The Regenaissance Podcast

Farmer Stories is a weekly series pulling the best conversations from the Regenaissance podcast archive. These aren't new episodes — just the best stories from American farmers on their experience of the farming landscape, giving incredible insight into it's systems, polocies, economics, bad actors, good actors, and rural communities. This series aims to encourage thinking bigger picture: Americas productive capacity, middle class revival, & real food as the foundation of it all. Joel Hollingsworth runs Smoke River Ranch in northeast Oklahoma. This conversation talks about why Joel believes we need to keep manufcaturing in America & why Oklahoma's culture of self-governance is a cultural model the country can build around. Timestamps0:00 — Why build in America, not abroad1:30 — The federalist structure and America's creation story4:00 — Oklahoma's culture of self-governance6:30 — Regen ag as a churn factory7:30 — Triffin dilemma and hollowing out of domestic production9:00 — How crop insurance locks out new farmers11:00 — Foreign cattle and the 30% currency gap12:30 — Land as money, not farmland14:00 — Farm credit weaponized (Dustin Kittle story)15:30 — Average rancher age 58.517:00 — What rural collapse looks like18:30 — Sovereign debt and centralizing riskLinks:Full podcast episode:- YouTube- Spotify- AppleConnect with Joel:- Smoke River Ranch Website- X

Gunthorp Farms is a 3rd generation pork and poultry operation in northern Indiana with on-farm USDA-inspected processing. This tour covers the full farm from farrowing paddocks to kill floor, smokehouse, and wastewater treatment. Watch alongside the full podcast episode for the full story.Key TopicsAdaptive multi-paddock grazing in practice50-paddock farrowing system and piglet managementBuilding and running a USDA-inspected on-farm processing facilityUSDA enforcement: how small and large plants are treated differentlyConstructed wetland wastewater treatmentWhat You'll LearnHow paddock size and recovery time shift by seasonWhat to ask when you visit a pig farmWhat it costs to build on-farm processing and where permitting breaks downHow HACCP regulation actually gives small plants flexibility if you understand itWhy scale changes food safety risk in ways inspection policy doesn't reflectConnect w Greg & Gunthorp FarmsWebsiteXInstagramLinkedinFull podcast interviewFollow the tour on YouTubeTimestamps 00:00:00 Adaptive multi-paddock grazing explained 00:03:00 Pig health, thermoregulation, and antibiotic-free management 00:05:00 What consumers should ask when visiting a pig farm 00:15:00 Energy-free waterers and farrowing paddock design 00:27:00 Kill floor overview and processing plant history 00:36:00 Permitting, wastewater, and navigating USDA regulation 00:45:00 Food safety: small vs large plant accountability 00:51:00 USDA enforcement disparities and advocacy 01:02:00 Packaging equipment walkthrough 01:13:00 Smokehouse construction and constructed wetland wastewater system

Charles and Heather Maude are 5th generation ranchers in South Dakota running a direct-to-consumer beef and pork operation built on land their family has worked for over 115 years. This tour covers the full operation - cattle, hogs, grain storage, equipment, and the irrigated river bottom at the center of a federal land dispute that drew national attention. Watch this alongside the full-length podcast episode for the complete story behind what you're seeing on the ground.Key TopicsDirect-to-consumer beef and pork - how it actually worksCattle finishing and feeder calf productionFarrowing crates - the honest case for and againstWhy feed quality determines meat quality in hogsGrain storage, forage systems, and matching stocking rate to grassThe disputed river bottom and the federal land disputeWhat You'll LearnHow a small ranch runs multiple livestock enterprises on limited acresWhy weaning date is a range management decision, not just an animal oneWhat farrowing crates are actually for and why a skeptic changed her mindHow monogastric and ruminant digestion produce fundamentally different meatWhat 115 years of private land management looks like - and what happens when it's challengedWhy boundary disputes in the rural West are common, and criminal indictments are notConnect with Charles & HeatherWebsiteInstagramFacebookTimestamps00:00:00 — Introduction and context 00:02:00 — Cattle paddock: finished beef and this year's steer calves 00:04:00 — Weaning early — a drought and range management decision 00:06:00 — Grain bins: what they store and how they work 00:08:00 — Farrowing facility: why the crates exist 00:13:00 — Hog nutrition: simple stomach vs. ruminant digestion 00:15:00 — Pasture-raised pork: why quality and finish time differ 00:18:00 — Legacy equipment: grandfather's tractors and the 1948 truck 00:24:00 — The fence line: terrain, flooding, and where fences actually go 00:25:00 — The Forest Service dispute begins 00:27:00 — No written violation, no due process, criminal charges 00:28:00 — Working toward resolution: the Small Tracks Act 00:30:00 — Secretary Rollins, the temporary use agreement, and what changed 00:33:00 — The survey stakes, the crop damage, and the escalation 00:37:00 — What the land trade proposal was and why it was rejected 00:39:00 — What this case means for ranchers and private landowners 00:41:00 — Final reflections

Joel Hollingsowrth has spent years doing something most people wouldn't dare try - building a regenerative cattle ranch from scratch, with no money, no inherited land, and no roadmap. And yet, it has become one of the pioneering regenerative farms in the nation. Joel is joined by David, who left an Ivy League PhD program to ranch in rural Mexico before landing here, and Daniel, the herd manager responsible for translating Joel's system into daily practice. Together they walk us through mob grazing at extreme stocking densities, a heritage genetics breeding program built for a world without antibiotics, virtual fencing technology, and a community ownership model designed to solve the financing problem that stops most regenerative farmers before they start.This is a conversation about what it really takes (the stubbornness, the financial creativity, the ecological thinking, and the human community) to build something lasting and that works. KEY TOPICSUltra-high-density mob grazing and how it mimics bison impact to restore soil and seed banksHeritage breed genetics (Piney Woods, composite bulls) and building "zombie apocalypse" cattleVirtual fencing technology and its potential to transform daily ranch labourThe herd share financial model and how community capital makes regenerative ranching viableReviving rural community through food sovereignty, nutrient density, and local economic energyWHAT YOU'LL LEARNWhy stocking density, not just rotation, is the key lever in regenerative grazingHow cows' hooves act as seed planters and why "weeds" like thistles are actually healing the soilWhat rumen fill and manure consistency tell a herd manager about animal health and forage qualityWhy cattle genetics matter as much as grazing method, and what "adapting to the system" looks likeHow Joel financed his ranch with no money down, and why the herd share model is a blueprint others could followCONNECT WITH JOELSmoke River Ranch WebsiteXTIMESTAMPS00:00 – Welcome to Oklahoma: Joel, David & the Smoke River story08:00 – What's broken in rural America and what Smoke River is rebuilding12:00 – Fresh Rx Oklahoma: food as medicine and local supply chains15:00 – How Joel got started: a $1/year lease, no capital, and a Twitter DM19:00 – Virtual fencing: digital paddocks and 60 hours of saved labour per week21:00 – Heritage breeds: Piney Woods cows, composite bulls, and the genetics program25:00 – Mob grazing explained: why five moves a day and what stocking density actually means31:00 – Herd management with Daniel: rumen fill, manure scoring, and daily cattle metrics36:00 – Sick cow protocols and building a self-selecting genetics program45:00 – Weeds as healers: thistles, pioneer species, and soil succession

Fascinating episode, touring a regenerative bison and pecan farm! A first for me. A bit about the ranch & tour...TLC ranch is located in Souther Oklahoma. It's ran by Cindy Sheffield (who tours us today) and her husband Tread and their two daughters and husbands, where they raise bison and manage a large organic pecan orchard. The ranch began in 1997 when the family purchased land that many others had passed on, seeing potential where others did not.What started as weekend trips for hunting and time outdoors gradually turned into a long-term commitment to steward the land. Over the years the family developed ponds, trails, and eventually planted thousands of pecan trees, which are now grown using organic and regenerative practices.More recently they fulfilled a long-standing goal of bringing bison back to the property. Today the ranch combines pecan production with bison grazing, reflecting the family’s focus on building a working farm that supports both the land and the people who depend on it.What we cover:Starting a bison ranch after decades of owning landManaging parasites and animal health on pastureRotational grazing and integrating chickens behind bisonThe economics and risks of pecan farmingFloods, disease, and the unpredictable realities of agricultureConnect with the farm:WebsiteFacebookInstagramRegenaissance Youtube ChannelTimestamps: 00:00:00 Regulations and differences between bison and cattle 00:02:20 How TLC Ranch began and why the family chose bison 00:03:40 Flooding, parasites, and losing animals in the herd 00:05:00 Transitioning to rotational grazing for parasite control 00:06:30 Plans to integrate meat chickens behind the bison 00:08:00 How bison grazing behavior differs from cattle 00:12:50 Handling bison and working animals through the chute system 00:17:00 Field harvesting a bison and the reality of on-farm slaughter 00:19:30 The challenge of finding truly clean food and produce 00:24:00 Managing a pecan orchard and harvesting the crop 00:27:00 Weather risks, floods, and the economics of farming 00:29:00 Why consumers need to understand the realities farmers face

Caden and Patrick run Cable Family Farm in Piedmont, North Carolina, where they manage a small 80 bed no-till market garden along with pasture-raised eggs and chickens. Caden started the farm at 18, and then a few years later was able to convince Patrick to join him. Their main concern starting the farm was how would they make money? This tour shows how they produce their crops and animals in a healthy, sustainable way, along with their marketing and production approach to creating a viable small-scale farm production. It was fascinating and productive to hear from these young farmers how they approach farming, why their not organic, the systems they run to stay viable and efficient, and understanding why they chose this career path over everything else (hint, farming food can be incredibly meaningful). Key TopicsBuilding an 80 bed no-till market garden from grassTools and systems for small-scale vegetable farmingPasture-raised eggs and chickensOrganic practices without certificationEconomics and tradeoffs on small farmsConnect with Caden & Patrick:InstagramYoutubeOther linksTimestamps 00:00:00 Introduction to Cable Family Farm 00:01:00 Building a no-till market garden 00:06:00 Broadforking and minimal soil disturbance 00:10:00 Weather risks and crop failures 00:14:00 Time and cost of starting a garden 00:19:00 Organic practices vs certification 00:23:00 Simple greenhouse and seed starting 00:27:00 Egg layers and rotational grazing 00:32:00 Raising pasture-raised chickens 00:35:00 Why chickens are healthier on pasture

About Rehoboth & Josh & Jessica:This was a really fun tour. The farm has an interesting backstory. It was initially just a backyard chicken hobbyist farm, and then after feeding themselves and friends, they saw the health impact and the localized food impact - then began trading meat for land access. Josh spent years during 2015-18 waiting for the right property top open up, with multiple failed attempts, before securing the current farm in 2018. They launched full-time in 2019, saw rapid growth during 2020 with that demand spike, and then developed the farm into what it is today, a regenerative grazing operation and direct-to-consumer product platform. Neither Joss or Jessica grew up farming, but health concerns, lack of localized food option and expense of quality food triggered their shift to farming. They have a faith-driven vision for the farm, and “Rehoboth” means “God made room”. Jessica leads customer engagement, and Josh leads the systems and operations on the farm. You can connect to Josh and Jessica via the links below:WebsiteInstagramKey topics & Timestamps:00:00:00 Tractor use and cutting pasture for regrowth 00:01:00 Turkey shipping losses and hatchery challenges 00:03:00 Why turkey poults are fragile in the brooder 00:04:00 Thanksgiving turkey pickup on farm 00:05:00 Broiler setup and water system improvements 00:08:30 Compost piles and feeding pumpkins to livestock 00:10:30 Rotating pigs and natural mineral foraging 00:14:00 Outdoor pig genetics vs confinement genetics 00:22:00 Moving broilers to build soil nitrogen 00:24:00 Multi-species grazing and parasite management