Small Producers Initiative

🌟 KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT 🌟

We’re honored to welcome Sallie Calhoun as a keynote speaker at the 2026 Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference.

Sallie is the owner and manager of Paicines Ranch, a 7,600-acre ranch in central California, and a nationally recognized leader in regenerative agriculture, impact investing, and climate-focused philanthropy. Her work centers on improving soil health, supporting resilient agricultural systems, and harnessing the power of healthy soils to benefit farmers, communities, and the environment.

Through her leadership of the No Regrets Initiative, Sallie works to create meaningful change in agriculture by investing a wide range of resources — human, natural, financial, and philanthropic capital — into solutions that strengthen both people and the land.

Before becoming a rancher, Sallie spent nearly 25 years as an engineer, executive, and technology entrepreneur, serving as COO/CFO of Globetrotter Software. Following the sale of the company in 2001, she and her husband purchased Paicines Ranch, launching a new chapter that has included regenerative ranching, organic farming, grass-fed beef production, holistic management, impact investing, and agricultural advocacy.

Today, Sallie serves as Managing Member of Cienega Capital and President of the Globetrotter Foundation. She has also served on numerous nonprofit and for-profit boards advancing regenerative agriculture, land stewardship, and rural communities.

Join us as Sallie shares insights from her unique journey as an entrepreneur, rancher, investor, and advocate working to build a more resilient and regenerative food system.

📍 Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference
📅 August 3–4, 2026
📍 Texas State University | San Marcos, Texas

🌟 KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT 🌟
We’re excited to welcome Farmer Ty and Farmer Tokie of Southern Sunny Acres as keynote speakers at the 2026 Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference!

What started with just 50 pasture-raised broilers in 2021 has grown into a thriving diversified livestock operation built on regenerative agriculture, humane animal care, transparency, and a commitment to providing communities with access to high-quality local food.

As a Veteran family and husband-and-wife business team, Ty and Tokie have navigated the challenges of beginning farming with determination, strategic vision, and an unwavering belief in continuous learning. Their willingness to invest in education and put new ideas into practice has led to grant awards, speaking engagements, agricultural advocacy opportunities, and on-farm workshops that inspire the next generation of producers.

In their keynote address, they will share candid insights into the realities of being beginning farmers, the highs and lows of building a business with family, and the resilience required to navigate the unknowns of entrepreneurship in agriculture.

Whether you’re just getting started or years into your farming journey, you won’t want to miss this honest and inspiring conversation.

📍 Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference
📅 August 3–4, 2026
📍 Texas State University | San Marcos, Texas

The countdown to the 2026 Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference is officially on! 🌱

Join us August 3–4 at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX for two days of learning, networking, inspiration, and community-building with farmers, ranchers, landowners, educators, students, local food advocates, and more.

This year’s conference will feature:
🌾 Educational sessions across 7 learning tracks
🐄 Hands-on pre-conference workshops & Grazing School
🎤 Inspiring keynote speakers
🤝 60+ exhibitors: organizations, businesses, groups & more!
🎶 Social events, local food, and community connection

Whether you’re just getting started or have years of experience, SFFFS is a place to learn practical skills, discover resources, and connect with others passionate about resilient agriculture and healthy food systems.

🎟️ Early-bird tickets are now available — save up to $50!
https://www.southernfamilyfarmersconference.org/

Stay tuned for speaker announcements, workshop details, exhibitor spotlights, and more exciting updates!

Presented By:

TexasRanching RegenerativeAgriculture

ONE WEEK AWAY! 🐮 Join us next Thursday & Friday (May 21–22) at the beautiful for our final workshop of the season!

Spend 2 full days learning directly from regenerative ranchers Jeremiah and Maggie Eubank as they lead a tour of their multi-species grazing operation and share their real-world experience managing land, livestock, and soil health.

holisticmanagement educator Christine Martin will provide an introductory course on adaptive grazing, helping participants better understand how grazing management can improve pasture health, drought resilience, biodiversity, and long-term profitability.

This workshop is ideal for those getting started in regenerative agriculture — or anyone looking to strengthen ranch health and build a more resilient operation. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced producer, all are welcome and questions are encouraged!

🗓️ Thursday & Friday, May 21–22
🕘 9 AM – 5 PM
📍 Pure Pastures | Canyon Lake, TX
💲 $40 (Lunch Included)

Registration link in bio!

🐮 Our upcoming workshop is at — a family owned, multi-species grazing operation located in beautiful Canyon Lake TX!

They raise grass-fed beef, lamb and pasture-raised pork on 3,000 acres of regeneratively managed land.

Join SPI, .holisticmanagement educator Christine Martin and the Eubanks family for a hands-on workshop covering the fundamentals of adaptive grazing!

Together, they’ll walk through:
• Practical strategies to assess and improve soil health and overall ecosystem function
• Tools for “reading” the landscape and monitoring herd health
• How to balance management goals, profitability, and quality of life

This workshop is ideal for those getting started in regenerative agriculture — or anyone looking to strengthen ranch health and boost long-term profitability.

