196. Regenerative Grazing and Direct Marketing Success with Leslie Svacina

Leslie returns to share what’s changed since her first appearance in Episode 28. She runs Cylon Rolling Acres in northwestern Wisconsin, where she grazes both goats and Texel sheep on pasture and markets meat directly to consumers through a thriving online business. This episode dives deep into her evolution from wholesale to a sustainable, subscription-based direct-to-consumer model — plus her approach to regenerative grazing with multi-species livestock.

Topics Covered

• Managing a mixed flock of goats and Texel sheep under rotational grazing
• Wool utilization and creative uses for lower-grade fleece
• Transitioning from wholesale markets to direct-to-consumer meat sales
• Building a loyal customer base through email marketing and education
• Details of her goat meat subscription model (quarterly boxes, whole-goat option)
• Processing and shipping logistics, including use of dry ice
• Lessons from receiving USDA Value-Added Producer and Buy Local grants
• Educational resources: Goat Meat Primer eBook, Grazing With Leslie blog, and online courses

 If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a small ruminant enterprise into a profitable, direct-to-consumer brand, Leslie’s model is a must-hear. She shares practical insight on managing inventory, shipping meat, marketing through education, and keeping customers subscribed.

Resources Mentioned

• CylonRollingAcres.com
  – Farm website for direct meat sales
• GrazingWithLeslie.com
  – Educational blog for producers
• GrassWorks Grazing Conference (Wisconsin)

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

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey