In this episode, Fiona Jackson shares her unconventional journey from growing up in Redwood City, California with jeweler parents to becoming a ranch manager deeply involved in regenerative agriculture. Fiona talks about her initial exposure to agriculture at Cal Poly, her hands-on learning experiences, and her subsequent dive into the ranching world, including her stint at Flying Diamond Ranch in Colorado. She sheds light on her passion for sustainable grazing practices, learning from mistakes,...
Jun 24, 2025•54 min•Ep. 57
In this episode of the Regeneration Rising podcast, host Taylor Muglia dives into regenerative agriculture experiences and intricacies of farm law with Eva Caison, education program director at Farm Commons. The episode covers a breadth of topics, from Eva's journey into agriculture, her educational background, and practical farm experience, to the pivotal lessons she learned while running her own farm. We explore the invaluable work of Farm Commons and Eva shares insights about a new innovative...
May 27, 2025•48 min•Ep. 56
In this episode, host Taylor Muglia sits down with Chris Zuehlsdorff, CEO of Iroquois Valley, to discuss how they're supporting the journey and future of regenerative agriculture. Chris shares his personal and professional background, highlighting his transition from a career in finance to helping farmers and ranchers access affordable mortgages and leases across the United States. The conversation delves into the importance of organic certification, the challenges of land access, and the suppor...
Apr 18, 2025•33 min•Ep. 55
In this podcast episode, host Taylor Muglia interviews Olivia Raine about her journey in the field of agriculture, specifically her work in targeted grazing with goats and sheep. Olivia shares her deep-rooted passion for animals and her environmental consciousness that led her to agriculture. She discusses her extensive background, from working on vegetable farms to managing livestock, and the challenges she faced. Through three iterations of her business, Olivia pressed on and found the busines...
Mar 21, 2025•51 min•Ep. 54
In this episode of Regeneration Rising, Taylor Muglia interviews Jarvisson King, owner and operator of Laughing Goat Gardens in Arizona. Jarvisson shares his journey and how he brings traditional Navajo farming and modern regenerative agriculture techniques together. He discusses the impact of his mother's teachings, coping with grief after her passing, and his shift towards utilizing wool pellets for soil health. The episode highlights Jarvisson's innovative methods, his active presence on soci...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 53
In this podcast episode, host Taylor Muglia interviews Emma Lietz-Bilecky about her journey into agriculture and her work with Colorado Land Link, a program aimed at helping farmers find land and improve land access in Colorado. Emma shares her background, growing up in Colorado with a family history in agriculture, and her eventual return to farming after college. She discusses the challenges of land access for young farmers, the work Colorado Land Link does to facilitate these issues, and rece...
Jan 17, 2025•45 min•Ep. 52
In this episode, host Taylor Muglia interviews New Agrarian Program alumni Henry Harrington and Lauren Lees about their diverse journeys into the agricultural world. Both came from non-agricultural backgrounds, but found a passion for ranching and regenerative agriculture. They share their experiences in the New Agrarian Program as well as their time post-apprenticeship in positions at Spikebox Ranch in Nebraska, Snaplands, and Round River Resource Management. Henry and Lauren discuss the educat...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 51
After working on ranches in the Elk River Valley in northwest Colorado for a handful of years, Davey Baron had the jaw-dropping opportunity to start his own grazing and direct market beef business, and he pounced on it. In this episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia speaks with Davey about how he laid the groundwork for this opportunity to become Elk River Livestock, what life looks like in year two of running his own business, and how a strong community allowed him to build a lean e...
Oct 21, 2024•55 min•Ep. 50
In this conversation, host Taylor Muglia interviews Julie Sullivan, mentor training and support specialist (and program founder) here at Quivira Coalition's New Agrarian Program. Julie discusses the inspiration behind creating the program's first Manager Fellowship and how it aims to bridge the gap between apprenticeship and ranch management or entrepreneurship for the "not-so new agrarian." She walks through the requirements to apply, nuts and bolts of the program, and her greatest hopes for th...
Sep 12, 2024•57 min•Ep. 49
Our guest this week is Diane Anastasio, program manager & shepherd at Shepherdess Land & Livestock in Ojai, California. Diane describes how, although not growing up in agriculture, their Austrian and Italian family heritage is expressed through their practice of shepherding today, and how other creative endeavors like weaving and dancing tie in as well. We also talk about Diane's early experiences in agriculture at shearing school and New Cowgirl Camp, balancing an agrarian's need for ur...
Aug 26, 2024•52 min•Ep. 48
On this episode of Regeneration Rising, we sit down with Nicole Scott, farm director of livestock operation and farm outreach at The Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming in Cold Spring, New York. Nicole shares her story about getting started in agriculture and the different experiences that shaped her journey from apprentice to farm director. She describes what it was like to build confidence to do farm work after studying agriculture in classrooms in college, how her perspective change...
Jul 29, 2024•52 min•Ep. 47
This week on Regeneration Rising, Taylor interviews Jordan and Toni Sarazen, owners and operators of Goat Bros LLC, a mobile goat grazing business near Denver, Colorado. We discuss the huge life transition Jordan and Toni made from being financial advisors to living in a 5th wheel trailer custom grazing a goat herd up and down the front range, all caused by an idea Jordan saw on a tv show! They share tips about sound financial management for their small business, the importance of support to avo...
Jun 21, 2024•58 min•Ep. 46
On this episode, host Taylor Muglia speaks with Will Vogl, owner and operator of Vogl Homestead Farm near Black Forest, Colorado. Will discusses the difficulty of accessing affordable grazing land on the front range and the development pressure his county is facing. While this can be a setback for many graziers, Will has used it as an opportunity to work with landowners and graze sheep on smaller parcels that cattle ranchers wouldn't consider. He talks about how he balances the operation with be...
May 21, 2024•52 min•Ep. 45
In this episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia sits down with 2022 New Agrarian Program alumna Rachel Stoltzfus, who now works as a Herdsman at Herr Angus Farm in Nottingham, Pennsylvania. Rachel talks about lessons she took from her apprenticeship at Round River Resource Management, her process and decision to take a job at a cattle farm near her hometown, and learning curves she faces as she builds her career and life in land stewardship.
Apr 22, 2024•46 min•Ep. 44
In this month's episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia speaks with Katie McInnes, Co-owner and Operator of The Dogs Run Farm near Clearwater, Manitoba, Canada. Katie talks about her journey from acting into farming and how community relationships and a bit of luck led her and her now husband Colin to securing land for farming. Katie also talks about what their farm looks like today, how they plan to grow, and how she integrates the farm with motherhood and mentorship through the Youn...
Mar 26, 2024•56 min•Ep. 43
On this episode of Regeneration Rising, our guest is Terrance Boyd, owner of Wild Boyd Farm in Matheson, Colorado. Terrance talks about his deep interest in being an active agent in his own food production, his journey into homesteading, and how he has turned the homestead into a ranch business that serves a variety of meat sales channels due to high demand for locally-raised meat in the Denver area. Terrance also talks about the complex cultural differences between rural/urban communities and c...
Feb 15, 2024•59 min•Ep. 42
Chase Hetler and Jessie Hook spent much of 2023 as Quivira Coalition interns through the Carbon Ranch Initiative, investigating the financial and ecological viability of compost application and erosion control structures on rangeland in the southwest. Host Taylor Muglia chats with both interns about their experiences and how their internships changed the way they see academia's role in ranching.
Jan 16, 2024•52 min•Ep. 41
In this episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia chats with New Agrarian Program mentor Louis Martin, owner of Round River Resource Management near Rush, Colorado. They talk about Louis' background in agriculture and education, and how he found opportunities to access land and capital even though agriculture skipped a generation in his family. Louis has mentored over 60 apprentices; he explains what makes a great apprentice candidate, and how his ranch is specifically designed to suppo...
Dec 04, 2023•42 min•Ep. 40
In this episode, host Taylor Muglia sits down with current New Agrarian Program apprentices Ryan Koch and Samuel Moreno to talk about their experience in the past year. From applications and interviews to successes and struggles during the season to plans post-apprenticeship, this conversation has so many valuable lessons not only for future applicants, but anyone considering starting a career in agriculture. Photo of Sam by Alexis Bonogofsky You can find Sam online here and Ryan here ....
Nov 07, 2023•51 min•Ep. 39
In anticipation for the 2024 New Agrarian Program applications opening November 1st, we are spending some time today with mentor Layna Jansen, rancher and Beef Program Coordinator at the Home Ranch in Clark, Colorado. She shares details about her career path and what it takes to feel like you finally belong to a place after moving from Virginia to the Home Ranch as a young adult, and working her way up over almost 10 years. She shares her advice to folks considering apprenticeship and tips on ho...
Oct 23, 2023•41 min•Ep. 38
In this episode, host Taylor Muglia dives into the details of a creative land access model with Poudre Valley Community Farms Executive Director Stacy Lishka and one of the program's lessees Evanne Caviness, who also happens to be the Western Organizing Manager for the National Young Farmers Coalition. The two guests talk about what can go right and wrong with cooperative land leasing, and share insights they've gained along the way. These insights can help beginning farmers and ranchers find ho...
Sep 18, 2023•59 min•Ep. 27
Emily certainly didn't see herself coming back to her family potato and barley farm in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, but a husband, child, and global pandemic later, she finds herself learning how to farm from her parents, participating in succession conversations, and becoming an advocate within the ag community. In this episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia talks with Emily Brown about her fascinating story. Find out more about Emily's work with Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and...
Aug 18, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 37
The New Agrarian Program's Taylor Muglia sits down with Pork Rhyne "The Pork Evangelist" to talk about his career path as a young farmer and transition into public speaking and consulting, as well as lessons he's learned from helping clients build profitable livestock enterprises. You can follow Pork Rhyne by visiting the youtube channel Agro Educators International , or visiting their website . Photo Credit: Pork Rhyne...
Jul 20, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 36
New Agrarian Program (NAP) alumni Graham Holtrop guest-hosts this episode, interviewing his former mentor Jim Spinner (current NAP mentor at The Veebaray ). Graham and Jim discuss what he loves about ranching, what it takes to be ranch manager, and advice for first generation ranchers who may pursue ranch management, as opposed to ownership. Jim talks about his challenges raising a family and navigating work/life balance. And if you needed any more evidence of how cool Jim really is, we also lea...
Jun 23, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 35
Hannah Breckbill, co-farmer at Humble Hands Harvest in Decorah, Iowa, felt a desire to own land originally because of a yearning to incorporate perennials into her vegetable and sheep operation. This can be a frustration for land renters who feel unsure of their longevity on a piece of land. In this episode, Hannah sits down with Taylor Muglia of the New Agrarian Program to talk about the process of working with a community-owned land-holding company that served as a "bank" to allow her to purch...
May 22, 2023•52 min•Ep. 34
New Agrarian Program (NAP) Alumna Natalie Berkman (Milton Ranch, 2020/2021) joined as a guest-host to interview Susan Elder (Charter Ranch, 2020/2021) for a conversation about their lives post-apprenticeship as managers of ranches in Montana and Kansas. The conversation highlights lessons learned from apprenticeship and challenges of the transition, with some good laughs sprinkled in about purple riding helmets and brie cheese. Find Susan on Instagram @ferrellranch or @susandalt...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 33
Tony Vorster, Research Scientist at Colorado State University (CSU), Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory sits down with host Taylor Muglia to talk details of the new CSU Western Ranch Management and Ecosystem Stewardship Program and options beginning agrarians might have for further education. They discuss the Summer Field Course, the importance of learning alongside peers of diverse specialties, and how to think about the "flavors" of grad school to choose the right path for you....
Mar 17, 2023•45 min•Ep. 32
In this conversation, New Agrarian Program's Taylor Muglia has a powerful conversation with Ryan White, CEO and Founder of SnapLands LLC . Ryan talks about his winding road into agriculture, which is rooted deeply in his appreciation for nature which he has carried since childhood. Ryan discusses difficult career decisions he's faced in the industry of regenerative land management, expands upon "earning his meal ticket", and shares a few impactful pieces of advice for folks entering an industry ...
Feb 22, 2023•51 min•Ep. 31
Quivira Coalition's Taylor Muglia sits down with Michelle Hughes, the Operations and Impact Director at National Young Farmers Coalition . Michelle speaks about her background in farming and livestock production and how she transitioned to advocacy work, then became staff at NYFC. She talks about the challenges and successes of weaving racial equity into an agricultural organization, and how accountability must be a part of that system. Michelle also speaks about her experience on the Equity Com...
Jan 19, 2023•33 min•Ep. 30
Quivira Coalition's New Agrarian Program Colorado Manager Taylor Muglia sits down with Akwese Mbendang Milene Majolie. Akwese was an intern this summer with Quivira's Carbon Ranch Initiative. Working remotely from Rwanda where she attended school at the African Leadership University Rwanda, she helped with biochar projects and educational guides, and expanded her knowledge of regenerative agriculture with Quivira staff located in New Mexico. Originally from Cameroon, Akwese is passionate about s...
Nov 28, 2022•36 min•Ep. 29
