Regeneration Rising

In this episode, host Taylor Muglia sits down with Chris Zuehlsdorff, CEO of Iroquois Valley, to discuss how they're supporting the journey and future of regenerative agriculture. Chris shares his personal and professional background, highlighting his transition from a career in finance to helping farmers and ranchers access affordable mortgages and leases across the United States. The conversation delves into the importance of org...

In this podcast episode, host Taylor Muglia interviews Olivia Raine about her journey in the field of agriculture, specifically her work in targeted grazing with goats and sheep. Olivia shares her deep-rooted passion for animals and her environmental consciousness that led her to agriculture. She discusses her extensive background, from working on vegetable farms to managing livestock, and the challenges she faced. Through three it...

In this episode of Regeneration Rising, Taylor Muglia interviews Jarvisson King, owner and operator of Laughing Goat Gardens in Arizona. Jarvisson shares his journey and how he brings traditional Navajo farming and modern regenerative agriculture techniques together. He discusses the impact of his mother's teachings, coping with grief after her passing, and his shift towards utilizing wool pellets for soil health. The episode highl...

In this podcast episode, host Taylor Muglia interviews Emma Lietz-Bilecky about her journey into agriculture and her work with Colorado Land Link, a program aimed at helping farmers find land and improve land access in Colorado. Emma shares her background, growing up in Colorado with a family history in agriculture, and her eventual return to farming after college. She discusses the challenges of land access for young farmers, the ...

In this episode, host Taylor Muglia interviews New Agrarian Program alumni Henry Harrington and Lauren Lees about their diverse journeys into the agricultural world. Both came from non-agricultural backgrounds, but found a passion for ranching and regenerative agriculture. They share their experiences in the New Agrarian Program as well as their time post-apprenticeship in positions at Spikebox Ranch in Nebraska, Snaplands, and Rou...

After working on ranches in the Elk River Valley in northwest Colorado for a handful of years, Davey Baron had the jaw-dropping opportunity to start his own grazing and direct market beef business, and he pounced on it. In this episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia speaks with Davey about how he laid the groundwork for this opportunity to become Elk River Livestock, what life looks like in year two of running his own b...

In this conversation, host Taylor Muglia interviews Julie Sullivan, mentor training and support specialist (and program founder) here at Quivira Coalition's New Agrarian Program. Julie discusses the inspiration behind creating the program's first Manager Fellowship and how it aims to bridge the gap between apprenticeship and ranch management or entrepreneurship for the "not-so new agrarian." She walks through the requirements to ap...

Our guest this week is Diane Anastasio, program manager & shepherd at Shepherdess Land & Livestock in Ojai, California. Diane describes how, although not growing up in agriculture, their Austrian and Italian family heritage is expressed through their practice of shepherding today, and how other creative endeavors like weaving and dancing tie in as well. We also talk about Diane's early experiences in agriculture at shearing...

On this episode of Regeneration Rising, we sit down with Nicole Scott, farm director of livestock operation and farm outreach at The Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming in Cold Spring, New York. Nicole shares her story about getting started in agriculture and the different experiences that shaped her journey from apprentice to farm director. She describes what it was like to build confidence to do farm work after studying...

This week on Regeneration Rising, Taylor interviews Jordan and Toni Sarazen, owners and operators of Goat Bros LLC, a mobile goat grazing business near Denver, Colorado. We discuss the huge life transition Jordan and Toni made from being financial advisors to living in a 5th wheel trailer custom grazing a goat herd up and down the front range, all caused by an idea Jordan saw on a tv show! They share tips about sound financial mana...

On this episode, host Taylor Muglia speaks with Will Vogl, owner and operator of Vogl Homestead Farm near Black Forest, Colorado. Will discusses the difficulty of accessing affordable grazing land on the front range and the development pressure his county is facing. While this can be a setback for many graziers, Will has used it as an opportunity to work with landowners and graze sheep on smaller parcels that cattle ranchers wouldn...

In this episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia sits down with 2022 New Agrarian Program alumna Rachel Stoltzfus, who now works as a Herdsman at Herr Angus Farm in Nottingham, Pennsylvania. Rachel talks about lessons she took from her apprenticeship at Round River Resource Management, her process and decision to take a job at a cattle farm near her hometown, and learning curves she faces as she builds her career and life...

In this month's episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia speaks with Katie McInnes, Co-owner and Operator of The Dogs Run Farm near Clearwater, Manitoba, Canada. Katie talks about her journey from acting into farming and how community relationships and a bit of luck led her and her now husband Colin to securing land for farming. Katie also talks about what their farm looks like today, how they plan to grow, and how she in...

On this episode of Regeneration Rising, our guest is Terrance Boyd, owner of Wild Boyd Farm in Matheson, Colorado. Terrance talks about his deep interest in being an active agent in his own food production, his journey into homesteading, and how he has turned the homestead into a ranch business that serves a variety of meat sales channels due to high demand for locally-raised meat in the Denver area. Terrance also talks about the c...

In this episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia chats with New Agrarian Program mentor Louis Martin, owner of Round River Resource Management near Rush, Colorado. They talk about Louis' background in agriculture and education, and how he found opportunities to access land and capital even though agriculture skipped a generation in his family. Louis has mentored over 60 apprentices; he explains what makes a great apprenti...

In this episode, host Taylor Muglia sits down with current New Agrarian Program apprentices Ryan Koch and Samuel Moreno to talk about their experience in the past year. From applications and interviews to successes and struggles during the season to plans post-apprenticeship, this conversation has so many valuable lessons not only for future applicants, but anyone considering starting a career in agriculture.

Photo of Sam by Alexis...

In anticipation for the 2024 New Agrarian Program applications opening November 1st, we are spending some time today with mentor Layna Jansen, rancher and Beef Program Coordinator at the Home Ranch in Clark, Colorado. She shares details about her career path and what it takes to feel like you finally belong to a place after moving from Virginia to the Home Ranch as a young adult, and working her way up over almost 10 years. She sha...

In this episode, host Taylor Muglia dives into the details of a creative land access model with Poudre Valley Community Farms Executive Director Stacy Lishka and one of the program's lessees Evanne Caviness, who also happens to be the Western Organizing Manager for the National Young Farmers Coalition. The two guests talk about what can go right and wrong with cooperative land leasing, and share insights they've gained along the wa...