In this episode of the Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal talks with Ernie Mathis of Iron Root Pastures in Rising Fawn, Georgia. Ernie shares how he went from suburban New Jersey roots and metro Atlanta life to traveling the U.S. in an RV and finally settling on a dilapidated cow-calf farm to pursue a regenerative, multi-species livestock operation. He discusses starting with backyard broilers, managing raw milk production from his herd of Jerseys, raising pigs and poultry on organic, soy-free and corn-free feed, and why he’s adding rabbits next. Ernie also walks through his portable milking parlor setup, calf-sharing system, and lessons learned in farm infrastructure, grazing systems, and marketing directly to health-focused consumers.

Topics Covered

• Why and how Ernie and his family left metro life for farm life
• Starting with 10 backyard broilers and progressing to pasture poultry
• Transitioning from RV life to settling on a 225-acre property
• Developing a direct-to-consumer market with chiropractic clinics
• Raising soy-free, corn-free fed chickens, pigs, and layers
• Building a portable milking setup for 8 Jersey cows
• Implementing calf sharing with a custom calf shelter
• Using belted Galloways and moving toward more heat-tolerant breeds
• Plans for integrating rabbits and sheep
• Thoughts on A2 milk, sexed semen, and dual-purpose livestock
• Managing pastures and daily moves using simple infrastructure

If you’ve ever wondered how to go from urban homesteader to full-time grazier, Ernie’s story will inspire and inform you. His creative infrastructure, practical solutions for milking in the pasture, and strong values around health and transparency in food production make this a great episode for new farmers, aspiring dairy graziers, or anyone looking to build a regenerative, direct-to-consumer business. Whether it’s a discussion on milking schedules or raw milk laws, there’s something here for everyone walking a similar path.

Resources Mentioned

• Iron Root Pastures
• Kentucky Organics (feed mill)
• Justin Rhodes YouTube Channel
• White Oak Pastures (Rabbitat project)

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In this episode, we head to Zambia to talk with Doug Badcock of Green Lid Enterprises. Doug shares his journey from managing a diverse crop and livestock farm to developing a passion for grazing and livestock management. Situated just miles from the Congo border, Doug discusses the realities of ranching in Zambia’s unique environment—from tropical grasses and fires to high-density grazing and breeding Boran and Angoni cattle. His openness about trial, error, and continual improvement makes this a valuable conversation for graziers everywhere.

Topics Covered:

• Transitioning from conventional to regenerative grazing
• Grazing livestock near the Congo border
• Using electric fencing in remote areas
• Managing forage through fire and seasonal rainfall
• Adjusting calving and breeding seasons
• Adapting cattle breed selection to local conditions
• High-density grazing: when it works and when it hurts
• Forage management with bananas and corn stalks
• Differences between Boran, Sussex, Angoni, and other African breeds
• Using line breeding and natural selection in herd development

Doug Badcock brings a unique perspective to the Grazing Grass Podcast from his farm in Zambia. His willingness to share both successes and challenges—from learning to manage tropical forage to selecting the right breeds for his environment—makes this episode a global look at regenerative grazing principles. Whether you farm in Oklahoma or Africa, you’ll find inspiration and insight in Doug’s honest storytelling and deep curiosity for continual improvement.

Resources Mentioned:
Green Lid Enterprises Facebook & YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@green_lid_enterprises?si=elTGbGeGCylwOuSN
https://www.facebook.com/share/192BW7WRNN/
https://www.instagram.com/green_lid_enterprises?igsh=b2V5OHAwMmk0eG1o
Johan Zietsman's book Man, Cattle and Veld
Calvin Birioti's YouTube video featuring Doug’s farm

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In this episode of the Grazing Grass Podcast, we're joined by Jeff Siewicki of Vital Mission Farm in South Carolina. Jeff shares his journey from raising 25 chickens for personal use to building a thriving regenerative poultry business focused on pasture-raised ducks and turkeys. With a background in science and no prior farming experience, Jeff candidly discusses how he learned everything from scratch—facing the steep learning curves of pasture poultry, selling wholesale to top chefs, and ultimately pivoting to a hyperlocal subscription-based model for direct-to-consumer sales.

