178. Grazing Lessons from the Ground Up with Marque Renshaw

178. Grazing Lessons from the Ground Up with Marque Renshaw

Author: Grazing Grass July 9, 2025 Duration: 1:32:13

In this episode of the Grazing Grass Podcast, we hear from Marque Renshaw of Peace in the Valley Farms in West Plains, Missouri. Marque shares her journey into rotational grazing and the lessons she and her husband Ryan have learned transitioning their operation to focus on sheep. From challenging beginnings—managing animals post-house fire and learning by doing with sale barn ewes—to building a resilient and thoughtful grazing system, Marque's story is both raw and inspiring. Her passion for helping others shines through, especially in her efforts to foster a positive online community and mentor other graziers.


Topics Covered

  • Transitioning from horses and cattle to a sheep-focused operation
  • Mistakes and hard lessons from buying sale barn sheep
  • Learning what true rotational grazing is (and what it isn’t)
  • How a house fire catalyzed a new farming chapter
  • The importance of fencing and learning to love hotwire
  • Finding and building a relationship with a sheep-savvy vet
  • Daily grazing rotations and pasture management
  • Building supportive and judgment-free communities for graziers
  • Educating oneself through podcasts, grazing schools, and mentorship
  • The role of women and generational legacy in agriculture

Why You Should Listen
If you're managing sheep or considering them for your operation, Marque's journey is full of relatable struggles, practical insights, and hard-earned wisdom. Her transparency about missteps and breakthroughs offers a refreshing and motivating perspective—especially if you're navigating your first years in regenerative grazing.


Resources Mentioned

  • Peace in the Valley Farms
  • Grazing Grass Community (Facebook)
  • Grazing Sheep podcast (with Tom and Cam)
  • Vet Caitlyn from Gainesville, Missouri

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey


There’s a quiet revolution happening in the fields and pastures, one that ties the health of the soil directly to the health of a farm’s bottom line. Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming is a part of that conversation, sitting down with the men and women who are putting regenerative principles into daily practice. Hosted by Grazing Grass, each episode feels like a candid chat across a fence line, moving beyond theory into the tangible details of managing livestock on grass. You’ll hear farmers recount their own journeys-what prompted their shift in thinking, the logistical hurdles of changing their operation, and the outcomes they’ve witnessed in their land and ledger books. A recurring segment called "Over Grazing" digs into the specific problems and hard-won lessons that come with this way of farming. This isn’t just a science or nature podcast; it’s a practical resource built on shared experience, aiming to strengthen a community where knowledge about profitable, grass-based systems is passed along openly. Tune in for honest stories that get to the root of what it means to work with the land.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming
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