Aaron and Stephanie Moody are the passionate and dedicated couple behind Moody Family Farm in Bernardston, Massachusetts. Both working as full-time special education teachers, they have embarked on a fulfilling journey into agriculture, combining Aaron’s nostalgic ties to farming from his childhood and Stephanie’s newfound enthusiasm for New England farm life. Their venture, which began in 2014 with grazing cattle, has blossomed into a commitment to sustainable farming practices and community engagement, all while raising their two boys in an environment enriched by the values of hard work and self-sufficiency.
Topics covered in the podcast episode include:
- The Moody family's transition from city life to country farming.
- Challenges and successes in starting a farm on a budget.
- Transitioning to regenerative farming practices.
- Experiences with rotational grazing and meat processing.
- Opening a farm store and community engagement.
- Diverse livestock farming and the importance of USDA inspections.
- Expanding the livestock herd and exploring silvopasturing.
- Inspirations from resources like "Salad Bar Beef" by Joel Salatin.
- The balance of managing teaching careers with farm responsibilities.
- Lessons learned and aspirations for sustainable farming.
Listeners should tune into this episode to gain a heartfelt and insightful look into the world of small-scale, sustainable farming. The Moodys' journey offers practical wisdom and inspiration for aspiring farmers and those interested in agriculture. Through candid discussions on their successes and missteps, listeners can learn valuable lessons about community support, resource management, and the rewarding challenges of farming. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about self-sufficiency and regenerative agriculture, as it provides both a realistic portrayal and a hopeful vision of farming life.
Links Mentioned in the Episode
Moody Family Farm on Instagram
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Noble Research Institute
Grazing Grass Links
New Listener Resource Guide
Provide feedback for the podcast
Website
Insiders
Resources (Coming Soon)
Community (on Facebook)
Check out the Apiary Chronicles Podcast
Original Music by Louis Palfrey
Chapters
- (00:00) - Introduction to Moody Family Farm
- (00:34) - Fast Five Questions
- (01:14) - Grazing Grass Podcast Overview
- (01:54) - Noble Grazing Essentials Event
- (02:42) - Farm Updates and Tips
- (04:17) - Aaron and Stephanie's Farming Journey
- (04:54) - Backgrounds and Early Influences
- (06:04) - First Steps into Farming
- (07:16) - Teaching Careers and Farming
- (08:00) - Expanding the Farm
- (10:33) - Challenges and Learning Experiences
- (14:24) - Regenerative Practices and Community Support
- (26:29) - Marketing and Processing Challenges
- (27:08) - Future Plans and Family Involvement
- (30:30) - USDA Loan and Moving Challenges
- (31:59) - Winter Farming and Historical Insights
- (37:26) - Sweater Weather and Historic Homes
- (37:45) - Functional Traits for Your Cow Herd
- (38:50) - Renovating Abandoned Pastures
- (40:08) - Challenges and Successes in Pasture Restoration
- (43:40) - Expanding the Herd and Exploring New Species
- (47:22) - Building Community and Relationships
- (54:09) - Famous Four Questions
- (01:08:50) - Final Thoughts and Farewell
NOTE This file was generated by Descript
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Speaker: On today's show we have Aaron and Stephanie Moody of Moody Family Farm.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:11 We discuss their journey into agriculture, how they got started on a budget.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:16 They're both special education teachers, which teachers are always
00:00:16 --> 00:00:20 near and dear to my heart, and
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 we follow their journey getting started and now into their new place
00:00:24 --> 00:00:29 that they've recently purchased while working off the farm full time.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 I think it's a really good episode.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: So we'll get started with the fast
00:00:33 --> 00:00:34 five.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:35 What's your name?
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Aaron, Stephanie Moody.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:42 We are a Moody Family Farm in Bernardston, Massachusetts
00:00:42 --> 00:00:43 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: wonderful.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 And what year did y'all start Grazing Animals?
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: 2014.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: So just a little bit over that 10 year
00:00:51 --> 00:00:52 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yes.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:53 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:53 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 And what kinda livestock do you graze?
00:00:56 --> 00:00:56 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Cattle.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 We started with Holsteins on Stephanie's birthday.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes, there's, that's a birthday present.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:04 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yes, it was.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 I think I even said at some point, like she always swore she'd never
00:01:08 --> 00:01:12 live in New England and never own cattle or livestock of any sort.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:13 And here we are, here we're,
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 Cal: Welcome to the grazing grass podcast.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 The podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of grass-based
00:01:19 --> 00:01:23 livestock producers, exploring regenerative practices that improve
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 the land animals and our lives.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:30 I'm your host, Cal Hardage and each week we'll dive into the journeys,
00:01:30 --> 00:01:35 challenges, and successes of producers like you, learning from
00:01:35 --> 00:01:40 their experiences, and inspiring each other to grow, and graze better.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 Whether you're a seasoned grazier or just getting started.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46 This is the place for you.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:49 Speaker 3: Calling all livestock producers.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:53 Are you looking to improve your soil health and maximize forage use?
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 Register for the Noble Grazing Essentials in Huntsville, Texas
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 from March 25th through 27th.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 Noble Research Institute's three day course provides classroom
00:02:04 --> 00:02:08 and field training, led by knowledgeable facilitators
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 with real ranching experience.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 Learn to assess carrying capacity, implement adaptive grazing
00:02:13 --> 00:02:17 strategies, and develop effective pasture recovery techniques.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:22 You'll gain proven methods to maximize productivity while building soil
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 health and resilience, and leave with a customized grazing plan.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 and tools to immediately transform your ranch.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 Space is limited.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 Visit noble.org
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 today to learn more and enroll.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:41 Invest in your operation's future with Noble Grazing Essentials.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 Speaker 2: I don't really have anything for 10 seconds about the
00:02:45 --> 00:02:51 podcast today, but for 10 seconds about my farm, it is amazing how
00:02:51 --> 00:02:55 much the grass has jumped since just last week when we recorded this.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 I know some of you are still dealing with snow and you're not
00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 ready to start grazing, but those of us that's seeing some grass.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 some green tent out there.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:06 It is growing quick.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 One thing I encourage you to do that if you haven't done it, set up some
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 areas that animals don't have access to.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:21 Those 20 foot, 16 foot, 20 foot goat panels or 4x4 wire panels are great
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 to limit access to almost everything.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:26 Go set up a few.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:32 With the 16 foot or 20 foot, just make a circle, couple T posts, hold it in place,
00:03:32 --> 00:03:36 and do that in a couple spots and you can see how much growth you're getting.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 When your animals aren't grazing it down, it's a real eye opener to see how
00:03:42 --> 00:03:46 much is happening when you're not there, or when animals are not going there.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 Especially if you're not rotating your cattle.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 If you're listening, thinking, should I rotate them, should I not?
00:03:54 --> 00:04:00 Set you up a, an area with a panel, block that off so no animals can graze it.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:05 Let it grow and then move your cattle just a little bit and you'll
00:04:05 --> 00:04:09 be amazed at what you can see there and as you come back around.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:14 I encourage you to do that and with that let's get back to
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 talking to Aaron and Stephanie
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Well, that brings us to the question,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 did you all expect to be here?
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 And it sounds like Stephanie did not.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: no, I did not.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 I did not.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:32 But I have come to love it and appreciate it and what it's taught.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 Our boys, we have two boys.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 And it's Aaron's happy place.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:41 So seeing him live out that happiness is, is all you can ask for.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:43 So,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: I get that.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:51 I'm still trying to convince my wife to, to love it, but, but she, she's quite
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 happy with me getting out and doing
00:04:53 --> 00:04:53 it.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 So Aaron and Stephanie, did y'all grow up on farms?
00:04:58 --> 00:04:59 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Go ahead.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 Go for, I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 My father was an accountant for US Steel.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 My mom was a housewife.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 We visited farms.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:14 My father's father had orchards and, and horses, but nothing of great size.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 Yeah.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:21 And I my father is a truck driver and his father was a dairy farmer
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 turned auto dealership entrepreneur.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:30 But my uncle my father's brother did stay with dairy farming and, so I grew
00:05:30 --> 00:05:36 up visiting the farm and loving the, the animals the tractors, the open air.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 They have a farm.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 They're since retired, but they had a farm in Eastern New York.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 And I always remember the family dinners, Thanksgiving, you know,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48 Christmas and we'd always have to go there 'cause they could never leave.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 There was, there was
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: and my aunt and that was it.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 Yeah.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 So, yeah, so I didn't grow up on a farm, but I grew up with a
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 love of, of farming, basically
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: So those experiences got you there where
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 you're like, I wanna do this.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:08 How'd you, how'd you end up getting some, your first cattle?
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: a long story as they say.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 Growing up I you know, many interests as a child you know, don't wanna
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 go in the military police work.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 I went to the University of New Hampshire.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:23 My, my grandparents, the, the dairy farming grandparents, and as is
00:06:23 --> 00:06:27 typical and even my uncle, were very, oh, you don't wanna do this.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 Go out, get a degree, go do something else.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 Which is, you know, life is life.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:39 But it is one of those where, hmm, you know, my gut at the time was
00:06:39 --> 00:06:43 kind of saying, Hey, maybe you do want to stick closer to the land, or
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 even be a truck driver like your dad.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 But people wisely said, you know, you could go to college,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:54 you could do something different and less arduous in that way.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 So my grandmother particularly did encourage me to, to follow
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 through, to go to college to get a
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: I was the first in my immediate
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 family to get a degree at college.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 My aunt and uncle had who had the dairy farm.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:13 Ironically, but I did not end up doing that.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 I ended up becoming a teacher.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 And
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yes.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: and that's where I met Stephanie
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 in Northern Virginia suburban dc.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 I remember the job I had I loved most was Herndon High School
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 in Fairfax County, Virginia.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:31 And it was the furthest west then still to be in Fairfax.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 And there was actually a silo near the school,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:07:35 --> 00:07:39 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Virginia, total suburban mid nineties, Virginia.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:43 But there was this one random silo that was still left of what
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 had been the old farm country.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 And yeah.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 And that's where I met Stephanie.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: So you both were teachers?
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: we still are.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 So
00:07:52 --> 00:07:52 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: we, Aaron is middle and high school
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 right now, and I'm elementary.
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 We're both special education teachers.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:00 Mm-hmm.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:05 So the, the little cows that came on my birthday were affiliated
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 with a farm that we knew down.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:12 The street from where we lived in New Hampshire, and that's how they started.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 They came and they never left and mm-hmm.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:15 Others came.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:19 And before you knew it we had, we had quite a few.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:19 Mm-hmm.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:20 So,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: You know, it's kind of that chicken math,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 you know, get a, get a few hens.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 Right now they're laying gold,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:35 but you know, typically it's just eggs and you get a few, and then before long
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 you gotta get one that looks like this
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 and one that looks like
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Oh yeah.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:39 Oh, that
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: you've got way too many
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:45 I'm under a bit of pressure to get some Hyland cattle, however, similar to
00:08:45 --> 00:08:51 chicken eggs right now, the price ratio on Hyland cows for show, typically the
00:08:51 --> 00:08:56 minis does not, you gotta pull your weight around here a little bit, and
00:08:57 --> 00:09:02 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: my wife has expressed that she
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 wouldn't mind having a Hyland.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 So, so I get that.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:11 Erin I did talk to a gentleman actually yesterday who's got
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 a whole bunch of Highlands.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 Doesn't mean I can afford any of them, but He's, got a whole bunch.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 he's he's like, yeah, it's totally different than beef cattle.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:24 And he was talking from his childhood growing up on a, a ranch.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:28 He's like, these, I, I don't quite treat 'em the same way.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 A lot of them are pets.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:30 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Mm-hmm.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:38 We do have aspirations of a retail store, so there is some value in curb appeal, and
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: oh, there is,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: route, so if somebody drives by and
00:09:41 --> 00:09:45 sees a cute little highland cow, they might be more likely to stop by.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 I don't know.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 They would, I think.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 Okay.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: I, I think there's some aspects of that.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 That's
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 true.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:57 On that, I was talking to my dad ti that there's a couple yaks
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 for sale, a couple hours from me.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 They would be curb appeal, but you know,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Maybe in Oklahoma.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 I'm not sure about New England.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: they, they could handle your
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 weather better than they handle
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 Oklahoma weather, I'm sure.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: is true.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 I would be worried during hunting season.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 They might be in danger though.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 Yeah.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 Dad's like, and what would we do with them?
