Will Harris is a sixth-generation cattleman and owner of White Oak Pastures , a 158-year-old family farm in Bluffton, Georgia. Since 1866, the Harris family has practiced land-based farming rooted in regeneration, humane animal husbandry, and zero-waste production. In this episode, Will reflects on the farm’s evolution from industrial cattle operations to a living ecosystem. He discusses soil, community, balance, symbiosis in an ecosstem, rural farming communities, stewardship, organic matter, his family history, and more. Key Topics 6 generations of farming - from industrial cattle to regenerative systems Rebuilding Bluffton’s rural economy through local food Soil carbon, organic matter, and ecological limits The moral and generational lessons of land stewardship Rethinking success: humility, balance, and long-term thinking Why You Should Listen How six generations turned an industrial farm into a living ecosystem. Why killing pests and controlling nature backfired What it takes to rebuild a town’s economy The real economics of land, legacy, and long-term thinking. Why humility- not technology - is the key to surviving the human dilemma. Connect With White Oak Pastures Website Instagram Timestamps 00:00:00 — White Oak Pastures and 158 years of family farming 00:05:00 — Industrial agriculture and losing balance 00:08:00 — The cost of control: chemicals and confinement 00:11:00 — Soil carbon, fertility, and organic matter 00:16:00 — Working within nature’s limits 00:25:00 — Rejecting tech fixes and restoring balance 00:34:00 — Internships, purpose, and community revival 00:42:00 — Bluffton’s renewal through local production 00:50:00 — Land, debt, and long-term stewardship 00:55:00 — Generational transfer and humility 01:08:00 — Observation, faith, and living with nature
