Regeneration Rising

Episode 25 - Pork Rhyne on Profitable Farming Without the Hogwash

The New Agrarian Program's Taylor Muglia sits down with Pork Rhyne "The Pork Evangelist" to talk about his career path as a young farmer and transition into public speaking and consulting, as well as lessons he's learned from helping clients build profitable livestock enterprises. You can follow Pork Rhyne by visiting the youtube channel Agro Educators International, or visiting their website.

Photo Credit: Pork Rhyne

Episode 24 - Guest-Host Alumnus Graham Holtrop and His Mentor Jim Spinner Talk About Life as a Ranch Manager

New Agrarian Program (NAP) alumni Graham Holtrop guest-hosts this episode, interviewing his former mentor Jim Spinner (current NAP mentor at The Veebaray). Graham and Jim discuss what he loves about ranching, what it takes to be ranch manager, and advice for first generation ranchers who may pursue ranch management, as opposed to ownership. Jim talks about his challenges raising a family and navigating work/life balance. And if you needed any more evidence of how cool Jim really is, we also learn that he does indeed have a ski boat, he does indeed drive 3 hours each way to the nearest Montana lake, and he did indeed teach Graham how to knee board. Not sure knee boarding can go on the program skill checklist, but we'll accept it.

Find Jim on Instagram

Find Graham on LinkedIn

 

Episode 23: Hannah Breckbill on Creative Land Purchasing, Cooperative Business Models, and Building Queer Farmer Community

Hannah Breckbill, co-farmer at Humble Hands Harvest in Decorah, Iowa, felt a desire to own land originally because of a yearning to incorporate perennials into her vegetable and sheep operation. This can be a frustration for land renters who feel unsure of their longevity on a piece of land. In this episode, Hannah sits down with Taylor Muglia of the New Agrarian Program to talk about the process of working with a community-owned land-holding company that served as a "bank" to allow her to purchase land at a reasonable pace with no interest. Hannah also talks about weaving all owners and employees into the Humble Hands business model in a cooperative way, and how she has found a deeply meaningful community through creating the Queer Farmer Network.

Find Humble Hands Harvest on Instagram and Facebook.

 

Episode 22: Guest-Host Natalie Berkman and Fellow NAP Alumna Susan Elder Talk Life After Apprenticeship

New Agrarian Program (NAP) Alumna Natalie Berkman (Milton Ranch, 2020/2021) joined as a guest-host to interview Susan Elder (Charter Ranch, 2020/2021) for a conversation about their lives post-apprenticeship as managers of ranches in Montana and Kansas. The conversation highlights lessons learned from apprenticeship and challenges of the transition, with some good laughs sprinkled in about purple riding helmets and brie cheese.

Find Susan on Instagram @ferrellranch or @susandalt

 

Episode 21: Tony Vorster on Graduate School Options for Beginning Agrarians

Tony Vorster, Research Scientist at Colorado State University (CSU), Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory sits down with host Taylor Muglia to talk details of the new CSU Western Ranch Management and Ecosystem Stewardship Program and options beginning agrarians might have for further education. They discuss the Summer Field Course, the importance of learning alongside peers of diverse specialties, and how to think about the "flavors" of grad school to choose the right path for you.

Episode 20: Ryan White on the Complexities of New Agrarianism

In this conversation, New Agrarian Program's Taylor Muglia has a powerful conversation with Ryan White, CEO and Founder of SnapLands LLC. Ryan talks about his winding road into agriculture, which is rooted deeply in his appreciation for nature which he has carried since childhood. Ryan discusses difficult career decisions he's faced in the industry of regenerative land management, expands upon "earning his meal ticket", and shares a few impactful pieces of advice for folks entering an industry that struggles to provide work/life balance, financial stability, mental health support, and amenities available to our counterparts outside of agriculture.

Michelle Hughes on Becoming a Force for Change

Quivira Coalition's Taylor Muglia sits down with Michelle Hughes, the Operations and Impact Director at National Young Farmers Coalition. Michelle speaks about her background in farming and livestock production and how she transitioned to advocacy work, then became staff at NYFC. She talks about the challenges and successes of weaving racial equity into an agricultural organization, and how accountability must be a part of that system. Michelle also speaks about her experience on the Equity Commission at USDA and how each young farmer can find their voice.

Instagram @youngfarmers

 

Episode 18 - Akwese Majolie on Regenerative Food Systems in Cameroon

Quivira Coalition's New Agrarian Program Colorado Manager Taylor Muglia sits down with Akwese Mbendang Milene Majolie. Akwese was an intern this summer with Quivira's Carbon Ranch Initiative. Working remotely from Rwanda where she attended school at the African Leadership University Rwanda, she helped with biochar projects and educational guides, and expanded her knowledge of regenerative agriculture with Quivira staff located in New Mexico. Originally from Cameroon, Akwese is passionate about sharing regenerative techniques with smallholder farmers in her region and innovating ways to reduce post-harvest loss. In this episode, she shares her story and dreams for the future.

Find Akwese on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. And her project Chakula Poda on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Episode 17 - National Young Farmers Coalition Land Advocacy Fellows on Land Access for BIPOC and Beginning Agrarians

The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) Land Advocacy Fellowship is a two-year advocacy and leadership fellowship for current and aspiring young farmers and ranchers. In this episode, host Taylor Muglia sits down with Benú Amun-Ra, Tanisha Diggs, and Óscar Vital, three Fellows from right here in Colorado. They talk about their land access goals, how it can be even harder for BIPOC to access agricultural land, capital, and resources, and they share their policy suggestions for the 2023 Farm Bill as a part of the One Million Acres for the Future Campaign—an initiative to ensure that land is equitably transitioned to the next generation of farmers.

 

Instagram - @youngfarmers

Facebook

youngfarmers.org

Land Advocacy Fellowship

NYFC National Survey Report

One Million Acres for the Future Campaign

Episode 16 - Caroline Caldwell on Land Transition and Advice for the New Agrarian

Caroline Caldwell is a rancher, academic, traveller, Corgi-owner, and Quivira's very own Northern Plains Manager here at the New Agrarian Program. In this episode, we pick Caroline's brain about land transition and her work with American Farmland Trust, her perspective on how new agrarians can find success without inheriting land, and what qualities you can work on to become a great ranch manager.

Find Caroline on Instagram

Photo credits: Charles Sullivan, Ada Smith, Bart Morris