Field Days provide an excellent opportunity for small farmers, homesteaders, and home gardeners to connect and learn from one another. During the event, the hosts will guide the group on a brief farm tour, with a focus on a particular successful or challenging aspect of production that they can share with the group. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and share their own experiences during the event.

Field Days are free and open to the public, and a donation of $10 is appreciated but not required. Registration is mandatory, and you can RSVP either by visiting www.fwsoil.org/field-days or calling (618) 370-3287.

Field Days are organized by the Southern Illinois Farming Alliance, which is a program of Food Works (www.fwsoil.org), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to promote long-term farming networks that create healthy soils, healthy food, and healthy communities across the 23 counties that comprise Southern Illinois.

Upcoming 2026 Field Days

Our 2026 Field Day season is dedicated to building resilient farming networks through hands-on learning and community connection. We are actively scheduling events throughout the year to bring farmers, homesteaders, and gardeners together across Southern Illinois.

We invite you to check this page regularly as new dates and locations are added to the calendar. If you have a specific topic you’re eager to explore or a suggestion for a future site visit, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to our Farmer Services Director, Ellen Esling, at ellen@fwsoil.org.

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June 2026 - Save the Date

Saturday, June 6th: Farm-To-Fiber Field Day (Field Day 3) - 2-6pm

Judy Hoepker, Rolling Alpaca Ranch
Erin Luna, Black Rat Farms

Wednesday, June 10th: Urban Agriculture (Webinar 2) - 7-8pm

Stuart Jump, NRCS

July 2026 - Save the Date

Saturday, July 11th: Agrivoltaics Field Day (Field Day 4)

Past Field Days - 2026

March 2026

4th Annual Southern Illinois Soil Health Symposium

Glaciers End and Food Works hosted the 4th Annual Southern Illinois Soil Health Symposium on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 5:30–8:00 PM at Glaciers End in Marion, IL, with a happy hour from 5:00–5:30. This year’s focus was “Soil Health Basics for Markets and Home Gardening,” featuring program updates from Food Works and Illinois Stewardship Alliance, a talk by Amanda Weidhuner (SIU Soil Science) on soil foundations and soil health, and a presentation by Noah Scalero (BeetRoot Farm) on practical techniques for growing vegetables and building healthy soils. The event was aimed at educating and motivating people interested in soil and water health in Southern Illinois.

February 2026

Winter Growing Field Day: Year-Round Production

Think fresh produce in Southern Illinois is only for the summer? Join Jill Rendleman of All Seasons Farm to discover how year-round production is possible using bio-intensive and regenerative practices. This hands-on field day combines classroom instruction with a farm tour to show you the tools and strategies needed to grow high-quality vegetables all winter long.

Click to learn more.

Rows of lettuce and vegetable crops at Beetroot Farm with row covers

Crop Planning with Noah Scalero

A Virtual Workshop for Farmers & Gardeners

Wednesday, February 18th | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST | Online via Zoom

Click to learn more

Past Field Days - 2025

December 2025

Fertile Ground: Whole-Farm Fertility Systems Design & Management

We held our Fertile Ground workshop—a free, interactive experience designed for organic, transitional, and small-scale growers. Participants discovered how to improve soil health, lower input costs, and create a resilient, biologically alive fertility system. By combining soil science, composting basics, and regional resource mapping, attendees developed personalized whole-farm fertility plans tailored to their operations. Optional one-on-one follow-up consultations with permaculture designer Grant Depoy were also available.

Click here to learn more.

Poultry Processing Workshop @ The Flock Farm, Anna, IL

Join us for a two-day chicken butchering workshop at The Flock Farm in Anna, IL, hosted by the University of Illinois Extension. This hands-on event is ideal for anyone wanting to learn safe poultry processing techniques at home. Led by experienced farmer Brent Glays, participants will work with heritage breed chickens and gain valuable skills.

Topics covered include poultry processing methods, meat labeling, and packaging best practices. No prior experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm to learn in a supportive environment! Click the link to register!

Improving soil and pasture health with rotational Regenerative Grazing of multiple species of livestock

This Pasture Walk at Fresh Pasture Farms, LLC in Millstadt, IL, gave attendees the chance to meet farmers Wade, his wife Jamie, and his parents Norman and Sandy Sutter, who explained how rotational grazing improved soil health and animal wellness.

Guests enjoyed a tour of their beautiful farm and learned about their sustainable practices. Afterward, they stayed for a tasty, locally sourced meal and lively conversation about regenerative grazing!

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Rotational Grazing Practices on a Multi-Species Family Farm

Food Works and the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition hosted a Pasture Walk at The Flock Farm in Anna, IL. Led by farmer Brent Glays, the event demonstrated the benefits of rotational grazing management. Participants learned how the farm enhanced soil health and livestock well-being while rotating various heritage breeds over 37 acres. Attendees enjoyed a locally sourced meal afterward. It was a great opportunity for anyone interested in sustainable grazing practices.

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Past Field Day Archives

Our mission is to promote long-term farming networks and community knowledge. We are proud of the work we did in the past and continue to build upon those efforts.

You can explore our archive of past field days and workshops to learn more about the topics, farms, and partners we've worked with.