e2. Multiple Species Grass-Finished for Direct Marketing

Jonathan Kilpatrick manages Bent Tree Farms—a 780-acre, multi-species, grass-based operation producing beef, lamb, and pastured poultry. In this episode, Jonathan shares what he’s learned managing a complex, regenerative system in the challenging rainfall patterns of southeastern Oklahoma. We dig into forages, stockpiling strategies, multi-species management, finishing beef on grass, and the practical realities of running a farm largely solo.

You’ll hear how Jonathan has shifted from drilling annuals to managing a rich perennial polyculture, why he now treats clover like a key ally, the challenges and rewards of keeping cattle and sheep together, and the detailed strategies he uses to stretch stockpile through winter while minimizing hay.

If you want real-world insight from someone doing the work day in and day out—this is a great conversation.

Topics Covered

• Operation overview and forages on Bent Tree Farms
• Moving away from drilled annuals toward perennial management
• Why 2024 was the “Clover Year”
• Hay feeding strategies (rolling vs rings)
• Stockpiling fescue and stretching winter forage
• Using leader-follower and daily moves for finishing beef
• Running sheep and cattle together (and why the guardian dogs complicate it)
• Managing fencing for multi-species grazing
• Lambing management and annual cycle
• Grazing for energy vs grazing for landscaping
• Jonathan’s lessons on performance, residuals, and leaving more behind

Why You Should Listen

Jonathan brings a practical, grounded, and honest view into what it takes to manage a regenerative grazing operation in real life—not theory. His reflections on animal performance, forage diversity, stockpile strategies, and multi-species grazing offer tools you can use today. Grass finishers, sheep producers, and anyone thinking about expanding their grazing toolbox will take away something valuable.

Resources Mentioned

• Kick the Hay Habit — Jim Gerrish
• Bent Tree Farms — https://benttreefarmsok.com
• Bent Tree Farms on Instagram & Facebook (benttreefarmsok)

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Upcoming Grazing Events

• Regenerative Agriculture Deep Dive: 3 Day Holistic Managment - Kamas, UT, April 22-24, 2026.  https://3springsutah.com
• Noble Land Essentials - Ardmore, OK, May 12-13, 2026. https://noble.org

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey