196. Regenerative Grazing and Direct Marketing Success with Leslie Svacina

196. Regenerative Grazing and Direct Marketing Success with Leslie Svacina

Author: Grazing Grass November 12, 2025 Duration: 1:24:29

Leslie returns to share what’s changed since her first appearance in Episode 28. She runs Cylon Rolling Acres in northwestern Wisconsin, where she grazes both goats and Texel sheep on pasture and markets meat directly to consumers through a thriving online business. This episode dives deep into her evolution from wholesale to a sustainable, subscription-based direct-to-consumer model — plus her approach to regenerative grazing with multi-species livestock.


Topics Covered

  • Managing a mixed flock of goats and Texel sheep under rotational grazing
  • Wool utilization and creative uses for lower-grade fleece
  • Transitioning from wholesale markets to direct-to-consumer meat sales
  • Building a loyal customer base through email marketing and education
  • Details of her goat meat subscription model (quarterly boxes, whole-goat option)
  • Processing and shipping logistics, including use of dry ice
  • Lessons from receiving USDA Value-Added Producer and Buy Local grants
  • Educational resources: Goat Meat Primer eBook, Grazing With Leslie blog, and online courses

 If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a small ruminant enterprise into a profitable, direct-to-consumer brand, Leslie’s model is a must-hear. She shares practical insight on managing inventory, shipping meat, marketing through education, and keeping customers subscribed.


Resources Mentioned

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

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey



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

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture
Grassroots Carbon

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
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