Grazing Grass Podcast sharing Regenerative Ag Stories | Transcript: 187. Raising South Poll Cattle & Direct-to-Consumer Beef with Josh Harris

187. Raising South Poll Cattle & Direct-to-Consumer Beef with Josh Harris

September 10, 2025 / 01:13:11/E187

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: We'll
start with the fast five.

Our first question, what's your name?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
so my name is Josh Harris.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: And
Josh, where are you located?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: We are
located in Snow Camp North Carolina,

which is about the center of the state.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

And what's your farm's name

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
It's Harris Home Place Farm.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: and what animals
do you graze and manage on your farm?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: So we,
we manage primarily South Poll cattle

and then we also do some woodland raised
pork and some pasture poultry as well.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, very good.

And what year do you start grazing?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Oh man,
I grew up in it, so, I'm kind of, I tell

folks I'm a little, little odd in that I'm
kind of like a second generation grazier.

But we started implementing rotational,
regenerative, whatever you wanna

call it back then back in 1998.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: you know,
I had a, I had a big, I joke that I had a

big part in that, being seven years old,
so, but you know, it is, it's been cool to

grow up and, and see it in action though,
and, and kind of have a lot of experience

hands on with it over the years.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

I, I'm sure it has.

And I'm sure growing up in it that
whole time has really shaped your

perspective on it and management.

Cal: Welcome to the grazing grass podcast.

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For 10 seconds about the
podcast and for the farm.

Last weekend I went to the Ozark
Homesteading Expo in Springfield.

I was able to see a few past
guests, see some friends there,

and meet some new people.

Talked to Victoria about her sheep
enterprise that she's getting

started, and we got to listen
to Greg Judy do a presentation.

Among others.

I really enjoyed going up there.

I only got to go one day though,
but I made the most of it.

Next week I'll be going to the South Poll
Field Day, so I'm looking forward to that.

And with that, let's get back to Josh.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: But I want
jump back to then you were really small.

Why'd your dad get interested in it?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Well, we were primarily fescue in,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
central North Carolina, and we had

traditionally just had a commercial herd
that he bought out from our grandfather.

Went into Santa Gertrudis a little
bit, and then we had a neighbor that

did some Balancers of Angus Gelvieh,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: yeah.

and had had some of those, but they just,
they just couldn't perform on the fescue.

And he to a talk up in
Greensboro and he jokes about it.

It was so early on, there
was like six people there.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: you
know, and he got a reference to Teddy

Gentry in the south, or you know,
to the, to the grazing piece there.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: you
know, how, how to implement it and

kind of drew a line in the sand at that
point that was like, we're gonna stop

putting any amendments on the pasture.

We're gonna start moving them
and we're gonna implement some

different management practices.

Because it was, it was also
a, a food piece at the time.

I think he, he was pretty convicted
on like, I don't know if I would

want to eat the beef from our farm.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, yeah,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
so appro improving different

aspects of the whole operation.

But you know, it was, it was kind of that
time period, it was like, we're gonna

change, we're gonna do it different.

You know, I didn't really have
any idea what was going on at that

point, but, you know, I, I kind of
grew up in it, but it started slow.

It was like, well, let's split
this pasture and, and let's

kind of flip 'em over here.

And then once it started, you
started seeing the results, it

kind of took off from there.

So.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

You, you start moving cows a
little bit and those results can

cause you to, to start doing.

Well, what else can I do?

How often can I move 'em?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
yeah, yeah.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it
can be a little bit of a drug at times.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

So growing up in it, did your, when
your dad started doing this, when

did he get into electric fencing?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Pretty early

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
which is, is pretty funny back then,

the county was doing some projects
to get cows out of water systems.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: he
was getting them to help with putting

in drinkers and whales and stuff
and, and talking about putting some

cross fences in and they actually
recommended five strand barbed wire.

And it was like, what?

Like, no, no, absolutely not.

So it is, you know, just the
concept of a one strand high

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Mm-hmm.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
a pasture was,

pretty new at that

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, oh, yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
is, is kind of wild to think about.

But he was also working
full-time off the farm, so.

it was how do we, how do you
create a system that that

works with that time schedule?

And, you know, we were young then,
we're playing sports and there

was a lot of travel involved.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: So I,
you know, can commend him a, a whole

heck of a lot on how he got started with
it and how it was set up from, from the

beginning to, to kind of work creatively.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah,
that that was a time when you

drove through the country and you
didn't see any high tensile fence.

And, and to be honest, I still
don't see a whole lot in our area.

But you definitely didn't
see any during that period.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

It was it was a little newer,
newer concept, but we, we started

implementing it then and we were
running off of wired boxes pretty

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: You
know, was always interesting as a 12, 13,

14-year-old, and there's a thunderstorm
on the road and I get to hop on the

four wheeler, go and plug a fence,
because if not, it's probably gone.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

Yeah.

So as a teenager growing up in
it, did you love it and think,

this is what I want to do?

Or how did you end up on a farm?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
yeah, I've always really enjoyed it.

I mean, when I was little, I was all
over the place and we were, you know,

down in the creek and my buddies were
over, we're, you know, going through the

woods and it's an adventure all the time.

And, so I just, I think I just
naturally grew up with that,

that love for the farm in

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: and just
kind of growing up with that lifestyle.

So, even through the teenage years,
you know, it was probably your

classic teenage years where it's
like, man, I gotta go work on.

Saturday morning, which, you know, I, I
played a lot of sports in, in high school

too, so we'd have a basketball game Friday
night and it's like, well, we gotta get

up and work cows on Saturday morning.

And, you know, it was a little different
lifestyle for me compared to most

of the people that I hung out with.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: But,
you know, I always, I always really

enjoyed the, the cattle part of it.

I enjoyed the, I, I think I enjoyed the,
the management aspect, the, the ability

to look at projecting cows and, you know,
what are, what are they gonna turn out as

and which ones are gonna be bull calves
And, you know, it is, it was always fun.

I liked that part when I was, when I was
younger and so I, I think it just was

kind of natural for me from the start.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

I, and I'll have to admit, I loved Darien.

We dared for a long time.

I left a farm to go to
college, came home and dared.

But as a teenager there was a lot of times
I wouldn't be able to convince anyone.

I loved it because it's like,
do I have to go milk again?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: S

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: often.

So I, he had a rule
for me too, growing up.

He said that because we had a
wood stove that heated the house.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
was an exterior one, so he was like,

that woodshed better be full before
you go deer hunting in the fall.

And I was like, ah,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

That's pretty good.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: but
I got really good at splitting wood.

But regardless, off topic, but,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

When you got outta school,
is that when you started your

journey with your own animals?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: No.

So we're, we're, me and my
dad are, are 50 50 on the farm

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
together right now with it.

So, we make a pretty good team, I'd say.

But, you know, I went through high
school and then I played baseball

in college, so I was gone a lot
for, you know, a few years there.

And then after college, I, I
actually got into coaching and then

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Hmm.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
college baseball for a while.

And, but it was always funny, there
was always this tug like, you know,

Hey, I gotta come anytime I'm back.

I'm like, we're on the farm, we're doing

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: You
know, when, when I was coaching college

baseball and we had off weekends,
I would, I'd ride up here and work

cows or whatever we needed to do.

And so there was always that tug and it
was always that eventual goal of like,

gonna be back and we're going to, you
know, continue this, the legacy of our,

our family farm too, because I'm, I mean,
I'm the sixth generation on our farm, so,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it
was, it was part of love for it and

part responsibility at the same time.

But, you know, probably 90 10 on the,
the love and responsibility piece, so.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

And and I'm sure you loved it
and you just grew up knowing this

is where I'm going to end up.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

Yeah, it

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
and I joke 'cause my, I met my wife

in college and I went to school
in a small school in Tennessee.

And I told her, I was like, I mean, just
gonna let you know, like, this is where

I'm going, so you're in or you're out.

But luckily, she, she didn't kick
me to the side of that point, so

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: But,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: And, and
I, I completely understand that,

Josh, because I knew growing up, I
knew when I went to college, I was

going to end up right in this area.

I've got family here.

I didn't know how it was all gonna
happen, but I was gonna end up here.

So that's not really a healthy viewpoint
when you're looking for a job because

you're like, well, that's where I'm going.

So how far can I drive from there?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: yeah.

Yeah.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: So when you
decided to come back home and become a

partner with your dad, how did that work?

Because I talk on this farm
that I work with, my dad.

Dad has his own herd.

I have my own herd, and then
we are partners on some sheep.

So how did that work coming home
and you and him becoming partners?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Well, it's it's, it's an interesting

story about how I got back home too,
because I was, you know, I'd been

coaching college baseball for four
years, had worked my way up, and then

the school had some financial trouble.

So my position got cut and I was just

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: left
hanging in the wind a little bit.

And you know, it's kind of one of
those where God kind of has a plan

for what he is gonna do with you.

And it

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: right.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
well you're going back home now.

And I was like, all right.

And then that same year, that summer.

we picked a lease up on the farm across
the road from us that doubled our acreage.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it
was just like extreme timing with that.

And so talking through like what my
next step was with my parents and with

my dad, he was like, look, we're this
thing's going to, we're gonna grow it.

Like, come let's, let's do it together.

Let, let's really go at this a
little harder and a little different

mindset than we have had in the past.

So, so that was a big part of it and
you know, it worked out employment

wise for me off the farm at that time
that the athletic director position at

the high school I went to came open.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: I mean,
it worked out perfectly and also learned

pretty quickly that schedule is brutal.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: is, yes,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
know, I'm not

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: I.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
that anymore.

I had to find something much
more flexible as we have grown.

So, it's but that, that was kind
of how I got back to the farm.

You know, I'd, I'd say my, my dad
is very unique in how he approaches

our relationship with that.

And, you know, you hear a lot of, Hey,
it's my way or the highway and we've done

this, this is how we've always done it.

And that is not at all how he views it.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

Excellent.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: come
in and really create a lot and bring

some different viewpoints and some ideas
and have a real grasp on the management

of it and kind of be a guide in that.

And, you know, eventually we will work
through the whole transition piece.

You know, I don't know what it looks
like right now, but we'll get there.

So, you know, it's, we have a
really good working relationship.

We work together really well.

We get along very well.

So, you know, and I, I think it's
a good piece that I, I wish a lot

more farms would learn with the
generational aspects of like, there's

responsibilities in both ends of it.

Like the

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: they.

They've gotta have that responsibility
to open up a little bit for

your next generation coming.

But then your, your younger
generation, you've gotta have that

responsibility of respect and and
honor of that older generation too.

So when those two balance, well, I think
it, it works well and it goes smoothly.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130:
I, I have to agree.

I do think younger me and when my
dad was younger, we didn't always

work through it as well as we do now.

You know, it's been a evolution as, but
as I think about, I mean, I've been here

and we've been working together since.

Oh, probably close to, I guess
it's close to 30 years now.

And that's besides growing up with dad.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: with with
coming home and you expanded the, the

farm there, what kind of cattle did
you have at the time, or your dad have?

Was those when he was mainly balancers?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: No,
we, we had south Polls by that point,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, by
that point, already changed over.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
We, we had been introduced

to South Polls back in 2006.

so, you know, I was in eighth grade
then in between eighth and ninth grade

when we got our first South Polls.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
and I remember, you know, we

rode down to Alabama and went and
rode around with Dave Roberts and

Teddy on the farm at Bench Tree.

And you know, we convinced them
to sell 10 heifers in a bull

and that's how we got started.

And dad tells the story a lot better
than I do, but, you know, it was, as

soon as we entered those into our herd,
it was a night and day difference, and

the rest has been history since then.

So, so we, we kind of were very, very
early in the, into the South Polls.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah, I,
I'm trying to think when I heard about

South Post, and I feel like I heard
about 'em fairly early on the timeline.

And I talked to a breeder up in, I think
Northern Missouri about it, and they sent

me some photos and I just wasn't sure.

