190. Balancing Grazing, Goats, and Generational Wealth with Dana Tinney Wilson

190. Balancing Grazing, Goats, and Generational Wealth with Dana Tinney Wilson

Author: Grazing Grass October 1, 2025 Duration: 1:26:50

Dana Tinney Wilson of Chantilly Ranch in Northern California returns to the Grazing Grass Podcast to share what’s new since her first appearance in episode 50. Dana and her husband Gary raise Boer goats, Highland cattle, and Dexter cattle, direct-marketing beef to their community while also using goats for fire abatement and neighborhood grazing services. She talks about adapting her grazing management, expanding into irrigation, and the role her children now play in the family operation. Dana also introduces the infinite banking concept, a financial strategy she has adopted for building resilience and long-term security for her family and ranch.


Topics covered in this episode:

  • Dana’s recent marriage and family involvement on the ranch
  • Raising Highland and Dexter cattle, including selling direct-to-consumer beef
  • The role of goats for meat, fire prevention, and community grazing contracts
  • Managing predator pressure and challenges with electric netting
  • Shifts in grazing strategy, including irrigation and rest periods
  • Building big-picture goals for profitability, regeneration, and legacy
  • Considering adding pigs to meet market demand
  • How her daughter’s horse training business fits into the ranch vision
  • A deep dive into infinite banking and how it can provide stability and intergenerational wealth

This episode is for graziers who want inspiration on building a profitable, regenerative, family-centered ranch while exploring creative ways to finance growth. Dana’s story blends practical grazing insights with long-term financial thinking that may spark new ideas for your own operation.


Resources mentioned in this episode:

  • Chantilly Ranch
  • Holistic Management by Allan Savory
  • Nelson Nash’s book on Infinite Banking

Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass?  Check out Grass Based Genetics

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture.

Grazing Grass Links
New Listener Resource Guide

Provide feedback for the podcast
Website
Insiders
Resources
Community (on Facebook)
Check out the Apiary Chronicles Podcast

Original Music by Louis Palfrey



Looking for grass-based breeders?
 Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory.

Upcoming Grazing Events

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture
Grassroots Carbon
Apr 22-24 3 Springs Utah

Grazing Grass Links
Website
Community (on Facebook)

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
Podcast Episodes
e139. From Homestead to Thriving Ranch with Eileen Napier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:20
Join us as we welcome Eileen Napier of Ramstead Ranch, who shares her remarkable journey from humble beginnings on a two-acre property in Washington to establishing a thriving 240-acre regenerative livestock operation. E…
e138. Innovative Paths in Regenerative Agriculture with Farmer Angus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:11
Join us as we explore the transformative journey of Angus McIntosh, a former London stockbroker turned regenerative agriculture practitioner in South Africa. Angus shares his compelling story of transitioning from the co…
e137. Grazing and Irrigated Pasture with Tyler and Justin Waddington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:24
Join us as we welcome Tyler and Justin to the Grazing Grass Podcast, where we explore the multi-generational farming legacy of their family in Yakima Valley, Washington. We kick off by discussing how their father began t…
e136. Creating Connections Through Ag Stories with Ashlynn Jones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:42
Join us as we welcome Ashlynn Jones from Southeast Iowa, who shares her inspiring journey into cattle farming. Starting with her early experiences in 4-H and showing cattle at national shows, Ashlynn gives us an inside l…
e135. Revitalizing the Land with South Poll Cattle with Dakota Blanks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:40
Join us as we explore the fascinating journey of Dakota Blanks, a farmer from Appomattox, Virginia, who transitioned from a tobacco family background to grass-based livestock production. Dakota shares his experiences wit…
e134. Starting at Ground Zero with Anthony Horvath [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:35
Join us as we welcome Anthony Horvath from Michigan to share his journey of starting and managing a small-scale farm while balancing full-time off-farm work. Anthony's story begins from ground zero, where he utilized eco…
e132. Quality of Life Matters with Bryan Phipps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:38
Join us for an insightful episode where we welcome Bryan from Brusett, Montana, who shares his compelling journey of taking over his family ranch at a young age after his father's passing. Bryan discusses the pivotal tra…