Norma Tillman, from White Springs, FL is starting her second career as a goat and herb farmer retiring from a career in education. Norma has quickly become a leader and inspiration to Small Farmers and to the Goat Industry. Ms. Tillman has worked with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in getting started in a grazing plan and assistance through Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) to improve her farm to provide water, fencing and re-seeding of her pastures.

Ms. Tillman has been an active and inspiring member of Florida Grazing Lands Coalition (FGLC). Ms. Tillman is implementing demonstration/testing area for different cool season and warm season perennial/annual forages. These demonstration and field days will help small farmers utilize and maintain a sustainable grazing system. It is through the dedication of farmers like Ms. Tillman who contributes to the success in various communities by ensuring that all land users are informed and given the opportunities to succeed. “With small farmers, everything is possible.”

Buzz & Becce Eaves operate a cow-calf operation in Saint Lucie County, FL. Becce’s family came to the county in late 1800’s and were cattlemen long before there were fences. Buzz spent his business career restructuring and building businesses throughout North America. They returned to Florida in 2002 and set about to build a cow-calf operation that met their criteria.

1. The operation must be environmentally friendly.
2. It must conform to the land.
3. It must require minimum labor.
4. It must be run as a “low cost producer”
5. Finally and most importantly it must provide a safe, low stress, and healthy environment for the animals.

With help from UF/IFAS and USDA and a lot of research they were able to meet all of the criteria.

Pat Pfeil wears many hats, loving wife, mother, grandmother, cattle manager, and leader in grazing management and environmental issues. Pat is the cattle manager, supporter of rangelands and science and through her leadership the 2x4 Ranch is a past winner of the Region II Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Pat has developed a reputation of her management style for diversification and environmental stewardship. She has been successful in balancing three things: economic viability, wildlife and regulatory obligations. Her attention to detail is seen in her grazing management.

Pat has learned that maximum production in a cow herd may not mean maximum profit and that “more is not always better”. She has found that being a low-input producer means “finding the balance that your natural resources will support”

Pat and her husband Brady have managed Carlton Family properties over the past 25 years with long-term economic and environmental sustainability as their goal. Wildlife, citrus groves and cattle flourish on these lands dispelling public perception that you can’t have production agriculture and a healthy wildlife population. She finds every opportunity to interact and covey her message, that sound grazing management enhances the lands environmental sustainability and the land owner’s financial sustainability.

Pat’s work does not stop with professionals, she is also involved with projects to educate children (the future) on agricultural. Her efforts have resulted in the improvement of AG in the Classroom activities in Florida. She is also underway with a grazing competition program with high school students to compete at a state level. A project through FGLC‘s goal for education and outreach.

Not only is Pat the chair for Florida grazing lands Coalition (FGLC) but is also on the National steering committee of the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). In this Pat ensures the needs of Florida’s Grazing Land managers are considered by the committee. Through her efforts and the efforts of FGLC additional specialists have been provided through NRCS to help with technical assistance to private grazing landowners throughout the state.