From Conventional to Regenerative: One Family's Journey to Building a Sustainable Farm

“ So yeah the balance of the family and the business and the farming and all that, just trying to get more systematic and efficient so that we can balance it all.”  Abby and Brooks Bowser started farming conventionally at age 20, but after realizing their corn and soybean operation wasn't sustainable, they transformed their Southern Michigan farm into a regenerative cattle operation. Now they run Bowser Family Farms, raising cattle and pigs on pasture while Abby manages both their retail meat business and a flower farm. Their story shows how determination, adaptation, and family support can help build a thriving small farm.  Key Topics:  Transitioning from conventional to regenerative farming  Small farm financial sustainability  Starting farming at a young age  Balancing multiple businesses (meat retail and flower farming)  Seasonal time management as a farming family  The importance of systematic approaches in agriculture  Learning to adapt and change initial farming plans  Moving from commodity crops to direct-to-consumer sales  Family life while building an agricultural business  Marketing challenges for local farm products  LINKS  Farming on Purpose hits 100 episodes! To celebrate, we're giving away exclusive merch and two fantastic children's books: "A Day on the Farm with Mama" by Andrea LeFevre and "Charlie Learns to be a Cowboy" by Danika Kester.  Enter by December 31st:  Leave a review on Apple Podcasts OR  Share any of our posts to your Instagram story  Winner will be announced January 1st!  Thank you for joining us as we explore success stories in agriculture and build stronger farm families, stronger food systems, and stronger rural legacies. Here's to the next 100 episodes!   Marketing Routine class, do so here!  Join the Farming On Purpose Facebook group and visit the Farming on Purpose merch page.   Check out our favorite software tool for online sales: Thrivecart  I may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page.  Other Episodes You May Enjoy:    Episode 84: From Dairy Farm Dreams to Self-Made Farmer: Derek Penrod's Journey  Episode 62: Your Life's Bingo Card and Flower Farming with Liz Fiedler of Sunny Mary Meadow Farms  Episode 80: Barn Restored into Butcher Shop Supports Growing Business Dreams    About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:    I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.    Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.