Topics Covered:

• Starting with chickens, transitioning to ducks and turkeys
• Challenges and benefits of pasture-raised poultry
• Lessons from selling wholesale to restaurants pre-COVID
• Pivoting during the pandemic to direct-to-consumer sales
• Creating value-added products like duck prosciutto and pet treats
• Launching and refining a customized local subscription box
• Online marketing and building an effective digital storefront
• Advice for farmers on capturing leads and converting sales

Why You Should Listen:
If you're a grass-based producer exploring poultry, value-added products, or direct-to-consumer models, this episode is packed with practical advice and real-world experience. Jeff doesn’t sugarcoat the hard lessons learned, but he also shares the wins—from building customer relationships at farmers markets to crafting a high-margin subscription service. Whether you’re looking to improve your margins, expand product offerings, or shift from wholesale to DTC, Jeff’s story is full of inspiration and actionable insights.

Resources Mentioned:

• Vital Mission Farm
• Regenerative Success
• Premier1 Supplies (chick-safe netting)

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Riki Kramer joins us from Kramers Ranch in Lance Creek, Wyoming, where she and her family manage 8,000 acres of rough, arid country with Angus-cross cattle, horses, and meat goats. Together with her husband and daughter, Riki has transitioned their operation from traditional set-stock grazing to a powerful combination of Instinctive Migratory Grazing (IMG) and Planned Migratory Grazing (PMG), doubling their stocking rate and reducing feed inputs. With over 20 miles of water pipeline and an impressive track record of adapting to extreme environments, Riki shares hard-earned lessons on stockmanship, infrastructure, and letting nature lead the way.

Topics Covered

• History and evolution of Kramer's Ranch
• Transition from February to June calving
• Building water infrastructure and pasture layout
• Challenges with temporary fencing in brittle environments
• Transitioning to IMG and how it rebooted herd behavior
• Role of stockmanship and learning from Bob Kin and Ian Mitchell-Innes
• Managing yearlings separately for summer and winter forage balance
• Creating and using "insurance pastures"
• Shifts in forage species and pasture recovery times
• Integrating horses and four-wheelers into cattle management

Why You Should Listen

If you're grazing in a brittle or arid environment—or frustrated with conventional rotational systems—Riki’s experience will resonate. She candidly walks us through her family’s grazing journey, showing how thoughtful stockmanship and intentional planning can unlock natural herd behavior and healthier land. Whether you’re looking to reduce feed, improve forage diversity, or double your stocking rate without burning out your pastures, this episode offers actionable wisdom grounded in real-world success.

Resources Mentioned

• Instinctive Migratory Grazing School
• Riki Kremers on Facebook
• Bob Kinford on the Grazing Grass Podcast
• Bob Kinford – Instinctive Migratory Grazing

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Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Fast Five with Riki Kramer
• (01:26) - History and Evolution of Kramer's Ranch
• (02:07) - Grazing Techniques and Challenges
• (04:57) - Record Keeping and Ranch Management
• (09:20) - Transition to Instinctive Migratory Grazing (IMG)
• (18:08) - Implementing and Refining IMG
• (33:07) - Stockmanship and Herd Behavior
• (40:26) - Understanding Animal Communication
• (40:38) - Four-Wheeler vs. Horseback Communication
• (42:00) - Benefits of IMG Grazing in Arid Environments
• (43:12) - Forage Quality and Species Changes
• (45:14) - Managing Cow Herds and Yearlings
• (50:50) - Insurance Pastures: A Safety Net for Grazing
• (56:10) - Upcoming Grazing School Details
• (01:03:42) - Famous Four Questions
• (01:14:56) - Conclusion and Takeaways

In this episode, we chat with Cherrie Nolden of Wonder Acres Farm, located in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Cherrie shares her extensive experience with multi-species grazing, highlighting her innovative approaches to adaptive grazing management and pasture improvement. She discusses how she manages her Norwegian Fjord horses, sheep, goats, and livestock guardian dogs, emphasizing genetic selection for natural parasite resistance and efficient grazing practices. Cherrie also covers fencing strategies, transitioning horses from dry lots to rotational grazing, and maintaining healthy pastures through careful management.