And of course, like
most things, I'm broke.

So, you know, we didn't,
we didn't pursue that.

And of course, looking back I'm like,
why didn't I, but that's the way,

way it goes with the South Post.

You, you mentioned how it was
a night and day difference.

What was the difference you all saw
once you added those South Polls in.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: So
where we are at North, you know, North

Carolina and Southeast, it is, it's
hot in the summers and it is humid.

I mean, it is, we call 'em
90, 90 days where it's over 90

degrees and over 90% humidity.

It's, you know, it's, it's air you
can wear when you walk out the door.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
So that, that plays a big role.

And the fescue plays a big role.

So we could go out there and it's
two o'clock in July and it's hot, and

you know, the balancers are under the
trees and south Polls are out grazing,

I mean, that's a massive difference.

That's very noticeable.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: the
fly loads were night and day difference.

I mean, it was, and it, it's interesting
to see that side by side too.

So, you know, we just, it was little
observations like that, that we saw,

and it was like these fit, they fit the

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
They, they get fat on grass and they

handle fescue well and they do well in
our, our temperature and our climate.

So, they're very adapted.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: And, and that's
a great way to try and see if some

animals of a breed will work for you.

Bring in a few, you can
see the differences.

I know a lot of times when we're talking
about fly loads on animals, you're

just used to looking at your herd.

We have brought in different breedables
trying different things, and it is

quite obvious when we wean Kevs on
fly load differences just due to

genetics because I'll have kevs right
next to each other, one's covered

in flies, and the other one's not.

Which is just crazy in, in my mind,
it makes sense as I think about it.

There's a genetic element to it.

But how that mechanism works, I think
there's been some discussion about that.

But it's, it's interesting when you
see that, and if you've always just

used one breed or your cows are pretty
homozygous you're not seeing those

differences to be able to pinpoint them.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Correct, correct.

So, so it was pretty influential
to me to see that at a young age,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: kind of
go through that experience very early on.

so, you know, I was bought
into the South Polls.

I really liked them even when I was in
high school and college and, you know,

maybe not making management decisions,
but you could tell they fit really well

and they were just extremely docile.

I mean,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
be, which, you know, we, we tell

everybody that comes and visit us.

Like, you know, docility is somewhat
genetic, but it's also management too.

So it's

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: 'em.

They're gonna respond.

So, but you know, when we did pick
up that lease that I mentioned

earlier, part of that was we had to
buy some of the cows that were there.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
had kind of a second revision of,

having different genetics in that,
in our herd at that point, and to see

some differences, which they were.

They were a hundred percent
Angus, black Angus, and they were

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
of the, 'cause the, was not shy

on spending money on genetics.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: they
were pretty well, well thought of genetics

and it, even then it was just, man,
it's South Olds just outperformed them.

I mean, they, they handled the,
the temperature, they handle

the grass, they handle all that.

I mean, it is just, it's still,
they're just much more efficient

for, for our system that

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

Yeah.

It worked for you all.

Did you also, when y'all got those south
posts started seeing that difference

and then you were able to get the lease
later on, were you using South Poll bulls

on those Angus cows and balancer cows?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

Yeah.

We use south Polls on them.

Um, we ended up moving those cows on as
bred to a South Poll bull before we ever

dealt with calves off of them, because

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: interest
in them in our herd at that point.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: well,
let's move 'em on and then we can.

You know, expand our
South Bowl numbers at that

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

Yeah.

So y'all were fully
bought in by that time.

Because I was gonna ask about those
half South Polls, how they performed,

but it sounds like you all sold 'em
as bread too, before they got there.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: well

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
We had some of our the bouncers

we had, we bred south Poll bulls.

We still have one of our mama cows
we kept from that that was 50 50.

And we've actually kept her daughters
too, because she's such a good cow and

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
are good cows.

It's like, you know, a
good cow's a good cow.

That's

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Right, exactly.

Yeah,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: can get
really caught up in papers, but a good

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130:
we can, you're right.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
cow is a good functional cow.

So she fit that bill very well,
and she's a very productive

member of our herd over the years.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
years old now, but

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Well
that's, that's the kind you want.

The ones, ones that last work
for you for over a decade.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yep,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

And it, it, you know, and you bring up an
excellent point there about, regardless

of the papers, you have good animals,
you have poor animals, you have animals

adapted for your area and not adapted.

You just have to find what
works for you in that area.

And yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

Yeah.

The, the adaptability has been
a big focus of ours the last

probably seven, eight years now.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: So you
went pretty much just South Poll.

Have you, you mentioned
a commercial cow there.

Do you have some commercial cows or do
you go ahead and go all registered stock?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
No, we're, we're all

registered stock with it too.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
It, it was kind of funny, I think

when we first got South Polls that I
don't think they had a registry yet.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
you know, my dad was actually on the

board for a long time of the breed,
so it was you know, he kind of got

to go through that experience too.

But we, we've always valued
the registration piece of it.

'cause it adds credibility to.

You know, the lineage and all that.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
I mean, it, it ultimately, it

does bring value to those animals,
especially in the market right now.

It might not be a big value,
but it's worth the, the time and

effort to make sure that they're,
they're registered in there.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

Just continuing on that
piece for registration.

You know, different registries or
associations have different requirements.

What are you required to, when you
register 'em, does it take DNA testing?

Are you required to submit weights?

What's the requirements
for registered animals?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
The big change for, for South Polls

is that it will be DNA parentage

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: now.

So that, that was kind of big news.

I think it was July one
that that kicked off.

So, any calves moving forward will,
will have to be parented verified in

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

You mentioned that DNA being recent, that
parentage has to be verified, which I

think is a great thing and that's a great
tool for DNA because as much as we would

like to think we know exactly who that
animal was bred to, if we're not running

very many animals or very many bulls, or
even if we have one bull in a pasture with

cows, things can happen and you end up
with a calf that's outta something else.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It could.

You never

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

It's not quite as bad as the
sheep and goats, but it can

still happen with cattle.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: yeah.

And you know, for us, in our operation,
we were moving that direction anyway and

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Mm-hmm.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
use mul, multiple bulls.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it
was kind of like, okay, well, you

know, I see a, you know, a smaller
operation with 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 cows.

Something like that would probably be a
little more opposed to that type of stuff.

But no, it's, you know, as the breed
grows, you have to, to keep that validity

in it would be a good way to put it.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Right, yeah.

When you look at your herd and
selecting animals for breeding purposes,

what's your breeding philosophy?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Well, so before we picked that

lease up, we actually had two
separate herds of mama cows.

'cause our, our farm's
somewhat fragmented.

We got a pasture here, a pasture there.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: we
did is we would have a spring calving

group and a fall calving group.

'cause you can,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
in the fall here with our climate,

it's not a, not an issue too much.

So, and it's actually what a lot of
around us have traditionally done.

So spring cabin in, in our area is a
little, probably a little contrarian.

Used to be anyway, it's not as.

Not as unpopular now, but

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: so we
had kind of two groups with that, and

we could use one bull on both of 'em,
and it was a little more effective.

so when we, when we picked up more
acreage, we put everything together.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
was like, okay, we have two

cabin seasons at that point.

And we were like, well, how, you know,
this will be interesting to manage.

So, we actually, we've
kept both calving seasons

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
kind of, I know it's different.

There'll be a lot of opinions on
that, but, you know, it's also

plays a, a role for our meat
business that has really developed.

But you know, we just, we manage
when the bull's in there and it,

it seems to work pretty well.

We've been doing it for
about four years now.

But it, you know, it is two
weaning a year and a little bit

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: But as
our numbers have grown, we've also learned

our infrastructure would have to grow too.

So whenever we can.

know, in this transition period,
if we keep 'em split up as far as

when they're calving, then it's
less calves we have to handle within

our infrastructure at one time.

So it makes it more manageable for

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: It keeps
it exciting throughout the year though.

I mean, you know, who doesn't love
going out there during Calvin season

and get, do it twice in a year?

That's pretty cool.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Well, the
people who don't love it are the people

having to pull calves, because I know
if you're pulling calves or you have to

check them all the time, it's no bueno.

But but you breed for livestock
that doesn't have those issues.

It's a, it's enjoyful.

I love seeing the baby
calves in a pasture.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: yep.

And that's of the big perks that we
saw with South Polls as well, kind of

on down the line from when we first
got 'em, was the ease of calving

was definitely there because we've

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
two calves in since 2006.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: you
know, I mean, going from that to.

You know, before it was maybe a couple
a year, so, you know, it's, it's much

less stress during Calvin season, but

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: keep
an eye on 'em, but it, it keeps 'em

mobile for us and keeps 'em moving.

We stay in our grazing and
we just, we keep rolling.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: I have to
admit there is an issue years ago when

we were more based upon what we were
breeding at the time, we knew exactly

where our calf, puller, and chains were.

If I have to go get a animal in right now,
in pull a calf, I know where they should

be, but I'm not a hundred percent sure.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: yeah.

Yeah, we, we'd probably
run into that too, so,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah,
it's a good problem to have.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: yeah.

Yeah, definitely.

So.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

With your two breeding seasons, two
calving seasons, are you putting

bulls out for 45, 60, 75 days?

Pulling or putting them in, then
pulling them out, then putting them

back in for the next breeding season.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: yeah,
we'll, we'll put for our spring cabin,

we put 'em in, we, we go about 70 days

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
just 'cause with our rotations we'll

end up where we can't really sneak
'em out of there at a timely manner.

So sometimes

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
they're in there a little longer

than, you know, would be industry
standard or anything like that.

But you know, we, we try to
shoot about 70 days with it.

So we'll put 'em in mid-June and
we'll pull 'em out 70 days later.

And then we do that in the winter as well.

So about

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: we'll
stick 'em in and then pull 'em out.

So, but we try to those, older calves
out of there before that happens

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: so we
don't have any, you know, 11 month old or.

10 month old heifers in there
with them or anything like that.

So we try to manage around that as well.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

With your.

Y you're breeding like
that and pulling them out.

I think it's great to
extend on the tail end.

We, we went a period of time
when we were trying to hit that

breeding window, just get it tight
and, and pulling the bull out.

I, my philosophy has changed over
time that we leave that bull in

longer because that cow in calf's
worth more than that open cow.

We just gotta manage the Kev season.

If they don't keve in the window, and
I'll be honest, we're not real good about

that right now, but if they don't keve
in the window, they can go to town with

a kef, which I think is value added.

If you can follow through
on that Kevin window.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, yeah.

There's a lot of, you know, you
gotta hold yourself accountable

to a lot of that stuff

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: You do.

Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
and there's a lot of different

opinions on, on that across

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: there is you.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
the spectrum.

So.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130:
You're exactly right.

Now one thing you mentioned was
one of your breeding seasons.

The bulls are going in in mid-June.

That's gonna be hitting some
of those 90, 90 days for you.

How's that work for you?

Are you having any issues
with that Heat and humidity?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Nah,
nah, the bulls are that, that's the

importance of using adapted animals
though, because your bulls need to be

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: too,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: right.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
in that regard.

So that's something that we, we really
like about naturally servicing the

cows with bulls, is that we get to
see the bull in our environment most

of the time for longer than just
60 days or something like that too.

So, you know, we wanna make sure he can
hold up in our, our management system, in

our grazing, because those, those traits
are gonna be reflected in his calves.

So if he can't hold up in it,
then his calves won't hold

up that well in it either.

So, so it's, it's, it's always
good, but we haven't had, you

know, any issues with the heat.

They handle it really

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

Let's talk a little bit
about your calves, because.

One criticism I hear about having smaller
cow, smaller cows, or more moderate sized

cows, is you take a hit at the market.

What are you seeing when
you sell your animals?

Are you marketing any through wholesale
channels or are you marketing all

through breeders and direct to consumer?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, my, my rebuttal to that would

be well create your own market.

So, why, why would you go to a market
that's gonna penalize you that doesn't

make sense from a business standpoint?

