Aug 30, 2018
On episode 33 we welcome Ridge Shinn, CEO of Big Picture Beef -
a businessman making us all more regenerative through a smarter
regional production approach. In 2010, Time Magazine cast
Ridge as the original Carbon Cowboy. He lives that mantra
everyday.
It's as fundamental as investing in animal well-being for the
betterment of our planet's and your health. As the financial
landscape in production continues to evolve, Shinn sees a
sustainable business model for future meats being of more regional
production - an approach that he believes others will soon follow.
Founded in 2015 - Based out of Hardwick, MA - Big Picture Beef’s
mission is to establish an environmentally sustainable and
economically viable model of producing beef through managed
grazing—no feedlots and no grain, ever. Shine & Big Picture
envision a system that produces healthy animals, healthy food,
healthy soils, and fair wages for farmers.
"We work with numerous farms in the region that produce young
stock according to our standards. Then we aggregate these cattle
for fattening on several large finishing farms, also in the region,
that are staffed by skilled graziers. A variety of regenerative
farming techniques, notably rotational grazing to foster soil
health and fertility, are key to our success. We harvest the
finished cattle and sell 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef and
beef products to wholesale customers." - Ridge Shinn.
In our 40 minute conversation we discuss topics ranging from
bioregions; consumer's role as change agents; drawdown; and
one-health of animal, planet & consumer. Ridge offers
insights into an operating model that seeks to be benefit diverse
stakeholders interested in preserving a regional provenance, and
commitment to a production approach. Decades of experience
offers Shinn assurance that all of that hard work developing
protocols in the fields are now queueing market interest.
It'll be fascinating for all, but if you live in the
Northeast - you should give it a listen.