193. Building Intentional Farms from Neglected Land with Stan Oller

193. Building Intentional Farms from Neglected Land with Stan Oller

Author: Grazing Grass October 22, 2025 Duration: 1:12:03

Stan and his wife began farming in 2021 after adopting four children and realizing they wanted to raise them with meaningful work and stewardship. Starting with neglected, junk-filled land, they’ve built a regenerative, multi-species farm from scratch—learning through Greg Judy, Joel Salatin, and hands-on mistakes.


Topics Covered

  • Moving from western Kansas to Arkansas and starting a farm from nothing
  • Adopting four children and using the farm as a teaching tool
  • Restoring neglected land and hauling off 340 tires
  • Early livestock: 11 heifers → sheep → pigs → broilers
  • Grant funding from Illinois River Watershed for water lines and fencing
  • Pivoting from South Poll beef to a sheep-focused enterprise
  • Leader-follower grazing with cattle and hair sheep
  • Using C-90 salt, garlic, and apple cider vinegar for mineral programs
  • Direct-marketing lamb, pork, and chicken through GrazeCart
  • Adding pigs to utilize 30 acres of woods and reduce ticks
  • Launching on-farm poultry processing (non-GMO, soy-free feed)
  • Stewardship mindset and educational outreach via Harvest Hosts & farm visits
  • Future plans: farrow-to-finish Hereford pigs, possible Dexter cows for raw milk, on-farm events, and intentional growth

Stan’s story is a realistic look at starting late, learning fast, and doing it intentionally. From adoption to regenerative restoration, he shows how faith, family, and stewardship intersect on a small Arkansas farm. Whether you’re reclaiming abused land or diversifying your livestock, his experience offers encouragement and practical takeaways.


Resources Mentioned

  • Intentional Farms
  • Greg Judy Grazing School
  • Joel Salatin videos
  • The Stockman Grass Farmer
  • GrazeCart e-commerce platform
  • Illinois River Watershed Alliance grants

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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

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