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Right?

Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
would do that?

So why, why do we accept it?

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: that's
something that we really like about the

business that we've developed too, is
that we're kind of from a lot of those

you know, industry markets at that point.

So we're not held to that.

We set the price for about
everything that comes off the farm.

You know, does the, the commodity
stuff have a an impact on pricing?

Of course it does.

But you

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: you can
value your animal at what it's valued for

and not have to just take somebody else's
opinion on it, then it's a lot better

business wise for you at that point too.

So, you know, the only thing that we might
take a, a coal to the stockyard near us

that, you know, we can't turn to beef.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
that, that's about the only thing

that, that we would do that with.

But of that, you know, we're, we're
running a, our retail beef business too.

So, you know, coal cows a lot
of times will roll right into

our beef side and it's, it's
really, really good beef that you

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
a coal cow too.

But, you know, we're, we're pretty much
controlling the price without everything

that comes off the farm, whether
it's in the freezer or on the hoof.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, yes.

Kinda like, I think as Bud
Williams has said, be a price

setter, not a price taker.

And I could have the credit wrong on
that, but that's a important shift.

It really makes a big difference.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, it does.

It takes extra work though.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it,
it's, that's what we kind of talk about

with on the beef side is that, you know,
it's a, it's a whole separate business in

itself compared to the seed stock side.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
they work together and they, they

need to function together and,
and in accordance with each other.

But you know, when you start marketing
your own stuff, you, you, there's

some cost and there's time in that
marketing piece of it, and you've gotta,

you've gotta have some strategy to
it, or else it's gonna probably fail.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

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cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Let's, let's
come back to your beef business and talk

just a little bit more about seed stock.

How are you marketing your animals and
do you always have animals for sale?

Are there certain times you have animals?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
So we we jumped in with a group

in Virginia a couple years ago.

That's done a sale up
there the last few years.

It's coming up a couple years ago.

That's

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: And
then there's a group in south, you

know, this year with our females.

We're gonna, we're gonna
go those routes with it.

Have, you know, we, we
kinda laugh sometimes.

We're like, man, we, we could
sell everything we have in

about 10 minutes if we wanted

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
a lot of inquiries.

The demand right now is
really high for South Polls.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: so we,
we get a lot of calls, a lot of visits.

So it's kind of, you know, you
gotta, sometimes you have to tell

folks no, or it's not available and
kind of make decisions in advance.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
in advance of, Hey, how are we

gonna market them next year?

You know, so that way we can
start communicating that now.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
but, know, we do some private treaty

sales too, which is other producers.

It, it depends, but you know, it's
not really available all year round.

We don't do like, Hey, we're
gonna sell everything on this day.

Like that, it's, it's, there's some
feel and there's some nuance to it,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
But those are the, the two pieces

there that, that we're utilizing
this year to, to move our females.

Just, you know, part of that's because
we do get so much demand, it's hard

to really choose who to sell 'em to.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it
eases it on our end a little bit.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

And with that, you're selling
bulls and then a few females.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

Yeah.

Mostly females and

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
we're pretty, we're pretty picky on.

Which bulls stay intact.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

Which is a good thing.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: yeah.

And it's, we, we have a lot of
value in them as steers as well.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: not
like we're gonna take a hit on, on

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: I.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
them, so it'll you know, we, we try

to be very, very picky on those.

But that's what we kind of were, me and my
dad were, we were laughing the other day.

We were like, man, we didn't,
we didn't keep any bull casts

for two whole cabin seasons.

Like,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
it's just our, our, the beef side

was growing so much and, you know,
there wasn't just the clear cut.

You know, there were some that
would've developed fine, but

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Right.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
it's just a decision we made.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

Josh, let's switch gears just a little
bit and talk about your beef business.

How did you get started direct to
consumer and how is that going?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
So we we'd always sold some beef.

Just through the years,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: just a, a
folks, you know, kind of deal folks in the

community, we'd sell eighths and quarters.

When I moved back to the farm and we
picked up the acreage, that was when

we were like, all right, let's try
to, let's try to grow this thing.

So that was 2019, which, you
know, it would've been nice if

we could have taken that route
about three years sooner and been

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Right.

Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: but

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
But it, it did bring that heightened

awareness that following year of

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: need
to know where our food's coming from.

So, you know, that kind
of got us on that path.

We started, I made our website
and just created a website for us.

And we started pushing it on, on Facebook,
and that was kind of when we started our

social media push as well in that, regard.

So, but it was, Hey, email
us if you're interested.

We'll get it scheduled and
then figure it out that way.

And it was not very long.

You know, we knew that it was not
an efficient way to do it, but

it was, it was pretty quickly.

It, it became inefficient.

We were like, I was like, I can't,
we can't manage it this way.

So, so we, you know, when we made
the decision, Hey, we're really

gonna push this harder we went and
invested in a, a much better website.

We started selling retail cuts and
we came up with a logistical setup

that was much more efficient for us.

So, so it's, it's kind of
grown and it keeps developing

and we keep adapting as we go.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Okay.

Did you find, when you all started you,
you said you were doing some social

media and it quickly outgrew that.

Did you find a really good demand for it?

And when?

When I say that, you said 2019.

So did you start selling beef
before COVID hit or was it

after COVID had kind of set in?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: We, we
had started kind of right before that,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: We,
we'd kind of gotten it out there and

then, you know, 2020 went berserk.

But know, it, we saw pretty
good demand at first.

It was kind of on that, the cusp
of, you know, we, we went after the

target market of healthy food was

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: we were,
we were marketing it as at that point.

So, you know, and then COVID came
along and it just kind of shifted

a lot because the consumer shifted,
market shifted our viewpoint on food

and, and the security and fragility
of the food system shifted and

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Mm-hmm.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
other people's viewpoints did too.

So, so that kind of changed our,
our approach at that point as well.

But,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Hell yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
but social media has been a big tool

for us in, in kind of building that.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

And I, I think you mentioned this
earlier, you're selling by the cut.

Are you going to any farmer's market?

Are you, you doing it all through
the website and at the farm?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
We do it all through the website.

