A Success Story
By Sherrie Ottinger, The Tennessee Dirtgirl
Jessie’s son had a ticket to the 2019 Summit, but something came up and he couldn’t attend. Rather than lose his money, he gave the ticket to his dad, who was also his farming partner. But NOT a regenerative thinker…at all!! Here’s the tale….
A reluctant attendee, Jessie Dorrill, from Alabama, found his seat beside his friend, Neil Halsey, the morning of the first day of the Summit. Neil was excited about the upcoming speakers, especially Gabe Brown and Ray Archuleta. Jessie…not so much. The only reason he was there was because his son Jason, who had signed up, couldn’t attend, and didn’t want to lose the money.
Jessie was a traditional farmer; till, disc, plow. He ran about 85 cows with calves on 130+ acres, and turned them onto long-term pasture with no thought of forage heights. Today he found his place beside his friend, on uncomfortable folding chairs and settled in for the duration. He quickly voiced his discomfort and disinterest to Neil, who encouraged him to just sit tight.
Gabe Brown, from North Dakota, was the first speaker. His direction was the health of the soil and how it affects profitable land management. Gabe explained, in a way anyone could understand, how the life below the soil is the beginning of life above. Skepticism began to turn toward interest with each speaker. By the end of the weekend, Jessie could see the common sense of what he heard but the solid tradition he’d been raised with was kicking hard. “I’ve been farming over 40 years and if what he said was true, everything I was doing was wrong!”
Jessie went home to Brundidge, Alabama, and began to implement changes. Jason was also a believer and was a ready participant. Today he and Jason look at soil samples more closely, and are working on building the microbial fungi and soil health. They planted radishes and turnips, oats and rye…Ray’s “Crazy Mix” in a separate strip…and already have established clovers and are already seeing good changes. They’re strip grazing, and are trying to figure out a better watering set-up. “We have a stream and ponds, and that’s where the cows have to drink”. This currently limits paddock placement, but they’re considering other configurations, because they’re convinced in the value of rotational grazing and “resting” pastures. Jessie says they’re changing gradually, but changing nevertheless. The transition has been a challenge. “What works for one might not work for someone else…but stick with the plan” says Jessie.
Today he says his calves are sleek and fat and that the overall health of the herd is better. His feeding is down about a third, due to better forage and rotating the herd. Jessie and Jason plan to continue to learn and grow in their pasture management and soil improvement.
How’s that for a success story?!
The Tennessee Dirtgirl
