Field Day to Showcase Transitioning to Organic Beef and Regenerative Grazing

Join the S.D. Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) for an engaging and practical field day focused on transitioning to organic beef production near Philip, S.D. on Fri., Aug. 22, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. MDT. This event will highlight certification challenges to nutrition management, feed sourcing, recordkeeping, and navigating the complex organic beef market.

The event will feature Carl Poss, an experienced cattleman managing the family ranch who is exploring transitioning the family’s organic beef calves to USDA organic certification. During the ranch tour, Poss will share the steps his operation plans to take and why he is transitioning.

Dr. Angela Jackson, a regenerative organic farmer and SDSPA’s Organic Ag Advisor, will also present. Jackson, who developed a branded meat program selling to local retailers, will discuss the unique barriers and breakthroughs in building a branded organic beef product from scratch.

Pat Guptill a rancher and former board member of the SD Grasslands Coalition from Quinn, S.D. will talk about raising his cattle without pesticides or herbicides on pastures and join the pasture walk to share his experiences.

Whether you are already certified or considering the transition, this field day offers honest insights, peer-to-peer learning, and helpful resources for producers looking to get into organic livestock production.

Pre-registration is requested for this free event.

Lunch is not provided during this event, and participants are encouraged to bring their own meal to eat during open networking time. Beverages will be available.

Note: Do not use Google maps to find the ranch. It will take you on impassible roads.

Follow I-90. Take exit 143 for SD-73 N toward Philip. Turn south and go under the overpass to the service road and make a right heading west. Go approximately 7 miles and turn right on Fairview Road northbound and proceed for about 6 miles, cross over a bridge, then take an immediate left at the fork in the road to follow the road (Triangle Ranch is straight ahead, that’s wrong). Go Eastbound for three to four miles until you see the Poss Ranch sign and take the driveway to the South.

This program is funded under a Conservation Collaboration Cooperative Agreement between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and SDSPA. This event is also co-hosted by Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).

Additional programming supporting regenerative organic producers is planned this summer. On Sept. 30th SDSPA will host a networking event in Harrisburg, S.D. to connect regenerative and organic farmers, transitioning producers, and buyers of organic and regenerative food and feed ingredients. For a full listing our events page.