The public is invited to the Hastings Kernza® Field Day on Aug. 14 to explore Kernza, a groundbreaking perennial grain that offers a powerful combination of environmental and agricultural benefits. This event will provide a close-up look at how Kernza is transforming farming practices by improving soil health, reducing runoff, and creating new opportunities for sustainable food and forage production.

Hosted in partnership with Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Forever Green Initiative, University of Minnesota Extension, and Dakota County, the event will highlight Kernza’s dual role as both a grain and forage crop. Participants also will learn about emerging market opportunities and cost-share programs available to farmers interested in transitioning to perennial systems.

Event Details

Hastings Kernza® Field Day
Aug. 14 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
2500 Enterprise Ave, Hastings
(Across the road from the Hastings Water Tower)
For more information, visit the event page: Hastings Kernza Field Day

Kernza is one of a suite of perennial crops that the Forever Green Initiative has included in its research and crop commercialization efforts. Its comprehensive approach moves new crops out of the lab and onto the landscape, where they can make a difference for farmers, the environment, industry, and society. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture receives Clean Water Funds to support the Forever Green Initiative.

When compared to annual crops, perennial crops require fewer resources to farm and provide living cover year-round. Continuous living cover has been shown to enhance water and soil quality, sequester carbon, build soil health, and provide greater biodiversity and pollinator habitat. Significant environmental benefits of these crops will result from widespread production.

Kernza is an intermediate wheatgrass that has diverse characteristics that make it desirable for food, beverages, and animal forages. Through private and public investment, the market for Kernza is growing in Minnesota.

Attendees will:

• Learn about Kernza’s environmental benefits and agronomic potential
• Hear from experts and producers advancing perennial agriculture
• Discover cost-share and conservation funding opportunities
• Network with farmers, researchers, and agricultural professionals

This free, in-person field day will take place rain or shine. Lunch will be provided, and attendees are welcome to stay for a casual social hour following presentations. Registration by Aug. 1 is required to ensure lunch is provided. Register online at Hastings Kernza Field Day.

This event is made possible through the collaboration of Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District, Forever Green Initiative, Dakota County, University of Minnesota Extension, and with support from Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund, which is dedicated to restoring and protecting Minnesota’s water resources for future generations.

General Description

International Coastal Cleanup Day began more than 30 years ago, when communities rallied together with the common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering their coastline. Volunteers from states and territories throughout the U.S. and more than 100 countries come together each year and participate in an event near them.

Although not near an ocean, Minnesota has over 90,000 miles of shoreline; more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined. We are also home to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River which flows south all the way into the Gulf of Mexico. The Minnesota River is another famous river in our state that is an important tributary that flows into the Mississippi.

Sadly, garbage and pollution can use our local river systems to travel through our state southward. If we can stop trash here at home, we can help prevent it from reaching the world’s oceans, helping our partners who will be working to clean up beaches thousands of miles away.

Location and Site Details

Rambling River Park

17 Elm Street

Farmington, MN 55024

(Map and driving directions)

Date/Time

September 20

9 a.m. – Noon

A brat lunch will be served to volunteers afterwards provided by Twin Cities Trout Unlimited.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Help pick up trash along the banks of our local riverways.
• All ages welcome, there will be flat and paved terrain available to walk.
• Supplies including trash bags, gloves, and hand sanitizer will be provided.
• If you would like to volunteer as a group (families not included), please contact Garrett Zaffke before registering.

Minimum Time Commitment

3 hours

Activity Level  

Active – Involves physical exertion for an extended period of time; can involve rough, uneven or steep terrain. Not recommended for volunteers with physical limitations.

Local elected officials in the Vermillion River Watershed – County Commissioners, Mayors, City Councilmembers, Township Officers, and relevant staff – are invited to join the VRWJPO for a tour of four recently-completed Capital Improvement Program projects on September 25, 2025, from 9 a.m.-12 noon. Meet staff at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center to board a bus and visit sites. We will show how our work in the watershed benefits our communities.

RSVP

This event is part of TCTU’s Vermillion River Initiative, focusing on protecting and enhancing this cold water stream so near to the Twin Cities!

Event copied from the TCTU website.

What Will We Be Doing

• Along with Mark Nemeth of the DNR, we will be executing another step in Project MACHETE
• MACHETE is an experiment of 3 methods of eradicating buckthorn
• Click this link to learn why buckthorn is problematic
• Please NOTE, we will have to wade across the Vermillion

The Plan

• Meet before the start time at the location (see map)
• We’ll sign waivers, drink some coffee, get set up, and get to work

What You Should Bring

• Dress for the weather
• Chest waders or wet wade gear as we will be crossing the Vermillion
• Heavy work gloves
• Water bottle
• Camp chair to sit on while we enjoy lunch

What TCTU & the DNR Will Provide

• All the needed equipment
• Bug spray
• LUNCH after we’re all done working!

Be advised that the event will be canceled if there’s dangerous weather, or if the river is too high & fast for safe crossings. If the event is cancelled, you will be informed via email, so check your email before you leave the house!

Registration will close 24 hours before the event for an accurate headcount.