Our Journey to Regenerative Ranching: A Wild Adventure

Hi, we're Peter and Virginia Sargent! Peter grew up in conventional agriculture, surrounded by cows and horses in Pennsylvania and Wyoming. Virginia spent her childhood hiking on trails and hugging trees in New England. Our upbringings cultivated a shared commitment to conservation and sustainability, leading us to work in environmental policy. We met while organizing around public land, food systems, and climate issues.

Discovering Regenerative Agriculture

The more we learned about regenerative agriculture, the more we realized it could be a key solution to many pressing issues. Our interest in implementing regenerative practices grew as we sought to build resiliency through holistic land management. In 2022, Peter left his desk job to become a ranch hand and brush up on his skills. Meanwhile, Virginia gained new perspectives as a water rights attorney and birth doula. We moved our family to Boulder County, eager to let our regenerative ranching visions percolate while settling into our new community and roles.

Our first summer: tired eyes & full hearts!

A Sudden Shift

Our ten-year plan to run a regenerative operation turned into a wild adventure overnight. The local ranch where Peter worked unexpectedly had to sell their sheep flock and hogs. It was go time!

We acquired the livestock and jumped into action. We built fences, added guardian dogs, dug irrigation ditches, and figured out daily ranch chores. We healed from a whole lot of mosquito bites and strained back muscles, all while marveling at our life with two young kids and hundreds of animals under our wing. Somewhere in there, we sold our first batch of Longroots Ranch lambs and welcomed Berkshire piglets.

The Importance of Community

In our first year, we had to ask for a lot of help and guidance—a humbling requirement of agriculture. The regenerative community in Boulder County is next level. We've made so many friends, teachers, and local partners. Kris and Becca at Lazy Acres have truly gone above and beyond in our first year. They lent us barn space when our ewes unexpectedly started lambing in negative temperatures this January, among other acts of kindness.

We've also developed a trusted mentorship with the team at UVE. Andrea Malmberg and Caity Roberts guide us in all things holistic management. They have a knack for shifting our perspective and keeping us grounded in our mission: regenerating the land.

Expanding Our Team

Most importantly, we expanded our team to include Caelyn Hammett as ranch manager. Caelyn brings immense knowledge of plants, patience with animals, and a passion for feeding the world through regenerative production. Her expertise is invaluable as we navigate the challenges of ranching.

Embracing the Challenges

Ranching is not without its challenges. Each day presents new hurdles, whether it's dealing with unpredictable weather or managing animal health. But we embrace these challenges as opportunities for growth. We learn from each experience, whether it’s a success or a setback.

We often find ourselves laughing at the chaos that comes with raising livestock and young children. It’s a beautiful mess, and we wouldn’t trade it for anything. The joy of seeing our animals thrive and our children learn about nature is worth every sore muscle and sleepless night.

Looking Ahead

As we look to the future, we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. Our goal is to become a top local provider of regeneratively raised, grass-fed meats. We want to connect people with sustainable food sources while actively healing the land through holistic management and innovative practices like solar grazing.

We believe that by sharing our journey, we can inspire others to consider the impact of their food choices. Together, we can create a healthier planet for future generations.

In conclusion, our adventure in regenerative ranching is just beginning. We invite you to join us on this journey, whether through visiting Longroots Ranch, trying our products, or simply learning more about regenerative practices. Together, we can make a difference, one meal at a time.

Let’s embrace this wild adventure together! Join the herd.