Join Jeff Siewicki, owner of Vital Mission Farm in South Carolina, as he shares his unique journey from raising backyard chickens to operating a thriving pasture-raised poultry business. With no farming background, Jeff discusses the trials and triumphs of transitioning to ducks and turkeys. He reveals the challenges of selling wholesale before COVID and how he pivoted to a successful subscription model. Jeff also dives into online marketing strategies and the importance of customer relationships, showcasing how innovation can enhance farm profitability.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
From 25 Chickens to 300 Birds
Jeff started with 25 chickens in 2017 for family food and quickly scaled to 300 birds after positive feedback.
His passion grew as he connected farming to regenerative agriculture pioneers like Joel Salatin.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Start Poultry with Easy Breeds
Start with a proven, easy-to-raise poultry breed like Cornish Cross to ease the steep learning curve.
Avoid expensive breeds with high mortality risk to protect your investment.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Build Restaurant Sales in Person
Approach local restaurants by walking in confidently with product samples to let chefs try your meat.
Build relationships with chefs to create steady wholesale demand.
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In this episode of the Grazing Grass Podcast, we're joined by Jeff Siewicki of Vital Mission Farm in South Carolina. Jeff shares his journey from raising 25 chickens for personal use to building a thriving regenerative poultry business focused on pasture-raised ducks and turkeys. With a background in science and no prior farming experience, Jeff candidly discusses how he learned everything from scratch—facing the steep learning curves of pasture poultry, selling wholesale to top chefs, and ultimately pivoting to a hyperlocal subscription-based model for direct-to-consumer sales.
Topics Covered:
Starting with chickens, transitioning to ducks and turkeys
Challenges and benefits of pasture-raised poultry
Lessons from selling wholesale to restaurants pre-COVID
Pivoting during the pandemic to direct-to-consumer sales
Creating value-added products like duck prosciutto and pet treats
Launching and refining a customized local subscription box
Online marketing and building an effective digital storefront
Advice for farmers on capturing leads and converting sales
Why You Should Listen: If you're a grass-based producer exploring poultry, value-added products, or direct-to-consumer models, this episode is packed with practical advice and real-world experience. Jeff doesn’t sugarcoat the hard lessons learned, but he also shares the wins—from building customer relationships at farmers markets to crafting a high-margin subscription service. Whether you’re looking to improve your margins, expand product offerings, or shift from wholesale to DTC, Jeff’s story is full of inspiration and actionable insights.