e24. Austin Troyer - Low input Ranching

Austin Troyer of Crossroads Land and Livestock shares his journey as a first-generation farmer in eastern Ohio, building a large-scale grazing operation entirely on leased land. Austin explains how working for established ranches shaped his low-input mindset, how he spent years searching for the right lease, and why he has chosen to prioritize sheep alongside cattle on reclaimed strip-mine ground. Throughout the conversation, Austin breaks down the realities of fencing, water limitations, winter grazing without hay, and the business decisions that allow his family operation to grow without heavy capital investment.

In this episode, we cover:

• Starting from zero with no livestock background
• Finding and securing long-term leased grazing land
• Building miles of low-cost electric fencing
• Grazing reclaimed strip-mine ground in Ohio
• Managing cattle and sheep together
• Why sheep fit steep and invasive-heavy land
• Livestock guardian dogs and predator control
• Winter grazing without hay or equipment
• Adjusting stocking rates instead of buying machinery
• Direct-to-consumer sales vs wholesale markets
• Why marketing can be harder than production
• The philosophy of low-input grazing operations

Why This Episode Matters
This episode offers a realistic look at what it takes to start and scale a grazing operation without land ownership, expensive equipment, or high inputs. Austin’s experience highlights practical decision-making, patience, and mindset shifts that are especially valuable for beginning farmers, leased-land operators, and anyone questioning conventional approaches to infrastructure, winter feeding, or expansion.

Resources Mentioned

• The Turnaround by Dave Pratt
• Ranching for Profit School
• OnX Maps
• No-Risk Ranching by Greg Judy

Find Out More

• Website: https://www.crossroadslandandlivestock.com
• Instagram: @crossroadslandlivestock

Looking for grass-based breeders?
 Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory.

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

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute

Redmond Agriculture
Grassroots Carbon
Apr 22-24 3 Springs Utah

Grazing Grass Links
Website
Community (on Facebook)

Original Music by Louis Palfrey