21 | Daniel Rose, Grassroots Ranch

Daniel Rose of Grassroots Ranch shares his path from having no farming background to building a diversified, direct-to-consumer livestock operation through leased land near Tulsa. Inspired by reading You Can Farm and learning directly from experience, Daniel walks through the realities of raising grass-fed beef, pasture-raised poultry, and forest-raised pork while managing forage, fencing, water, and labor. This conversation offers an honest look at learning curves, early missteps, and the long-term mindset required to make grass-based farming work.Topics Covered in This EpisodeGetting started in farming without an agricultural backgroundLeasing land as a practical entry point into livestock productionEarly lessons from raising sheep and understanding market demandTransitioning into grass-fed beef, pasture-raised poultry, and porkLearning rotational grazing through trial, error, and observationManaging forage challenges like broom sedge and giant ragweedUsing chickens and pigs to improve soil fertility and pasture healthMobile infrastructure for broilers, layers, and hogsWatering livestock without permanent water systemsViewing farming as both land stewardship and a businessWhy This Episode MattersThis episode matters because it shows what starting from zero actually looks like. Daniel’s journey is not built on inherited land or generational knowledge, but on curiosity, experimentation, and steady refinement. For anyone questioning whether they have the right background, resources, or experience to begin, this conversation reinforces that progress comes from taking action, learning from mistakes, and improving systems over time.Resources MentionedYou Can Farm — Joel SalatinStockman Grass Farmer magazineAsana (project management software)Find Out MoreGrassroots Ranch websiteGrassroots Ranch on Facebook (Grassroots Tulsa)Grassroots Ranch on Instagram Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory.Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research InstituteRedmond Agriculture Grassroots CarbonGrazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook)Original Music by Louis Palfrey