Bio

Background and Experience

Grady Phelan is an experienced farm manager and sustainable agriculture practitioner with deep expertise in pasture-based livestock and poultry systems. Grady currently oversees day-to-day operations at Heritage Garden Farm, where he manages diverse animal enterprises including pastured poultry, dairy cows, and draft horses, as well as diverse crop production utilizing draft power. His approach blends hands-on management with regenerative principles that prioritize soil health, animal welfare, and local food quality.

Education and Training

Grady holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology with a minor in Philosophy from Oklahoma State University. His academic background provides a strong foundation in biological systems, animal physiology, and critical thinking. He further developed his practical skills through an apprenticeship with Polyface Farm, where he gained hands-on experience in holistic farm systems and diversified livestock production. He has also contributed as a speaker at producer workshops and training events, focusing on pasture management, processing systems, and profitable small-farm strategies that support resilient local food systems.

Areas of Expertise

Having spent most of his life actively involved in agriculture, Grady has developed and executed production systems for pasture-raised broilers and poultry processing, including work at Cobb Creek Farm, where he led broiler production and integrated on-farm processing operations. He has participated in industry-focused educational platforms such as the Pastured Poultry Talk podcast, sharing insights into practical farm logistics, animal health, and pasture management.

Teaching and Outreach

Grady regularly engages with farm audiences through online educational content and community outreach, helping growers shorten the learning curve in pasture-based agriculture. He shares sustainable farm life and operational practices through digital platforms and social media channels. Grady has also been invited to speak at numerous agricultural events and professional conferences, bringing practical experience and producer-focused insights to audiences of farmers, homesteaders, and small-scale livestock managers. His recent engagements include presentations at the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) Annual Conference in 2024 and 2025, The Homestead Conference in Waco, Texas (2025), Horse Progress Days in Clare, MI (2025), and The Homestead Festival in TN where he sat on a panel discussion (2025).

In addition to in-person events, Grady has participated in industry-focused educational platforms such as the Pastured Poultry Talk podcast, sharing insights into practical farm logistics, animal health, and pasture management. His workshop contributions include hands-on workshops and training events such as the Raising and Processing Pastured Poultry Workshop with OFRA, where he has presented on production and processing topics for beginning and intermediate producers.