From Idealistic Teen Vegetarian to Regenerative Livestock Producer

A Journey of Ethics, Health, and Finding Balance

So today, I want to share a little backstory. I realized I’ve never fully told the story of my journey from being a vegetarian teenager to becoming a regenerative livestock producer and advocate for animal-based nutrition. It’s a story about ideals, health struggles, and finding a better way forward.

The Beginning: An Ethical Awakening

When I was about 12 years old, a hurricane devastated Virginia and the Carolinas. I’ll never forget the aerial footage of flooded CAFO’s, or confined animal feeding operations. These “manure lagoons” overflowed from flood water, polluting the environment and destroying the local ecology. Worst of all, countless pigs were left behind to drown.

Seeing their bloated bodies floating in the floodwaters changed something in me. It wasn’t just the imagery—it was the stark realization that the system was broken. I couldn’t see myself participating in a food system like that. If this was what it meant to eat meat, I wanted no part of it.

Shortly after, my family moved back to Ontario, and I decided to become a vegetarian. My mom supported me, but resources were limited at the time, and I didn’t know how to build a balanced diet. I thought I was doing the right thing, but looking back, it was the start of significant health challenges.

The Struggle: Health Issues and Realizations

By age 17, five years into my vegetarianism, my health started to unravel. My mental health deteriorated, and I struggled with body image. I had gained weight, yet I was constantly hungry and fatigued. Despite the brain fog that plagued me I managed to graduate high school with a scholarship but staying focused on my studies was a massive challenge. I was constantly tired. Most of my calories came from simple carbohydrates, and I relied heavily on processed soy products without tracking my protein intake.

In an attempt to get healthier, I took up running. While I lost weight, I didn’t do it in a healthy way. My diet lacked the nutrients to support my body, and I developed complications as a result of being in a perpetual state of stress. I strongly believe this era of my life had impacts later in life when we struggled to start our family.

The health issues compounded. By 19, I started experiencing debilitating deep tissue pain—a burning sensation in my muscles and joints that felt like my bones were on fire. I lost range of motion & experienced numbness in my extremities I feared it was early-stage multiple sclerosis, but no one ever connected my symptoms to my diet.

A Turning Point: Discovering a Better Way

At 22, during my final year of university, I enrolled in an organic agriculture course. It was there that I read The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. The book introduced me to the concept of ethical omnivorism and diversified agriculture, and it was a revelation. I learned about Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm, where animals and crops are raised in harmony with nature.

For the first time, I saw an alternative to the industrial food system that had so horrified me as a child. It wasn’t a choice between participating in cruelty or abstaining from animal products entirely. There was a third way—one rooted in respect for animals, the environment, and human health.

Finding My Path: Becoming a Farmer

That was the moment I decided to become a sheep farmer. I wanted to farm in a way that honored the animals, the land, and the people who depend on it. Regenerative agriculture offered a way to produce food ethically and sustainably, while also nourishing my body in the way it needed.

Transitioning back to an animal-based diet wasn’t easy. I had to overcome years of guilt and relearn what balanced nutrition looked like for me. But as my health improved, so did my conviction. This wasn’t just about me anymore; it was about creating a food system that was better for everyone.

A Life’s Work

Today, as a regenerative livestock producer, I’m proud of the work I do. It’s not just farming—it’s advocacy. I believe in the power of animal-based nutrition and the importance of raising animals with care and respect. My journey has come full circle, from an idealistic teenager who wanted to opt out of the system to someone working to build a better one.

If my story resonates with you, I hope it sparks curiosity and conversation. Food is never just food; it’s a connection to the land, to our health, and to each other. And we all have the power to make choices that align with our values.