So that was something when we
made the decision to start selling

beef it was, we're not gonna
go sit at a farmer's market.

So, in my personal opinion, I
think it's, it's gonna become an

antiquated way to sell farm products.

Eventually.

So we said, you know, it wasn't worth the
time, the effort, you know, you're taking

a lot of stuff outta your freezer to take
it there and then probably bring it back.

You're transporting it,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it's
not an efficient way to sell meat

or just sell a product in general.

And, you know, we don't really, we
have some good ones around us, but

we'd have to travel a decent bit

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: get ' em.

And then it's like, well, you
gotta get accepted into it and you

gotta apply and all this stuff.

And I'm like, this is.

Like, I uhuh.

we're like, we're gonna
create our own marketing.

Like let, let, let's

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
our own setup here.

So, so we started online and then we,
we've actually partnered with some

businesses in surrounding areas and we
put freezers in their lobby, and then

it's a pickup option on our website,
and it's a small fee with it, but we,

it lets us deliver once on the weekend.

We go take it, put it in the freezer.

Folks can come in the next week whenever
that business is open and pick it up.

So a,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: really,
it's worked out to be a really good setup.

So we've been able to, to get
into the, the Raleigh market.

With that, we've been able to get
into Southern Pines and Sanford

and some of our surrounding areas
that, you know, those folks aren't,

they're not gonna drive to the farm

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Right,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: super

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: right.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
to go do home deliveries at

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yes.

Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: that
was kind of our middle ground and

it's been a really good fit for us.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: I
really like that solution.

It allows you to, to deliver once a week
to that place and then your consumers

are able to go in when it works for them.

They're not trying to hit a certain time,
you're not doing home di deliveries.

I think that's a great
solution to that issue.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, yeah, we do some home.

We offer home delivery,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Pretty limited on who does it.

So, you know, if there's a pickup
option that's cheaper, folks

pick that most of the time and

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: for ' em.

And, the other kicker is that we're
very picky on who we do it with.

So it, it has to kind of align
with their business as well.

And,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
most of the time the, the business

actually helps promote it too.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it
adds another level of marketing for us.

It, it gives us another space where people
see it 'cause they see the freezer in

the lobby and it's got our stuff on it.

And.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: so
it's, you know, it, it is kind of

consistent marketing at the same time

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah, I, I could
see that being really Ben beneficial.

You mentioned you are doing a
little bit of home delivery.

Do you have a route,
certain area you cover?

How's the home delivery work?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: we
limited it to zip codes within a,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: you
know, it's kind of like one county

around us is, is what we limited it to.

So, and it's not that bad.

It usually works out pretty well.

And it's, you know, we might have
like one or two on the weekend or

something, and most of the time
it's, it's generally on that, that

delivery route to our pickup locations

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: so
it's not too far outta the way and

works pretty, pretty efficiently for us,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Are for
the consumer, are they looking, are

they picking a time that you would
deliver it or are you telling them we

will be here at x or whatever time?

I'm just thinking about how are
they keeping the meat cold If

they're not there, is it something
they're planning to be there?

How's that work?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah,
they, they know it's coming that day.

So, and then we, I communicate with
them Friday night and just say,

Hey, we will be there this time and
you know, are you gonna be there?

If not, you need to leave
a cooler out for us and

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Right.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
you get it.

So,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah, exactly.

Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
yeah, that, that's, you know,

and that's something we're
gonna improve in the future too.

We just, we'll probably introduce shipping
in the coming years, next year or two, but

we just don't have the volume 'cause we,
we satisfied with our local market so much

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
you know, it hasn't made sense

to offer a bigger reach yet.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

And one thing I think you said earlier,
you're moving most of your coal animals

or, and I hate to say coal animals,
but certain animals, you are coal,

but some you're raising just for this
market, but you're moving them basically

completely through your beef market.

Beef business.

Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yep.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yep.

So, and that's where, you know,
the advantage of that four or

5-year-old cow that, you know,
maybe she'd missed this year or lost

her calf or something like that.

And we can roll her into our beef
program and it goes from, you know,

taking her to the, the sale barn where
she might, you know, who knows what

the price is these days, but, you
know, consistently it's not gonna be a

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Right.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
gain for you, but it, it turns

it into a pretty valuable animal
steel once, once it's finished.

So, you know, it, it adds that
other aspect to us for that.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

Now, when you are thinking about an animal
and what you're getting that animal cut

up into for how, how do you make that
decision what they get cut up into?

And is there any difference
based upon age or anything when

you're making that decision?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, it depends depends on the

age of the animal, you know, if
they're, if they're older, we, we

probably just do ground beef with it,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: is
mostly what we, we, we tried some

older ones and, and tried cutting
some steaks out just to try it.

And it was our experience.

We ate 'em, we didn't sell 'em.

So, so that was something that,
you know, it was like, okay,

yeah, that's a little tougher.

It still

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: though.

I mean, the flavor was there, it
was really good, but it's just

like, wasn't to our standard as
what we want our consumers to have.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: right.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
but the ground beef is always,

it's, it's pretty solid regardless.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: but
you know, if it's a, a fairly younger.

Cow at that point.

If it is a cold, we usually cut
it like we do everything else.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: and
we, we use a somewhat standard cut sheet

just to keep it consistent 'cause it
keeps our inventory consistent on our

website and keeps our communication
consistent when we do sell bulk packages.

So it just makes it easier for everybody.

we have some folks ask about, you know,
Hey, can we, can we decide how it's cut?

And I send 'em the cut sheet and
they're like, no, we're good.

Here you go.

You can

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: So
you know, it's partly educational on

the con the consumer side as well.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

And when you're selling your meat,
are you selling it mainly by the cut?

Do you have some bundles or are
they buying whole half quarters?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: We do
so each animal will sell, we pre-sale

two quarters out of it and then the

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: half
of it we put into our retail inventory.

So, that was something to help
us manage freezer space as well.

'cause that's a.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: right.

Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: You
know, especially in a, that's growing

like this, that's a, that's a bottleneck
as you get started as your freezer space.

Which hopefully we've addressed that
now, but, you know, it, it getting

going, it was kinda like, well,
you know, it's very valuable to us.

If we can move half of it right
off the bat and have it playing the

go somewhere, then let's do that.

And then we can also satisfy that
demand for just the retail cuts as well.

'cause when we were just selling eighths
and quarters, we kept getting a lot of

questions like, can I just buy steaks?

Can I just

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: I
just want 10 pounds of ground beef.

And it was like we were missing
a whole part of the market by,

you know, not offering that.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
so it, so it allows us to broaden

our, our market that we're reaching.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

And in addition to your beef, you're
also selling a few other products there.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yep.

Yep.

We do.

So the pork and chicken
are newer ventures for us.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
the last four or five years

we, we've introduced that.

So we kind.

The beef kick started the meat sales and
then it was, hey, let's, let's find some

ways to diversify our product lines a
little bit and also bring some different

aspects to the, the stresses of the farm.

You know, what running pigs through
that, running chickens on the pasture.

So we were after the soil benefits
really more than, than anything, but it,

it is in combination as, as the same.

So, so we do, we do sell
pork and chicken as well.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

And how are those markets going?

Are they and businesses for the farm?

Are they growing you?

You're finding a nice demand.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

It's, it is interesting.

The pork is, is very different.

People's taste for beef
and pork is very different.

Which is it's very interesting just to
kind of follow consumers and you know,

what they're after and who eats what.

And so the, you know, the, the demand
for pork, I guess with our market

at least, isn't as high as the be.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
moves, but you know, it's not

like, I mean the, the demand for
the beef is unreal right now.

So, chicken is, has gone
pretty quickly for us too.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
we, we joke about that.

We, we got into parting chicken, so,
you know, tenders and breasts, we

send our weekly email out and it's,
it is like gone in about 10 minutes,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Which
is fun to watch, but, you know, and

then I like leg quarters take a little
longer to sell, which I don't understand.

They're my favorite part.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
And it's a good meal.

The kids like to eat it 'cause it's on
the bone, you know, they feel like a cave

man eating some chicken off the bone.

But

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: For your, your
chickens, are you processing them or are

you taking 'em somewhere or be processed?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: yeah,
we, we've been processing them to get

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
we don't do a ton of chickens.

It's, you know, it's kind of
what we can manage and it adds

something else to, to our product

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: As we
continue to scale, we'll have to figure

out, you know, a, whether we want to
continue to do that or how do we grow

that number and keep it manageable.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Right.

Yeah.

And, and if you are looking at off the
farm processing, finding it, and then the

added cost that's in there, it's, yeah.

A few questions to be
answered in that journey.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: things.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

For your hogs, you've got 'em running
in woods, clearing it, opening it up.

What breed of hogs did you go with?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
so we, we buy in feeder piglets, we

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh,
you're buying feeder pigs then?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
we didn't, that was a

different ball game there.

So we,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Well,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
to keep it simple.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130:
yes, I completely agree.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: We,
we've been running a mix of old spot

and Berkshire, and then our supplier
decided to, to shift direction.

So we, we shifted to a
waddle mix now that, that

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
one of our friends or a farm.

Friend, I guess you'd call it, but yeah.

Yeah, one of the guys we gotten to know
pretty well, so a lot of respect for him

and what he's doing, but so he's kind
of become our supplier now with that.

But, you know, we have him for
five months, five, six months.

On the farm.

We run 'em through the woods.

We've got a lot of
hardwoods where we're at.

So there's a

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
a lot of oak trees.

It's a, it is a pretty
good setting for hogs.

It's not super thick.

It's pretty open underneath anyway,
so, you know, they can go through and

they, they clean it up pretty good.

And it's interesting, those areas, we've
seen different species of plants come up

because that leaf floor isn't there, so

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
grasses that have come up in there.

Some other things like that.

So it, it adds a lot of
a lot of variety for 'em.

But they do really well.

They really like the late fall, so after

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
are on the ground.

But

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Running
'em in the pasture too, and that was, that

we decided quickly that was a bad idea.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah,
because they tore up too much faster.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
yeah, not, we were like, Uhuh.

I don't, I don't think we like that.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: right.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
done experiment.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: So you're
moving them through wooded areas.

How often are you moving them and are
you using electric fence with them?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yep.

We used, so we started just
using some reels in Polywire

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
of create our paddock and

it, it wasn't very efficient.

So, we took a break from
'em for about six months.

We skipped a kind of a round of
doing our pigs and we went in and

we put in two strands of high tinsel
as kinda like our exterior fence.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: you know,
it's most 1218 inches off the ground.

Just two strands of high tinsel.

And then we'll pull our poly wire right
across, just like we manage our cattle.

So, it's very similar system.

We have to keep water moving to 'em.

So we, we run a garden hose, it's
hooked up and we actually tie it to a

T post and bang it in the ground and.

keeps

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: but
you know, it, it, it helps that, you

know, we can move quicker if we need to.

We can move slower.

Right now it's, you know,
it depends on their size.

When they're younger, we'll kind of go
a week between moves as they get bigger.

We'll do three, four days.

We want to get impact in
that area and clean it up

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
So, you know, if we just kind of fly

through it, we don't hit it very hard.

You know, we could do that, but it's,
it's more work at that point for not a lot

of that, that effect we're looking for.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: right.

Yeah.

Shifting gears just a little
bit with your chickens.

What kind of chicken tractor
are you using for your chickens?

I assume you're using
a, a movable shelter.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah,
we, we started with the south and.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
So we, we got started with that.

We're kind of just managing with them
until they, they end their lifetime.

So, and they're not worth keep going.

So, and then we we're planning
on going with a different type

of structure, more of like a hoop
house type structure moving forward.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
a little bigger.

So, and that's something like you,
between this year and next year we're

gonna have to, to look at that as well.

So that, that's one of our
decisions we've got coming up.

'cause you know, I'd love to see
the guys that are doing it at

a much larger scale on pasture.

I think it's so cool 'cause
we're in chicken country here.