Topics discussed:

• Adaptive and rotational grazing strategies
• Grazing management for horses, sheep, and goats
• Genetic selection for parasite resistance
• Multi-species grazing benefits
• Using electro-net fencing effectively
• Designing and utilizing grazing lanes
• Sustainable pasture improvement techniques

Whether you're managing horses, sheep, goats, or all of the above, Cherrie's insights will inspire you to optimize your grazing practices and improve your farm's overall productivity and sustainability.

Resources mentioned:

• Wonder Acres Farm on Facebook
• Wonder Acres Farm website
• Won Der Fjords on Facebook

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Chapters

In this episode, we chat with Alex from Chucktown Acres, a regenerative farm based in Charleston, South Carolina. Alex shares his transformation from suburban musician and Bible college student to full-time regenerative farmer. His journey includes a pivotal internship at Polyface Farms and eventually taking over an existing farm operation in coastal South Carolina. Alex now manages a thriving multi-species livestock operation and also teaches marketing to other farmers.

Topics Covered

• Alex’s health awakening and discovery of real food
• The shift from Bible college to aspiring farmer
• Securing a highly competitive internship at Polyface Farms
• What life and work were like at Polyface
• Starting and rebranding Chucktown Acres
• Raising grass-fed beef, Berkshire hogs, broilers, laying hens, turkeys, and more
• Adjusting practices for regional predator pressure in South Carolina
• Using and recommending Kiwi Tech posts and Gallagher reels
• Building a direct-to-consumer business with Barn2Door and weekly email marketing
• Offering internships for local youth interested in sustainable ag
• Navigating social media and customer communication
• Equipment preferences and gear talk (O’Brien vs. Kiwi Tech)

Whether you’re just starting your regenerative journey or looking to refine your marketing and multi-species operation, Alex’s story is a valuable one. He didn’t grow up farming and didn’t inherit land—but he found a way through passion, grit, and practical action. His take on internships, rebranding, and building customer relationships through authentic marketing is inspiring and actionable. Plus, there’s plenty of great gear talk for graziers who love comparing reels and posts.

Resources Mentioned

• Polyface Farms
• Books & Authors:
  • Folks, This Ain’t Normal by Joel Salatin
  • Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown
  • Works by Greg Judy, Alan Savory, Will Harris
• Barn2Door – eCommerce for farmers
• Redmond Agriculture
• Noble Research Institute Courses
• Kiwi Tech Posts – Available at Ken Cove
• Gallagher reels, O’Brien posts, and other fencing gear

Visit our Sponsors:
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GBT Angus

Grazing Grass Links
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Provide feedback for the podcast
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Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Quickfire Questions
• (01:58) - Welcome to the Grazing Grass Podcast
• (03:36) - Alex's Journey to Farming
• (05:15) - Discovering the World of Health Food
• (06:56) - From Bible College to Farming Aspirations
• (15:57) - Internship at Polyface Farms
• (42:06) - Starting Chucktown Acres
• (45:17) - Starting the Farming Journey
• (45:56) - A Fortunate Break
• (46:59) - Taking Over the Farm
• (48:33) - Rebranding and Relocating
• (49:50) - Challenges and Adaptations
• (53:30) - Marketing and Sales Strategies
• (57:29) - Social Media and Marketing Challenges
• (59:49) - Advice for New Farmers
• (01:12:05) - The Importance of Farmer's Markets
• (01:14:19) - Famous Four Questions
• (01:19:52) - Final Thoughts and Resources

Dusty Baker of Cross Timbers Bison joins us on the Grazing Grass Podcast to share his journey from city life to raising bison full time in Sulphur, Oklahoma. With a background in wildlife ecology and a deep appreciation for the nearby Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Dusty took the leap into bison ranching during the pandemic, starting out on an old dairy farm. Since then, he’s poured his passion into building a thriving herd and managing his land with regenerative practices that benefit both the soil and the animals.

