Grazing Grass

Thoughts, stories and ideas.

Famous Four Questions with Jonathan Kilpatrick | 205

Famous Four Questions with Jonathan Kilpatrick | 205

• episode-205 • 1 min read min read

Famous Four Questions with Jonathan Kilpatrick – Grazing Grass Podcast
Jonathan Kilpatrick runs Red Lantern Ranch and Kilpatrick Land & Livestock in west central Minnesota (Alexandria area), grazing sheep and goats and raising pastured poultry.

1️⃣ What is your favorite grazing grass book or resource?


Jonathan’s top resource is the Ranching for Profit School, along with the Executive Link program, because it helped reshape their plan and was a major driver in how they rebuilt their operation.

"I wouldn't be sitting here, you know, in Minnesota today probably if it hadn't been for that school."

2️⃣ What is your favorite tool for the farm?

A spreadsheet, because Jonathan uses it constantly to stay on top of margins, decisions, and whether the business is heading the right direction.

"I use almost daily looking at numbers and checking margins and just making sure I'm making good decisions."

3️⃣ What would you tell someone just getting started?

Get clear on why you are doing it and whether it is a business or a hobby, then focus hard on learning the business side, not just production. He also cautions beginners against setting rigid purity rules that put them behind before they have the system and skills to support it.

"I think people get in trouble when they kind of are in this halfway like, well, I wanted to make money, but it's really not a business."

4️⃣ Where can others find out more about you?