Holistic Land and Human Health with Grazing, with Jenn Colby

In this session, we’ll explore grass-based livestock farming, land regeneration, and the realities of building a values-driven farm with Jenn Colby of Howling Wolf Farm in Vermont. A longtime agricultural educator, consultant, host of the Choosing to Farm podcast, and organizer of the biannual New England Grazing conference Gathering of Good Graziers, Jenn brings over 25 years of experience supporting farmers while also managing her own sheep operation with a focus on sustainable grazing, biodiversity, and healing and wholeness for the human participants in the system.

Jenn raises sheep using regenerative approaches including rotational grazing and adaptive pasture management, which is shaped by insights from visiting hundreds of farms and her years of Extension work. Rather than focusing on maximum production, she emphasizes a thoughtful, slower approach that prioritizes ecosystem health, animal well-being, and quality of life, while also exploring creative models like agritourism to support farm viability. Deeply committed to learning, community, and the more-than-human beings around her, Jenn encourages farmers, experienced and new, to seek mentorship, attend workshops, and learn from one another’s successes and challenges.

Join us for this conversation and Q&A as Jenn Colby shares practical lessons from her farming journey, her approach to sustainable livestock management, and her perspective on building resilient farms that support both people and the land.