Sustainable Farming Association - Lake Agassiz Chapter

The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (SFA) believes every person has the potential and the right to become a sustainable farmer. We're committed to making SFA programs welcoming and accessible to all, and we continue to build strategies that engage and support new and underserved farmers. Our goal is a more diverse farm community that draws on the knowledge and experience of those most affected by systemic inequality and injustice in agriculture.

A Resource for All Farmers

Thanks to decades of focus on soil health, we've partnered with all kinds of farmers—crop and livestock producers, fruit and vegetable growers, beginning farmers, and agricultural professionals—to share the principles and practices behind soil regeneration. As we like to say, we "meet farmers where they are."

SFA supports environmental stewardship, economic resilience, and strong, diverse communities through farmer-to-farmer networking, education, demonstration, and research. Better soil can transform the way farming works. Events like our Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit, Cafe Chats, and pasture walks help farmers boost soil quality, raise production, and grow their profits. These gatherings bring together conventional and sustainable farmers alongside educators, ag professionals, and community members.

Farming can be an isolating job with long hours, which makes it tough to build a support network. Our events and local chapters give farmers a place to connect, exchange ideas and practices, and grow local markets for what they produce.

Tap Into Our Expertise

Farmer-to-farmer education and networking is where we shine. Farmer-led education is our specialty—many of our staff and consultants are farming right now, and they bring that hands-on experience to every event. Bring one of our team members in to lead a workshop, sit on a panel, speak at a field day, keynote a conference, or build a presentation around your group's specific needs.

Our areas of expertise include:

• Regenerative crop and livestock systems: cover cropping, minimum till and no-till systems, soil health, beef, dairy, small ruminants, poultry, swine, and custom grazing
• Specialty crops like vegetables, fruit, orchards, and garlic
• Farm business support in direct marketing, planning, labor management, and infrastructure design
• Forestry practices such as silvopasture, agroforestry, and maple syrup production
• Environmental strategies like invasive plant control with livestock, resource management, and agroecology

Why Chapter Membership?

Chapters meet at the local level, host events, and help strengthen regional farmer resilience. Each chapter also holds a seat on the SFA board of directors.

For over 30 years, our members have been at the core of everything SFA does. That membership includes farmers, ranchers, agricultural educators, agency staff, local food advocates, homesteaders, eaters, and conservationists. Our farmer-to-farmer network reaches beyond farming itself, connecting with people and organizations working to shift agriculture from an extractive model toward a regenerative one.

There's great value for individuals, families, and businesses in SFA membership, including access to these benefits:

• Free or reduced-cost entry to many SFA field days, events, and workshops, including the Annual Conference and Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit.
• Be an at-large member, or join one of nine regional SFA chapters for fellowship, farmer networking, and local programs.
• Connect with peers in the Member Directory and list buy/sell/trade opportunities in our marketplace.
• On-Farm Consulting through a pilot cost-share program that enables our team of technical assistance consultants (farmers themselves) to visit your farm, help you set goals, and plan steps to reach them.
• Members receive priority in SFA research and education projects, including the Premium Garlic Directory for the Upper Midwest.
• Hot-off-the-press information on local foods, regenerative ag and food justice via our bi-weekly SFA Connect newsletter and other e-blasts.
• Discounts with some food and farm vendors.
• Access to networking groups built around shared interests rather than geography, which provide opportunities to connect, trade ideas and practices, and expand the markets for what they grow and the services they provide.

About the Lake Agassiz Chapter

The Lake Agassiz Chapter covers northwestern Minnesota, stretching from the Fargo-Moorhead area east to Bemidji and from Fergus Falls north to the Canadian border.

We host the Deep Roots Festival, a community celebration that increases our connection to local foods and the farmers and growers who make them in the Lake Agassiz Region.

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