Dale Strickler is a leader in the soil health movement and an agronomist for Green Cover Seed. Although Strickler holds degrees in agronomy from Kansas State University, taught for 15 years at Cloud County Community College, and works as an agronomist, some of his most valuable education comes from his farming experience.

Dale grew up on a farm in southeast Kansas where frequent spring rains delayed planting and shallow soils invited drought conditions in late summer. Midway through his career as a teacher and an agronomist in north central Kansas, he began to farm again with rented land near Courland, Kansas. His story includes rejuvenation of the soil with the use of livestock, cover crops, no-till, and perennial grasses. He estimates that he has been able to increase the water holding capacity of his soil from 3 inches of available moisture to more than 12 inches.

Dale is the author of Managing Pasture and The Drought-Resilient Farm. The latter book will be available for purchase at the workshop. It is written in an easy-to-read style with a wealth of photos and illustrations providing the reader with a good understanding of the principles of soil health as well as practical tips and information on building soil health and managed grazing.