W2W Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 Program

Unique Agriculture Tour. Lunch is provided.

The Unique Agriculture tour will have three stops. The tour is scheduled to leave the Graduate hotel at 7:00 am and return at approximately 5:30 pm. Lunch will be provided for you on the tour. The planned stops include:

• Simply Shrimp LLC  
  A family-owned saltwater shrimp farm founded and managed by Paul Damhof in a remodeled calf barn in western Minnesota. Paul raises 33,000 Pacific white shrimp from babies to market weight in 120 to 140 days in 17 circular tanks.  All of the shrimp are marketed fresh from the Damhof farm.
   
• The Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (SMBSC)
  A farmer-owned producer of beet sugar, The Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative was founded in 1974. The cooperative has over 500 shareholders that produce approximately three million tons of sugar beets every year. In addition to sugar SMBSC produces several by-products from beet wastes. They recycle steam produced by their boilers up to six times in the processing of the sugar beet to sugar. Overall they have increased energy efficiency by 60 percent over 30 years. Signed plant tour release and visitor good management practices form required.
   
• CreekSide Soil
  CreekSide Soil is a municipal composting facility for Hutchinson residents and McLeod County. The tour will focus on CreekSide Soil’s curbside organic program in Hutchinson and production of compost based soil amendment and potting products. Creekside also composts dairy manure and yard wastes.

  7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (approx). Lunch is provided.

Sustainable Livestock Tour. Lunch is provided.

The sustainable livestock tour to Morris, Minnesota will depart the Graduate hotel at 7:00 a.m. and return at approximately 6:00 p.m.. Lunch will be provided on the tour. Planned stops include:

• The West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC)
  WCROC is part of the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and has been excelling in applied agriculture research and education for over 100 years. This tour will highlight the WCROC’s work on biofilters for swine odor control, mortality composting, and turning wind energy into ammonia fuel. In addition, a presentation will be given on an innovative project that turns algae grown from manure into cattle feed.
   
• Riverview, LLP
  A diversified agribusiness based in Morris, MN with dairy, beef, and crops segments in various locations across Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Arizona, and New Mexico. This tour will focus on manure management, biogas production, and liquid-solid separation systems in a large dairy operation.

Organic Fertilizers and Ag By-Products Tour

The Organic Fertilizer and Ag By-Products Tour will have two stops in southern Minnesota. The tour will depart the Graduate hotel at 8:00 a.m. and return at approximately 4:00 p.m. Planned stops include:

• Sustane
  Sustane is a manufacturer and exporter of organic and natural-based fertilizers. The base product is made from aerobically composted turkey litter which can then be combined with plant nutrients and soil-amending ingredients in a homogeneous granule fertilizer. We will first stop at the main fertilizer plant to discuss the history of the company with the founder, Craig Holden. We will not tour the plant, but our next stop will take us to the turkey litter composting facility where you can see their large scale-operation and ask questions!
   
• The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
  The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) helps develop new uses for agricultural products through science and technology, partnering with businesses and entrepreneurs to bring ideas to reality. Their four focus areas are: biobased products, renewable energy, coproducts, and food. During the tour, participants will get a feel for the types of products AURI has helped develop and see the types of equipment they use to convert wastes into worth. You will be surprised by what products they have worked with!

Sustainable Stadiums Tour

The Sustainable Stadium tour will have two stops. Both tours will highlight efforts in design and management by both stadiums to enhance their sustainability with water and recycling. The tour is scheduled to leave at noon and return approximately 4.5 hours later. Participants will gather in the lobby of the Graduate hotel. Minimum of 25 people required for special group tour. Planned stops include:

• Target Field
  The home field of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball team, Target Field was built in 2010 and achieved a Leed Silver award for new construction from the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2011 Target Field achieved a Leed Silver award for Operation and Maintenance from the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2017 the ballpark achieved Leed Arc Certification. Sustainability efforts include rainwater use and diverting wastes to composting, recycling or energy recovery to reduce landfill use.
   
• U.S. Bank Stadium
  The home field of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team, U.S. Bank Stadium opened in July 2016. The stadium was certified LEED Gold for Building and Construction and Design in 2017. U.S. Bank Stadium reduces its carbon footprint through: water reduction, waste reduction/diversion, energy efficiency, sustainable purchasing, and alternative transportation promotion. U.S. Bank Stadium aims to become a zero-waste facility, where 90 percent of all waste is either compostable, recyclable, reused, or donated.