The Goat Grazing Podcast

Justin Simarro and Amanda Budde - The Goat Grazing Company

If you started a goat grazing company with your romantic partner, would it help or hurt your relationship? Where would you go for information if you were just getting started? How would you ensure that you didn’t overextend yourselves by getting too big too soon? Justin Simarro and Amanda Budde, with The Goat Grazing Company in California, join Max Wade to talk about how starting a goat-grazing business has challenged their relationship in many good ways and taught them how they operate far better as a team than they do on their own. They also shared how The Goat Grazing Podcast has been a big help in their goat-grazing journey, informing their decision to grow only as fast as they could manage and following the podcast's advice to “fail small”. Where to contact them: Instagram: @thegoatgrazingco Number: 916-502-2196 00:00 Introduction 05:47 The Journey Begins: Starting Goat Grazing 08:48 First Job Experience: Challenges and Learning 12:18 Mental Load of Livestock Management 14:20 Navigating Relationships in Business 16:23 Daily Operations and Job Acquisition 24:38 Customer Expectations and Education 28:18 Growth and Expansion of the Business 34:48 Diversifying with Sheep: The Future Ahead 37:03 Building Partnerships in Agriculture 43:19 The Importance of Networking 46:22 Scheduling and Job Management 56:58 Managing Ecosystems and Livestock 01:01:04 Bidding and Pricing Strategies 01:05:13 Understanding Pricing in Goat Grazing 01:05:49 Assessing Job Complexity and Adjusting Fees 01:08:11 Establishing Baselines for Pricing 01:09:39 The Importance of Charging for Estimates 01:11:21 Navigating Insurance for Goat Grazing Businesses 01:14:29 Memorable Experiences in Goat Grazing 01:19:01 Future Goals and Growth in Goat Grazing 01:29:51 Advice for Aspiring Goat Grazers

Byron Kominek - Colorado Agrivoltic Learning Center and Jack's Solar Garden

What would you do if your farm was losing money year after year? Would you have the courage to bet your entire farm as collateral as you put well over a million dollars into building a solar farm? How would you utilize that solar farm to teach the public about the potential of agrivoltaics? Byron Kominek, of the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center and Jack's Solar Garden, joined Max Wade on The Goat Grazing Podcast, where he explained how he saved his family farm by using it as collateral to finance a solar array that now supplies power to more than 300 homes. With vegetation planted beneath the panels, the site has since become an agrivoltaic learning center open to the public. Find him @: Instagram: jackssolargarden Facebook: Jack's Solar Garden + Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center Website: https://www.jackssolargarden.com/ and https://www.coagrivoltaic.org/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Agrivoltaics and Jack's Solar Garden 09:28 The Journey to Solar Farming: A Personal Story 13:27 Understanding Microclimates and Their Benefits 18:09 Overcoming Resistance: The Challenges of Solar Adoption 24:05 The Role of Community and Education in Agrivoltaics 26:43 Diverse Agricultural Practices Under Solar Panels 30:18 Engaging the Community: Tours and Education 30:59 Best Practices for Solar Developers in Agriculture 34:10 Sustainable Solar Infrastructure 35:07 Challenges in Solar Development 37:52 The Solar Industry Landscape 38:42 Leasing vs. Building Solar Facilities 43:13 Misconceptions About Solar 46:48 Personal Insights and Benefits of Agrivoltaics 50:03 Future of Agrivoltaics 53:36 Urban Solar Opportunities

Rex Rutledge and Susan Elder - Restoration Grazing

Would your relationship survive the trials of starting a goat grazing operation? Could you run a grazing business without purchasing a single goat? How would you find government jobs over 100 miles away from your base of operations?  The power couple behind Restoration Grazing, Rex Rutledge, and Susan Elder, came on the podcast and talked about how they created a grazing company together despite not being married, revealed how they have a unique agreement with a goat producer that supplies them free of charge with over 400 goats that they use for grazing, and shared how they are able to locate potential government jobs using a bid aggregator. Where to find them? Instagram: Restorationgrazing Facebook: Restoration Grazing Website: RestorationgrazingLLC.com [http://RestorationgrazingLLC.com] Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Goat Grazing Podcast and Nofence ad 04:54 Meet the Rutledges: A Journey into Grazing 08:55 Starting Restoration Grazing: The Early Days 13:30 Transitioning to Full-Time Grazing 17:27 Growing the Herd: From 40 to 400 Goats 21:52 15 Innovative Grazing Models and Partnerships 26:40 Challenges in Goat Management 40:02 Navigating Government Contracts 48:44 Building Relationships in the Grazing Industry 59:12 Pricing Strategies for Grazing Services 01:13:42 Future Aspirations for Restoration Grazing

Rachel Abraham - Red Falcon Ranch

Have you heard of Angora Goats? How would you build a business around colored mohair? Is social media a good way to promote your business? Rachel Abraham, from Red Falcon Ranch and Shop Caprine, joined Max Wade to discuss how her and her family got into raising colored Angora goats to harvest their mohair, how they decided on making socks and throws, and how soical media has been pivotal in promoting their business. Find her @ Facebook - Red Falcon Ranch Substack - Red Falcon Ranch Instagram - Redfalconranch Instagram - Shopcaprine Email - Redfalconranch1@gmail.com Show notes: 05:16 Exploring the Angora Goat 09:04 The Unique Qualities of Mohair 14:54 The History of Angora Goats 18:36 Challenges in the Colored Mohair Market 22:00 Building Shop Caprine 28:32 Care and Management of Angora Goats 36:54 Targeted Grazing with Angora Goats 43:22 Authenticity Over Perfection 51:29 Understanding the Science of Soft Socks 55:05 Scaling Up: Challenges and Opportunities 1:02:46 Building a Sustainable Future for Angora Goats 1:08:21 Essential Tips for Aspiring Angora Goats 1:11:41 Connecting with Red Falcon Ranch

Nic Moss - Bunchgrass Grazing

What would you do if sheepherding a flock of sheep for a Diné family ignited a lifelong passion in you? Do you wish more people were in tune with where their food comes from and had the knowledge to process an animal themselves? In this episode, Nic Moss, with Bunchgrass Grazing, shares his journey from nomadic shepherd to general contractor, and back again to being a shepherd, but this time as a prescribed sheep and goat grazer with a passion for teaching others about the death and harvesting process. Listen in and learn how this G.O.A.T spends his days educating others and restoring the soil in Central California as a modern-day shepherd. Find him @ Website: https://www.bunchgrassgrazing.com/ Instagram: bunchgrass.grazing Facebook: Nicholas Moss Use Code MaxGraze10 at Nofence.com Show notes: Chapters 00:00 Nofence ad 04:56 Introduction to Targeted Grazing in California 08:24 The Journey of Bunch Grass Grazing 09:56The Growth of the Herd and Business Model 14:10 Understanding Grazing Dynamics and Soil Health 17:07 The Role of Weeds in Soil Health 23:21 Grazing contract 26:52 Contracting with livestock transportation 27:05 Future of Targeted Grazing 37:50 The transition from Contracting to Grazing 42:50 Core Tenants of a Grazing Business 44:04 Discovering a Passion for Soil and Nature 46:19 Innovative Uses for Wool and Fiber 51:48 Reconnecting with Meat Processing 57:17 Challenges of Livestock Management 57:41 The Emotional Toll of Ranching 01:00:41 Wild Encounters and Challenges in Grazing 01:03:30 Managing Toxic Plants in Grazing 01:06:13 Grazing in Vineyards: Strategies and Practices 01:10:02 Pricing and Negotiating Grazing Contracts 01:15:31 Advice for Aspiring Shepherds 01:19:16 The End