COLUMBUS, Ohio — Farmers make up only 2% of the American population.

The work is hard and the hours are long.

Of that small percentage, a method of farming called “Regenerative Farming” makes up an even smaller portion.

“They’re pest patrol and they break up rooster fights. They deter hawks from picking off our chickens. A long time ago, turkeys used to be called the farmer’s friend and I can see why,” said Judith Horvath as she fed her Heritage Turkeys. 

Horvath is the founder of Fair Hill Farm in Lancaster, Ohio.

“We started in 2013 and we got here and there was nothing, absolutely nothing, it was just a big blank slate,” she said.

Feeding her family was the main motivation for starting the farm.

Her children were allergic to dyes in food and she had trouble finding affordable, chemical-free options.

The Horvaths turned their backyard into an organic garden complete with chickens, but it didn’t last long.

“Only to find out they were not allowed, so I was running a flock of illegal backyard chickens before I knew it. Then I got in trouble with the homeowner’s association. So I got busted for illegal backyard chickens,” she said.

The family moved to the farm and built it up little by little.

When the pandemic hit and working from home became the norm, she knew her true calling was outside on the farm. 

She gave up her corporate job and went into regenerative farming.

“Regenerative farming is using methods and practices so that the animals are replenishing the nutrition that they require in order to build their own body mass,” Horvath said.

No chemicals are used on the farm and all her sheep are grass fed.

Moving around paddocks is known as rotational grazing.  

“They deposit their manure and they move on and the grass grows again. It’s a cycle where the grass is trimmed and part of the grassroots dies off and then that carbonaceous biomass is left in the soil,” she said.

 Rotational grazing helps the sheep, but also the soil.

“One percent more of organic matter enables your land to hold 22,000 gallons of water per acre,” Horvath said.

The water filters slowly and keeps the grass green even in the summer. 

It also trickles down and recharges the aquifers and helps prevent run-off in the field.

Regenerative farming has become a true passion for the Horvath family and they love sharing their knowledge.

“My goodness, I’ve been all over and it has just been such a great opportunity to travel to other people’s farms and see what their land is doing and see what they’ve purchased or what they’ve inherited,” she said.

Horvath’s bigger mission is to help recruit 100,000 young people into the agriculture business. 

“Nature has the ability to do this and we need humans who are dedicated to understanding it and making it happen again,” she said.