Policy in the Pasture

24/07/2025

Good morning, everyone! We’re thrilled to be back in action and gearing up for an exciting Season 3 launch of Policy in the Pasture! 🎙️

While we prep what’s next, we’re kicking off a new mini-series called “Picked & Paired”, where we bring you hand-selected episode duos from Season 2 that dive into similar themes and topics. Perfect for a deeper listen, or a second take!

First up: Policy in Action 🏛️
Curious about how policy plays out beyond the headlines? Want to hear real-world takes from the people making it happen? Then you won’t want to miss our paired episodes featuring James Clement III and Peyton Schumann!
🔹 James Clement III digs into the world of carbon credits and soil carbon, learning about evolving regulations, and exploring what these changes mean for producers now and in the future.
🔹 Peyton Schumann provides us with an inside look at the legislative process, the role of education in advocacy, and why producer-driven policy matters, now more than ever!

These episodes go beyond buzzwords, they’re a deep dive into how producers can stay informed, engaged, and at the table when decisions are made. Hear firsthand how decisions made in legislative chambers ripple all the way back to rural communities, ag operations, and the people behind them.

Whether you’re new to ag policy or looking to refresh your knowledge, this duo is a great place to start. Catch this week’s Picked & Paired and join us next week for another deep dive!

10/06/2025

Hey everyone! We took an unexpected hiatus from the podcast. Being two full time college students, prioritizing our education will always be our goal. But this podcast is also something we are passionate about and we are excited to grow it and get more episodes out. Thank you for your patience and for sticking with us. WE ARE BACK!

07/11/2024

05/11/2024

Introducing our next guest:
Lisa is a 2013 Sam Houston State University graduate and owner of Castillo Cattle Co. along with her husband Nicho Castillo. They are Beef and Dairy farmers in Normangee, Tx. They have a Private Ministeral Association (PMA) which allows them to sell direct to members. The Castillo’s sell any products on their farm legally that way, which includes beef and raw dairy products. They also have classes at the farm about canning, dairy, and regenerative farming. They aim to help locals learn to produce the same great quality foods they love, and help supply their community with great local quality foods too! Lisa and Nicho want other farmers to know more about Private Membership Associations, and hopefully understand it to be another way to benefit their operation.

31/10/2024

This is such a unique episode! You don’t want to miss it!

21/10/2024

No new episode this week. We will be back next week with a new episode and our regularly scheduled programming! We invite you to check out some of our previous episodes. Can’t wait to share our next guest with everyone!
https://open.spotify.com/show/7BuhB7YdBQtf1ylXKFcLQl?si=fV1F9WbbTXWx1g9Lw79NlA

16/10/2024

Our conversation with James was very fruitful!

08/10/2024

Introducing our next guest:
James is a seasoned rancher and innovative leader in agricultural technology, currently serving as Senior Vice President of Grass and Rangeland at EarthOptics. In this role, he empowers ranchers by introducing cutting-edge technology that maps and quantifies soil health and carbon capture capabilities, enabling informed land management decisions and new revenue opportunities. With nearly 400 years of combined family ranching experience—including iconic operations like Beggs Cattle Co. (est. 1876) and King Ranch (est. 1853)—James is deeply rooted in the ranching tradition. He founded Bloody Buckets Cattle Co. and The Land Board, managing initiatives in livestock, resource management, wildlife conservation, governance, and succession planning. Before joining EarthOptics, James spent a decade at King Ranch, Inc., where he excelled as Land Resources Manager and Horse Division Manager. Under his leadership, the ranch won the prestigious 2019 AQHA Best Remuda Award, bred its first ranch-raised World Champion, CORONEL DEL RANCHO, and revitalized the commercial sales and marketing efforts of the horse program. In addition to his agricultural pursuits, James is a dedicated Marine Corps infantry officer, with service spanning both active and reserve components since 2008. His deployments include Afghanistan, Chile, and Mexico, as well as leading a refugee camp that successfully transitioned 3,000 Afghans to U.S. citizenship during Operation Allies Welcome. Throughout his career, he has trained and led over 3,500 American and foreign troops. James serves on the boards of several organizations, including Frontiers Market, Beggs Cattle Company, the National Ranching Heritage Center, the American Quarter Horse Association, and the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management. He is also a director and Chair of the Resources and Wildlife Committee for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. A graduate of Goucher College with an MBA from Cornell University, James lives in South Texas with his wife, Paige Shaw, MSN RN, and their children, where they raise cattle and horses on their family ranch.

03/10/2024

This episode is one you don’t want to miss!

02/10/2024

So many great highlights from our episode with Andy!