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 Well, I'm not sure, but they, they look kind of neat.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 Yeah.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 They're kind of like the highland, right.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 Long
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:27 Yeah.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 They're kinda like that.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 Yeah.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: bigger.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Okay.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: So when you first got those hostings or
00:10:36 --> 00:10:40 hosting, did you, was it just because you thought, oh, I want get
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 some cattle, I want to graze them?
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 Or did you buy 'em with the thought that.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 They could become beef for you.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:53 I, I knew enough about myself that I'm, I'm not a dairyman, I'm not good at.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:59 Like, to me it's even the, the cleanliness, the, the sterilization,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:03 like all that, gimme a tractor and some manure and a few fence posts.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 And I'm happy, but I would worry that I wouldn't.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:12 And all the, the, the mastitis and all the many things we had ended up back in,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:17 I grew up in, in this area and we ended up back here and I'd gotten involved in
00:11:17 --> 00:11:23 a, a local nonprofit named Stonewall Farm that was a nonprofit dairy farm education,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 agricultural education and event center.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:31 And yeah, and I really enjoyed serving on the board and getting to know
00:11:31 --> 00:11:35 the, the folks and the, the farmer and the herds woman and whatnot.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:39 And, and through that we actually became caretakers of a property
00:11:39 --> 00:11:44 that had some pasture land that had been basically abandoned from the,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 yes.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: farm.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 Stonewall Farm had been a dairy farm for.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 Decades.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:54 And then when the farmer wanted to retire, a local gentleman purchased the farm
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 from him and turned it into a nonprofit.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Fast forward, I'd come along and
00:12:00 --> 00:12:04 get involved on the board and learn about this property we could be
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 caretakers for and learned about.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:11 Oh, well, when they have bull calves, they either sell 'em for Reveal or somebody
00:12:11 --> 00:12:16 picks 'em up, and so it was kind of a synergy sort of thing of we happened to
00:12:16 --> 00:12:19 be on some property, it wasn't being used.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:23 We knew of these calves, we could get 'em for a hundred dollars a piece back
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 10 years ago.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 Nice.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 So,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yes.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yeah, not anymore, but yeah.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Right, the, the price of calves.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 Oh, man.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:37 But I, I love the idea, you know, those dairy bull
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 calves or dairy cross, a lot of times they're becoming cross now
00:12:40 --> 00:12:44 because they use that heifer semen and get heifers out what they want.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 Then they use a beef bull.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:51 But that's a nice economical way to get started,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Especially as a birthday present.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 It worked out well.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: especially as a birthday present.
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 Now, Aaron, were you able to get Stephanie to feed it and take
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 care of it, or do you have to do
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: I have video evidence, well,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, do you?
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 All right.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:11 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: God bless her, she, we were at the sink with the
00:13:11 --> 00:13:16 bottle, the calf starter and mixing it and hot water and bottles and nipples
00:13:16 --> 00:13:21 and going up and we were learning that you don't give them a pale too early.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 'cause then you just end up mixing more calf starter
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 because
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yes.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: it all goes everywhere.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yes.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 I certainly don't mind the babies when they get a little bigger.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 That's all Aaron.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:36 But the little ones I'm happy to help with, so,
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: that, that sounds very similar to my wife.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 She goes out and drives out there if I don't hit too many
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 bumps and looks at 'em and
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 she enjoys seeing them.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 But when I was buying some bottle calves, it's been years since I bought any
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 bottle calves, but she'd get out there and help me
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 get 'em started because getting bottle calves started, especially
00:13:55 --> 00:13:59 if you have too many, or not too many, but very many, it's a lot of
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 work.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 'cause you don't want 'em dumping buckets of milk replacer that stuff's like
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 gold
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Mm-hmm.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 Yes.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: and getting them going.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 Yeah.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:12 She, I'm sure if I asked her, I've gotten her into some messes
00:14:12 --> 00:14:15 that she's had to work with me on that she never anticipated.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Some similarities there.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 Yeah,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Most definitely.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: yeah.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:29 When you got those first animals, did you already, were you familiar
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 with regenerativity practices?
00:14:30 --> 00:14:33 Was that something you learned about a little bit later?
00:14:33 --> 00:14:38 What was kind of your plan and, and I'm the world's worst about this.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 I may bring something home and not have everything set up and
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: What now?
00:14:43 --> 00:14:46 By the book, we got notebooks and paper and.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, oh, yeah.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 I, I figured
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 so I thought for sure, Aaron.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Murphy's Law definitely lives on every farm.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yes.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: If it can go wrong.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 If it can get caught.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 Yeah.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 No.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:07 When we moved back to, to Keen area and I, I, I didn't know what
00:15:07 --> 00:15:11 I wanted to do quite, you know, for that, this next chapter.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:16 We both had teaching jobs, but I a local person that guided me to the board of the
00:15:16 --> 00:15:21 Stonewall Farm, and they were, they were getting into rotational grazing and fast
00:15:21 --> 00:15:27 forwards a little bit to the, the book for the is it what the, not the fast four, the
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: The
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 famous
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: four?
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 yes, yes, yes.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 That name is so famous.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 I'm, I'm shocked you got it wrong, but go ahead.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Salad bar, beef salad, bar beef,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: yes.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 yes.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:41 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: So I, I was at a board meeting and I looked
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 on a shelf and I saw this book and I.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 Kind of took it home, don't tell them and read it.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 And this was back in 20 13, 20 14.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 I'd been interested in beef.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:58 I had in the mid two thousands called up my uncle, the dairy farmer at
00:15:58 --> 00:16:02 the end of his career and said, Hey, maybe you would want to do some beef.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 yes.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: many conventional dairy farmers,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 literally like, I'm too old.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:11 I'm to, to learn something new, to teach something new.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:16 And and I wasn't always, you know, I may have been known to have similar
00:16:16 --> 00:16:20 to the calves on her birthday, have an idea, and then not always so
00:16:20 --> 00:16:25 understandably he was reluctant at that time to change his whole operation at
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: of life.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:31 And so the idea had festered in the back of my head and we kind of
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 followed our, you know, internal compass and ended up in, I.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:40 A rural setting and then ended up at this property and then found this book.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:45 And the, the, the farmer there, Glen and the Herds woman, Wendy, were wonderful.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:49 And, and the property I lived on, they were grazing on already
00:16:49 --> 00:16:52 more kind of a conventional, the summer heifers would come up
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: they'd come check on 'em and check
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 the fencing and stuff like that.
00:16:57 --> 00:17:00 When I got 'em, and of course, you know, we thought, oh, we're gonna
00:17:00 --> 00:17:03 do this with gusto, and ran out and bought a lot of wire and a lot of
00:17:03 --> 00:17:07 fiberglass fencing and, and then I thought, well, I don't wanna put 'em up.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 I don't wanna move them all the time, the fences.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:13 So I'll put up like semi-permanent fencing within the
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yes.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:17 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: and then realize that that's not really good.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:24 Rotational crazing since coiled it all back up and pulled the post out of the
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 ground and all that fun kind of stuff.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 But yeah, so I.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 Like you said, I had an idea.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:33 You know, sometimes you gotta get the cows and flow with it.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:36 And we have a great vet locally who actually, even though we've moved,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 we'll, we're still using the same vet.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42 So we had the structure, the community structure to help.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 yes.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 That support system in
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 place.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 Yeah.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:51 And I think I failed to ask you, where's your farm located earlier?
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Beton, Massachusetts, which is
00:17:53 --> 00:17:57 right on the corner of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Mass.
00:17:57 --> 00:18:01 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Well, we are so glad you're in Massachusetts.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 I have a little bit of trouble saying that.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 I'm sure it's a oaky thing.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:10 Because I, I've gotta double check, but I'm pretty sure you're our first grazier
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 from there.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 Yeah.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 Congratulations.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: that honor.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:19 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: So I, I think you point to a, a problem.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:25 I know I have whenever I start to do something new, I go out and
00:18:25 --> 00:18:29 buy all this stuff and then later I learn maybe I didn't need it
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32 all, or maybe I should have done this differently.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:38 It's, it's really tough, but of course, you, you've got a plan in place and you're
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 not gonna make any progress without a
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 plan.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 So get that plan.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:46 If you need to get some tools to do it so you can implement it, that's wonderful and
00:18:46 --> 00:18:49 chances are you'll figure out a better way
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 later.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 But that's okay.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 Getting started is the important
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 part.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:56 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Well, and I think that's part of what's nice
00:18:56 --> 00:19:05 about our story is we're teachers who love animals and like to be outside and you
00:19:05 --> 00:19:09 kind of take a leap of faith and with the support of the community and a husband
00:19:09 --> 00:19:14 who's very good with business plans and finances and those types of things, you.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:19 You take the leap and I feel good in Barnton.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:23 It's a very nice community, very welcoming, very farm
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, very good.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: So we're hoping to open our little farm store
00:19:26 --> 00:19:33 and sell our very well raised loved beef and work with different farmers
00:19:33 --> 00:19:37 around and spread the, the goodness.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:42 So I think that, you know, we're not coming into this full of every
00:19:42 --> 00:19:46 bit of knowledge, but we're, we're figuring out as we go and mm-hmm.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:50 I have faith in Erin and I think we'll be, we'll be just fine.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:53 But it is, it is quite the leap of faith as I guess it is with
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 every farmer leap of faith.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:58 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Well, I think just, just jump back and think about
00:19:58 --> 00:20:03 your education and you got your education degree and you decide to become a teacher.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:08 They, they teach you a lot in college to be a teacher, but it's
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 very different when you're in the
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Mm-hmm.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:14 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: and there's lots of things you gotta learn and get.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:17 So, so you're never gonna know everything you need to know.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:20 You just gotta get out there and get started if that's something you want to
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 do.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Mm-hmm.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 Yes.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 Great point.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:27 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: So have y'all always stuck with the hostings since?
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: No,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:34 you'll notice a theme here, Holsteins.
00:20:34 --> 00:20:38 And then we were obviously in New England and it's cold.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:41 And we weren't, we're not stanchion farmers, we weren't
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 interested in containment.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:48 We wanted them to be as open and live as natural, their best life, so to speak.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:53 And I think we did the two Holsteins, the initials, we made that mistake
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 of naming them Wendell and Norman.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:59 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: somebody said that we should have named sirloin and
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Tenderloin or.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:06 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Actually, I, I hate to interrupt y'all's story, but it
00:21:06 --> 00:21:13 reminds me, so we, as a kid, we always had a steer up for feeding and we'd feed
00:21:13 --> 00:21:21 it, well, we always named it bull and I, I don't know why, because as you all know,
00:21:21 --> 00:21:25 if we're feeding it out, probably that's not a true, accurate representation of the
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 calf.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 It was a steer.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:32 But that's what we, we named, I, I get 'em where I could ride them,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:35 but I, I knew, I knew what their purpose
00:21:35 --> 00:21:41 was and we gave them a name of bull and I, I just it just kind of cracks me
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 up.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 But go ahead, Sirloin would've been a great
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: and tenderloin.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 Yeah.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:50 And we saw, we, we, we and on the piggyback of Stonewall Farm, you know,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 they, they, they did the same thing.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:56 They would keep a bull or they're cull cows they would take to a local processor.
00:21:56 --> 00:22:00 And so they took mine with them when it was time to go and.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:04 But then when the next time around a local neighbor was raising belted galloways
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:08 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: and kind of almost that highland ish, sort
00:22:08 --> 00:22:15 of very curly, hairy well mannered for the winter very sturdy a good ratio.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:18 Like the Holsteins are great, like they're big, but they're very bony,
00:22:19 --> 00:22:22 whereas the, the galloways are a little more stout and a little more
00:22:22 --> 00:22:25 muscle per, you know, for their frame.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 So we did those for a number of years mm-hmm.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 With a local farmer.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:35 And I had a friend who came in where there's a, a Dutch belted dairy
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:39 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: and he got a heifer from them
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 and he cross breeded with Angus.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:46 So we had a couple of Angus and our younger son did the four H thing
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 and showing the cows at the fair.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:52 And ours were always so small 'cause they were grass fed and just kind of natural.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 We weren't trying to amp 'em up with anything,
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Right, right,
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: so it was always showmanship.
00:22:57 --> 00:23:01 We were focused on not necessarily the size of our animals.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: right.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:06 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yeah, so we did the Angus we did some Hereford
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 or yeah, then we moved to Herefords.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:11 The last cows we did in Keene, the last cow actually was a
00:23:11 --> 00:23:14 Hereford bull who loved to wander.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 And we'd find 'em in the neighbor's orchard and
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: the young lady there would be giving
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 'em some water and some apples.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:23 And we kindly say, please don't be kind to the bull.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: right.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 We, we do not want this to be
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yes.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 And he did.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 He ended up twice.
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 He got out through a,
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:34 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: his way down there and, but yeah,
00:23:34 --> 00:23:37 so we've done a lot of different a number of different breeds over
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:45 Did you or all those different animals coming through, have they all been
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 processed and you sell the beef locally?
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Mm-hmm.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 Yep.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:51 Yeah, we had a horrific experience where we went on vacation
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 and our freezer had died,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh no.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: back and had to take a whole
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 freezer full to the dump.
00:23:59 --> 00:24:02 Which, talking about your learning experiences in your
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 And that's one that
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yes, it did.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 Yes.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:10 And then the first time we, the, the Holsteins, when we sent them
00:24:10 --> 00:24:14 to the butcher with Stonewall Farm, they keep their, they kept their
00:24:14 --> 00:24:19 meat internally, so the, all the labels were stamped, not for sale.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 And
00:24:20 --> 00:24:24 of course, I'm all excited and I'm posting on Facebook and a friend of a, a picture
00:24:24 --> 00:24:28 of the freezer and a friend of mine types in, in the comment section excuse me.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 They seem to say not for sale.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 Another learning lesson.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 Yes.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: R Right.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 R
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Which yeah, to most people wouldn't
00:24:36 --> 00:24:40 matter, but you don't necessarily want people exposed talking about the
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 fact that they're stamped that way.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: right.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 It it's on there, but you don't have to
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 comment and point it out to everyone.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 Yeah.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 Right, right.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:57 So when you all process for, in Oklahoma, when we process meat, we
00:24:57 --> 00:25:01 have to have A-U-S-D-A inspector
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 there for us to sell it from
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 the farm.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 Is that the same case for you
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 Yeah.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 And that's, that's quite an issue, especially locally.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 Probably an hour.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:15 There's maybe four processors that we could use, but
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 they're all easy an hour away.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 People have said, why don't you build a processing plan?
00:25:20 --> 00:25:23 Like, well, that's not my interest at all, but there's a definite
00:25:23 --> 00:25:26 need because of that regulation.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 It's slightly different with chickens.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:31 Turkeys, there's a little more leeway sometimes for birds.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 But Cows yeah.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:38 To sell it publicly other than family yeah, you do have to do that.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 USDA processing.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: And, and that's kind of an issue we have in my area.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:46 We've got some pro, well there's a processor 10 minutes
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 away from me, but he's not USDA inspected.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:54 Up until six months ago, that was a little over an hour for me to get
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 to a U-S-D-A inspected one.
00:25:55 --> 00:26:00 However, there's a new place opened 30 minutes for me, 25 minutes,
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 and I'm excited to try them.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:06 And actually I know the girl that's managing it, so I know it'll
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 be great.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 So I'm pretty excited about
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 that.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: it's a job I wouldn't wanna do,
00:26:11 --> 00:26:15 and I definitely have a lot of appreciation for the people who do.
00:26:15 --> 00:26:18 And there can be some turnover sometimes, and you go back
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 and it's different people or
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: you're scheduling with.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 Oh yeah.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:25 You gotta kind of reintroduce yourself and especially if you want any
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 different cuts or things like that.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 But yeah, that's a tough job.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:32 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: How has the marketing of beef been for you all?
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 I,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:38 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Well, I know, well, up until now,
00:26:38 --> 00:26:40 it's been friends and family and
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: oh yeah,
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Now we're, we're going into yet another kind
00:26:44 --> 00:26:49 of unknown venture with a farm store and hoping to get into the community and
00:26:49 --> 00:26:54 meet more people that way and be able to reach out through maybe a, a larger
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 venue than just friends and family.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 Mm-hmm.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:26:58 --> 00:27:03 But friends and family and that word of mouth is a great way to build and get
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 started.
00:27:04 --> 00:27:07 And now with the store, how's that gonna work with you all teaching?
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Well, I think the nice thing about farm
00:27:11 --> 00:27:15 stores, we're gonna try to do the honor system for a good bit of it.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:20 And the luxury of being a teacher is you do have those summer months
00:27:20 --> 00:27:27 of therapy and calming that we all need as teachers, but we'll be in the farm store
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 and it'll be the perfect season for us.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 So it's good timing.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 Mm-hmm.
00:27:33 --> 00:27:38 And a part of our story a bit is that sandwich generation in that part of
00:27:38 --> 00:27:44 what led us to this farm in Bernardin was last winter spring we started
00:27:44 --> 00:27:47 looking for a home that we could live in with my mother and her husband, my
00:27:47 --> 00:27:52 stepdad, and do that kind, you know, be there to take care of them as they get
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: oh yeah.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: And with the real estate price.
00:27:57 --> 00:28:00 And this is another experience where through my work with Stonewall Farm,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:04 I was familiar with the USDA and farm loans and things like that.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:08 'cause when we looked around, you could buy a farm literally cheaper
00:28:08 --> 00:28:10 than some of these nice houses.
00:28:10 --> 00:28:12 These a decent house.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 yeah.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: if it's the same out there, but definitely
00:28:14 --> 00:28:19 up around here, houses like they're doubling in two to three, four years.
00:28:21 --> 00:28:24 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Completely off topic for the grazing grass, but
00:28:24 --> 00:28:29 just the, so I, I live just north of a small town and when I say a small
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 town, about population, about 1800.
00:28:32 --> 00:28:37 So, there are a number of houses for sale that they, they've just built.
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 I just, and the reason this is front of my
00:28:39 --> 00:28:42 brain someone just posted a house for
00:28:42 --> 00:28:46 sale there and just the price, I'm like, that is a hefty
00:28:46 --> 00:28:49 price for Chelsea, Oklahoma.
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 And I
00:28:50 --> 00:28:53 know there's people that can afford it, but there's a lot of people that
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 can't.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:57 And then I got to thinking, you know, as I think about and look around
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 at the houses that's available.
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 A lot of them are on that high
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 end of the price for our
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 area right there.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:09 So, that's interesting when you think about people who, the
00:29:09 --> 00:29:12 affordability of living places.
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 So
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: right.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: yeah.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:18 Won't chase chase that tangent anymore because we'd have to expand the
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 length of this podcast if we did that.
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: So the, yeah, so we kind of pooled our
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 resources with my mother and her.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:30 They were ready to sell their home, and it was a, you know, a catch 22
00:29:30 --> 00:29:35 or double-edged sword in that they were able to sell their house at a
00:29:35 --> 00:29:39 significant profit, which then we could pool some of that into buying the
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:43 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: And so that's a long way to say they'll also be
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 here and you know, and they're retired.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:50 So, my mother loves to get out there with the cows and check on things and make
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 sure everything's the way it should be.
00:29:52 --> 00:29:56 So we have some confidence there too, that it's not just us.
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:29:57 --> 00:30:00 That, that really assists you in, in doing
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 that.
00:30:00 --> 00:30:05 Of course, working in education, the hours are such that a lot of times it works
00:30:05 --> 00:30:08 really nice to, for your farm.
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 You know, I worked in education for a long
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 time and I loved having my
00:30:12 --> 00:30:16 summers off because I could get, well, my dad loved it more than me
00:30:16 --> 00:30:20 because he had a whole list of things he thought I should be doing that,
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yes.
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: I tried to do other stuff and
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 that
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yeah.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 Fit it in.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 Our children can relate.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 Mm-hmm.
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yeah.
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Oh, there's always a list.
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 Yes, always.
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:34 So did you all end up getting A-U-S-D-A loan to, to purchase the
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: We did.
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 We did.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:37 And we had to there's always complications.
00:30:37 --> 00:30:42 We had to do a separate, so a local community development corporation
00:30:42 --> 00:30:48 helped as well as USDA because solar power is getting big around here.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:55 And agro voltaic where they're like seven to 10 feet high and they rotate.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 And then you
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, okay.
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: farm ' em underneath them.
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 You can graze, you can hay,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 you can grow vegetables.
00:31:01 --> 00:31:05 But the USDA didn't want to be involved with that part of it because
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 they have a lease on the land.
00:31:07 --> 00:31:10 So we ended up having to split it, which just some of the
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 complications when you do,
00:31:12 --> 00:31:14 here we are, Hey, we wanna farm.
00:31:14 --> 00:31:19 Well, okay, but we won't do this and you gotta do that and you have to do that.
00:31:19 --> 00:31:23 And I had a saying this whole process ended around Thanksgiving was when
00:31:23 --> 00:31:27 we closed and I'm working really hard so I can work really hard.
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Right?
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 Yeah.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:32 Now, how long did that process take?
00:31:33 --> 00:31:35 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: It was Mother's Day that the sellers
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 accepted our letter of intent.
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 Mm-hmm.
00:31:38 --> 00:31:41 And it was Thanksgiving that we closed with the attorney
00:31:41 --> 00:31:43 the day before Thanksgiving.
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 Mm-hmm.
00:31:44 --> 00:31:48 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: You know, those USDA loans are really
00:31:48 --> 00:31:50 nice, but they have a very long
00:31:50 --> 00:31:54 timetable to, to get through all the hoops and get everything done.
00:31:55 --> 00:31:57 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Well, and as a result, we moved in
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 in the middle of winter, which for.
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh,
00:32:00 --> 00:32:04 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: For poor Aaron, you know, in a, in a herd of cows
00:32:04 --> 00:32:08 right now that are inside, you know, inside and get outside a little bit.
00:32:08 --> 00:32:12 But then it's, we've had a very cold, snowy winter here, more
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 traditional New England winter.
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 Mm-hmm.
00:32:14 --> 00:32:17 But unfortunately, of course it was the year we we got here, so
00:32:17 --> 00:32:20 that was another hurdle of sorts.
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 Mm-hmm.
00:32:21 --> 00:32:25 For, for Aaron, the, who starts a beef ranch in the middle
00:32:25 --> 00:32:27 of winter, an old dairy farm.
00:32:28 --> 00:32:33 So it's, we do, we do this guy, this woman, yeah.
00:32:33 --> 00:32:37 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: you know, it's kind of like planting a tree.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 What do they say?
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 The best time plant a tree is 20
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 years
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 ago.
00:32:40 --> 00:32:42 The, the second best time today.
00:32:43 --> 00:32:45 So maybe it wasn't ideal.
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 But it was still the best
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 time.
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yes.
00:32:47 --> 00:32:49 I figure it can't get much harder.
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 Hopefully So.
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 Yeah.
00:32:52 --> 00:32:57 So how much longer before you all start seeing some grass out
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 there that you can start grazing?
