Joel Salatin is a farmer, author, and outspoken advocate for regenerative agriculture. His first exposure to farming came on his father’s 1,000-acre chicken and dairy farm in Venezuela. In 1959, following the election of President Rómulo Betancourt—who implemented a land redistribution program—the Salatin family relocated to Virginia. There, they purchased Polyface Farm in Swoope, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley. Today, Salatin owns and operates the farm, which has become a national model for sustainable and ethical agricultural practices. Salatin is widely recognized for his pioneering work in rotational grazing, soil health, and decentralized food systems. Through his books, public speaking, and media appearances, he challenges the industrial agriculture model and promotes local food networks, transparency, and self-reliance. His work has been featured in documentaries such as Food, Inc. and Fresh, and he is the author of several books, including You Can Farm, Folks, This Ain’t Normal, and The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs, in which he critiques industrial farming and advocates for a return to localized food systems. In addition to his writing, Salatin serves as editor of the monthly magazine Stockman Grass Farmer, dedicated to pasture-based livestock production. He also teaches a two-day agribusiness course in conjunction with the magazine. As an educator and speaker, Salatin has addressed audiences at institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, and the 2020 Libertarian National Convention, where he spoke about limiting government regulation in farming.
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