Thursday, July 16th - 5:30 pm
UPDATE 7/16/26:
I want to start off by thanking everyone who signed up for this pasture walk, it is motivating to see so many folks invested in learning about different agricultural management practices and keen on meeting their local farmers. We had a significant number of folks registered, and were looking forward to all the learning we’d be doing together. Hehlden Farm and the Hehl family have been very generous in offering their knowledge, resources, and their space to our community.
A lot of work goes into planning and executing these events, and some unforeseen circumstances call for adaptability. We woke up to a Hazardous Air Quality Alert issued by EGLE, due to the Canadian wildfires north of the Minnesota arrowhead that continue to burn and spread. We recognize that there are many farmworkers and fieldworkers working in these conditions out of necessity.
Ottawa Conservation District leadership advised Hehlden Farm’s management of the alert, noting other outdoor program cancellations, and the fact that OCD staff may not attend. While the possibility of rescheduling the pasture walk was discussed, ultimately, their management considered the situation and determined that they are still happy to host attendees at their farm this evening for the meal and tour as planned. However, due to the elevated fine particulate matter in the hazardous range for the Coopersville area (AQI 352), the Ottawa Conservation District staff will not participate in the event this evening. USDA-NRCS has instructed their staff not to attend. Anyone who chooses to attend is strongly advised to review the Air Quality Alert and use their own judgement regarding attendance. N95 masks will be available at the farm.
Given the absence of our team, the pasture walk today will look slightly different.
For additional information on air quality, here’s an informative article published by Michigan State University’s AgrAbility regarding wildfire haze: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/farming-through-the-haze
Thank you,
The Ottawa Conservation District
As a follow-up to our 2026 Cultivating Resilience Winter Conference, Ottawa Conservation District will be hosting a Pasture Walk at Hehlden Farm to get an in-person look at a diversified livestock operation with mob grazing practices. Hehlden Farm, managed by the Hehl family, is over 100 years old and the first preserved farm in Ottawa County.
This event is FREE and includes free dinner with pulled pork raised and cooked up by the Hehl family. Please register by July 14 so we can guarantee your plate!
Be prepared to walk through uneven terrain and potentially long distances, please contact us with any accessibility concerns.
Location: Hehlden Farm – 14468 88th Ave, Coopersville, MI 49404
Date: Thursday, July 16th
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
How Much: FREE
Target Audience: This is meant to be a “Farmers teaching Farmers” event, but anyone interested in learning about regenerative farming practices are welcome to come!
Registration: https://tinyurl.com/CRSummerSeries2
*Event funded in part by MDARD’s Regenerative Agriculture Program Education & Outreach Grant*
For questions, please email sarah.bowman@macd.org or call 616-842-5852 Ext. 5.