00:32:59 --> 00:33:01 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: There's a good foot.
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 I'm looking out the window.
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 Window now.
00:33:02 --> 00:33:05 We still got about eight to 12 inches of snow,
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 Yeah.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:09 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: it'll be and this has been, what's it, March?
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 Yeah, probably April.
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 April.
00:33:12 --> 00:33:15 If it warms up just a little bit, that would be really helpful.
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 Mm-hmm.
00:33:16 --> 00:33:19 But yeah, definitely an at least another month I would say.
00:33:19 --> 00:33:22 Yeah, before green grass of, of green grass and then mud.
00:33:23 --> 00:33:25 You got mud season along with all that.
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 Yeah.
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 We're, we're kind of in that mud
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 season right now.
00:33:28 --> 00:33:30 We've had a little bit of snow.
00:33:30 --> 00:33:32 It's, it's really nice out right
00:33:32 --> 00:33:35 now, but it's, it's, it's
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 muddy.
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yeah.
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:33:37 --> 00:33:42 But, but for me, I can start seeing that green tint out there and
00:33:42 --> 00:33:45 just know it's going to be soon.
00:33:45 --> 00:33:50 Now, I, I have to be fully honest, it won't be as soon as I want it to
00:33:50 --> 00:33:52 be, but it's on the way.
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: signs of Hope.
00:33:54 --> 00:33:58 I was out earlier getting ready for a wood pile because we bought the
00:33:58 --> 00:34:02 house and then we realized one part portion where my folks live is heated
00:34:02 --> 00:34:04 with electric, just electric heat.
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 Which isn't ideal.
00:34:06 --> 00:34:11 So we bought a wood insert and now typical again of farming, just as soon as you
00:34:11 --> 00:34:13 get it is when you don't need it anymore.
00:34:13 --> 00:34:17 So we'll get the wood set up, we'll get the wood pile, and then it'll
00:34:17 --> 00:34:19 be May, and then it'll be beautiful.
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 Yeah,
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: But, but Aaron, you'll be ready for
00:34:21 --> 00:34:23 next year, so it'll be great.
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: hope.
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 That's right.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah, yeah.
00:34:26 --> 00:34:29 Now, how are your pastures looking?
00:34:29 --> 00:34:33 There are, are they ready for animals or are you gonna have to do some stuff?
00:34:34 --> 00:34:37 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: We we, the, the blessing, like the why is I
00:34:37 --> 00:34:42 with my family is that we're down on the road, a state route, but then you go up
00:34:42 --> 00:34:45 a hill and there's a 70 acre pasture.
00:34:45 --> 00:34:49 That's been maintained by the, a neighboring dairy farm for
00:34:49 --> 00:34:52 the last 60 years or so when they close the dairy here.
00:34:53 --> 00:34:58 So it's four strand barbed wire humongous hillside just goes and goes and goes.
00:34:59 --> 00:35:02 And getting from getting the cows from the dairy barn here down at the
00:35:02 --> 00:35:04 bottom of the hill up to the top.
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 Yeah.
00:35:04 --> 00:35:08 We'll take some restructuring, but, you know, as, as a teacher, I love history and
00:35:08 --> 00:35:14 I did get some chances in the fall before the snow to see just, you know, when you
00:35:14 --> 00:35:20 buy a part of the, the houses from 1790, so they've been farming here since then.
00:35:20 --> 00:35:23 And you see just the layers of history.
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 Oh, here's some fencing.
00:35:24 --> 00:35:27 Oh, here's an old concrete, well, oh, here's a dam you
00:35:27 --> 00:35:29 probably could never build today.
00:35:29 --> 00:35:34 But they were able to dam the creek with concrete and make a catch basin in.
00:35:34 --> 00:35:39 And so there is, I, I love restoring or bringing things back or hopefully
00:35:39 --> 00:35:41 making them a little better.
00:35:41 --> 00:35:45 We both do, that's kind of part of that teaching connection of just taking
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 things and trying to make 'em better.
00:35:47 --> 00:35:52 So there's infrastructure and need of updating, but there's old fence lines in
00:35:52 --> 00:35:55 the woods and you can see where they go.
00:35:55 --> 00:35:58 And there's old roads that have kind of grown in a little bit, but you
00:35:58 --> 00:36:04 see how over the last, you know, 150 almost, whatever, I can't do math.
00:36:04 --> 00:36:10 200, 200 plus years, you know, you're trotting where other farmers have walked
00:36:11 --> 00:36:11 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: their animals.
00:36:12 --> 00:36:15 So there's some work to be done, but there's, there's a lot of pluses too.
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah, yeah.
00:36:17 --> 00:36:19 Tell me when the house was built
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: 1790.
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 Mm-hmm.
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 wow.
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 The,
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yeah, go ahead.
00:36:23 --> 00:36:26 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: that's just amazing for me because we
00:36:26 --> 00:36:31 see old houses here in Oklahoma and they're like, after 1900,
00:36:31 --> 00:36:34 1910, 1920.
00:36:34 --> 00:36:39 Could be 1905, but, but we don't have that deep history
00:36:39 --> 00:36:41 like you all do in New England.
00:36:41 --> 00:36:46 Of course, Oklahoma became a state in 1907, and then you had the land runs
00:36:46 --> 00:36:49 in the late 18 hundreds, 1890, somewhere in there.
00:36:50 --> 00:36:54 So it wasn't really populated and.
00:36:55 --> 00:36:58 With farms and stuff like, like you all have that
00:36:58 --> 00:36:59 history.
00:36:59 --> 00:37:03 I think that is so cool to have a house that old and there's gonna
00:37:03 --> 00:37:06 be problems, but it's really cool.
00:37:06 --> 00:37:09 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: that's, so this house is heated by oil and it's,
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yes.
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: so I can't even do like a wood
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 boiler or anything because.
00:37:14 --> 00:37:18 Some point along, they put in a, an oil boiler and forced air, which
00:37:18 --> 00:37:23 will be great in the summer for ac, but it's not great in one of the
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 colder winters we've had recently
00:37:25 --> 00:37:25 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 yes.
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 Yeah, yeah.
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Well, there's been a lot of
00:37:28 --> 00:37:32 sweater, weather, sweater, weather and sweater wearing and bundling.
00:37:32 --> 00:37:38 But it, the house is beautiful and it's nice to be in that
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 piece of history, like you said.
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: cherry on top of it all.
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 Yes.
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:37:45 --> 00:37:48 Speaker: Are you looking to add functional traits to your cow herd?
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00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 Visitors are always welcome.
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00:38:28 --> 00:38:31 every third Friday of March.
00:38:31 --> 00:38:36 Please accept this as your invitation to visit about anything genetics,
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00:38:50 --> 00:38:53 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Let, let's talk a little bit more about our overgrazing
00:38:53 --> 00:38:54 topic for today.
00:38:54 --> 00:38:57 And that's renovating, renovating.
00:38:57 --> 00:38:59 Restoring abandoned
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 pastures.
00:39:01 --> 00:39:06 So did you get some of that experience at your old farm, having to take some land
00:39:06 --> 00:39:08 that hadn't been used and to get it ready?
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah, yeah.
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 Yep, definitely.
00:39:10 --> 00:39:14 And, and even my uncle's farm he was there 40 years and growing up I would
00:39:14 --> 00:39:16 help with removing fence rows or mowing.
00:39:17 --> 00:39:22 There's a story of how I was always dying to get to the farm and dying to help out.
00:39:23 --> 00:39:26 And they, they had a similar role where my grandmother lived there.
00:39:26 --> 00:39:30 She built a little add-on to their farmhouse as she, after my grandfather
00:39:30 --> 00:39:34 passed away, so she was there, my aunt and uncle, and finally they said,
00:39:34 --> 00:39:36 okay, you can go mow this pasture.
00:39:36 --> 00:39:41 So I jump in the 1970 Oliver 1650 with my bush hog, and I'm
00:39:41 --> 00:39:42 tearing through this pasture.
00:39:43 --> 00:39:47 And then I go down and I turn around and come back, and my grandmother's running
00:39:47 --> 00:39:49 through the field with a bucket of water.
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 And a phone
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: oh, no.
00:39:51 --> 00:39:53 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: because the old tractor had sent
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 sparks through the muff fire
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 no.
00:39:57 --> 00:39:58 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: and it started a little brush
00:39:58 --> 00:40:04 fire and this old dry grass that we'd had that I was asked to mow.
00:40:04 --> 00:40:07 So, fortunately every we got it, it was tamped out
00:40:07 --> 00:40:08 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, well, good.
00:40:08 --> 00:40:11 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: But I've had a varied history
00:40:11 --> 00:40:14 of helping restore old pasture.
00:40:15 --> 00:40:18 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: I was afraid you were gonna say, you, you, your
00:40:18 --> 00:40:20 brush hog found one of those old fences.
00:40:20 --> 00:40:21 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: no, no, no, no.
00:40:22 --> 00:40:25 I did end up leaving the tractor stuck that time though, because I
00:40:25 --> 00:40:28 got caught in a rut and I had to come back to Virginia at the time.
00:40:28 --> 00:40:28 So
00:40:29 --> 00:40:29 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh,
00:40:29 --> 00:40:29 yes.
00:40:30 --> 00:40:30 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: about it.
00:40:30 --> 00:40:33 Just leave, just leave, just go.
00:40:34 --> 00:40:34 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: right?
00:40:34 --> 00:40:37 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: And in full circle this past winter, I went
00:40:37 --> 00:40:41 back to that farm and took some of those locust posts that I had dug out.
00:40:42 --> 00:40:45 Early nineties and helping 'em move fence.
00:40:45 --> 00:40:49 And I brought 'em down here to then use on, on this farm.
00:40:49 --> 00:40:53 But yeah, when we moved up to the caretaking position near
00:40:53 --> 00:40:56 Stonewall Farm there were a lot of fields that had not been used.
00:40:56 --> 00:40:59 Like, she's like, oh, just mow it every couple years.
00:41:00 --> 00:41:02 And I kind of thought, well, that's kind of silly.
00:41:02 --> 00:41:04 You've got these old pastures here, some old fence line.
00:41:05 --> 00:41:10 I was interested in SVO pasturing, and I don't know if that came from Joel S's book
00:41:10 --> 00:41:15 as well, or not, but somewhere along the line we're, we, we're very much like, like
00:41:15 --> 00:41:18 using things as they're meant to be used.
00:41:18 --> 00:41:22 Like with, with the least we have to do the better.
00:41:22 --> 00:41:27 So if we can add some trees and some shade and some grass and that's all good.
00:41:27 --> 00:41:29 So we would, we would, I.
00:41:29 --> 00:41:33 Clear pasture with a mine to keeping some trees in place even
00:41:33 --> 00:41:35 if we had to mow around them
00:41:35 --> 00:41:35 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:41:35 --> 00:41:36 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: around them or whatnot.
00:41:36 --> 00:41:39 So, yeah, that, that's where kind of that part did start.
00:41:40 --> 00:41:43 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: And going through the, the process of getting those
00:41:43 --> 00:41:45 pastures a little bit more productive.
00:41:45 --> 00:41:51 Did you ever introduce any other species in, did you pasture drill anything
00:41:51 --> 00:41:55 or did you use what was already there in that seed bank to let it flourish?
00:41:55 --> 00:41:57 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: We used the, the seed bank.
00:41:57 --> 00:42:03 We really felt like our beef raised on natural native species was.
00:42:04 --> 00:42:04 Tasty.
00:42:04 --> 00:42:08 You know, we got very good reviews on the quality of the beef, so we really
00:42:08 --> 00:42:09 didn't wanna mess with anything.
00:42:10 --> 00:42:13 And, and you know, I'm a fan of, you know, native American
00:42:13 --> 00:42:14 history and stuff like that.
00:42:14 --> 00:42:20 And, and the one culprit, and I forget always the name of 'em, but at some
00:42:20 --> 00:42:26 point there was a government program to plant hedge rows of a type of Rose Bush.
00:42:26 --> 00:42:27 I don't know if you know that.
00:42:27 --> 00:42:27 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: oh.
00:42:27 --> 00:42:27 Yeah,
00:42:28 --> 00:42:29 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
00:42:29 --> 00:42:29 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: moto
00:42:29 --> 00:42:30 flora.
00:42:31 --> 00:42:34 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Which around here now, they just grow randomly
00:42:34 --> 00:42:35 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:42:35 --> 00:42:37 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: So you have to cut 'em back, you
00:42:37 --> 00:42:41 have to mow 'em, you have to dig 'em out and just get rid of 'em.
00:42:41 --> 00:42:43 But other than that, yeah, we tried to leave it.
00:42:44 --> 00:42:47 And then I would find sometimes the cows would actually gna on them if they
00:42:47 --> 00:42:49 were along the fence line or something.
00:42:49 --> 00:42:50 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yes.
00:42:51 --> 00:42:54 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: I don't know how or why, but no cow we're big
00:42:54 --> 00:42:56 fans of as much as we can keep it.
00:42:56 --> 00:42:58 You know, was native and varied.
00:42:58 --> 00:43:02 That was one of the things I enjoyed about the, his name escapes me, but
00:43:02 --> 00:43:07 the gentleman who talked about natural herd behavior and how herds will seek
00:43:07 --> 00:43:11 out what they need and if they need a little magnesium from this plant, or they
00:43:11 --> 00:43:13 need something else from another plant.
00:43:13 --> 00:43:18 Versus if you have, you know, alfalfa or Timothy or some monoculture and
00:43:18 --> 00:43:22 you're moving them along and there's pros and cons to everything, but
00:43:23 --> 00:43:24 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:43:24 --> 00:43:25 Daniel from
00:43:25 --> 00:43:26 wildland.
00:43:26 --> 00:43:27 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yes, yes,
00:43:27 --> 00:43:28 yes.
00:43:28 --> 00:43:28 Yep,
00:43:29 --> 00:43:29 yep,
00:43:29 --> 00:43:33 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah, he his book's really interesting that he talks
00:43:33 --> 00:43:35 about that journey and I think he's got another book coming out pretty
00:43:36 --> 00:43:36 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Oh, great.
00:43:36 --> 00:43:39 Now I'll have to look that up 'cause I would, I would appreciate that.
00:43:39 --> 00:43:39 Enjoy that.
00:43:39 --> 00:43:40 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:43:42 --> 00:43:43 Now, with your,
00:43:45 --> 00:43:50 your animals in greasing, have you always just had beef cattle or cattle?
00:43:50 --> 00:43:54 Have you thought about adding any species, any other species?
00:43:54 --> 00:43:58 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Getting back to the leap of faith.
00:43:59 --> 00:44:03 So when I first when we learned about this farm was available last spring and I
00:44:03 --> 00:44:09 learned about the solar farms going in, I thought maybe sheep, I should try sheep.
00:44:09 --> 00:44:10 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes.
00:44:11 --> 00:44:12 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: And the neighbors kindly didn't
00:44:12 --> 00:44:14 laugh in my face, but Right.
00:44:16 --> 00:44:21 It was pre became pretty clear pretty quickly that you don't just try sheep.
00:44:22 --> 00:44:22 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yes.
00:44:23 --> 00:44:25 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: cows 'cause they're bigger and you can kind of
00:44:25 --> 00:44:27 see them and, and yes, they'll get out.
00:44:27 --> 00:44:28 That's the thing.
00:44:28 --> 00:44:32 But yeah, we briefly considered cheap, we raised chickens.
00:44:32 --> 00:44:35 Where we're at turkeys we, we do
00:44:37 --> 00:44:40 wait maybe when we retire from
00:44:40 --> 00:44:42 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Maybe we, right.
00:44:42 --> 00:44:46 And Stephanie, you bring up a great point there that I struggle with.
00:44:47 --> 00:44:49 We don't have all the time in the world,
00:44:49 --> 00:44:51 especially if you're working off the farm.
00:44:51 --> 00:44:54 You gotta be conscious of how much time that's going
00:44:54 --> 00:45:00 to take because you don't come home from school each day refreshed and ready to go.
00:45:01 --> 00:45:01 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: No.
00:45:01 --> 00:45:03 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: That's a very demanding job, and
00:45:03 --> 00:45:06 especially working in sped ed or,
00:45:06 --> 00:45:07 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Mm-hmm.
00:45:07 --> 00:45:11 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah, sped it, it is, it's very demanding.
00:45:11 --> 00:45:15 I never taught sped and, and, I thought my job was
00:45:15 --> 00:45:17 demanding, but I know SPEDs even more so.
00:45:17 --> 00:45:19 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Well, there, it's, there's no easy
00:45:19 --> 00:45:21 job, certainly anymore in education.
00:45:21 --> 00:45:29 But I live with a dreamer and I think it, it's what Aaron does, he always does well.
00:45:29 --> 00:45:36 So before we bring in something new, we'll get our feet settled here and get going.
00:45:36 --> 00:45:40 And then we have, what, another 10 years of teaching.
00:45:40 --> 00:45:40 Mm-hmm.
00:45:40 --> 00:45:40 Mm-hmm.
00:45:41 --> 00:45:44 And then maybe we'll try that, but I would wanna do it well.
00:45:44 --> 00:45:45 Mm-hmm.
00:45:45 --> 00:45:45 So.
00:45:45 --> 00:45:46 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:45:47 --> 00:45:50 With, with the move to the the new farm, are you going
00:45:50 --> 00:45:51 to have to increase your herd?
00:45:52 --> 00:45:54 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah, we've we, we have had to the
00:45:54 --> 00:45:58 most we'd had up in Keene was five, and there's kind of a variety of
00:45:58 --> 00:46:01 a few belted and a couple Angus.
00:46:01 --> 00:46:06 We right now have 10 on the hoof every, every time.
00:46:06 --> 00:46:09 Seems like there's another one that comes around the corner,
00:46:09 --> 00:46:12 so think at least 10 know.
00:46:12 --> 00:46:12 Yeah.
00:46:12 --> 00:46:13 That one
00:46:13 --> 00:46:15 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: I love Aaron's plan with this.
00:46:16 --> 00:46:18 He's like, if I can get him to look
00:46:18 --> 00:46:22 enough different and all different colors out here, I slip in
00:46:22 --> 00:46:23 another one.
00:46:23 --> 00:46:24 She'll never
00:46:24 --> 00:46:24 know,
00:46:24 --> 00:46:25 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: know that was there.
00:46:25 --> 00:46:26 They shuffled back and forth.
00:46:27 --> 00:46:28 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: right?
00:46:28 --> 00:46:29 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yes.
00:46:29 --> 00:46:29 Yeah, no.
00:46:29 --> 00:46:30 Yeah.
00:46:30 --> 00:46:34 So we with a 70 acre pasture or so, we planned to maybe get, I'd
00:46:34 --> 00:46:38 like to be able to process one a month or two every other month.
00:46:38 --> 00:46:40 So somewhere 1824.
00:46:41 --> 00:46:45 At some point, and we ventured into, we had been raising steers, but we
00:46:45 --> 00:46:51 ventured into cow calves and open cows, which I found much more pleasant than
00:46:51 --> 00:46:52 steers.
00:46:53 --> 00:46:55 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Well, actually you, you read my mind
00:46:55 --> 00:46:56 because that was my next question.
00:46:56 --> 00:47:02 Are you doing any cow calf, or are you still just raising steers for Butcher?
00:47:02 --> 00:47:02 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Now.
00:47:02 --> 00:47:05 We just quite a bit given the market.
00:47:05 --> 00:47:09 I, I, I try and there's an auction maybe 15 minutes away.
00:47:09 --> 00:47:14 Going from a hundred dollars for a couple of Holstein bull casts to a thousand.
00:47:14 --> 00:47:17 Sometimes they're getting very, the local dairies are selling 'em there
00:47:17 --> 00:47:19 and getting a much higher premium
00:47:20 --> 00:47:20 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: yes.
00:47:20 --> 00:47:21 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: could buy 'em for.
00:47:22 --> 00:47:25 But I've met some local, back to the community piece.
00:47:25 --> 00:47:27 You know, you start to say, okay, here's the property,
00:47:27 --> 00:47:29 or I don't wanna populate it.
00:47:29 --> 00:47:30 How do I get some animals?
00:47:30 --> 00:47:35 And there are some local closed herds and some gentlemen and women that you
00:47:35 --> 00:47:39 meet that have been running animals, and you kind of wait and you're like,
00:47:39 --> 00:47:42 oh, do you think you'll have any pears?
00:47:42 --> 00:47:45 Or, you know, any older opens or things like that.
00:47:45 --> 00:47:50 And you just make relationships and get to know 'em, and they get to know
00:47:50 --> 00:47:52 you and, oh, sure, I'll sell you these.
00:47:53 --> 00:47:54 And there are people who truly care about their animals.
00:47:55 --> 00:47:57 There's not, it's not the auction.
00:47:57 --> 00:47:58 Ah, yeah, gimme the highest price.
00:47:58 --> 00:48:00 It's who are you, what are you gonna do with it?
00:48:01 --> 00:48:02 How are you gonna take care of it?
00:48:02 --> 00:48:07 If I drive by, I wanna see that they're, you know, being treated well.
00:48:07 --> 00:48:07 Right, right.
00:48:07 --> 00:48:08 Versus yeah.
00:48:08 --> 00:48:11 Kind of the commodity approach.
00:48:11 --> 00:48:12 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Right.
00:48:12 --> 00:48:14 You, you, you know, some background on those
00:48:14 --> 00:48:19 animals as opposed to, to, you know, Dave Sparks, I've mentioned him
00:48:19 --> 00:48:23 a time or two on the podcast, big into to Kiko Goats here in Oklahoma,
00:48:23 --> 00:48:25 and he passed away a few years ago.
00:48:25 --> 00:48:30 But he always wanted to say, you know, you buy a goat at the sale barn, you
00:48:30 --> 00:48:33 spend the next year finding what the problem was, why the past owner sold
00:48:33 --> 00:48:34 it.
00:48:34 --> 00:48:36 So yeah.
00:48:36 --> 00:48:39 building those relationships and, and getting back those relationships
00:48:39 --> 00:48:42 are so important in everything we
00:48:42 --> 00:48:42 do.
00:48:42 --> 00:48:45 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: And that's something I learned from my aunt
00:48:45 --> 00:48:50 and uncle and just watching them in their agricultural community and, and it's like
00:48:50 --> 00:48:54 the Amish or all these stories of people who, you know, you support each other.
00:48:54 --> 00:48:56 And to us, that's the ideal.
00:48:56 --> 00:48:58 That's what we wanna pass on to our kids.
00:48:58 --> 00:49:00 That's what we try to teach our students.
00:49:01 --> 00:49:02 We're all in this together.
00:49:03 --> 00:49:04 Nobody gets outta
00:49:04 --> 00:49:04 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: we are.
00:49:05 --> 00:49:08 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: alive, so to speak, so you
00:49:08 --> 00:49:09 might as well work together.
00:49:10 --> 00:49:11 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Exactly right.
00:49:11 --> 00:49:12 I, I couldn't agree more.
00:49:13 --> 00:49:19 Now, as you think about expanding, you talked about building those relationships.
00:49:19 --> 00:49:21 Are there certain types of animals you're looking for?
00:49:22 --> 00:49:25 And, and I know Highlands made that list, but is there
00:49:25 --> 00:49:27 anything else that you're looking
00:49:28 --> 00:49:29 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: We may have different lists.
00:49:30 --> 00:49:31 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, maybe so.
00:49:31 --> 00:49:32 Yes.
00:49:32 --> 00:49:32 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: mine.
00:49:32 --> 00:49:34 I wanna put a scarf on at Christmas.
00:49:34 --> 00:49:36 His probably not so much.
00:49:37 --> 00:49:37 So
00:49:37 --> 00:49:39 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: you know those Highlands are fair.
00:49:39 --> 00:49:41 Very photogenic.
00:49:41 --> 00:49:42 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: they are, they can be
00:49:42 --> 00:49:43 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:49:43 --> 00:49:44 There's a Christmas card right
00:49:44 --> 00:49:45 there for you.
00:49:46 --> 00:49:46 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: marketing.
00:49:46 --> 00:49:51 You don't see the guy chasing after it with the shovel in the bucket, the
00:49:51 --> 00:49:55 water or and we, ironically, we, one of the gentlemen I bought a couple,
00:49:55 --> 00:50:01 some Herefords from, had a, he had a, a belted Galloway Highland cross.
00:50:02 --> 00:50:03 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:50:03 --> 00:50:03 yes.
00:50:03 --> 00:50:06 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: black and white Oreo, but with the
00:50:06 --> 00:50:09 long hair over the eyes, like you can never tell where her eyes are
00:50:09 --> 00:50:11 or where she's looking because it's,
00:50:11 --> 00:50:11 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: yeah.
00:50:11 --> 00:50:16 Well, Aaron, no offense, but people don't have to question us about that.
00:50:16 --> 00:50:17 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: there you go.
00:50:17 --> 00:50:18 That's true.
00:50:18 --> 00:50:20 See, you can always see what we're looking.
00:50:20 --> 00:50:20 We're not
00:50:20 --> 00:50:21 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Right, right.
00:50:21 --> 00:50:22 Yeah.
00:50:23 --> 00:50:24 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Great point, great point.
00:50:25 --> 00:50:28 I, I, the herefords I've, I've liked, 'cause they're kind of,
00:50:28 --> 00:50:32 they're not, they're not completely small like the Galloway, but
00:50:32 --> 00:50:34 they're not huge like the Holstein.
00:50:34 --> 00:50:37 And there's a community of folks around who have been
00:50:37 --> 00:50:38 raising them for a long time.
00:50:38 --> 00:50:42 And one gentleman does give them corn and, and they're kind of noticeably
00:50:42 --> 00:50:47 bigger than another farm I buy from that's straight grass fed.
00:50:47 --> 00:50:49 But we really kinda like them.
00:50:49 --> 00:50:51 We like their look, their appearance, the calves.
00:50:52 --> 00:50:53 And we do have three.
00:50:53 --> 00:50:58 So that leap of faith, we have three bred cows and coming up
00:50:58 --> 00:51:02 here in March, we're, we're, we're keeping a close eye because we we're
00:51:02 --> 00:51:03 expecting some calves pretty soon.
00:51:04 --> 00:51:05 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, right.
00:51:05 --> 00:51:06 That's very exciting.
00:51:06 --> 00:51:08 And what, what kind of bull did you have to breed him to?
00:51:08 --> 00:51:09 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Well,
00:51:11 --> 00:51:17 given all I just said one of the pregnant Herefords was bred to a Devon and I picked
00:51:17 --> 00:51:17 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes,
00:51:18 --> 00:51:21 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Christmas Eve in a snow storm down
00:51:22 --> 00:51:26 the, down the road aways and, sorry, the other two that are pregnant.
00:51:26 --> 00:51:32 The Galloway, I think she was bred to a herford bowl 'cause the guy has
00:51:32 --> 00:51:37 Herefords and then another Hereford cow who was bred to the same Hereford Bowl.
00:51:38 --> 00:51:39 So it'll be a mix.
00:51:39 --> 00:51:40 We'll see.
00:51:40 --> 00:51:42 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: but the, but that's exciting.
00:51:42 --> 00:51:42 Yeah.
00:51:43 --> 00:51:47 Little suspense about what it's going to come out looking
00:51:47 --> 00:51:48 like.
00:51:48 --> 00:51:48 Yeah.
00:51:49 --> 00:51:49 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yeah.
00:51:50 --> 00:51:51 That's a leap of faith there.
00:51:51 --> 00:51:55 'cause I've always kind of dreamed I, to me it's that full circle.
00:51:55 --> 00:52:00 It's great to produce your own calves and, and they certainly
00:52:00 --> 00:52:05 make much easier handling cows than bringing in a bunch of random steers.
00:52:05 --> 00:52:06 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes it does.
00:52:06 --> 00:52:06 Yeah.
00:52:06 --> 00:52:07 That's a excellent
00:52:07 --> 00:52:09 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: it is our first time the vet's been out, he had
00:52:09 --> 00:52:14 some ideas for our facility and whatnot, and there's an old horse barn that I
00:52:14 --> 00:52:17 wasn't sure what to do with, I had my lawn tractor in there, but he said, this
00:52:17 --> 00:52:19 would be perfect for your calving area.
00:52:19 --> 00:52:23 And you can kind of, there's a door out and how to structure it.
00:52:23 --> 00:52:25 So you get 'em in and they think, oh, it's great.
00:52:25 --> 00:52:27 And then you can kind of contain 'em and keep 'em safe.
00:52:28 --> 00:52:28 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes.
00:52:30 --> 00:52:30 Yeah.
00:52:31 --> 00:52:32 Well, very good.
00:52:32 --> 00:52:36 I, I think it's really exciting to, to have a new farm.
00:52:37 --> 00:52:38 See where it's going to go.
00:52:38 --> 00:52:40 I think the I.
00:52:41 --> 00:52:42 Farm store.
00:52:42 --> 00:52:43 I love the idea.
00:52:43 --> 00:52:46 I I want to do that really bad.
00:52:47 --> 00:52:48 But we're not quite there yet.
00:52:49 --> 00:52:53 My wife and I talk about it though, but it'd be really nice to do, do something.
00:52:53 --> 00:52:55 I love the honor system.
00:52:55 --> 00:52:58 I think that I see some of these little farm stands pop
00:52:58 --> 00:52:59 up and I'm like, oh, that's so
00:52:59 --> 00:53:00 nice.
00:53:00 --> 00:53:02 Makes me wish I didn't live out in the middle of nowhere on a
00:53:02 --> 00:53:03 dirt road.
00:53:05 --> 00:53:06 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: that could be a hurdle.
00:53:06 --> 00:53:07 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:53:07 --> 00:53:10 Yeah, it could be, but I mean, I could go out twice a day in dust,
00:53:11 --> 00:53:13 but yeah, I, I really like that.
00:53:13 --> 00:53:14 So I'm excited for you
00:53:14 --> 00:53:14 all.
00:53:14 --> 00:53:16 I'm excited to see how this goes.
00:53:17 --> 00:53:21 Before we go to those famous four questions, do you all have anything else
00:53:21 --> 00:53:23 you'd like to add that I didn't ask?
00:53:26 --> 00:53:30 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: I know, I, I, I hope that in our
00:53:30 --> 00:53:35 learning experience, we could encourage other people to do what we're doing.
00:53:35 --> 00:53:43 It's, it does range from completely gut shaking, nerve wracking to this
00:53:43 --> 00:53:45 is the best thing we've ever done, and
00:53:45 --> 00:53:46 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:53:46 --> 00:53:48 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: it feels so good to, to do what we're doing.
00:53:48 --> 00:53:53 But I hope it's, I hope we can inspire other people to try this
00:53:54 --> 00:53:58 lifestyle and you never know the way the world will go and being a little
00:53:58 --> 00:54:01 self-sustaining would, is another comfort
00:54:01 --> 00:54:02 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: a bad idea.
00:54:02 --> 00:54:02 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: it brings.
00:54:02 --> 00:54:03 So
00:54:04 --> 00:54:04 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
00:54:04 --> 00:54:04 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yeah.
00:54:04 --> 00:54:05 Anything else well put.
00:54:06 --> 00:54:06 Okay.
00:54:06 --> 00:54:07 Thank you.
00:54:07 --> 00:54:07 That sounds good.
00:54:10 --> 00:54:12 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Well, it is time for our famous four questions.
00:54:12 --> 00:54:17 Speaker 3: Today's Famous Four questions are sponsored by Grazing Grass Insiders.
00:54:18 --> 00:54:22 Our Grazing Grass Insiders have greater access to behind the scenes
00:54:22 --> 00:54:26 on the podcast, as well as some other benefits, and they support this
00:54:26 --> 00:54:28 podcast, making sure it goes further.
00:54:29 --> 00:54:33 And to be honest, the behind the scenes and access to other
00:54:33 --> 00:54:36 things we're working on here has not been very good in the past.
00:54:36 --> 00:54:38 I have a couple things in the works.
00:54:39 --> 00:54:43 And hopefully those will be out soon and our insiders will reap
00:54:43 --> 00:54:45 the benefits from that first.
00:54:45 --> 00:54:49 But insiders, I appreciate you supporting the podcast and
00:54:50 --> 00:54:51 helping us keep this going.
00:54:52 --> 00:54:56 If you'd like to be an insider, you can go over to grazinggrass.
00:54:56 --> 00:54:58 com and click on insiders.
00:54:58 --> 00:55:04 It has it there and you can join and help us get these episodes out each week.
00:55:04 --> 00:55:07 I appreciate each and every one of our insiders.
00:55:07 --> 00:55:08 Thank you.
00:55:09 --> 00:55:11 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Same four questions we ask of all of our guests and
00:55:11 --> 00:55:16 Stephanie and Aaron, as I tell all the other guests that come on here together.
00:55:16 --> 00:55:19 You both have to answer all the questions.
00:55:20 --> 00:55:22 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: I'm looking forward to this.
00:55:22 --> 00:55:22 I.
00:55:22 --> 00:55:23 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, okay.
00:55:23 --> 00:55:23 Okay.
00:55:24 --> 00:55:31 Our first question, what is your favorite grazing grass related book or resource?
00:55:32 --> 00:55:33 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Oh, oh, do you want to think?
00:55:33 --> 00:55:34 Will I give mine?
00:55:35 --> 00:55:35 Yes.
00:55:35 --> 00:55:37 Notice you said resource too.
00:55:37 --> 00:55:37 Yes.
00:55:37 --> 00:55:38 It doesn't have to be that.
00:55:38 --> 00:55:38 Okay.
00:55:38 --> 00:55:40 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Stephanie, I've got a great idea for you
00:55:40 --> 00:55:43 if you, if you run into trouble, but let's hear, hear from
00:55:43 --> 00:55:44 Aaron first.
00:55:45 --> 00:55:47 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: So for me it was the salad bar beef
00:55:47 --> 00:55:51 with Joel Salaton and I'm kind of a doer more than a reader, but I enjoy,
00:55:52 --> 00:55:56 like, that really gave me hope that, hey, you can put cows out in fields.
00:55:56 --> 00:55:59 And growing up with my uncle was a conventional farmer, so I had
00:55:59 --> 00:56:03 that whole chop the corn process, the corn store, the corn, feed the
00:56:03 --> 00:56:04 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes.
00:56:05 --> 00:56:06 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: the poop, repeat.
00:56:07 --> 00:56:10 So, that was a huge encouragement for
00:56:10 --> 00:56:11 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yeah.
00:56:12 --> 00:56:12 Yeah.
00:56:12 --> 00:56:13 Excellent resource
00:56:13 --> 00:56:13 there.
00:56:14 --> 00:56:16 Stephanie, did you think of one or do you need my
00:56:16 --> 00:56:17 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: I need your help.
00:56:18 --> 00:56:19 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Well, I'm thinking you're setting
00:56:19 --> 00:56:21 right next to a great resource
00:56:21 --> 00:56:22 for you and that's Aaron.
00:56:22 --> 00:56:25 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: was gonna say that, but I didn't wanna be too mushy.
00:56:25 --> 00:56:31 But yes, I have total faith here, and he, he is the wealth of knowledge for me.
