Logan Karcher is the owner and operator of Burnt Hill Cattle Company in southern Illinois, where he raises grass-fed beef, hair sheep, pasture pork, and poultry using regenerative grazing principles. Logan shares his journey from conventional agriculture and rodeo stock to intensive grazing, hair sheep, and diversified enterprises that fit both the land and his goals. His story highlights how education, experimentation, and observation shaped an operation focused on soil health, profitability, and simplicity.
In this episode, we explore:
- Logan’s transition from bucking bulls and feed-based systems to regenerative grazing
- How college, mentors, and grazing schools influenced his management decisions
- Why hair sheep became a key enterprise on limited acreage
- Running cattle and sheep together with single-strand polywire
- Sheep economics compared to cow-calf on small farms
- Clearing wooded ground using sheep instead of equipment
- Lessons learned about fencing, water systems, and infrastructure
- Cover crops, grazing on cropland, and working with conventional row-crop farmers
- Why low-input livestock systems matter for long-term resilience
Why This Episode Matters
This episode offers a clear, real-world look at how regenerative grazing works on a small, mixed operation. Logan’s experience shows how stacking enterprises, matching livestock to the land, and staying curious can dramatically improve both profitability and quality of life. For anyone managing limited acreage or considering sheep, this conversation provides practical insight without hype.
Resources Mentioned
- No-Risk Ranching by Greg Judy
- Stockman Grass Farmer magazine
- Grazing schools and Soil Health Academy events
- Understanding Ag programs
Find Out More
- Burnt Hill Cattle Company on Facebook
- Far Away Farms and Arena (operation Logan manages)