Joel Salatin

Joel Salatin , 46, is a fulltime farmer in Virginia 's Shenandoah Valley. A third generation alternative farmer, he returned to the farm fulltime in 1982 and continued refining and adding to his parents' ideas.

The farm services more than 400 customers, farmers' markets, metropolitan buying clubs, and 30 restaurants with salad bar beef, pastured poultry, eggmobile eggs, pigaerator pork, forage-based rabbits, pastured turkey and forestry products through relationship marketing.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and writes extensively in such publications as Stockman Grass Farmer and Acres USA .

The family's Polyface Inc. (“The Farm of Many Faces”) has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine , National Geographic , and countless other radio, television, and print media. Profiled on the “ Lives of the 21 st Century” series with Peter Jennings on ABC World News, his after-broadcast chat room fielded more hits than any other segment to date.

A sought-after conference speaker, he addresses a wide range of issues, from “creating the farm your children will want” to “making a white collar salary from a pleasant life in the country.”

Author of four books, Pastured Poultry Profit$, “Net $25,000 in 6 Months on 20 Acres,” Salad Bar Beef, You Can Farm: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Start and Succeed in a Farming Enterprise , and Family Friendly Farming: A Multi-Generational Home-Based Business Testament , his speaking and writing reflect dirt-under-the-fingernails experience punctuated with mischievous humor.

His mother, Lucille, wife Teresa, daughter Rachel, son Daniel, daughter-in-law Sheri, and infant grandson Travis, work fulltime together on the family farm.

Joel Salatin, farmer, author of Pastured Poultry Profit$, Salad Bar Beef , You Can Farm: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Start and Succeed in a Farming Enterprise , and Family Friendly Farming: A Multi-Generational Home-Based Business Testament.