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Laskowski-Morren named GrassWorks executive director Organic dairy farmer brings practical knowledge, passion
By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
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forts. As an organic grazing dairy farmer, she understands the benets of the lifestyle.
Laskowski-Morren is sharing her passion through her new role as executive director of GrassWorks, a grazing organization.
“Everything I’ve done in my career is pointing to this,” Laskowski-Morren said. “The stars aligned somehow, and I am excited to be a service to the grazing community.”
Laskowski-Morren has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a master’s degree in environmental studies from Ohio University. She and her husband have been operating a grazing dairy since 2004 on the farm where Laskowski-Morren grew up.
With Laskowski-Morren’s help, GrassWorks is
GrassWorks initiated the Grazing Ambassadors program, which is centered around connecting with community members. People who are familiar with and have expertise in grazing speak to various groups in the community to educate them on the grazing process as a way to gain support for the mission.
“The Grazing Ambassadors often have cultivated experience in other areas such as insects, birds or natural resource management and speak at this intersection with grazing that meets the interests of the community,” Laskowski-Morren said. “That really makes a connection to support grazing and support grasslands. They speak to people who are interested in various aspects of conservation but are non-producers.”
Another goal of GrassWorks is to train the professionals who work with graziers. The agencies and people working with graziers for things like nutrient management, conservation and grazing plans will have opportunities to learn more about the information they are tasked with carrying out.
Along with the continuing education of professionals, GrassWorks remains committed to the collaborative efforts of producers. The organization fosters camaraderie among graziers and uses its annual conference as one way to give producers the opportunity to learn from each other.
“It’s really multilayered,” Laskowski-Morren said. “Education and connections are at the forefront of GrassWorks. Resources are available at these levels for graziers, professionals and the community at large.”
One of the main duties Laskowski-Morren is tasked with is managing grants and expanding staff to be able to better manage the growing education programs.
“It’s super exciting to nd out about other organizations that have goals similar to ours,” Laskowski-Morren said. “We want to be able to collaborate and have a bigger impact by expanding programs.
Laskowski-Morren said that in the 20 years she has been involved in the grazing community, the reasons for farmers making the conversion from conventional farming have evolved from wanting a lifestyle change for themselves to nurturing healthier soil and now adding the carbon sequestration aspect to the decision.
“That is something that is really on the forefront of graziers’ minds right now,” Laskowski-Morren said. “I think people are starting to see how carbon sequestration and how some of these other environmental methods being built into a farm can really make a difference.”
Laskowski-Morren said it is important for beginning farmers to consider grazing. When starting their farm, she and her husband purchased heifer calves and raised them while getting the pastures and facilities set up to be a grazing dairy operation.
“Grazing is a little bit easier avenue to get into because it alleviates some of the costs,” Laskowski-Morren said. “Wisconsin has been a big supporter of showing new farmers how to start an operation without getting so heavily into debt.”
Laskowski-Morren rst became interested in conservation practices in college when she took an Earth ethics course. At this time, she learned about agricultural testing at a soil and forage lab. Later, while in graduate school, she was introduced to the grazing idea through an agro-ecology course.
“That’s what got me interested in ecology, environmentalism and grazing as a combination,” Laskowski-Morren said. “I didn’t come into it from an agency point of view or from resource management. It was more from an environmental ethics perspective.”
Laskowski-Morren’s research project as a graduate student focused on different levels of neutral detergent ber and lignin in forages and how that related to predictions for nutrients returned to grazed pasture. She eventually got a job at the University of WisconsinMadison Soil and Forage Analysis Lab in Marsheld. While there, she participated in projects pertaining to the application of paper waste to soils along with ongoing forage and soil trials.
After moving to Madison, Laskowski-Morren spent 20 years working for an agricultural non-prot. It was during that time that she and her husband started farming and after two years moved to the Hillsboro area.
Laskowski-Morren continued working while farming, as did her husband.
“We’ve kind of created this mosaic of experiences that could t together like puzzle pieces,” Laskowski-Morren said. “So that if something like this possibility came up, I could do it and take the opportunity to be the executive director for GrassWorks and contribute to advancing grazing.”
Laskowski-Morren is discovering her prior experiences are becoming more relevant as she gets to know the organization further. Classes like environmental law that were interesting to her in college are becoming useful years later.
“I can’t believe this is all wrapping around,” Laskowski-Morren said. “It’s all kind of coming together.”
