Meet Gavin Lankford
USA Regenerative Ag Director
Growing up on a small Franklin, Tennessee farm, Gavin Lankford would be horseback at every opportunity. Between football games and bonfires, you could find him with the horses.
The Lankford family only had cattle while Gavin was young boy, but they always had horses. “Learning about cattle began while I was working for other farmers. Frank Ingraham of Tap Root Farm, founder of the Tennessee Cattleman’s Association, became an incredible mentor. He was a pioneer and a man of God. Dr. Charlie Hatcher, DVM was a neighbor and continues to be a great friend and mentor to me.”
Since 16 years old, Gavin knew he wanted to work the land and raise a family. That dream began to materialize in 2009 when Gavin met Kara Woolsey. “I was in total disbelief that God had brought me this farm girl, I was immediately head over heels.”
Graduating from Mid Tennessee State University with an animal science degree, Gavin and Kara moved back to the Lankford family farm to pursue their dream of raising cattle. Making a living in agriculture is increasingly difficult, to be successful Gavin understood that he needed to take a less traditional path.
Seeing the writing on the wall, Gavin was convinced that direct marketing the beef raised on their farm offered opportunities for his family. “Selling cattle to livestock markets just didn’t provide the profit needed to become sustainable.”
“People are increasing interested in knowing where their food comes from. They are looking for a relationship with the families that provide that food. In addition, people want to buy locally and support small businesses.”
In spring of 2018 Gavin had the opportunity to take the reins of the Woolsey 200 year old farm and point it in a new direction. “I hit the ground running, spending two years setting up the infrastructure needed to transition the farm from a cow/calf operation to a direct to consumer, pastured beef operation.”
“We offer pasture raised, 100% all-natural beef, no added hormones and no antibiotics, from Woolsey Overlook Farm, direct to consumers at the farm. I believe that healthy happy animals produce the best meat. We use the natural relationship between the cattle and horses to aid us in the management of our cattle.”
Always looking to learn and improve, Gavin is always reading and talking to other producers and customers to find better ways to raise the cattle and tend the land. “Land is the one thing there will never be any more of. Regenerative agriculture practices, like rotational grazing and using chicken litter to fertilize pastures, enable me to take great care of this land, leaving it better than I found it.”
Thrilled to be raising their 2 children, with another on the way come spring, on the farm Gavin and Kara could not imagine a better life. We are trying to build the farm sustainably, improving the ground while earning a living, so we can pass on the farm our children. We envision this farm continuing to support them and their families for the next 200 years.”
“I feel God has called me to purposely care for and farm this land while loving and serving the people that He places in my path. My dream is to use my God-given talents and passions to serve others while being a good steward of the land that He has allowed me to borrow.”
