Pre-Conference Workshop

Join us on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 1- 5 pm for a Pre-Conference Workshop on Holistic Management with Joshua and Tara Dukart

Pre-Registration Required

Holistic Management provides a framework for decision-making that is rooted in the fundamentals of ecosystem processes.  It also provides a suite of planning procedures that includes planned grazing, land planning, financial planning, and ecological monitoring.  This framework has assisted many regenerative farms and ranches with their goals and objectives, not only for production and profitability, but for healing the land, growing nutritious food, and supporting thriving communities.

Joshua and Tara Dukart of Seek First Ranch have been practicing Regenerative and Holistic Management since 2008. They have 15 years of experience speaking, teaching, coaching, and offering facilitation throughout the United States and internationally. Their ranch, located near Hazen, North Dakota, focuses on using the principles of Regenerative and Holistic Management to enhance soil, plant, and animal health, as well their own quality of life, finances, and community. Together they strive to help others find ways to enrich the lives they were created to live.

Joshua is a Certified Educator of Holistic Management. He holds a degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from North Dakota State University. His career has spanned from engineer and conservationist to educator, rancher, and business-owner. The Soil & Water Conservation Society selected Joshua as their Harold & Kay Scholl Excellence in Conservation Award recipient in 2017. Cattle Business Weekly presented Joshua with a Top 10 National Industry Leaders Award in 2015 and Joshua was recognized as one of North Dakota’s Top 40 Professionals Under Age 40 in 2012. Joshua also had the pleasure of working on the Burleigh County Soil Conservation District Team (2005-2016) and serving as the Executive Director for the North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition (2009-2017).

Tara holds degrees in Language Arts and Elementary Education. Her teaching career began in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. In the US, Tara spent eight years teaching writing and English classes at the middle school level as well as remedial reading and math. After experiencing significant health challenges, Tara began to realize the direct link between soil-plant-animal and human health. Tara is passionate about helping others improve their mental, emotional, physical, and immune health plus enhance the effectiveness of their communication through a special series called, “Empowered & Equipped.” Tara also manages the Seek First Ranch website and the direct marketing of its high quality, pastured, grass fed and finished meats.

Guided by their faith, Joshua and Tara have conviction—not just to conserve, but to regenerate landscapes, businesses, communities and livelihoods. They firmly believe wealth can be generated in a variety of ways: biologically, financially, and through relationships.

Joshua and Tara also enjoy raising and home-educating their three inquisitive children, who are delightfully helpful in asking questions—a very important component of the Seek First Ranch mission.