Restoration Grazing

My name is Rex Rutledge. I am 31 years old and have been working in agriculture for almost 6 years now. I earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Florida State University in 2018. In 2020 I moved from my hometown in the Florida panhandle out to Montana to take part in a regenerative ranching apprenticeship program where I learned how to operate a sustainable cattle ranch. That is where I met my wife, Susan. We lived in Montana for roughly 2 years. In 2022 we moved to her home state of Kansas for a job on a Flint Hills cattle ranch. 

A few months later we purchased 45 goats to begin my targeted grazing business. Shortly after we purchased another 30. Since the first season in 2022, our revenue has doubled every year. Now, for nearly 3 years, our business has been able to support both of us fulltime and afford us ample time off each winter. Our business has been through quite an evolution since its creation and we think we have really landed on a smart business model that many young people could and should replicate for a profitable career working with livestock. 

We are currently expanding our operation into sheep. We hope this addition of a new species helps us enter into new markets of customers that are better served with sheep rather than goats. 

In 2026 we will be entering into year 5 of our business and are very excited to be bringing a baby girl into the mix in February.