199. Soil-First Grazing and Earned Efficiency with Rachel Bouressa

Rachel Bouressa of Bouressa Family Farm joins us from central Wisconsin, where she’s a fifth-generation farmer and second-generation grazier managing 120 acres with a soil-first mindset. After returning home following a barn fire, she rebuilt her operation using perennial forages, diverse annuals, and a willingness to experiment. Today she’s deeply involved with Grassworks, Wisconsin Farmers Union, NRCS conservation planning, women-in-conservation mentoring, and the Upper Fox Wolf Demonstration Farm Network—all while running a thriving direct-to-consumer beef business.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• Rebuilding the family farm after a barn fire and starting with just 15 acres
• Developing a soil-first grazing philosophy and “earned efficiency”
• Working closely with NRCS and building strong planner–farmer relationships
• Converting row-crop ground back to pasture using rye, diverse cool-season mixes, and sorghum-Sudan
• Choosing cattle genetics: British White Parks, Devons, and Murray Greys
• Direct-to-consumer beef sales and transitioning to Barn2Door
• Extending the grazing season toward Christmas
• Audubon Bird-Friendly certification and creating habitat value

Why You Should Listen

If you’re looking for a grounded, real-world example of what soil-first grazing looks like in practice, Rachel brings hard-earned wisdom, humility, and a spirit of experimentation. Her story is full of practical insights—from pasture renovation to breed selection to extending the grazing season—and she offers a refreshingly honest look at the challenges and rewards of growing a regenerative, community-connected grazing operation.

Resources Mentioned

• Grassworks Conference
• NRCS grazing resources
• Audubon Conservation Ranching Program
• Wendell Berry — Unsettling of America, The Gift of Good Land
• Fred Provenza — Nourishment

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

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Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture.

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey