Multi-species, Multi-revenue with Chris Kerston
Chris Kerston has been grazing cattle for over a decade. With a longstanding passion for alternative agricultural models, Chris has dedicated much of his life to helping connect ranchers with consumers in ways that create real value for both parties. With formal training and instinctive talent, Chris utilizes social media in concert with traditional marketing techniques to help ranchers share their stories and build long lasting relationships with partners based upon common goals.
For 6 years Chris co-managed a 2,000 acre diversified farm based on holistic grazing and permaculture in the Sacramento Valley. The farm is comprised of old growth olive orchards, heirloom stonefruits and citrus groves, and also raises grassfed cattle, sheep, goats and pasture-raised chickens for both meat and eggs. This multi-species operation created a multi-revenue system that created multiple profit centers. Through creative positioning, the farm quickly attracted national notoriety and the attention from public figures such as Joel Salatin and Michael Pollan. Chris has also been recognized as a leader in the emerging agri-tourism market and he facilitated a partnership with a European-based hospitality company and the farm he managed. The resulting farm stays provided urban dwellers a recreational, but also educational outlet to see first-hand how food could be produced in abundance outside the realm of conventional industrial systems.
Chris has become a recognized public speaker championing for stronger connections between grower and eater and providing training to help build those connections. He has been on the forefront of the collaborative process with state and federal regulators, advocating for the recognition of alternative agricultural models as well as the consumers' right to access healthy local foods. Chris is also very enthusiastic about developing opportunities for young ranchers. Fostering creative solutions to removing barriers of available land and capital will ultimately help cultivate the next generation of holistic land stewards.
We ALL need as many sources of revenue as we can get. In this interview with Chris Kerston, he talks about raising multi-species for multi-revenue. Learn new ways of creating income for your place.