Grazing Education and Mentorship for Pennsylvania
Grazing Education and Mentorship for Pennsylvania
Are you seeking a mentor for your grazing operation?
PA GLC is partnering with Pasa Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) in administering a grazing mentor program for new and beginning graziers in Pennsylvania. This program is designed to provide the beginning grazier with an experienced grazing partner who can help provide insight, support, and access to grazing information and farm-related resources of which the beginning farmer might not be aware.
New and beginning graziers of all species are welcome to apply to this program.
The PA GLC mentorship team will review all incoming applications and match applicants with appropriate mentor candidates, as they are able. If an applicant already knows a mentor with whom they would like to work, they are free to submit a mentor candidate name within their application.
Below is a list of and biographies for current grazing mentors. Grazing mentors are paid a flat, annual fee for their work under the terms of the PA GLC Mentorship Agreement.
Additional information and application materials are available on the Pasa Sustainable Agriculture Grazing Mentor page.
Interested farmers and graziers may apply online here: Grazing Mentorship Application
Nathan Smelser and his family graze a flock of several hundred brood ewes plus their lambs in northern PA. Their flock of Katahdin x Dorper hair sheep is managed outdoors year round, and the Smelsers regularly herd the flock afoot between multiple acreages that are about two miles apart. Market lambs are sold into ethnic markets, and some percentage are sold as breeding stock.
With a deep respect for creation and the Creator, Nathan cherishes the opportunity to profitably build soil while also enriching his children’s hearts while working together as a family. As a first generation farmer himself, Nathan appreciates the breadth of knowledge and experience to be acquired in order to manage a viable farm. He credits the patience and generosity of many other individuals for his own start.
Prior to sheep, Nathan was blessed to have gained experience with cow-calf and stocker cattle operations in Texas and Wyoming. He gained an appreciation for varied practices that may arise even from common principles, and aims to help others consider their own opportunities and their own potential approaches to grazing ruminants.