2025
Lost River Grazing Academy:
Regenerative Management of Irrigated Pastures
September 9-12, 2025, in Owyhee County Idaho
The Lost Rivers Grazing Academy is a 4-day hands-on
workshop for livestock operators and their advisers and consultants that want
to harvest and sell more of the sun’s energy through grazing, while improving
soil health, reducing erosion, and reducing costs, primarily on irrigated
pastures. The program includes morning classroom discussions of
theory and practice with hands-on field activities in grazing management and
pasture evaluation.
The Academy was first held in 1994 in the Lost River Valley and has been held at least once annually since then, except when disrupted by pandemic. The program has won state and national awards for Extension programs and has been recognized internationally. It has been attended by agency personnel and livestock operators from all over the western US, as well as from eastern US, Canada, Mexico, and South America.
The program will be provided by current and emeritus
members of the University of Idaho Extension, as well as our featured speaker,
Jim Gerrish. Jim, formerly with the Forage Systems Research Center of the
University of Missouri, is known the world over for his expertise in the
management of temperate climate and irrigated pastures. He has extensive
experience as a pasture researcher, grazier, and international grazing
consultant. He has authored the books Management-Intensive Grazing, Kick the Hay Habit and Keeping it Green. You won’t find anyone with more practical
experience in forage management and livestock grazing than Jim.
The 2025 program will also feature presentations by Loren, Brad and Ben McIntyre. The McIntyre family started farming in 1910. The farm started with row crops and raising animals, including a small dairy and supplying local watermelons. They currently operate, McIntyre Pasture, a diversified crop and livestock operation raising grass-finished beef, pastured pigs, pastured poultry for both egg and meat production, a variety of crops, and have an on-farm retail store. They realized that life below ground was just as essential as life above. All the members of the McIntyre family, father and sons are alumni of the Lost Rivers Grazing Academy.
The 2025 program will be held in Homedale and Marsing Idaho located about 35 miles southwest of Boise. There are several vacation rentals (Airbnb or VRBO) as well as RV campgrounds in the area. Motels are available in Caldwell or Nampa. Continental breakfast, snacks, lunch and supper will be provided by the Academy.
The LRGA classroom activities will be held at the Owyhee County Community Building in Homedale (432 W. Nevada Ave). Field exercises will be held at McIntyre Pastures, just across the Snake River from Marsing. McIntyre Pastures is the direct marketing branch of McIntyre Farms, Inc., a family owned, diversified crop and livestock operation.
Every
day begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Community Building with a continental breakfast,
and the noon meal may be a working lunch. The workshop is limited to 20
participants who will attend classes, manage a small herd of cattle and solve a
variety of grazing problems in teams of 4-5. Continental breakfast and
snacks are available daily, as well as a catered lunch and supper, with entertainment
after-supper activities to reinforce principles taught during the day.
REGISTRATION:
Full-time:
(Includes continental breakfasts, lunches, suppers, breaks, one set of
materials per ranch or farm, plus evening presentations):
-Per Person $850
-Per Ranch or Farm team $850, plus $725 for each additional
team member. (1 set of materials.)
Alumni: $725 (no materials)
Additional Materials: $150 per set
University of Idaho graduate level or professional
development credit is available for an additional fee. Please check
with Scott.
For a brochure and/or
register on-line, click here.
