April 30: AGRI/CULTURE: Farmers and Artists on Cultural Practices for Rural Communities.
Exhibition from 12:00-5:00pm, panel discussion at 4:00pm.
Two farmers, Jane Koger and Jason Schmidt, discuss their farming practices and their love of the land while two artists, Ian Huebert and Matthew Regier, exhibit prints based on their observations of the prairie and their reflections on growing up in a farming community. The discussion will be followed by a reception and cheese tasting with cheeses from Glazing Plains Farm (Jason’s Dairy) and live music from Kelly Werts and friends.
Jane Koger is a fourth generation Chase County rancher. She lives off the grid at Homestead Ranch where she raises grass-fed beef and applies various sustainable practices aimed at maintaining the health of the prairie and preserving the habitats of prairie chickens and other Flint Hills wildlife.
Jason Schmidt is the fifth generation to dairy on his farm Southeast of Newton, KS. Jason started Grazing Plains Farm, moving the family dairy towards a more grass-based diet with Jersey cows. In response to low milk prices, they opened the creamery in 2019, making and selling artisan cheeses on site including Cheddar, Harvati, Feta, Tilsit, Fromange Blanc and others.
Ian Hubert is an artist, printmaker and designer in Iowa City. After earning an MFA from the University of Iowa Center for the Book in 2017, he started The Picture Press, a studio for woodcut and letterpress printing. Ian grew up in the small farming community of Henderson, Nebraska and his recent prints explore the relationship of industrial agriculture to the rural landscape.
Matthew Regier is an artist/printmaker in Matfield Green. His work is based on personal observations of the prairie ecosystem, particularly the way in which profiles of naturally-occurring plant species can communicate information about the health and distinctiveness of small patches of land. Matthew and his wife, Tia, co-founded The School for Rural Culture and Creativity in 2019 and have lived in Matfield Green since 2015. Matthew also grew up outside of Henderson, Nebraska on a corn farm.
This event is free to the public.