About the Farms

Springer Family Farm

Andreas Ventures

Wunder Farms

Kris and Jay Springer operate a mixed farm, using intercropping cash crops as well as diverse cover crops for grazing and winter feed. Intercropping includes several annual forage seed varieties that are cleaned, blended with covers and marketed to local livestock producers. In addition, the Springers produce alfalfa and cicer milk vetch seed and run a leaf cutter bee enterprise for pollination.

The Springers are currently experimenting with growing alfalfa along with diversity to reduce and eliminate the uses of insecticide and fungicide, and have seen results! The goal is “encouraging life” everywhere they can, compost and vermi extract are used with the seed, then brewed along with some added foods/amendments to treat seed and to apply as foliar to crops. A recent installation of a large RO water system was completed in order to clean and lower the pH of the chemical and foliar fertilizer spraying system.

The livestock enterprise varies somewhat, but this year includes approximately 200 cow calf pairs, and about 500 yearling heifers ( 50-60 replacements). Both owned and rented land are used for pasture, diverse cover crop grazing, seed production, silage bale production, and growing non-gmo, open pollinated corn for grazing. Kris and Jay also use the whole buncher to collect chaff for fall/winter grazing (always learning from the Andreas’s!! ).

This season the goal is to implement a sap testing regime to effectively monitor and apply for shortfalls in plant nutrition. During the summer, diverse cove rcrop will be grown with the intent to graze and tramp to build fertility then seed directly into residue with winter wheat and hairy vetch as well as trying some fall rye and hairyvetch to meet several more principals.

The farm is successful with the amazing help from 2-3 hired people that encourage the Springers to learn while teaching and trying to apply the soil health principals in all areas. This summer will bring a few trials/learning opportunities to the farm…..for example:

Brewing a fermented amino acid nitrogen seed placed and foliar applied amendment
Strip tilling with home built machine, cash crops, forage crops, and biannual species into old pasture using different pre-seeding impacts.
Use our water supply line to irrigate pasture cells right after grazing to hopefully positively affect recovery time and biomass production.

Springer Family Farm will also be developing and improving water delivery across several pasture cells this year to enable improved and efficient rotation/recovery/stock density/ and utilization of multi species perennial forages.

Tom and Sharon Andreas are the owners of Andreas Ventures, and with the help of their son Derek, they operate a successful farming business located in East Central Saskatchewan, Canada. This operation has 1,700-1,800 acres of crops, 1,700 acres of pasture and hay, and 250-300 acres of all season full cover crops in a 16-17 way grazing mix, as well as under seeding fall rye with their cereal crop or red clover with their flax crops. Tom and Sharon care for approximately 250 cows and 150 yearlings.

In 2014, they started to learn and implement regenerative practices after hearing, listening and studying the success of Gabe Brown, who runs a similar farming operation in a similar climate. Intercropping mixes such as peas and oats, peas and canola and flax and lentils have all been implemented in their crop land management practices. When combines are running, the Andreas's use a Whole buncher to catch the straw and chaff to use for winter grazing on their farm.

Their hard work and dedication to these practices has paid off: Water infiltration in their fields has increased, organic matter has increased, veterinary bills have dropped significantly, the need for synthetic fertilizers has been diminished and no insecticides or fungicides have been used in their cropping since starting regenerative farming. Cattle are moved through the pasture and full- season cover crops daily which has greatly increased the carrying capacity on their pasture land. They are pleased to have seen a boost in profit from the transition to regenerative farming practices.

Tom and Sharon have noticed an increase in wildlife and their land is home to a great deal of moose, deer, and birds - all of which thrive in their undisturbed environment. As they are one of the few farms in the area leaving marshes, trees, fence lines and wild meadows undisturbed, their efforts to promote a more biodiverse land have been rewarded.

Wunder Farms was established in 1903 and is celebrating 120 years this year. The farm is operated by Rob and his brother Bryce - the fourth generation of their family. Their wives, parents and kids all contribute significantly to the farm’s success. Located south of Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, the farm produces small grains and a cow calf herd. Pigs, laying hens, broilers and turkeys are also raised for the Wonder family’s own consumption.

While some of the farm is managed organically, the rest is operated regeneratively. Of the total acreage, 50% is dedicated to perennial production, with the remaining half to annuals and a selection of cash crops. Additionally, relay and companion cropping and cover crops are grown, along with biannuals and short-term perennials. To promote a sustainable system, the livestock are integrated onto as many acres as possible and AMP (Adaptive Multi-Paddock) grazing practices have been used for years - stock densities ranging from low to over two million pounds of live weight per acre.

Manure from the farm, and in collaboration with a neighbor, is used to produce compost extract and teas to reduce the need for synthetic inputs. These products are used both as a foliar application and in the seed row. Applying the compost and tea has proven to be an easy, cost effective and efficient way to nourish the soil and provide the microbes and mycorrhizal fungi what they need to produce healthy, nutrient dense plants.

Our soil health approach to farming has come a long way since we learned about regenerative farming in 2013. We’re always looking for ways to evolve our methods and improve the quality of our harvests and increase their yields. We aim to create and sustain a rich, thriving and biodiverse environment for our crops and soil.

Who Should Attend?

Anyone that wants to take their farm to the next level. This course will examine different aspects of regenerative farming, soil health, plant health, and animal health. Hands-on experience will be heavily emphasized.

This is a power-packed three days that will change your operation. It is taught by highly experienced regenerative farmers.

The class will be limited to 50 registrants, so don't wait until the last minute to register!

What You Will Learn

Reduce chemical fertilizers and
pesticides
Reduce labor & machinery costs
Improve resiliency of your farm or ranch
Build plant, animal, and beneficial insect diversity
Enhance grazing productivity and efficiency
Make farming and ranching fun and profitable

July 4-6, 2023

Tuition of $1,375 includes:
• Regen Ag 101 course ($499.00 value), which we would like you to complete prior to the first day of class;
• In-person attendance at the SHA school, as well as course materials, snacks, water and lunch each day; and
• Access to future scheduled conference calls with the instructors.

Click Here to Register

Scholarship Money Available

We are committed to helping you finance this educational experience. We encourage anyone with interest to apply. If you want to attend one of our 3-day events, you are eligible for a scholarship.

In addition we will be giving special consideration to the following: