In this episode, Cal visits with Lauren Jorgensen and Frank “Toby” Tobias, owners of Starlight Farm in North Florida. Lauren and Toby share their inspiring transition from suburban professionals to regenerative graziers, managing cattle, horses, and chickens on 108 acres of sandy Florida soil. Their story begins with a daughter’s recommendation to watch Kiss the Ground, which set them on a journey into soil health and regenerative practices. From battling Florida’s unique soil challenges to founding the Florida Soil Health Coalition, they’ve become advocates for soil, community, and mindful stewardship.

Topics Covered

• Lauren & Toby’s background and 20-year journey to Starlight Farm
• Transition from horses to cattle and discovering regenerative grazing
• Influence of Kiss the Ground and attending the Soil Health Academy
• Managing sandy Florida soils and the challenges of bahiagrass
• Bale grazing, cover crops, and learning from failures
• The role of chicken and cow manure in improving fertility
• Surviving hurricanes and adapting to climate extremes
• Starting the Florida Soil Health Coalition — connecting farmers, researchers, and consumers
• Finding balance between purity and practicality in regenerative systems
• Favorite grazing books and tools (from tractors to hay string!)
• Building a life and home rooted in stewardship, love, and laughter

Why You Should Listen

This episode is full of relatable moments for anyone striving to make progress on imperfect land. Lauren and Toby’s enthusiasm and candor highlight how regenerative agriculture is as much about mindset as it is about management. Their story captures the patience, humor, and persistence required to restore soil in Florida’s challenging environment — and how connection, both human and ecological, fuels that process. You’ll also learn about a new grassroots movement growing in the Sunshine State through the Florida Soil Health Coalition.

Resources Mentioned

• Florida Soil Health Coalition: floridasoilhealth.org
• Starlight Farm Grass-Fed Beef: Facebook Page – “Starlight Farm Grass-Fed Beef”
• Tobias Saddlery: ultimatesaddle.com

• Books:
  • Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown
  • A Bold Return to Giving a Damn by Will Harris
  • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  • What Your Food Ate by David R. Montgomery & Anne Biklé
• Organizations & Mentions:
  • Soil Health Academy (Gabe Brown, Allen Williams, Ray Archuleta)
  • Will Harris – White Oak Pastures
  • Jonathan Lundgren – Ecdysis Foundation & 1000 Farms Study

Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass? Check out Grass Based Genetics

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Redmond Agriculture.

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey

Dana Tinney Wilson of Chantilly Ranch in Northern California returns to the Grazing Grass Podcast to share what’s new since her first appearance in episode 50. Dana and her husband Gary raise Boer goats, Highland cattle, and Dexter cattle, direct-marketing beef to their community while also using goats for fire abatement and neighborhood grazing services. She talks about adapting her grazing management, expanding into irrigation, and the role her children now play in the family operation. Dana also introduces the infinite banking concept, a financial strategy she has adopted for building resilience and long-term security for her family and ranch.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Dana’s recent marriage and family involvement on the ranch
• Raising Highland and Dexter cattle, including selling direct-to-consumer beef
• The role of goats for meat, fire prevention, and community grazing contracts
• Managing predator pressure and challenges with electric netting
• Shifts in grazing strategy, including irrigation and rest periods
• Building big-picture goals for profitability, regeneration, and legacy
• Considering adding pigs to meet market demand
• How her daughter’s horse training business fits into the ranch vision
• A deep dive into infinite banking and how it can provide stability and intergenerational wealth

This episode is for graziers who want inspiration on building a profitable, regenerative, family-centered ranch while exploring creative ways to finance growth. Dana’s story blends practical grazing insights with long-term financial thinking that may spark new ideas for your own operation.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Chantilly Ranch
• Holistic Management by Allan Savory
• Nelson Nash’s book on Infinite Banking

Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass? Check out Grass Based Genetics

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture.

Grazing Grass Links
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Original Music by Louis Palfrey

In this episode of the Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal visits with Karl Palmberg of Sunlight and Rain in northwest Iowa. Karl shares his journey from growing up on a farm, serving in the Air Force, and eventually returning home to rebuild his family’s cattle operation. He dives into the lessons learned from shifting to no-till farming, integrating livestock for soil health, and experimenting with genetics for grass-fed beef. A major focus of this conversation is Karl’s experience adopting virtual fencing technology with Gallagher’s eShepherd collars—how it’s changed his management, saved time, and opened new possibilities for grazing.

Topics covered include:

• Karl’s beginnings with cattle in junior high and how those early experiences shaped his path
• Transitioning from conventional tillage to no-till and strip-till farming
• The role of livestock in building soil health
• Practical fencing tools: reels, polywire, fiberglass posts, energizers, and water infrastructure
• Breeding strategy and focusing on functional, easy-fleshing cattle genetics
• Shifting toward grass finishing and direct-to-consumer beef sales
• The challenges and opportunities of marketing grass-fed beef
• A deep dive into virtual fencing: training animals, collar fit, technology quirks, and labor savings
• Lessons learned about humility, innovation, and adapting systems on the farm

Karl’s story is a reminder of how regenerative practices are often a process of trial, error, and persistence. His candid take on the benefits and limitations of virtual fencing offers practical insight for graziers considering this new technology.

If you’ve wondered whether virtual collars could fit into your grazing system—or if you’re curious about one farmer’s path from conventional tillage to regenerative practices—this episode is packed with honest lessons and real-world advice. Karl’s mix of military discipline, family heritage, and innovative curiosity makes for a compelling story.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Sunlight and Rain – Karl’s farm
• Gallagher Animal Management – eShepherd virtual fencing system
• Joel Salatin’s The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs

Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass? Check out Grass Based Genetics

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture.
eShepherd

Grazing Grass Links
New Listener Resource Guide

Provide feedback for the podcast
Website
Insiders
Resources
Community (on Facebook)
Check out the Apiary Chronicles Podcast

Original Music by Louis Palfrey