Conservation By Lake Redstone

Join us for The Lake Redstone Conservation by The Lake!

Get ready to immerse yourself in an afternoon of fun and learning at McWilliams Heritage Farm. This family-friendly event is perfect for anyone who wants to connect with local producers and learn how to protect our beautiful lakeshores. The walking tours and demonstrations begin at 3:30pm and will last until 5:30. This event is open to anyone, and first 100 guests to register will receive a free, farm-fresh, local meal from 5:30pm - 6:30pm. Register for your free meal here.

There will be many hands-on and educational sessions/demonstrations, including seeing the modern farming and lake property owner methods used to prevent sediment and phosphorus runoff into Lake Redstone. Presentations and demonstrations will be hosted by the Lake Redstone Protection District, the McWilliams’ Heritage Farm, Producers of Lake Redstone, Juneau County Land & Water Resources, and Sauk County Land Resources & Environment.

DIRECTIONS:

From Highway 58 take Section 11 road Eastbound. Turn North onto McWilliams Road and follow it all the way to the homestead. There will be a turnaround in front of the pavilion, follow the volunteers’ directions to park off the gravel road or in one of the overflow areas on the fields. See the map below.

See our schedule below and our FAQ for the event for more details, We hope to see you there!

SCHEDULE

Join us for a series of demonstrations and observe conservation at work in the Lake Redstone watershed! Each half-hour demonstration will be given three times at the event during the following timeframes: 3:30-4:00, 4:15-4:45, and 5:00-5:30.

Rainfall Simulator Demonstration

Come see Sauk County Watershed Coordinator Mitch McCarthy demonstrate Sauk County's Rainfall Simulator for an informative look into how different land management practices influence the health of Lake Redstone and hear what property owners can do to prevent runoff and what financial incentives there are to do so. Demonstrations begin at 3:30, 4:15, and 5:00

Soil Health Demonstration

Dr. Jamie Powell and Farmer Brian Dawgs will speak on the amazing capacity of soil and why its health is important for humans. These two will walk you through the process of decision making around soil health and how this impacts our farms and larger watershed by exploring a dugout section of earth called a Soil Pit. They will walk you through different land management practices and what landowners can do to positively impact soil health around our lakes. Demonstrations begin at 3:30, 4:15, and 5:00

Rotational Grazing Demonstration

6th Generation Farmers, Scott & Erin VanGrinsven and Grazing Expert Serge Koenig will demonstrate the pros associated with rotational grazing, a management technique designed to mimic bison moving across a landscape and produce happier healthier cows. These techniques produce more habitat for wildlife, less runoff, and more water infiltration to keep our lakes and surrounding landscape free from pollution. Demonstrations begin at 3:30, 4:15, and 5:00

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this event ADA accessible?

Any person who has a qualifying disability that requires the program materials of this on-farm event to be in an accessible location or format should contact Sauk County LRE Department (608) 355-3245 between the hours of 8:00a-4:30p at least 1 week in advance so reasonable accommodations can be made.

Who is sponsoring this event?

This event is co-sponsored by the McWilliams' Heritage Farm, the Lake Redstone Protection District, Juneau County Land & Water Resources, and Sauk County Land Resources and Environment

How do I get Involved in protecting our lakeshores?

From farmers to homeowners, folks can get involved at every level! Check out resources available at https://www.lakeredstonepd.org/ https://www.co.sauk.wi.us/landconservation/lake-programs or go to the Producers of Lake Redstone Facebook page!

Can I bring my kids to this event?

Yes! Children of all ages are welcome

How will I know if I’m getting a free meal?

The first 100 guests to register will receive an email one week before the event to notify them of a free meal. At check-in, guests who were the first 100 to pre-register will receive a meal ticket for their free meal from 5:30-6:30p

Will there be animals for my kids to interact with?

Yes! There will be some livestock at this event that are kid friendly, please note that children interacting with livestock must be supervised at all times. Anyone who harms or harasses animals at this event may be asked to leave immediately.