Heifer International, Heifer USA, & Holistic Management

#13 – Donna Kilpatrick is the Director of Regeneration at Heifer Ranch, the 1,200-acre U.S. agricultural training center of Heifer International based in Perryville, Arkansas where she directs regenerative land management, supports farmer-led supply chains, and pilots on-farm innovation to improve ecosystem outcomes. In addition to overseeing livestock operations at Heifer Ranch, Donna has helped establish the ranch as a Savory Hub and now collaborates with Heifer’s international programs to deliver monitoring and training support in diverse contexts, from Central America to East Africa.   In this episode, we explore: – how Heifer USA fits into the broader mission of Heifer International – Donna’s early days at Warren Wilson College and the tractor moment that changed her life – training farmers from Arkansas to Honduras in Holistic Management – what she learned attending two advanced-level Savory courses – how she manages an all-female ranch team and what that’s meant for culture and impact – R&D efforts happening at Heifer Ranch – how beavers, bobwhite quail, and gamagrass signal ecological recovery – and what Donna’s “lifequake” taught her about patterns, healing, and personal regeneration   +++   ALL EPISODES: 👉 https://savory.global/podcast JOIN THE COMMUNITY + GET MEMBERS-ONLY PERKS: 👉 https://savory.global/member GET INVOLVED WITH SAVORY INSTITUTE: 👉 https://savory.global/find-your-path   +++   00:00 Intro 01:54 Welcome Donna 04:34 Heifer International's Mission and Work 08:04 Grassroots Farmer's Co-op 16:34 Donna's Journey in Agriculture 28:16 Advanced Holistic Management Courses 39:40 Heifer Ranch Operations and Innovations 45:40 Innovative Technology 46:01 Cost and Labor Efficiency 47:41 Exploring Virtual Fencing 49:45 Staff Training and Management 53:43 Female Leadership in Agriculture 01:01:47 International Regenerative Agriculture Efforts 01:18:25 Personal Growth and Future Plans 01:25:04 Closing thoughts   +++   MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: – https://grassrootscoop.com/ – https://www.heifer.org/ – https://heiferusa.org/ – https://savory.global/eov/ – https://savory.global/calendar-event/holistic-management-comprehensive/ – https://savory.global/calendar-event/hands-on-holistic-management-course-at-the-hickory-nut-gap-hub/ – https://nrhythm.co/ – https://www.hickorynutgap.com/ – https://pasturebird.com/ – https://www.gallagher.com.au/ – https://www.ukkorobotics.com/ – https://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/the-process/ – https://zachbushmd.com/ – https://www.acresusa.com/ – https://hoards.com/ – https://www.chelseagreen.com/writer/allan-nation/   +++   This episode is brought to you by Savory’s Regenerating Members, a global community restoring over 100 million acres through Holistic Management. For less than $1 per day, you can help regenerate 400+ acres every year: 👉 https://savory.global/member   Want to sponsor an episode? 👉 https://savory.global/podcast   +++   FIND US ON SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savoryinstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/savory-institute/   +++   HAVE A GUEST SUGGESTION? We’d love to hear your thoughts: 👉 https://www.tfaforms.com/5169997   +++   Music written & performed by https://www.youtube.com/@travismcnamara9313