Inside a 1,200-Acre Regenerative Operation (Live Farm Tour) - Rucker Farm | #103
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Show Notes
In this episode, we tour through Rucker Farm with Garrett Heydt to see how a large, leased regenerative operation actually works; covering hay, turkeys, water systems, minerals, and grazing decisions that shape animal health and land outcomes over time.
Key Topics
- Rotational grazing on large, leased properties
- Pasture-based turkey production and management
- Water infrastructure, exclusion fencing, and environmental impact
- Hay economics vs standing winter forage
- Regeneration as a long-term land ethic
Why You Should Listen
- Clear explanation of rotational grazing at scale (30+ paddocks, leased land)
- Practical breakdown of hay vs standing forage economics
- Rare detail on pasture-raised turkey management and behavior
- Insight into water systems, mineral strategy, and soil-and-water funding
- A grounded philosophy of regeneration over sustainability
Connect with Rucker Farm
Timestamps
00:00 Hay production and second cutting
02:00 Pasture-raised turkeys and grazing behavior
05:00 Predators, electric netting, and night radio strategy
06:30 Raising turkeys: brooders, socialization, survivability
07:45 Turkey processing timelines and sizing
12:00 Mobile brooders and farming on leased land
16:30 Cattle water systems and exclusion fencing
23:00 Minerals, salt, and late-pregnancy cow health
29:30 Hay costs vs grazing saved forage
37:30 Regeneration vs sustainability and rebuilding soil
48:00 Leaving the city and choosing farm life