” Every little boy wants to be a cowboy when he grows up and so I think that's kind of kinda where it started.”

First-generation rancher Zak Copeland shares how he built a goat grazing and cattle business from the ground up with no family background in ag. From hatching chicks in a basement to running 120 goats for targeted grazing jobs, Zak’s story is all about grit, creative income streams, and chasing freedom. He talks mentorship, land access, building community, and how he's making a ranching dream work one step at a time.

Key Topics:

Starting a ranch from scratch as a first-generation producer

Building a goat grazing business for land management

Using goats to create steady income and support cattle goals

Creative side hustles to fund the ranching dream

The value of mentorship and community in ag

Finding and accessing land through relationships

Balancing risk, freedom, and family in rural entrepreneurship

If you want to follow along with Zak, you can find him on TikTok for The Copelands Farm or check out Idaho Goat Grazers on Facebook.

LINKS

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Other Episodes You May Enjoy:

Episode 111: Building a Business That Works for Your Family and Your Farm

Episode 77: How Full Time Farming Works for Winding Creek Farms

Episode 72: Advice from a First-Generation Farmer on Surviving Trends

About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:

I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.

Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.