193. Building Intentional Farms from Neglected Land with Stan Oller

Stan and his wife began farming in 2021 after adopting four children and realizing they wanted to raise them with meaningful work and stewardship. Starting with neglected, junk-filled land, they’ve built a regenerative, multi-species farm from scratch—learning through Greg Judy, Joel Salatin, and hands-on mistakes.

Topics Covered

• Moving from western Kansas to Arkansas and starting a farm from nothing
• Adopting four children and using the farm as a teaching tool
• Restoring neglected land and hauling off 340 tires
• Early livestock: 11 heifers → sheep → pigs → broilers
• Grant funding from Illinois River Watershed for water lines and fencing
• Pivoting from South Poll beef to a sheep-focused enterprise
• Leader-follower grazing with cattle and hair sheep
• Using C-90 salt, garlic, and apple cider vinegar for mineral programs
• Direct-marketing lamb, pork, and chicken through GrazeCart
• Adding pigs to utilize 30 acres of woods and reduce ticks
• Launching on-farm poultry processing (non-GMO, soy-free feed)
• Stewardship mindset and educational outreach via Harvest Hosts & farm visits
• Future plans: farrow-to-finish Hereford pigs, possible Dexter cows for raw milk, on-farm events, and intentional growth

Stan’s story is a realistic look at starting late, learning fast, and doing it intentionally. From adoption to regenerative restoration, he shows how faith, family, and stewardship intersect on a small Arkansas farm. Whether you’re reclaiming abused land or diversifying your livestock, his experience offers encouragement and practical takeaways.

Resources Mentioned

• Intentional Farms
• Greg Judy Grazing School
• Joel Salatin videos
• The Stockman Grass Farmer
• GrazeCart e-commerce platform
• Illinois River Watershed Alliance grants

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

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey