171. Growing a Farm Brand with Alex Russell

In this episode, we chat with Alex from Chucktown Acres, a regenerative farm based in Charleston, South Carolina. Alex shares his transformation from suburban musician and Bible college student to full-time regenerative farmer. His journey includes a pivotal internship at Polyface Farms and eventually taking over an existing farm operation in coastal South Carolina. Alex now manages a thriving multi-species livestock operation and also teaches marketing to other farmers.

Topics Covered

• Alex’s health awakening and discovery of real food
• The shift from Bible college to aspiring farmer
• Securing a highly competitive internship at Polyface Farms
• What life and work were like at Polyface
• Starting and rebranding Chucktown Acres
• Raising grass-fed beef, Berkshire hogs, broilers, laying hens, turkeys, and more
• Adjusting practices for regional predator pressure in South Carolina
• Using and recommending Kiwi Tech posts and Gallagher reels
• Building a direct-to-consumer business with Barn2Door and weekly email marketing
• Offering internships for local youth interested in sustainable ag
• Navigating social media and customer communication
• Equipment preferences and gear talk (O’Brien vs. Kiwi Tech)

Whether you’re just starting your regenerative journey or looking to refine your marketing and multi-species operation, Alex’s story is a valuable one. He didn’t grow up farming and didn’t inherit land—but he found a way through passion, grit, and practical action. His take on internships, rebranding, and building customer relationships through authentic marketing is inspiring and actionable. Plus, there’s plenty of great gear talk for graziers who love comparing reels and posts.

Resources Mentioned

• Polyface Farms
• Books & Authors:
  • Folks, This Ain’t Normal by Joel Salatin
  • Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown
  • Works by Greg Judy, Alan Savory, Will Harris
• Barn2Door – eCommerce for farmers
• Redmond Agriculture
• Noble Research Institute Courses
• Kiwi Tech Posts – Available at Ken Cove
• Gallagher reels, O’Brien posts, and other fencing gear

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Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Quickfire Questions
• (01:58) - Welcome to the Grazing Grass Podcast
• (03:36) - Alex's Journey to Farming
• (05:15) - Discovering the World of Health Food
• (06:56) - From Bible College to Farming Aspirations
• (15:57) - Internship at Polyface Farms
• (42:06) - Starting Chucktown Acres
• (45:17) - Starting the Farming Journey
• (45:56) - A Fortunate Break
• (46:59) - Taking Over the Farm
• (48:33) - Rebranding and Relocating
• (49:50) - Challenges and Adaptations
• (53:30) - Marketing and Sales Strategies
• (57:29) - Social Media and Marketing Challenges
• (59:49) - Advice for New Farmers
• (01:12:05) - The Importance of Farmer's Markets
• (01:14:19) - Famous Four Questions
• (01:19:52) - Final Thoughts and Resources