More and more small and mid-sized ranchers are seeing an increasing demand for their pastured meats, from grocery stores restricting the amount of meat that consumers can purchase to meat processing facilities being shut down across the country. Yet, there are many challenges to meeting the demand, including distribution, processing, and scale.
This online session will bring together ranchers for a conversation on how to problem solve together, collaborate, and create opportunities to change our food system in lasting ways. The format will include presentations, break out groups, and Q&A so come ready to engage with your fellow ranchers!
Photo by Alicia Arcidiacono
Tuesday, May 19
4:00pm - 5:30pm Pacific Time
Presenters:
Sallie Calhoun
Paicines Ranch, Paicines, CA
Sallie owns and manages the Paicines Ranch in central California. She is also an impact investor, activist, and philanthropic funder in regenerative agriculture. Her work focuses on restoring agricultural soils to mitigate climate change, while creating healthier people and planet. She is the founder of the No Regrets Initiative, which uses a variety of forms of capital – human, natural, investment, and philanthropic to affect change in the agricultural system. Her first career was in Silicon Valley as an engineer, COO, and entrepreneur.
Kathy Webster
TomKat Ranch, Pescadero, CA
Kathy Webster is the Food Advocacy Director for TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation/LeftCoast GrassFed. In 2008, Kathy helped develop and launch the LeftCoast GrassFed business for TomKat Ranch and today manages the overall operations (certifications, processing, and marketing) while helping run its fork to farm educational programs. In addition to serving on the EcoFarm Board, Kathy serves on the board of American Grassfed Association. She is also an active collaborator on beef processing bottlenecks working with government officials, Niche Meat Processing Assistance Network, and the Central Coast Livestock group and is an advocate for the Regenerative Ranching community, helping to build demand for grass-fed meats in various markets in California, including schools and hospitals. A native Californian, Kathy holds a B.S. in dietetics/nutrition from CSU Chico and lives in Pescadero, California with her husband (who also works at the ranch), two dogs, cats, horses, chickens and ducks.
THIS MEETING IS NOW FULL AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Be sure to register early - the session is free, limited to 100 people and will likely fill up. Recordings will be available to registered participants for those unable to participate live. Please consider making a donation to support our work.
More about EcoFarm's Dirt First Conversation Series
Join us for deep dives with farmers and ranchers who will share their stories of resilience, especially during this challenging time in our lives. Connect with your peers to troubleshoot, gain insights, and exchange innovative solutions to help your farms and communities thrive.
Subscribe to EcoFarm E-News for updates and announcements on future events.