Field Day Potluck: Pork on the Prairie at Dorothy's Range

Join us at Dorothy’s Range for a thoughtful, on-the-ground exploration of how farming and ecological restoration can work in harmony. Our host April Prusia raises pigs which are pastured seasonally behind electric fencing and are fed local organic feed, while her partner Steve focuses on the ecological restoration of Erickson Creek (a trout stream that runs through the property), oak savanna, and a diverse restored prairie on the property. April and Steve work together so that the farm can both be a productive heritage hog operation and create thriving habitat for rare songbirds and diverse wildlife. The land hosts numerous insects and rare songbirds, with the Bobolink being one of April's favorite. Her motto is "Bacon and Bobolinks!" Some of the infrastructure they have installed includes water diversion from the barn gutters away from the barn yard, solar panels, and barn upgrades funded by a grant from Frontera. This event is a learning circle gathering and tour, with a Potluck Meal. Please bring a dish to share.

THIS WILL BE A NO-WASTE POTLUCK. Please bring a plate, mug, and silverware for yourself. We will compost on site.

Parking is VERY limited and tricky, so the event will be limited to 40 people. You must RSVP so that we can have a good sense of how to direct traffic on the small rural road.

WiWiC Host:

April Prusia is a former vegetarian now raising heritage hogs from farrow to finish on Dorothy's Range. Her breed is Gloucestershire Old Spot hogs. April is one of the founders of Meatsmith Cooperative, a farmer and butcher owned processing co-op, which has just aquired Sa brick-and-mortar building in Mount Horeb. She's been farming for 20 years and believes what we choose to eat has the power to change the world.  

WiWiC Facilitators:

Dr. Rebecca Christoffel, Wildlife Biologist and WiWiC Evaluator

Dr. Esther Durairaj, WiWiC Project Lead and MFAI Education Director

For more information about this event, please contact Dr. Esther Durairaj at eshekinah@michaelfields.org or (262) 642-3303 ext. 112

Field Day Sponsors:

Sally Mead Hands Foundation

Food, Faith and Farming Network

Soil Sisters Wisco

Dr. Sarah's Essentials

We are so incredibly grateful for these sponsors, and to all of the women who have volunteered their homes and their expertise to keep this project going - despite federal funding termination! Most WiWiC events are FREE because of sponsors like them and donors like you. To help support the cost of this and other events, please GIVE NOW and help the WiWiC hive to thrive. Your contribution keeps WiWiC events accessible for all women who want to learn how to heal and protect land and water.

What To Expect:

• To network with other local women around shared dreams, challenges, and experiences with conservation

• To learn about the WiWiC project and opportunities that exist for women landowners to implement conservation practices

• To gather at a diversified farm, with some uneven ground, limited shade, and uncertain weather - dress accordingly

  
  

Event Details:

• Event is free to attend but registration is required and space is limited.

• Women, all who identify as such, are welcome to attend – from  landowners to farmers to conservationist enthusiasts –  whatever your background, from beginners to experts! 

• Our WiWiC events follow a Learning Circle model, with ample time and a safe space for story sharing, networking and collaborative learning. We all have something to both share and learn together.

• Dress for the weather. Please bring a chair and your water bottle to refill.

• WiWiC is a family-friendly space and you are welcome to bring your children. 

• Ticks are increasinly a concern in Wisconsin. Please dress in long pants. Thanks to a generous donation from Dr. Sarah Slaby, we will have Dr. Sarah's Essentials herbal bug spray to help keep those critters at bay, but please dress in long pants and wear a hat (or plan to buy a WiWiC bandana at the event).

  
  

Photos are taken at WiWiC events to help amplify the work being done by Wisconsin's women land stewards, and to help promote future events. Your registration grants consent for your photo to be taken and used for these purposes. 

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About Wisconsin Women in Conservation

WiWiC s a state-wide collaborative effort led by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in partnership with state and federal conservation agencies, local organizations, and other farm advocacy groups. WiWiC brings together Wisconsin's women landowners, farmers, farm workers, urban growers, and conservation professionals to connect and share about conservation practices, resources, and funding opportunities.

About Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

MFAI is a non-profit organization that has been cultivating resiliency through research, education, and policy work since 1984. With a broad coalition of public and private partners, The Institute supports farmers, food systems and communities in the Upper Midwest and beyond through a range of programs and initiatives. We believe agriculture can sustain both human and ecosystem health, while advancing food security, independence, and justice. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news and events.