In this two-part workshop, founders of the Grazing School of the West will dig into the roots of what makes a grazier’s business different.

In part one the class will discuss business planning and decision-making and the distinct things to consider while planning your contract or prescribed grazing business. Part one will be distinctly useful for folks running other livestock operations that are considering moving into grazing as an additional enterprise, or for folks just beginning to ideate contract grazing activities, or simply curious about how it works.

In part two the class will review various business tools, templates, and instruments that power operations of grazing businesses and empower their entrepreneurs and employees. Whether new to the sector or in business for years, these tools and templates help graziers analyze the vital heartbeats of their businesses. Tools include: contract job cost / breakeven calculator; herd growth calculator; safety checklists; software apps that aid in mapping and project bidding; design software; hiring guide including job descriptions, and more. We will include time for breakout discussions to encourage networking and peer learning.

The Grazier’s Toolbox is part of Grazing School of the West’s ongoing efforts to create practical and useful tools that every contract grazier can utilize in their day-to-day efforts of land and animal stewardship. These courses are especially meaningful for small ruminant tenders (sheep and goat), but much of the thinking can be applied to cattle as well.