What if the same strategies used to prepare a business for sale were exactly what family farms need to thrive for generations?

Matt Stone spent over a decade helping business owners structure their operations for the perfect exit. But he discovered something unexpected: the process designed to help people leave their businesses was actually the blueprint for making them strong enough for the next generation to come home to.

Now, as a regenerative agriculture strategic growth coach, Matt brings proven business principles to farming operations while implementing soil health practices that heal the land with every season.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The Six Principles of Soil Health and how they apply from backyard gardens to 100,000+ acre operations
• Why terminology matters: The real difference between "organic," "regenerative," and "all natural"
• The psychology of farm change: Why older producers need an emotional trigger while younger ones respond to economic pressure
• A success story: How one young farmer implemented regenerative practices "cold turkey" and saw immediate results
• The profitability paradox: Why cutting inputs often leads to higher profits, even selling into commodity markets
• The biggest misconceptions consumers and producers have about regenerative agriculture

Key Takeaways:

"I don't know of one producer who says, 'Yeah, I want to make or grow or raise food that will poison people.' Nobody would do that." - Matt Stone

Matt emphasizes that transparency in agricultural terminology is crucial for building consumer trust, and that regenerative practices are truly scalable - working for anyone from backyard gardeners to large commercial operations.

About Our Guest:

Matt Stone is a regenerative agriculture strategic growth coach and founder of Dakota Growth. He operates a small sheep ranch where the primary product is soil health, with meat and wool as byproducts. Matt helps producers transition to regenerative practices while taking a holistic approach that considers both business operations and family dynamics.

Connect with Matt Stone:

• Email: matt@dakotagrowth.biz
• LinkedIn: [Matt Stone - Dakota Growth]
• Website: Dakota Growth
• Healthy Soil Challenge: Sign Up Here

Free Resource:

Matt offers a no-charge "Healthy Soil, Healthy Business" challenge that helps farmers develop goals and create actionable plans for their operations.

Referenced in This Episode:

• "Dirt to Soil" by Gabe Brown
• "Common Ground" documentary
• "Kiss the Ground" documentary

Next Episode Preview: Join us as we sit down with [Next Guest Name] to explore [brief preview of next topic].

Support The Foggy Farmer:

If you found value in this episode, please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more people working to build a more resilient and connected food system.

Remember to keep it local, keep it fresh, keep it foggy.