USARAAI SUMMIT 2023 Part 3
Part 3
New to the Summit was Nick Race, of Race Family Farm. As a former EMS he saw many people with health issues, which connected directly to the food they ate. He decided he wanted to go the way of regenerative agriculture due to the health benefits. He started with pigs, and he enjoyed the land clearing they did, and he loves watching them in action. He started to notice the difference they were making in the biology of the soil, and the plants that were coming up that hadn’t been in that area for a long time.
He continued to work with the pigs by keeping them rotated into brushy areas. Hs has added three cows and was able to stretch his pig rations by adding the extra milk. He really enjoys reading his animals and land and following the lead. He added chicken tractors as well, so his operation is symbiotic and soil-building while it feeds his family.
Lunch each day was a delicious feast of grass-fed, cleanly-raised beef and chicken, as well as produce from the Farm Campus and local growers. From fresh salads to sauteed veggies and mashed potatoes, the meal was wonderfully prepared and served by River Creek Catering. The luscious desserts were once again, locally made. Blue sky and fluffy clouds greeted our guests as they followed their noses to the food line. Lively conversations that may have started in the food line continued right on as they found a spot to sit and talk while they ate. I’m sure new friendships were forged that week.
Let’s not forget the pasture walk on the paddocks behind the Timeless plant. The cool but sunny morning didn’t deter as they trooped out into the wet grass. This is always one of the highlights of the Summit. The speakers have their shovels, and they dig up spadefuls of soil to get their subject matter. They’re looking for aggregates, soil creatures, the smell, and roots. They’re checking the paddocks for overgrazing, under grazing, and diversity of life. The questions run long into the morning, with no one wanting that session to end.
