George Shockley

ISO land to start farmstead, and to raise my children to love nature and work well.

Farming experience

3-5 years experience

Currently farming

No

Highest level of farming experience

Worked on a farm

Description of farming experience

I grew up on a 235 acre cattle and hay farm in the Piedmont region of Georgia. My father raise me and my five siblings to work hard and love the land. My chores included fixing fences, tending to stock and chickens, hay production, planting fields, cutting roads, and whatever else needed to be done.

Unfortunately my father sold the land and moved away, and it left me aching to get back to doing what I know and love best. I have since been researching and reading everything I can to learn more about farming—especially in a regenerative and organic manner. I have a lot to learn, but I want to give my children the life I had growing up. I am grateful for any opportunity to make this happen in VT

Farming plans

Tenure arrangement desired

Farm transfer

Tenure arrangement description

We're a young family looking to take over an established Vermont farm through a transfer arrangement, ideally one already set up for cattle or other livestock. We're open to a gradual transition, seller financing, or a mentorship period with the outgoing farmer, and would value learning the operation's history and practices as part of the handoff.

Planned farm enterprise: Primary

Homesteading

Planned farm enterprises: Others

Agroforestry, Livestock

Farm enterprises description

Our farm enterprise centers on diversified, rotationally grazed livestock — cattle, chickens, and lamb — run together or in sequence to improve pasture health, break parasite cycles, and provide multiple income streams throughout the year. We're building toward organic, regenerative management, with agroforestry (windbreaks, hedgerows, eventual silvopasture) layered in over time as a long-term complement to the grazing system.

Written business plan

Yes

Business planning description

We're pursuing a farm transfer in Vermont, taking over an established livestock operation rather than buying raw land, ideally with seller financing or a mentorship period from the outgoing farmer. The enterprise centers on cattle, chickens, and lamb in a rotational grazing system, moving toward organic, regenerative management. Chickens and lamb provide faster cash flow while the cattle herd builds toward its 12–24 month finishing cycle. Agroforestry — windbreaks, hedgerows, eventual silvopasture — will be layered in over time to support soil health and shelter for the grazing system.

Farmer housing needed

Yes

Water source needed

Yes

Farm infrastructure needed

Barn/farm buildings
Fencing

Description of infrastructure needed

We're looking for a farm with core grazing infrastructure already in place — perimeter and cross-fencing (or fencing suitable for adding portable/electric fencing for rotational grazing), reliable water access across pastures, and basic shelter or a barn for cattle and lamb. For poultry, a coop or mobile chicken tractor setup is ideal but not essential. We're open to properties needing some infrastructure improvement, especially if it allows for a lower entry cost, and would view building out cross-fencing, water lines, or shelters as part of the transition process alongside the outgoing farmer.

Access to equipment needed

No

Additional information

We're a young Vermont-bound family looking to take over an established farm through a transfer arrangement. Our plan centers on rotationally grazed cattle, chickens, and lamb, moving toward organic, regenerative practices, with agroforestry woven in to support soil health and shelter. We bring energy, a long-term commitment to the land, and openness to mentorship, gradual transition, or seller financing.