cattle Corp. for 10 years. He supervised the growth of the ranch from a small 450-acre, 150-head purebred ranch into an extensive 3,900-acre, 1,500-head purebred and commercial cow-calf operation. Forage resources were predominantly introduced bermudagrass pastures (overseeded to ryegrass) that were managed using adaptive multi-paddock grazing.

Keynote Speaker: Greg Brann
Farmer at Big Spring Farm; Owner of Synergistic Grazing Management Consulting
Greg received a BS degree in Plant and Soil Science from the University of TN, Knoxville with special emphasis on animal science and landscape design. He worked as the State Grazing Land Soil Health Specialist for 23 of his 40-year tenure with NRCS. Greg is a featured speaker at many conferences and grazing schools around the country.
His private consulting practice, Synergistic Grazing Management, provides land management planning to farmers, ranchers, land preservation organizations, and public land managers. Greg has served as the Technical Advisor to BEHAVE, Tennessee Forage and Grassland Council, and the American Sheep Industry. He has developed land management plans as varied as the 100,000 acres at Fort Campbell Military Base to diversified farms of 25 acres. Looking past symptoms to discover and resolve root issues, his plans provide practical ideas to help in reaching aspired goals.
Greg is well known for his extensive knowledge of soil health, grass and livestock management systems, and plant identification. His deep understanding of plant communities as indicators of land productivity has made him a stead resource for land owners and managers passionate to understand nature’s ability to regenerate land.

Shannon Hayes
Owner, Sap Bush Hollow Farm, chef, author, Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow podcast
Shannon Hayes grew up on Sap Bush Hollow Farm. In 2017, Shannon stepped to the helm of Sap Bush Hollow as the CEO of their now three-generation family business, helping to expand it to accommodate their daughters’ full-time employment, as well as to support a select team of dedicated entrepreneurially-minded crew members who work on the farm while simultaneously developing their own small business dreams.
Shannon holds a PhD in sustainable agriculture and community development from Cornell University and a bachelors in creative writing from Binghamton University. She has authored seven books and has made appearances on national television and National Public radio. She has also enjoyed a successful nationwide speaking career, teaching about sustainable business and inspiring rural and urban families alike to live creative lives in harmony with community and planet.

Jenn Colby
Owner, Howling Wolf Farm, farmer, writer, Choosing to Farm podcast
Jenn Colby has spent over 25 years helping livestock farmers find success and quality of life through non-profit, academic, Extension, and community roles. She writes, farms, consults, and hosts the Choosing to Farm podcast from her home base of Howling Wolf Farm in Vermont.

Dr. David E. Rogers
President, SUNY Morrisville
Dr. David E. Rogers, was named the eighth president of SUNY Morrisville in June 2015. Since his arrival to campus in 1999, Dr. Rogers has earned the respect of the campus community and helped make the college a top destination not only for prospective students but for talented faculty and researchers, as well as businesses seeking partnership with higher education.
Dr. Rogers earned his Ph.D. in labor economics, collective bargaining and econometrics from the SUNY College of Industrial Labor Relations at Cornell University. He also holds a master’s degree from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts.
Dr. Rogers’ approach to community partnership has strengthened the college’s ties to industry partners, business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and others seeking practical solutions to grow New York State’s dynamic economy.

Blake Glover
State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Originally from Missouri, Blake Glover started his career with the agency as a CO-OP Student in 1999. He came on board full-time as a Soil Conservationist in 2001 in Bowling Green, Missouri. In 2008, he became the Area Program Manager in Flagstaff, Arizona. Over the years he has completed many details which allowed him to broaden his experiences, develop new skills, and increase his knowledge of conservation concerns in different parts of the country. Locations include Arizona, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Montana. Blake was the Acting Arizona State Conservationist in 2017, and Acting New Mexico State Conservationist in 2018. In 2011, Blake became the Area Conservationist for Southern New Mexico. In January 2019, Blake and his family relocated to Syracuse from Southern New Mexico to join the NY NRCS Family.
Conference Schedule
Our agenda is packed to keep attendees engaged and entertained.
Thursday, July 20
2 – 6 p.m. | Registration and Check-In, STUAC |
6 – 9 p.m. | Local Dinner, Fellowship, and Keynote address by farmer and author Shannon Hayes: Don’t Let Go: Building a way of life that lasts…and that’s worth holding onto. Hospitality Suite |
Friday, July 21
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast, Registration and Trade Show |
8:45 – 9 a.m. | Welcome SUNY Morrisville President Dr. David E. Rogers |
9 -10:15 a.m. | Keynote Speaker: Hugh Aljoe Adaptive Grazing for Improved Soil Health: A Safe to Learn Approach |
10:15 – 10:45 am | Break and Trade Show |
10:45 – 12 p.m. | Keynote Speaker: Greg Brann Grazing Strategies for Climate Change |
12 – 1:30 pm. | Lunch and Trade Show |
1:30 p.m. | Board buses to travel to SUNY Morrisville’s Arnold R. Fisher Dairy Complex |
1:40 – 4:30 p.m. | Dairy Facility Field Stations Each station is approximately 35 minutes: Dung Beetles and Insects Galore (Beneficials, Ecosystem Diversity); Ken Wise and Erik Smith Grazing Management; Hugh Aljoe, Jennifer Jones, and others Functional Trees in Pastures: Silvopastures and Forested Riparian Buffers; Lydia Brinkley and Brett Chedzoy Grazing Technology; Greg Brann and Troy Bishopp |
4:45 – 6:00 p.m. | Reception and Trade Show |
5 – 5:45 p.m. | Panel Discussion: Grazing Through Extreme Weather Conditions |
6 – 9 p.m. | Dinner and a Movie |
Saturday, July 22
7:30 – 8:45 a.m. | Breakfast, Registration and Trade Show |
8:45 – 9 a.m. | Welcome Blake Glover, NRCS-NY State Conservationist |
9 -10:15 a.m. | Grazing Leaders Panel: Adaptive Management to Improve Resiliency? Adam Tafel (Dairy), John Burns (Multi), Bernadette Ortensi (Beef), Erica Frenay (Sheep) |
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. | Break and Trade Show |
10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Economic and Financial Resiliency Sessions, Crawford Hall Carbon Credits: Matt Sheffer (Hudson Carbon) and Jenna Walczak (Harvest NY CCE) Milk Processing: Lauren Tonti (Organic Plus Trust), Tom McGrath Marketing Meat: Tricia Park (Creekside Meadows Farm), Carrie Edsall (Black Willow Pond Farm) Agritourism: Jenn Colby (Vermont Howling Wolf Farmstay), Megan Burley (Burley’s Berries & Blooms) |
12 – 12:30 p.m. | Pick up boxed lunch and board buses for local farm tours |
12:30 -5:30 p.m. | Local Farm Tours (pick one, transportation will be provided) Dairy: Grunen Aue Farm, Nathan and Christine Weaver Beef/Pork: Creekside Meadow Farm, Matt, Tricia, and Cameron Park Sheep/Goats: Gibraltar Farm, Etienne and Isabel Richards |
5:30 p.m. | End of Conference |