The Profitable Steward

In this episode, Jared is joined by fourth-generation Nevada rancher, Agee Smith, to talk about his journey to using holistic management to regenerate his family's rangeland. We discuss the challenges he faced in changing his management practices, the successes he has had, and the lessons he has learned along the way.

Agee Smith is a co-owner of Cottonwood Ranch, a 35,000-acre ranch in Nevada. He has been ranching since he was a child, and he has a deep understanding of the land and the animals that live on it. In 1995, he attended a holistic management workshop that changed his perspective on rangeland management. He realized that he needed to take a more holistic approach to managing the ranch, and he began to implement changes to his grazing practices.

One of the biggest changes Agee made was to invite everyone who was interested in the natural resources on the ranch to join a collaborative management team. This team includes representatives from environmental groups, government agencies, and universities. The team meets regularly to discuss the ranch's management plan and to make decisions about grazing, fire, water, and other resources.

The collaborative management team has been a huge success for Cottonwood Ranch. The ranch has tripled the number of cattle it runs, and the riparian areas have been significantly improved. Agee is proud of the work that the team has done, and he believes that it is a model for other ranchers who want to regenerate their rangelands.
If you are interested in learning more about holistic management or rangeland regeneration, this episode is for you. Agee Smith is a wealth of knowledge, and he shares his insights in a clear and concise way. This episode is sure to inspire you to take action to regenerate your own rangeland.
For more info, you can email him at [email protected] or visit their their website.
Be sure to check out our previous episodes and click on the link to join our Webinar series: https://www.agsteward.fyi/registration-page--1 or check this episode on YouTube.

Majority of farms and ranches are family-owned, but many of them fail because of strained or broken relationships. The success of a family farm depends on the ability of the family members to work together and communicate effectively. When these relationships break down, the farm is at risk of failure.
In this episode, Dr. Greg Baer joins Jared Sorensen to talk about the importance of nurturing relationships with the people who are closest to your ranching operation and how having a strong support system can make all the difference in the success of your ranch.
Let's embark on a journey towards understanding, unity, and "Real Love."
ABOUT THE GUEST:
For twenty years, Greg Baer, M.D. was a highly successful surgeon, teacher, civic leader, and entrepreneur. But despite all his accomplishments, wealth, and respect, he felt empty and unhappy. He became a drug addict and nearly committed suicide. In his subsequent search for genuine happiness, he learned some principles that have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands. After Dr. Baer retired from one of the busiest solo eye surgery practices in the United States, he began a new career of writing, teaching, and speaking. He has so far written 17 books about relationships, marriage, and parenting, which have been translated into multiple languages, and published worldwide; produced the three-CD audio series, The Truth About Love and Lies; produced the six-DVD set (with Workbook) The Essentials of Real Love; produced the PBS television special, Real Answers, viewed nationwide; appeared on over 1500 radio and television programs from coast to coast in the United States; counseled personally with thousands of individuals and couples, profoundly changing their lives with the principles and power of Real Love; written thousands of blogs; conducted over 300 seminars and corporate trainings and delivered speeches to audiences around the world where he has taught the principles of Real Love; and developed a comprehensive website that offers Real Love education through video coaching, thousands of blogs, weekly video chats, support forums, and much more. An extensive Master Index is conveniently available to help you navigate through these resources. Dr. Baer and his wife, Donna, are the parents of seven children and live in Rome, Georgia.
Get a copy of his book, "Real Love: The Truth About Finding Unconditional Love & Fulfilling Relationships " on Amazon.
You can also visit his website or watch his videos on YouTube.
Be sure to check out our previous episodes and click on the link to join our Webinar series: https://www.agsteward.fyi/registration-page--1 or visit our YouTube channel.

In this episode, Andrea Malmberg joins Jared Sorensen to dive into the world of Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV). Andrea discusses the role of EOV in regenerative agriculture and how it's revolutionizing the way we think about food production. She also shares her insights on how EOV is helping farmers and ranchers make data-driven decisions to improve soil health, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem function.
This episode offers a deep dive into the power of Ecological Outcome Verification as a key tool in the transition to more sustainable and regenerative agricultural systems. Don't miss this enlightening conversation on the future of food production and ecological stewardship.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Andrea has lived most of her life on the land with livestock and authentic food in the western United States. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Master of Science in Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University. In 2004, after completing her studies in Zimbabwe and Argentina, she became an accredited professional in Holistic Management. Seeing the need to bring the tools of human flourishing to rural communities, she received a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. As a result, she created a platform, LifeEnergy.Guide that people throughout the world are using to manage and monitor their quality of life as defined within their Holistic Context.
You can also visit their website to learn more.
Be sure to check out our previous episodes and click on the link to join our Webinar series: https://www.agsteward.fyi/registration-page--1 or visit our YouTube channel.

In this episode, join Jared Sorensen and Fred Provenza as they explore the obstacles and opportunities facing the world of agriculture. They discuss the challenges that farmers and agricultural organizations face, and the impact they have on food production and the global food system.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Fred Provenza grew up in Salida, Colorado, working on a ranch while attending school in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University. He is professor emeritus of Behavioral Ecology in the Department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University where he worked for 35 years, directing an award-winning research group that pioneered an understanding of how learning influences foraging behavior and how behavior links soil, plants, herbivores, and humans.
He is one of the founders of BEHAVE, an international network of scientists, ranchers, farmers, and land managers committed to integrating behavioral principles with local knowledge to enhance environmental, economic, and cultural values of rural and urban communities.
He is the author of three books, including Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us about Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom; Foraging Behavior: Managing to Survive in a World of Change; and The Art & Science of Shepherding: Tapping the Wisdom of French Herders (co-author with Michel Meuret). He has published over 300 research papers in a wide variety of scientific journals. He has been an invited speaker at over 500 conferences.
The many awards he received for research, teaching, and mentoring are the creativity that flowed from warm professional and personal relationships with over 75 graduate students, post-doctoral students, visiting scientists, and colleagues during the past 45 years.
You can email him at [email protected] or visit their website to learn more.
Be sure to check out our previous episodes and click on the link to join our Webinar series: https://www.agsteward.fyi/registration-page--1 or visit our YouTube channel.

In this episode, Jared Sorensen sits down with rancher and cattle expert Shane Blakely to talk all things calves and heifers. Shane shares his insights on breeding strategies, herd management, and key practices to ensure profitability in your operation. Whether you're a seasoned rancher or just getting started, this conversation is packed with valuable tips to help you raise healthier, more productive cattle. Tune in and learn how to optimize your herd for long-term success!

Be sure to check out our previous episodes or visit our YouTube channel.