🗓️ Thursday & Friday, May 21 - 22
🕗 9 AM - 5 PM
📍Pure Pastures, Canyon Lake
💲 40 (Lunch Included)

Link to register in bio!

TWO WEEKS AWAY❗️Join SPI & HMI .holisticmanagement for a 2-day, hands-on field event at the stunning Leo Ranch.
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Through in-field demonstrations and real-world examples, educators will help you:
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• Learn how to read your pastures and understand what’s happened in the past — and what actions make sense moving forward
• Sharpen grazing decisions that align with your soil, rainfall, livestock, finances, and goals
• Explore virtual fencing as a management tool
• Use biological monitoring (plant health, soil life, and more) to guide management decisions
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📍 Hosted at Leo Ranch, a 5,000-acre working cattle and sheep operation with nearly 2,000 acres of tall grass prairie. Once farmed, the ranch now showcases how adaptive grazing can restore farmland back to prairie.
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🗓️ Thursday and Friday, April 30 & May 1
🕗 9 AM - 5 PM
📍 Leo Ranch, Decatur TX
💲 40 (Lunches Included)
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🔗 advanced registration required at link in bio!

Earlier this month, we were honored to host a workshop at beautiful Behind the Oaks Farm in Schertz, TX — a diversified, next-generation family farm near San Antonio that’s creatively reconnecting people to their food through farm experiences, grass-fed beef, pastured poultry and pork, eggs, and value-added goods.

Our workshop, “Mastering Regenerative Success,” led by Understanding Ag instructors Fernando Falomir and John Hays, delivered inspiring, real-world education on implementing regenerative practices in livestock operations.

Drawing from their own successful businesses, they shared practical insights on adaptive stewardship, drought management, building multi-species enterprises, and developing infrastructure that works.

Over two days, participants explored how to improve soil health, animal well-being, and forage quality—naturally and with fewer inputs—while also learning how to boost profitability through customer understanding, branding, and direct marketing. Hands-on, in-the-field exercises brought the concepts to life, making it a valuable and engaging experience for all.

We loved gathering with this group and hope you’ll join us at an upcoming SPI workshop this spring! 🌱

WE’RE ONLY 4 DAYS AWAY❗️Join SPI & Understanding Ag for a 2-days of education designed to give you the tools and confidence to make your farm or ranch more resilient and profitable.

During this workshop, you’ll learn practical strategies to help you:
✅ Improve soil health and increase water infiltration
✅ Grow more and better forage for your livestock
✅ Reduce reliance on expensive inputs
✅ Raise healthier livestock with fewer interventions
✅ Increase profitability and strengthen your farm business
✅ Develop direct-to-consumer marketing strategies that work

The workshop will be led by experienced Understanding Ag instructors Fernando Falomir () and John Hays, who will share real-world insights and proven approaches used successfully on farms and ranches across the country.

📍 Hosted at , a 370-acre farm producing grass-fed beef, pastured poultry and pork, eggs, and value-added goods — sold through an on-site and online farm store and at 3 local farmers markets.

🗓️ Friday & Saturday, March 13 & 14
🕗 9 AM - 5 PM
📍 Behind the Oaks Farm, Schertz TX
💲 40 (Lunches Included)

REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982292938541?aff=oddtdtcreator

Advanced registration required!

We're one week away from our workshop at Behind The Oaks in Schertz, TX — register now to join us!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982292938541?aff=oddtdtcreator

📅 Upcoming workshop March 13–14 in the San Antonio, TX area

Many farmers and ranchers today are facing the same challenges — rising input costs, declining soil health, unpredictable weather, and tight margins. The good news is there are practical solutions that can help you turn those challenges into opportunities.

Join Understanding Ag, LLC and the Small Producers Initiative for a 2-day, hands-on regenerative agriculture workshop designed to give you the tools and confidence to make your farm or ranch more resilient and profitable.

During this workshop, you’ll learn practical strategies to help you:

✔ Improve soil health and increase water infiltration
✔ Grow more and better forage for your livestock
✔ Reduce reliance on expensive inputs
✔ Raise healthier livestock with fewer interventions
✔ Increase profitability and strengthen your farm business
✔ Develop direct-to-consumer marketing strategies that work

The workshop will be led by experienced Understanding Ag instructors Fernando Falomir and John Hays, who will share real-world insights and proven approaches used successfully on farms and ranches across the country.

The event will be hosted at Behind the Oaks Farm, a 370-acre diversified regenerative ranch just north of San Antonio. During the ranch tour, you’ll see how cattle, pigs, chickens, and turkeys are rotationally grazed through pasture and silvopasture systems, while also learning how the farm has built a successful direct-to-consumer business through farmers markets, local retail partnerships, and on-farm sales.

This workshop is designed for both new and experienced producers who want practical solutions they can apply right away.

📅 March 13–14
🕘 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST
📍 Behind the Oaks Farm – Schertz, TX
💲 $40 (Lunch included both days)

Reserve your spot today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982292938541?aff=oddtdtcreator