In this episode, we dig into:

• Dusty’s transition from city life to bison ranching
• How he adapted a former dairy into a working bison operation
• The challenges of fencing and handling these powerful animals
• His approach to regenerative grazing and land stewardship
• Thoughts on bison genetics and today’s bison meat market
• Lessons learned from experimenting with multi-species grazing
• Straightforward advice for anyone looking to get into bison ranching

If you’re curious about bison, regenerative grazing, or just love hearing a good ranching story, you won’t want to miss this one. Dusty’s experience offers practical tips and a real-world look at the ups and downs of raising these incredible animals.

Links Mentioned in the Episode

Cross Timbers Bison Ranch
Cross Timbers Bison on YouTube
This is Oklahoma Podcast with Dusty Baker

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and FAST Five
• (00:23) - Welcome to the Grazing Grass Podcast
• (02:01) - Farm Updates and Teeter Farm Tech Gates
• (03:06) - Web Tinkering and Community Projects
• (05:24) - Interview with Dusty Baker Begins
• (05:47) - Dusty's Journey with Bison
• (16:57) - Challenges and Learnings in Bison Farming
• (21:59) - Transition to Full-Time Farming During COVID
• (29:29) - Starting a YouTube Channel
• (35:25) - Regenerative Practices on a Bison Ranch
• (45:05) - Transition to Overgrazing
• (45:59) - Redmond Agriculture Ad
• (46:56) - Getting Started with Bison
• (47:49) - Fencing and Keeping Bison Happy
• (50:25) - Bison Genetics and Breeding
• (57:32) - Bison Meat Market and Business
• (01:00:21) - Challenges with Multi-Species Grazing
• (01:11:34) - Cooking Bison Meat
• (01:14:00) - Famous Four Questions
• (01:25:48) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Nick Jackson and Sarah Mahan recently embarked on a transformative journey from Atkinson, Maine, to Healy, Kansas, to pursue regenerative agriculture. Their passion for soil health and sustainable farming practices led them to transition from market gardening to livestock farming. With backgrounds in organic agriculture and compost production, they have drawn inspiration from influential thinkers like Alan Savory to enhance their approach to farming. Their story is not just about agriculture but also about personal growth, community support, and family dynamics as they navigate their new life in Kansas.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Introduction to regenerative agriculture and Nick and Sarah's background
• Transition from market gardening to livestock farming
• Influence of thinkers like Alan Savory on their practices
• Historical and ecological evolution of agriculture in Maine
• Challenges and emotional aspects of relocating from Maine to Kansas
• Managing livestock in a new environment and adapting to local conditions
• Experiences with flash floods and community support
• Insights into grazing strategies and sustainable farming techniques
• Family dynamics and working with loved ones in a farming context

Listeners should tune in to this podcast episode to gain a comprehensive understanding of regenerative agriculture through the real-life experiences of Nick and Sarah. Their journey is both inspiring and educational, offering practical insights into sustainable farming practices and the resilience required to adapt to new environments. Whether you're an established farmer or someone new to the field, their story provides valuable lessons in managing cash flow, embracing change, and maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. The episode also offers a rich tapestry of historical and ecological perspectives, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and personal growth.

Links Mentioned in the Episode

Visit our Sponsors:
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Redmond
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Original Music by Louis Palfrey

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Fast Five
• (00:50) - Welcome to the Grazing Grass Podcast
• (01:25) - Noble Research Institute Courses
• (02:28) - Starting the Regenerative Journey
• (06:01) - Transitioning to Livestock
• (08:34) - Challenges and Strategies in Farming
• (17:15) - Maine's Agricultural Landscape
• (25:57) - Moving to Kansas: A New Beginning
• (42:37) - Airbnb Adventures and Meeting Greg
• (43:59) - Selling Everything and Moving to Kansas
• (45:37) - Challenges and Changes in Kansas
• (48:45) - Custom Grazing and Scaling Up
• (52:15) - Managing Sheep and Steers
• (01:04:47) - Favorite Resources and Tools
• (01:09:51) - Working with Family and Final Thoughts