I mean, the chicken house is everywhere,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: you
know, when the, when your neighbors that

have chicken houses drive by and they,
they see 200 chickens out on the pasture,

you know, it raises some eyebrows.

So, you know,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: I am sure

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
to have a an even bigger unit out

there that, you know, draw some more
eyeballs, but that'd be all right.

So we manage what we can.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: that chicken
manure is such amazing stuff too.

I mean, it, it makes rocks grow grass.

It's, it's amazing.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, yeah, it's really cool.

It what really stuck out to us
was February of one year, we got

the drone up and we were flying
above the pasture, and you could

still see just the squares down the

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
from the pre, from that whole year.

I mean, you could see it in February.

We'd grazed through there
with the cows and everything.

So it

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it's,
it was really cool to see like, okay,

that's a pretty big effect we're, we're

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah, it is.

Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: So
that's why, you know, we try to pick

areas where we, where we do our chickens
at, and we kind of go geographically

is how I'd describe it, of like, we'll
pick a paddock of our grazing and, we'll

run 'em through there for the year and
then we'll pick one over here the next

year and kind of keep going from there.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

Yeah.

So, so they're in areas
where you're grazing cattle.

Do you ever have cattle in with those
structures or do you usually avoid

it when you have those structures
in there or you fence 'em out?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
right through there.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Row right there.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
cows right through with them.

Yep.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

I, I figure cows wouldn't be a problem.

I know I've got a, a couple little
trick chicken tractors and I don't

want my goats next to it because the
goats will just cause havoc with it.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

The cows, they don't mess with a mush.

They might scratch on it a little
bit, but they, they, they avoid it.

So they're

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah,

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
the heck are those things?

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: yeah.

Right.

So as you think about the the
coming years and the future

for your farm, what do you see?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Scaling?

our, that's our goal.

How do we, how do we continue to scale it?

Because we've you know, it, it's
been a challenge for us the last.

Five, six years now.

That's been our goal.

That's what we've been working through.

You know, we went two years and didn't
sell any females to grow our numbers.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: so
it's, you know, now it's, as we're

we're growing in size to continue
scaling it, it has to change as well.

So, you know, that that's something that
we're really putting a lot of effort

into right now of how, how do we manage
scaling, how do we grow it, how do we

continue to, adapt and, and create a,
viable business as a whole with it.

So, you know, future years
that, that's priority one.

And then we look at our stolens from there
and, you know, how does each one fit in?

How does our seed stock fit in?

How

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Mm-hmm.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: fit in?

How does pork fit in?

How does chicken fit in?

and we have to manage, manage that.

We might have to prioritize ones
over the other, which we, you know,

seed stock's priority one, in our
opinion, beef's priority two, and

then the other pork and chicken or,
you know, they're hanging in there.

So.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Ru

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
They're still worth it enough

for us to continue right now.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah, it is
gotta be, you've only got so many hours

in the day for you to get to everything.

Make sure it's done in a way
that you, you want it done.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Yeah.

Yeah.

And it, it takes a lot of effort to
work on the business as much as in the

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: It, it does.

Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Know,
that, that's something else where, you

know, I still, I still work off the farm.

I run our Chamber of Commerce in
town right now, so, which has been

extremely valuable to, to us and to me

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
to interface with so many business

folks just day in and day out,
and some really successful people.

And, you know, they, you can ask
questions to people that, like, they

don't have the farm bias to it, so

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
it from a system standpoint

and a, a business standpoint.

And they'll, you know, they, they
challenge you on stuff and they

get you to think differently.

And, so it's, you know.

It, it brings that aspect that we've
been able to kind of approach things

and, and we continue to challenge
our thought processes on what we're

doing and, and how to, how to do it
and how to get bigger and, and grow.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

That, that would give you a
very unique perspective getting

to, to have conversations with
these business individuals.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
Yeah, very much so.

It's

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
some really cool doors to

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh, I'm sure.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: That,
you know, I never, never would've

thought I'd been discussing regenerative
agriculture with our state reps and

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: so when
you get to sit in front of those people

and tell 'em pretty directly, you know,
your thoughts and your opinions on stuff

and how we as a whole in agriculture
might miss the boat on some things.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
pretty interesting.

So.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130:
Oh, that would be, yeah.

Josh, it's time we do our
famous four questions.

The South Poll Grass Cattle Association
invites you to the 17th annual South

Poll Field Day and cattle auction
happening September 19th and 20th, 2025

at Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas.

This flagship gathering brings together
as breeders, enthusiasts, and industry

professionals to celebrate the South
Poll breed, while deepening knowledge

of grazing systems and animal husbandry.

This event features educational talks
on the history of the South Poll

breed, heifer development on forage.

And breakout sessions on grazing
tools, record keeping and

producing premium grass fed beef.

You also enjoy the junior speaking
contests, networking opportunities,

visiting with vendors, and plenty more.

Founded in 2008, the SPGCA is a nonprofit
dedicated to advancing this gentle,

heat tolerant maternal breed known for
exceptional grass to beef efficiency.

They provide pedigree registrations,
education, and events that connect

and support producers nationwide.

Join us for two days of learning,
sharing, and community register,

or learn more at southPoll.com.

That is south Poll.com.

S-O-U-T-H-P-O-L-L.com.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Same four
questions we ask of all of our guests.

Our first question, what's your favorite
grazing grass related book or resource?

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: Hmm.

Okay.

Can I give you two?

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Yes.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: one?

Okay.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130:
You can give us two.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: and I,
I will, I will go ahead and preface it.

It has it, they both probably have
nothing to do with actually grazing

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: That's okay.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: The
first one is, is the Bible, in my opinion,

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130: it
is the center of our life and our

farm, and it, it guides our decisions.

It guides our mindset,
it guides everything.

So we're not in that every
day, then we're gonna struggle.

cal_2_09-04-2025_094130: Oh yeah.

josh-harris_1_09-04-2025_104130:
that's that's number one in my opinion.

So you can find everything
you need in that.

The second one is a book
that I read this year.

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