Producers, landowners, agricultural professionals and community members interested in soil health, profitability and resilient farming systems are invited to attend two upcoming field days focused on regenerative agriculture in northeast Nebraska this July.
Hosted by Bazile Groundwater Management Area, Lewis and Clark NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD, Lower Niobrara NRD, Upper Elkhorn NRD, Rural Affairs, USDA Organic, local partners and producers, these events will showcase practical approaches to improving soil health, integrating livestock, enhancing nutrient cycling, reducing input costs and building resilient agricultural operations.
Regenerative Ag Field Day — July 17
The first Regenerative Ag Field Day will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, July 17, 2026, near the Highway 81/20 junction. This event is hosted by the Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) Project and will feature real-world examples of regenerative agriculture practices being implemented on a working operation.
Participants will learn about:
- Regenerative agriculture practices within an operation
- Adapting management strategies as conditions change
- Soil health and nutrient cycling
- Weed management approaches
Featured speakers include:
- Junior Pfanstiel, Outside the Box Agronomy, discussing the theory, process, and goals of transitioning to regenerative agriculture practices.
- Zack Smith, The Stock Cropper, discussing how integrating livestock can increase return on investment and convert sunlight into dollars through improved land utilization.
A complimentary lunch will be available following the event at The Breakroom in Randolph.
Regenesis Acres Field Day — July 18
The 2026 Regenesis Acres Field Day will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, beginning 8 a.m. at the Atkinson Community Center before moving to Regenesis Acres, located north of Atkinson, for in-field learning opportunities.
The event will explore farming through a regenerative lens, with topics including:
- Building soil health to support resiliency
- Diverse crop rotations and alternative crops
- Returning livestock to the landscape
- Lowering production inputs
- Increasing local economic opportunities through integrated systems
- Roller crimping for weed control, soil cover and water conservation
Featured speakers include:
- Mac Trotter, regenerative farmer
- Rion Naus, We Grow With LLC
- Zack Smith, Stockcropper LLC
- Ed Baumgartner, Bass Hybrids
- Lynn Hoover, Ocean Blue Ag
- Blake Merritt, Core Bio Ag
- Sara Paxton, Nourish Health Coaching
- Jessie Poessnecker, regenerative farmer
The family-friendly event will also include activities for children and educational opportunities for attendees of all ages.
Growing Interest in Regenerative Agriculture
Interest in regenerative agriculture continues to expand across Nebraska as producers seek ways to improve soil health, increase water infiltration, enhance nutrient efficiency, diversify operations and build long-term resilience. These field days provide an opportunity to learn directly from producers and industry experts who are implementing regenerative practices in real-world settings.
Both events are free to attend, though advance registration is encouraged by Monday, July 6 due to limited space.
July 17 field day location: From the junction of U.S. Highway 81 and U.S. Highway 20, travel three miles west on Highway 20, then ¼ mile north on 552 Avenue. View the approximate field location in Google Maps.
July 18 field day locations: Atkinson Community Center, 206 W. Fifth St., Atkinson, NE 68713; Regenesis Acres, 315 W. State St., Atkinson, NE 68713.
For additional information, please visit the Bazile Groundwater Management Area website or contact Amy Timmerman, Nebraska Extension educator, at 402-336-2760.
