If an award had been presented for longest distance traveled to attend Soil Health U 2024 in Salina, Kansas, Robert Tylla of Switzerland would have won handily. Tylla, who hails from Wittnau, Aargau, located in northern Switzerland, close to the German border, has been interested in soil health for years.
He grew up in Germany, moved to Switzerland as a young boy, and has traveled to the U.S. several times, even living in Delaware for a time. He works as a chemical lab technician in Switzerland and farms and raises cattle. Tylla said he learned about the regenerative event through social media and decided to take a two-week trip to the U.S. in order to attend the conference and visit some friends.
Tylla and his friend/business partner have an organic operation and raise wheat and spelt for human consumption and grow corn silage to feed their 60-head cow herd in the wintertime. Although it was previously a dairy operation, the farm has transitioned to raising beef cattle, specifically Aberdeen Angus genetics. Tylla hopes to eventually begin selling seedstock and bulls as the operation develops.
He said he enjoys attending conferences like Soil Health U because he can always learn something and he loves to connect with other farmers and ranchers in the industry. Regenerative practices are used around the world, not matter the continent, demonstrating the power of agriculturists coming together to learn from each other and improve their soil health in the process.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