00:56:32 --> 00:56:34 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: and I'll give you a little heads up, Stephanie, on our
00:56:34 --> 00:56:35 second question.
00:56:35 --> 00:56:36 He may be your answer
00:56:37 --> 00:56:37 there
00:56:37 --> 00:56:40 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: oh, she, gosh, you don't want him to
00:56:40 --> 00:56:41 think he's the answer to everything.
00:56:43 --> 00:56:44 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: We, we will not let him be the
00:56:44 --> 00:56:46 answer to question three and
00:56:46 --> 00:56:46 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
00:56:47 --> 00:56:48 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: just, yeah.
00:56:49 --> 00:56:49 Yeah.
00:56:49 --> 00:56:51 He's about to outgrow his hair now.
00:56:53 --> 00:56:54 Yeah.
00:56:54 --> 00:56:57 Question two, what what's your favorite tool for the farm?
00:56:58 --> 00:57:00 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Oh, go ahead.
00:57:01 --> 00:57:06 I love let's see, sixties to eighties, John Deere tractors, when
00:57:06 --> 00:57:08 you could still work on 'em and.
00:57:09 --> 00:57:09 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yes.
00:57:09 --> 00:57:11 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Again, my uncle once said, well,
00:57:12 --> 00:57:15 I thought if it's good enough for John Deere, it's good enough for me.
00:57:15 --> 00:57:21 And he's got old, like, 40 10 and 29 40 and some older machinery
00:57:21 --> 00:57:23 that you can just work on.
00:57:23 --> 00:57:26 And it's very basic and safe.
00:57:26 --> 00:57:31 And I water tanks, you know, mowers, nailers, everything.
00:57:32 --> 00:57:36 That's, and I still, you get that little kid inside, like get to get
00:57:36 --> 00:57:39 on the tractor here when you get home after a long day at school.
00:57:39 --> 00:57:42 It is sometimes it is like a, a re
00:57:43 --> 00:57:44 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: decompressor.
00:57:44 --> 00:57:44 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
00:57:45 --> 00:57:45 Get on here.
00:57:45 --> 00:57:46 The pop, pop, pop pop up.
00:57:46 --> 00:57:47 And
00:57:47 --> 00:57:48 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah.
00:57:49 --> 00:57:50 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: I liked the Oliver.
00:57:50 --> 00:57:51 Oh, you did?
00:57:51 --> 00:57:52 I did.
00:57:52 --> 00:57:52 Like the Oliver.
00:57:52 --> 00:57:53 Yeah.
00:57:53 --> 00:57:56 What was the, you can give the letters and the numbers to the Oliver.
00:57:56 --> 00:57:57 1650.
00:57:57 --> 00:57:58 1650.
00:57:58 --> 00:58:02 And the reason I liked the Oliver was because that was a family.
00:58:03 --> 00:58:03 Mm-hmm.
00:58:03 --> 00:58:05 Tractor that, that we had.
00:58:06 --> 00:58:06 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
00:58:06 --> 00:58:07 yeah.
00:58:07 --> 00:58:07 yeah.
00:58:08 --> 00:58:08 My,
00:58:08 --> 00:58:08 um,
00:58:09 --> 00:58:09 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
00:58:09 --> 00:58:13 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: my uncle has the Farmall that my grandpa had.
00:58:13 --> 00:58:16 I'd love to have that and, and restore it.
00:58:17 --> 00:58:20 There, there they have ideas of restoring it as
00:58:20 --> 00:58:20 well.
00:58:20 --> 00:58:24 So so maybe if they don't get to it, I'll have the opportunity.
00:58:25 --> 00:58:27 I don't know, as long as it stays in the family, I just
00:58:27 --> 00:58:30 think that thing's great and I'd love to see it restored and
00:58:30 --> 00:58:31 running,
00:58:31 --> 00:58:31 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Mm-hmm.
00:58:31 --> 00:58:32 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: so.
00:58:32 --> 00:58:32 Yeah.
00:58:33 --> 00:58:37 And I'm not mechanically climb inclined, so that would be quite a mountain to
00:58:37 --> 00:58:40 climb, but I like the idea.
00:58:40 --> 00:58:40 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
00:58:40 --> 00:58:42 Can I give another resource that we both,
00:58:43 --> 00:58:43 right.
00:58:44 --> 00:58:45 When you mentioned farm Pete,
00:58:46 --> 00:58:47 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, I love Pete.
00:58:48 --> 00:58:49 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: the YouTube guide, just a few
00:58:50 --> 00:58:51 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Just a few acres.
00:58:51 --> 00:58:51 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Farm.
00:58:51 --> 00:58:54 And his book, actually, I should have mentioned is she bought his
00:58:54 --> 00:58:56 book, she gave me a card two years.
00:58:56 --> 00:58:59 So she can't, she's not completely innocent in this.
00:58:59 --> 00:59:00 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes.
00:59:00 --> 00:59:01 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: years ago with his book.
00:59:01 --> 00:59:03 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: She's encouraged
00:59:03 --> 00:59:03 you?
00:59:03 --> 00:59:05 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: has, she's funny that way.
00:59:05 --> 00:59:05 Okay.
00:59:05 --> 00:59:06 Yeah.
00:59:06 --> 00:59:08 Pete makes me feel like this will all be okay and
00:59:09 --> 00:59:09 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, well,
00:59:09 --> 00:59:10 good.
00:59:10 --> 00:59:13 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: his YouTube stories and his wife
00:59:13 --> 00:59:15 and how they work together, that's
00:59:15 --> 00:59:15 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, they do.
00:59:15 --> 00:59:17 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: we've got going on.
00:59:17 --> 00:59:20 So, I That was a good, I was just thinking about that.
00:59:20 --> 00:59:21 Yeah.
00:59:21 --> 00:59:24 For Pete and his dad, jokes are perfect.
00:59:24 --> 00:59:24 Oh,
00:59:25 --> 00:59:28 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh yeah, I watch Pete every Saturday morning,
00:59:28 --> 00:59:29 or, no, it's Sunday morning.
00:59:29 --> 00:59:30 He releases this episode.
00:59:31 --> 00:59:32 So Sunday morning.
00:59:32 --> 00:59:34 If I start watching too early, they're not
00:59:34 --> 00:59:35 out yet, so I,
00:59:35 --> 00:59:36 but they get out.
00:59:36 --> 00:59:38 I try and catch his videos every
00:59:38 --> 00:59:38 weekend.
00:59:38 --> 00:59:42 In fact, I watched one earlier, I think his, from this weekend.
00:59:42 --> 00:59:46 It wasn't last weekend's that I was behind on, but yeah, I would
00:59:46 --> 00:59:49 love to get Pete on the podcast.
00:59:49 --> 00:59:54 I've, I've not had any luck yet, but I've also heard him say on his
00:59:54 --> 00:59:58 videos that he doesn't, he is not going worry about comments, his
00:59:58 --> 01:00:02 email, you know, because there's a lot of negativity out
01:00:02 --> 01:00:03 there, and you have to protect
01:00:04 --> 01:00:04 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yes.
01:00:04 --> 01:00:05 Mm-hmm.
01:00:05 --> 01:00:07 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: however you need to do that.
01:00:08 --> 01:00:08 So.
01:00:08 --> 01:00:11 I've thought I'm gonna sit down and write him a letter,
01:00:11 --> 01:00:12 but I haven't done it yet.
01:00:12 --> 01:00:13 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: a old school.
01:00:13 --> 01:00:14 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: that'd be a little creative.
01:00:15 --> 01:00:18 Well, it'd be a little bit of a job for me to write a letter, but I think I
01:00:18 --> 01:00:20 could probably work through it and, and,
01:00:20 --> 01:00:20 do
01:00:20 --> 01:00:22 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Well, let us know if you need help.
01:00:22 --> 01:00:22 You know, that's we're teacher.
01:00:23 --> 01:00:24 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, okay.
01:00:24 --> 01:00:26 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: We could do some remedial writing work and
01:00:26 --> 01:00:27 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: There, there we go.
01:00:27 --> 01:00:28 Perfect.
01:00:28 --> 01:00:30 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: well graphic organizer to get 'em started.
01:00:30 --> 01:00:33 Give you a little dotted lines for the letters.
01:00:33 --> 01:00:33 Here we go.
01:00:33 --> 01:00:34 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: There we go.
01:00:34 --> 01:00:34 Yeah.
01:00:34 --> 01:00:35 Yeah.
01:00:36 --> 01:00:37 Our third question.
01:00:37 --> 01:00:39 What would you tell someone just getting started?
01:00:42 --> 01:00:42 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Just go.
01:00:44 --> 01:00:48 You know, I, I think when we went through the USDA loan process.
01:00:49 --> 01:00:55 I thought this is gonna be crushing for Aaron if this doesn't come to fruition.
01:00:55 --> 01:00:56 And I had
01:00:56 --> 01:00:58 plan B, plan C, plan D in mind.
01:00:58 --> 01:01:04 And I, I think we just put our heads down and, and went, and
01:01:05 --> 01:01:09 that's my, you have to have support.
01:01:09 --> 01:01:11 You have to trust who you're working with completely.
01:01:12 --> 01:01:12 Mm-hmm.
01:01:12 --> 01:01:14 And just go, just do.
01:01:14 --> 01:01:19 If it's what your heart is pushing, then hopefully it'll work.
01:01:20 --> 01:01:20 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Right?
01:01:21 --> 01:01:21 Yeah.
01:01:22 --> 01:01:22 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: that's what I got.
01:01:23 --> 01:01:23 I would say.
01:01:23 --> 01:01:26 Yeah, it, it can't happen without the other.
01:01:27 --> 01:01:32 And whatever you're gonna do, make sure you're both in it to go.
01:01:32 --> 01:01:35 'cause if you're constantly pulling, it's not fair to either.
01:01:36 --> 01:01:39 And Stephanie's always been very supportive.
01:01:39 --> 01:01:44 And when I started this process in New Hampshire, the New Hampshire loan officer
01:01:44 --> 01:01:46 said, when I was talking about sheep,
01:01:48 --> 01:01:48 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh, yes.
01:01:48 --> 01:01:50 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: do you ever know, have you ever known anybody to
01:01:50 --> 01:01:52 just like, get a loan and get some sheep?
01:01:53 --> 01:01:59 And the USDA is wise in saying we wanna know that you know something what you're
01:01:59 --> 01:02:01 doing before we give you the money.
01:02:01 --> 01:02:04 And she had said, and substance, use this word, follow your passion.
01:02:04 --> 01:02:06 If beef are your passion, do beef.
01:02:07 --> 01:02:07 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
01:02:07 --> 01:02:07 Yeah.
01:02:08 --> 01:02:10 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: it'll, it'll work, but don't try to
01:02:10 --> 01:02:13 like, do something because of that.
01:02:13 --> 01:02:16 Well, sheep could be a path to the farm, but
01:02:16 --> 01:02:20 it wouldn't have gone well and they'd be all in the road and people would be angry.
01:02:20 --> 01:02:22 And, and that's the yin and the yang.
01:02:22 --> 01:02:25 So if you have a yin and a yang to, to support you, whether it's a
01:02:25 --> 01:02:30 community member or a local farmer or, or wife, or a really patient,
01:02:30 --> 01:02:34 loving wife, and an awesome husband who knows a little bit about every
01:02:34 --> 01:02:38 single thing, I think you just go, just
01:02:38 --> 01:02:38 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
01:02:38 --> 01:02:39 Excellent advice.
01:02:39 --> 01:02:42 And you know, that ying and yang of it.
01:02:43 --> 01:02:47 If I didn't have my wife to keep me in check, there would probably be some
01:02:47 --> 01:02:51 yaks out here, and I'm not sure what I'm doing with those and who knows what else.
01:02:52 --> 01:02:54 She does a wonderful job keeping me
01:02:54 --> 01:02:55 grounded
01:02:55 --> 01:02:55 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: yes.
01:02:55 --> 01:02:55 We went,
01:02:56 --> 01:02:58 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: me from putting all kinds of irons in the fire.
01:02:58 --> 01:03:01 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: we went through our Mustang horse phase.
01:03:01 --> 01:03:01 Hey, now
01:03:02 --> 01:03:02 Covid ruined that.
01:03:04 --> 01:03:04 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: oh yes.
01:03:05 --> 01:03:06 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: They stopped bringing 'em
01:03:06 --> 01:03:07 to Swansea, New Hampshire.
01:03:08 --> 01:03:08 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Oh
01:03:08 --> 01:03:09 yes.
01:03:09 --> 01:03:10 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: pick one up at the fair.
01:03:11 --> 01:03:14 ride the wave, ride the waves.
01:03:14 --> 01:03:15 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Well, yeah, there you go.
01:03:17 --> 01:03:19 And lastly, where can others find out more about you?
01:03:20 --> 01:03:22 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Well, we are just starting out
01:03:22 --> 01:03:25 on our social media platforms.
01:03:25 --> 01:03:30 Moody Farm, moody Farms, LLC on Instagram and Facebook.
01:03:31 --> 01:03:33 And we're working on a website.
01:03:33 --> 01:03:37 And our email is Moody Farms llc@gmail.com.
01:03:38 --> 01:03:39 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: perfect.
01:03:39 --> 01:03:40 We'll put those in our show
01:03:40 --> 01:03:40 notes.
01:03:41 --> 01:03:43 A and I may a fibbed just a little bit.
01:03:43 --> 01:03:44 I said that was the last
01:03:45 --> 01:03:45 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Oh.
01:03:46 --> 01:03:47 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: I didn't even warn you
01:03:47 --> 01:03:48 all, so I apologize
01:03:48 --> 01:03:49 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: fast five we got.
01:03:49 --> 01:03:50 It's not the famous four.
01:03:50 --> 01:03:51 That's all right.
01:03:51 --> 01:03:51 We'll get it.
01:03:51 --> 01:03:54 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah, well the last episode, we tried something, so
01:03:54 --> 01:03:56 we're gonna try it for a few months.
01:03:56 --> 01:03:58 But we're turning the tables.
01:03:58 --> 01:04:00 What question do you have for me?
01:04:01 --> 01:04:06 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: What would be your pearl of wisdom for a new farmer?
01:04:06 --> 01:04:07 Family farmer.
01:04:09 --> 01:04:12 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: I think, I think if it's a passion, you, you gotta get
01:04:12 --> 01:04:13 started.
01:04:13 --> 01:04:18 And when we talk about it on the podcast, we've talked to an individual that
01:04:18 --> 01:04:21 was in California with his backyard.
01:04:21 --> 01:04:22 He was grazing two
01:04:23 --> 01:04:23 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Hmm.
01:04:24 --> 01:04:25 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: using electro netting.
01:04:25 --> 01:04:26 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
01:04:27 --> 01:04:30 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: If, if you wanna do it, there's, there's
01:04:30 --> 01:04:34 ways, there's if you don't have the land and can't do it.
01:04:34 --> 01:04:38 My, my nephew, he's got a few head of sheep that he's gotten from us.
01:04:38 --> 01:04:39 He got 'em as orphan
01:04:39 --> 01:04:40 lambs.
01:04:40 --> 01:04:42 He's bottle fed 'em, he's got 'em super tame.
01:04:42 --> 01:04:47 Not like ours, but he's rotating them around his yard
01:04:47 --> 01:04:50 because he just wants to do it.
01:04:50 --> 01:04:53 If you have a small area, small animals
01:04:53 --> 01:04:55 are a better bet than cattle.
01:04:55 --> 01:04:59 So poultry is always a good choice, especially with egg prices.
01:04:59 --> 01:05:04 Now it's not, you know, it's, it's tough to make money with eggs, with layers, but
01:05:04 --> 01:05:06 you can do it, especially in the current
01:05:06 --> 01:05:06 climate.
01:05:07 --> 01:05:09 Processing, you could do meat
01:05:09 --> 01:05:11 birds and process 'em and sell birds.
01:05:11 --> 01:05:17 If you wanna do more mammals, obviously sheep, but if you don't have that much
01:05:17 --> 01:05:19 area, you could do rabbits just to,
01:05:19 --> 01:05:22 just to get started and try that.
01:05:22 --> 01:05:24 Each area is gonna be a little bit different depending on your
01:05:24 --> 01:05:27 market, but not always.
01:05:27 --> 01:05:29 I think it's important, you know,
01:05:29 --> 01:05:33 there's a market, but just the act of managing some animals
01:05:34 --> 01:05:36 for grazing will help you out.
01:05:36 --> 01:05:40 Even if, like for here, the rabbit market would be very small.
01:05:41 --> 01:05:43 There's not too many people having rabbit.
01:05:43 --> 01:05:44 There's, you could gain some experience there.
01:05:45 --> 01:05:45 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yep.
01:05:45 --> 01:05:45 Mm-hmm.
01:05:45 --> 01:05:48 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: And if you, if you wanna get started with cattle
01:05:48 --> 01:05:52 and you have a little bit more land, I think dairy cross calves are a
01:05:52 --> 01:05:53 great way to get started.
01:05:54 --> 01:05:58 You're working with a small animal and, and they're growing as your
01:05:58 --> 01:06:00 knowledge grows if you don't have
01:06:00 --> 01:06:01 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Right, right.
01:06:01 --> 01:06:01 Right.
01:06:01 --> 01:06:04 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: I, I just think you get started wherever
01:06:04 --> 01:06:06 you are and work towards that
01:06:06 --> 01:06:07 goal, just like you all
01:06:08 --> 01:06:08 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: you.
01:06:08 --> 01:06:08 Mm-hmm.
01:06:08 --> 01:06:09 Yeah.
01:06:09 --> 01:06:10 Can I ask a question?
01:06:11 --> 01:06:11 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yes.
01:06:11 --> 01:06:13 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: What have you learned?
01:06:13 --> 01:06:17 You're, I think you're 150, 160 episodes.
01:06:17 --> 01:06:20 Can you, I'm sure like what has that experience done for you, this
01:06:20 --> 01:06:24 podcasting, and what have you learned from all these different folks?
01:06:25 --> 01:06:26 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: It, it is, is amazing.
01:06:26 --> 01:06:31 I started the podcast with the idea to talk to people that were
01:06:31 --> 01:06:33 doing what I was trying to do
01:06:33 --> 01:06:36 as well because I wasn't seeing them in my
01:06:36 --> 01:06:37 community.
01:06:37 --> 01:06:42 Now, since I've been on this path, I found people nearby that are doing it.
01:06:42 --> 01:06:44 Just I didn't see 'em
01:06:44 --> 01:06:48 before, and, and in that sometimes it's just you just don't travel that way.
01:06:48 --> 01:06:48 You know?
01:06:48 --> 01:06:50 We're very much creatures of
01:06:50 --> 01:06:52 habit and we take the same way to work, and if they're not
01:06:52 --> 01:06:54 along that way, we don't see
01:06:54 --> 01:06:55 'em.
01:06:55 --> 01:06:59 So it's been really nice to open my eyes and find some more people, but I
01:06:59 --> 01:07:02 also think the regenerative movement is growing and we've got more farmers
01:07:02 --> 01:07:04 doing it, so that's great.
01:07:04 --> 01:07:06 But just the, I can't even put
01:07:06 --> 01:07:10 into words how much it has affected my practice.
01:07:10 --> 01:07:14 It's made me such a better grazier and, and I love hearing
01:07:14 --> 01:07:16 these stories and building these
01:07:16 --> 01:07:18 connections and, and going forth.
01:07:19 --> 01:07:24 I think I put out at a hundred episodes, I put out a episode, things learned in a
01:07:24 --> 01:07:27 hundred well, I don't even remember what I said at the time.
01:07:27 --> 01:07:30 I, I probably ought to go review it and see,
01:07:30 --> 01:07:30 uh,
01:07:31 --> 01:07:32 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: the filter's out through the head.
01:07:32 --> 01:07:33 We don't have the hair to keep it in
01:07:34 --> 01:07:35 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: yeah, yeah.
01:07:35 --> 01:07:36 Nothing to keep it there.
01:07:36 --> 01:07:38 It, I just feel like it motivates
01:07:38 --> 01:07:40 me hearing these stories
01:07:41 --> 01:07:44 and just hearing what people's gone through has given me new
01:07:44 --> 01:07:49 ideas, ways to do things that I probably wouldn't have found on my
01:07:49 --> 01:07:50 own.
01:07:50 --> 01:07:51 Maybe I would've
01:07:51 --> 01:07:53 found a YouTube channel that's, that did it.
01:07:53 --> 01:07:59 But just having these conversations, energized me, gives me new perspectives,
01:07:59 --> 01:08:00 and it's improved my practice greatly.
01:08:01 --> 01:08:03 And I hope that's, that's happened for our
01:08:03 --> 01:08:04 listeners as well.
01:08:04 --> 01:08:04 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Yeah.
01:08:04 --> 01:08:08 Well, I would that Yeah, you're, there's a lot of podcasts.
01:08:08 --> 01:08:12 Obviously everybody and their brother has a podcast of some sort.
01:08:13 --> 01:08:13 But you are,
01:08:14 --> 01:08:18 you remind me of Pete in a very good way, and now you are both very calm,
01:08:18 --> 01:08:22 steady, you're accepting, you're open, like you're, you, you take
01:08:22 --> 01:08:27 people in and, and you make 'em feel comfortable and no matter how big or
01:08:27 --> 01:08:29 small they are, and we appreciate it.
01:08:29 --> 01:08:30 Yes.
01:08:30 --> 01:08:31 Very much.
01:08:32 --> 01:08:35 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Well, well, thank you that, you know, I, I'm a big
01:08:35 --> 01:08:37 fan of Pete's, so I take that as a huge
01:08:38 --> 01:08:39 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: It, it's meant that meant to be.
01:08:39 --> 01:08:39 Yes.
01:08:40 --> 01:08:40 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
01:08:40 --> 01:08:41 Yeah.
01:08:42 --> 01:08:46 Well, Aaron and Stephanie, I really appreciate you coming on and sharing
01:08:46 --> 01:08:47 the-moodys_1_03-02-2025_164010: Thank you for having us.
01:08:47 --> 01:08:48 Yes, thank you.
01:08:48 --> 01:08:48 cal_1_03-02-2025_154008: Yeah.
01:08:50 --> 01:08:53 Cal: Thank you for listening to this episode of the grazing grass podcast,
01:08:53 --> 01:08:58 where we bring you stories and insights into grass-based livestock production.
01:08:58 --> 01:09:01 If you're new here, we've got something just for you.
01:09:01 --> 01:09:03 Our new listener resource guide.
01:09:03 --> 01:09:07 Is packed with everything you need to get started on your listening
01:09:07 --> 01:09:09 journey with a grazing grass podcast.
01:09:10 --> 01:09:13 It gives you more information about the podcast about myself.
01:09:14 --> 01:09:15 And next steps.
01:09:15 --> 01:09:18 You can grab your free copy at grazinggrass.com
01:09:18 --> 01:09:20 slash guide.
01:09:21 --> 01:09:21 Don't miss out.
01:09:23 --> 01:09:25 And Hey, do you have a grazing story to share?
01:09:25 --> 01:09:30 We're always looking for passionate producers to feature on the show,
01:09:30 --> 01:09:35 whether you're just starting out or have years of experience your story matters.
01:09:35 --> 01:09:37 Head over to grazing grass.
01:09:37 --> 01:09:39 Dot com slash guest.
01:09:39 --> 01:09:41 To learn more and apply to be a guest.
01:09:41 --> 01:09:45 We'd love to share your journey with our growing community of grazers.
01:09:46 --> 01:09:48 Until next time.
01:09:48 --> 01:09:50 Keep on grazing grass.
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