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

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
e149. Grazing, Growing, and Butchery with Jock Gibson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:27
Join us as we welcome Jock Gibson from Edinvale Farm in northern Scotland, who shares his inspiring journey into grass-fed beef farming amidst the region's challenging climate. Jock reflects on his unexpected return to t…
e148. Roots So Deep with Peter Byck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:44
Join us as we explore the fascinating world of regenerative farming with Peter Byck, the talented producer and director of the docuseries "Roots so Deep You Can See the Devil Down There." We chat about the inception and…
e147. Cattle on Small Acreage with Janelle Anderson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:58
What if small-scale farming could be both sustainable and profitable? Join us as Janelle Anderson from The Haven Farmstead in Southern Middle Tennessee shares her inspiring journey from Wisconsin to Tennessee's rolling l…
e145. Another Income Stream from Land Use with Nic De Castro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:30
Nic De Castro takes us on an extraordinary journey from his roots in Southern California to the vast landscapes of the Rocky Mountain West. As an avid hunter and fisherman, Nic turned his passion into a groundbreaking ve…
e143. Creating a Thriving Farm from Scratch with Cedric Shannon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:41
Unlock the secrets to regenerative farming success with Cedric Shannon from Weathertop Farm in Virginia. Listen as Cedric recounts transforming 54 acres of potential housing development land into a thriving regenerative…
e142. Prescribed Conservation Grazing with Jake Yancey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:04
Unlock the secrets of successful cattle farming in wet climates with Jake Yancey from the Tracking Y Ranch in Western Washington. Join us for an inspiring exploration of Jake's journey as a first-generation rancher, over…
e141. Rangeland Ecology with Blane Stacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:41
Join us for an enlightening discussion with Blane Stacy, a rangeland management specialist from Northeast Oklahoma, as we explore the intricacies of regenerative grazing and rangeland management. Blane shares his fascina…
e140. Confidence in Grass with Ted Miller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:26
Join us on the Grazing Grass Podcast as we explore the world of grass-based livestock production, featuring Ted Miller from Delta Dairy in Louisiana. Ted shares his fascinating journey of transitioning his dairy operatio…