AgEmerge Podcast 164 with Aaron Steele Goats on the Go

Aaron Steele is the innovative founder of Goats On The Go, a national network of targeted grazing service providers revolutionizing sustainable land management. Aaron shares his journey from a small acreage in Ames, Iowa, to building a thriving business that uses goats and sheep to control weeds, brush, and invasive species, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemicals and machinery. Starting in 2012 as a way to move beyond hobby farming, Goats On The Go® has grown into a community of over 70 affiliates across the U.S. and Canada, empowering entrepreneurs to operate profitable, sustainable grazing businesses. Aaron dives into the unique benefits of goats, from their ability to tackle tough vegetation like poison ivy and multiflora rose to their low seed viability, making them ideal for ecological restoration. He also discusses the challenges of raising goats, the growing demand for goat meat, and the untapped potential of virtual fencing in grazing operations. With insights on wildfire mitigation, suburban land management, and opportunities for farmers to lease goats, this episode highlights how Aaron’s vision is transforming agriculture and land stewardship. To learn more, check out goatsonthego.com or Aaron’s audiobook, Goats for Good, at goatsforgood.com Aaron Steele is the founder of Goats On The Go®, a national network of targeted grazing service providers who use goats and sheep to sustainably manage vegetation for their customers. Aaron launched Goats On The Go® in 2012 as an unconventional way to take his small farm beyond a hobby in an environment where expensive land, questionable practices, and a bigger-is-better mentality are the norms. Goats On The Go® now licenses its brands, training, and support to others, building a community of entrepreneurs who seek to operate profitable farms no matter their entry point or size. Aaron holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Iowa State University. A big thank you to Aaron for sharing his insights and the incredible potential of adding goats into your toolbox of sustainable agriculture systems. And, if you’d like to learn what we’re doing to help growers add tools to the soil health and plant nutrition toolbox, check out our website at asn.farm and there you can click on links to follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Linkedin, and YouTube. There’s a lot of great things happening and always something to learn.