218 | Custom Grazing, Katahdin Hair Sheep, and Building a Farm Legacy in West Virginia with Justin Frye

Justin Frye of JMR Farm in West Virginia shares his journey from growing up near a family farm to becoming a regenerative grazier and sheep producer. After a spiritual calling led him to leave his cow-calf operation, he and his wife Maggie bought back the family farm in 2022—fulfilling a lifelong dream. They now custom graze cow-calf pairs, manage a flock of Katahdin hair sheep, and raise feeder lambs, all while navigating challenges like drought, parasite resistance, and learning curves. Justin emphasizes the importance of mentorship, rotational grazing, and trusting in faith and divine guidance. His story highlights resilience, adaptability, and the value of building a legacy through sustainable practices and strong partnerships. Key takeaways include: (1) Custom grazing can be a profitable, low-capital entry point into farming; (2) Rotational grazing with longer rest periods improves pasture resilience; (3) Hair sheep can be highly profitable but require careful management and parasite control; (4) A supportive spouse is essential for long-term success; (5) Learning from mentors and online resources like YouTube is invaluable; (6) Drought resilience comes from strategic grazing, hay reserves, and flexibility; (7) Freeze branding is a humane, permanent identification method; (8) Feedlot and market timing should align with business goals, not just animal performance.