NORFOLK, Nebraska -- The Bazile Groundwater Management Area is hosting a Regenerative Ag Field Day on Friday, July 17, 2026 from 10 a.m. to Noon. The site is located near McLean - three miles west of the Highway 81/20 junction and a quarter mile north of 552nd Road.

This field day is the perfect opportunity for producers in northeast Nebraska to see regenerative ag in action and connect with like-minded producers. Explore a field where corn is planted with alfalfa. Learn real world strategies from regional experts on topics such as how to boost soil health, improve nutrient cycling, reduce inputs, and how to adapt when circumstances change.

Featured speakers include Junior Pfanstiel, Outside the Box Agronomy, who will discuss the theory, process, and goals of converting to regenerative agriculture practices. Pfanstiel will be joined by Zack Smith, The Stock Cropper, who will discuss converting sunlight to dollars and increasing ROI with putting livestock back on the landscape. 

A free lunch, optional, will be provided after the event at The Breakroom in Randolph, NE. Limited spots are available! The deadline to register is Monday, July 6, 2026. Producers interested in attending can find the registration link at https://bit.ly/BGMAFieldDay26 or by calling Marcus, BGMA Coordinator, 402-371-7313.

This field day is sponsored and produced by Outside the Box Agronomy; Center of Rural Affairs; UNL Extension; Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE); Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment; and the Lewis & Clark NRD; Lower Elkhorn NRD; Lower Niobrara NRD; and the Upper Elkhorn NRD.

The BGMA Project is an ongoing joint effort of the Lewis & Clark, Lower Niobrara, Lower Elkhorn, Upper Elkhorn NRDs, and the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, to curb the rise in nitrate concentrations. By offering educational opportunities, establishing demonstration sites, and offering cost-share on select Best Management Practices (BMPs), one of the Project’s goals is widespread adoption of BMPs across the area. BMPs give the producer more efficient control over inputs while reducing the environmental impact. If anyone is interested in adding BMPs to their operations, contact BGMA Coordinator Marcus Blunck at 402-371-7313 or mblunck [at] lenrd.org, or your local NRCS office.