Grazing Grass

Thoughts, stories and ideas.

205 | Jonathan Kilpatrick, Red Lantern Ranch, Kilpatrick Land & Livestock

205 | Jonathan Kilpatrick, Red Lantern Ranch, Kilpatrick Land & Livestock

• Grazing Grass Podcast • 1 min read min read

Jonathan Kilpatrick of Red Lantern Ranch and Kilpatrick Land & Livestock joins Cal to share what changed since he first appeared back on episode 2, including moving from Oklahoma to west central Minnesota (Alexandria area) and rebuilding a grazing operation from the ground up with sheep, goats, and pastured poultry.

In This Episode, We Explore:

  • What prompted Jonathan and his family to move from Oklahoma to Minnesota and restart their operation
  • Lessons Jonathan took from the Ranching for Profit School and how they shaped his decision-making
  • Starting a grazing operation with a clean slate and building genetics that match the environment
  • Grazing sheep and goats together and using goats as part of a buckthorn control strategy
  • Outwintering sheep and goats with minimal infrastructure and what that requires
  • Using adaptive grazing decisions that fit real life, time constraints, and family priorities
  • Expanding from a 45-acre grazing lease by adding tillable acres and converting some to perennials
  • Partnering with a regenerative crop farmer for strip-till or no-till, cover crops, and added grazing opportunities
  • Mobile range coop pastured poultry production, daily moves, and labor efficiency
  • Processing options, state-inspected processing, and why time is often the limiting resource
  • Marketing channels including direct-to-consumer, wholesale, and opportunities in ethnic markets

Why This Episode Matters

If you are building or rebuilding a grazing business, Jonathan lays out a realistic path that balances production, business management, and family life. This conversation is a good reminder that experience matters, time is a real constraint, and matching livestock, grazing, and marketing to your context is what keeps the whole system working.

Resources Mentioned

  • Ranching for Profit School
  • Executive Link program (Ranching for Profit)
  • Google Sheets
  • Excel
  • ChatGPT
  • Gemini
  • P.L. 90-492 (Poultry Products Inspection Act exemption referenced in the discussion)

Find Out More

Famous Four answers for this episode

  • Famous Four Questions with Jonathan Kilpatrick | 205

    Famous Four Questions with Jonathan Kilpatrick | 205

    Famous Four Questions with Jonathan Kilpatrick of Red Lantern Ranch & Kilpatrick Land and Livestock.