Fall Gathering | Women in Sustainable Agriculture

RETREAT DETAILS

November 14-16, 2025 (Fri. Sat. Sun.) The cabin opens Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 at 3 pm; departure is Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 by 10 am.

Northwoods Cabin ◆ Cedar Valley Resort ◆ Whalan, MN

 WISA Registration Form

Registration deadline: Oct. 24, 2025 Limited scholarships are available (see Registration form).

More about the weekend, logistics, payment etc.

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The WISA Fall Gathering provides informal programs on current agricultural issues along with beautiful trails, porches, and safe, private places for you to learn and revitalize at whatever pace suits you.

We strive to have all women, no matter how you were born or how you exist, feel welcome.  Please come willing to welcome all women.

PROGRAMMING

You are invited to participate in any of the planned events, and also to take a break for yourself at any time.

Highlights of the 2025 program:  The planned events of the weekend include Fireside Chats and Virtual Farm Tours.

Fireside Chats will be facilitated by experts, ourselves! This gives us a chance to bring our whole selves to the discussion as we sort out ideas, concerns, and hopes together.

This year’s topics will address (2 sessions of 3 – paired as listed):

1 a. Farming Challenges and Solutions

1 b. Plant Walk

1 c. Finding hope in dark times

2 a. Soil health – Physical characteristics and microbes

2 b. Plant Walk

2 c. Inclusivity Learnings or Should We Call Them Unlearnings?

Virtual Farm Tours – Come for a peak into the farm workings, successes and challenges of two of our Fall Gathering attendees from the comfort of our gathered space. We encourage and celebrate these featured farms.

2025 Virtual Farm Tours will feature:

•  Badgersett Farm – Meg Rutter, of Canton, MN.

•  An invite to a second farm is being confirmed

LOGISTICS

Lodging: We stay together in the roomy, comfortable Northwoods Cabin at Cedar Valley Resort in Whalan, MN. The cabin has two floors with wrap-around porches, easy parking, lots of public and private spaces, and a range of sleeping options. We describe sleeping and restroom specifics below: the resort’s lodge description with photos is here.

Sleeping: – There are 2 bedrooms on the main level with a queen-size bed only. There are 4 bedrooms on the upper level with queen-size beds and twin-over-double bunk beds as well as two bedrooms with a queen-sized bed only. In addition, 2 upstairs nooks are semi-private and each has a full-size futon bed.

The planning team organizes sleeping arrangements based on your responses on the Registration Form. If we can honor a request for a private room (there is an extra fee), we will.

RESTROOMS:  There are 6 restrooms (2 on the main floor, 4 on the second floor). Each restroom is private and has a toilet, shower, and sink.

ACCESSIBILITY, SAFETY, & PRIVACY:  We try hard to accommodate your specific needs for accessibility, safety, and privacy. If you have questions or concerns and seek further clarification, please reach out to Courtney Tchida.

MEALS: Together, we all contribute food and beverages for the weekend. Kitchens are well-appointed with dishware, utensils, and cups as well as cooking pots, a stove/oven, microwave, dishwasher, and refrigerator/freezer.

Friday supper – A selection of soups will be provided by the planning team. Plan to enjoy this hearty start to the weekend.

Breakfasts/Breaks – Please bring your favorite foods for breakfasts and breaks. See below regarding beverages.

Saturday noon meal is a potluck. Please bring your best and your favorites! Soups and stews, casseroles, breads, salads, cheese, desserts, drinks, and other foods make this always-amazing meal. Be sure to include an ingredient sign with your dish so folks with special diet needs can be confident about what and what not to eat. This meal tends to be an omnivore’s delight, and as such, we do not promise a vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, or allergen-free environment .

Saturday evening meal consists of abundant leftovers.

Beverages – Coffee, tea, cocoa, and milk are provided and on hand at all times. Feel free to bring along other beverages to share. Wine and beer are permitted.

Outdoors:   You are welcome to enjoy the outdoor facilities during the weekend. Some folks arrive before check-in on Friday to bicycle or walk prior to our meeting. Some folks stay after checkout on Sunday to explore the trails. There is a firepit behind the cabin where we can sing and dance around the fire on Saturday night, if so motivated.

Silent Auction: For a little fun, we will have a silent auction to raise scholarship funds.  If you wish to contribute an item, please notify Joanne as jmmpipkorn@gmail.com as she will set up space and coordinate the efforts.

FEES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

What does it cost:  The Fall Gathering fee covers lodging, access to cabin facilities and resort grounds, and program.

• Full weekend – $175.00

• Saturday only – $80.00

• Private room request – additional $65/night

We require a minimum non-refundable deposit of $75 at registration. The balance is due upon check-in. Full payment at registration is encouraged, thank you.

Note: Bring a new person and you each get $25 off your full weekend registration! (Not applicable to Saturday-only participation)

Scholarships:  Please don’t let financial challenges prevent you from attending.

If you would like to REQUEST a scholarship, you’ll see a spot to indicate this on the WISA Registration form.

If you would like to CONTRIBUTE to the Scholarship Fund, THANK YOU!  It is so important that we help each other. Please include this with your registration payment.

To send payment:  We accept checks and VENMO.

• Pay by Mail

  • please send  to:  Jennifer Williams (WISA-MN Treas.), 2872 110th Street, Frederic, Wisconsin 54837

• Pay by Venmo

  • You may send Venmo payments to @jennifer-williams-231 (profile pic has purple flowers).

For any questions regarding payment, please call Jennifer at 612-600-5101.

  WISA Registration Form