McPHERSON—Kansas Farmers Union will host an Alternative Energy and Grass Finished Beef Tour at Herb and Pat Bartels’ farm at 1220 220th St in Hillsboro on July 7 at 1:30 p.m.
The tour will highlight Solar Energy, Wind Energy and Grass Fed Beef. The Bartels’ have installed a 2.4 KW wind turbine and a 2.6 KW solar unit on their Marion County farm. They also have a solar battery charger for tractors and trucks.
“Renewable energy in the form of wind and solar just has to be in the future of our civilization,” said Donn Teske, President of Kansas Farmers Union. “It’s non-polluting, and after the initial cost it’s free besides maintenance. And with the choke hold the big-boys have on the grid system here in Kansas any form of community-owned wind and solar is just about going to have to be at the farm level itself.”
Most months, between the two systems, the Flint Hills Rural Electric Association receives an average of 400 KW from their farm.
“I feel strongly that every farm should have 10 KW of wind or solar generation,” Herb Bartel said. “We find great satisfaction in being net renewable energy producers.”
Also featured on this tour will be Bartels’ joint grass-fed beef program with Jason Schmidt. Schmidt is finishing the beef on a volunteer wheat and red clover forage mix, using rotational grazing to maximize the nutrition for the calves. Schmidt has recently returned to his farm near Newton to continue grass-fed research with beef and sheep.
“There is great interest in the health benefits that grass-fed beef adds to a diet, especially concerning Omega-3s, ‘good’ unsaturated fats, and higher CLA (Conjugated Lincoleic Acid) content,” said Mary Howell, Membership Specialist for Kansas Farmers Union. “All lean beef is very nutritious, provides great protein, iron, vitamins and minerals to improve and maintain good health in a balanced diet.”
The tour will also feature speakers, refreshments and a pair of Farm Aid concert tickets will be given away.
For directions and more information visit kansasfarmersunion.org.
