Helping People Help the Land

Kevin Lund grew up in Western Kentucky and got a vocational degree in Mechanical Drafting. He tried college out a bit, but decided quickly it wasn’t for him. He moved to Montana in 1994, worked at Yellowstone Nat’l Park for 13 years but in 2000, he joined the US Navy Reserves. Lund served 11 years and became a decorated member of the Navel Mobile Construction Battalion. They call them “C.B.’s” for short, or the heterograph “SeaBees” because these soldiers tend to be some of the busiest, most talented, innovative, and critical members of their military team. Kevin ended his military career after serving two tours during the Iraq-Afghanistan wars. His role was a dangerous one that left him facing a battle all his own with challenges of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

After his last Iraq deployment in 2007, Kevin returned to work in Yellowstone. He hoped to repair his war-torn spirit and find a new beginning in civilian life. He cut that short to herd 1,500 head of sheep for a friend, a decision that would change his life’s path. In 2008, he began raising his own sheep, starting with 15 breeding ewes. Three years ago, he moved himself and his small

Illinois Veteran BecomesGrass Farmer

herd of sheep to be closer to his parents back in Western Kentucky. He settled in the scenic, pastoral landscapes of Massac County, Illinois.

In 2018, Kevin is happy to report his newfound position has him nestled into a new home and a new life with a beautiful wife. He currently serves as “Acting Commander” of a 40-acre grazing operation. He owns 80 acres in all, but is presently only grazing half of it. He raises Targhee Fine Quality Wool Sheep and uses his many skills building up his soil, growing grass, and tending to his expanding herd of sheep.

“There are stark differences between grazing out West and grazing here. It’s been a major challenge, but I’m working through things,” Lund explains. What’s different? Just about everything. Climate, rainfall, growing seasons, soils, shearing services, hay quality, market availability, and parasites, to name a few. Lund lost 30% of his herd/flock the first year to parasites, which was devastating. Parasites were never a problem on dryland environments in Montana.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

January 2018

KEVIN LUNDPastured Sheep Operation

Massac County, IL

“It was a hard lesson to learn. Took a toll on my herd and on me personally,” Kevin says. He learned about barber pole worms and other stomach parasites and now uses a rotating de-wormer system to keep ahead of them. By using proper grazing management, Kevin will minimize parasite problems. “It’s a battle to stay on top of it. High moisture levels here are a new issue for me. But I’ve got it under control and my herd is growing strong,” Kevin adds.

The whole idea of a shepherd’s job is an iconic one. Shepherds are responsible for the care and feeding of hundreds of vulnerable animals in wide open spaces. To be successful, shepherds must be smart, alert, skilled, and yet loving and gentle. It’s a pretty tall order.

Who knows what destruction, damage, and death Lund witnessed while serving in the military? His job as the battalion’s forward scout was to go ahead of the team and ensure the next site’s safety for everyone else. That’s the riskiest and most nerve-wracking position to be in and is probably a large part of the war-time stress Lund endured. Compared to that job as an NMCB Scout, watching over 100 wooly sheep on a peaceful, grass-covered southern Illinois farm probably feels like heaven.

According to Lund, there’s plenty of work to do flipping this old Illinois farm into a healthy, grass-fed operation. But this job offers a chance to re-build things and fix up structures and landscapes. Here, the environment is lush, the solutions are positive, the company is content, quiet, and peaceful. Best of all, nobody here is trying to kill you.

Over the next few years, Kevin used what graziers call the “spray-smother-spray technique” to remove unwanted (Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue) and establish his preferred grasses— (Novel type) tall fescue, Orchard grass, and ladino clover. Most recently he seeded other grass species--birds foot trefoil and chicory. He experimented with strip-grazing and plans to use it as one of many tools in his grazing toolbox. Kevin lets his herd graze grass down to a 4” height and then rests the pasture for 30 to 40 days of regrowth.

Since 2014, Kevin has worked closely with newfound friends at the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Vienna, Illinois. Together, they designed a grazing plan and reseeded and improved these pastures even more, building a rotational grazing system that works in Illinois.

“I’ve been working with NRCS and the EQIP program to address resource concerns on the land. It’s been tremendously helpful,” says Lund. Kevin’s EQIP contract will add a well, pump house, and pipelines for watering facilities. He’s currently waiting to hire a contractor to dig the well and uses temporary water solutions—hauling water from a 300-gallon mobile tank to fill a ‘water cube’ and a small ground tank. These EQIP solutions for clean accessible water at the ready will make Kevin’s herd/flock healthier and improve grazing management.

Remember that Lund started out with 15 ewes. At last count? He has 100 breeding ewes. He was using the breed popular in Montana, called Targhees. These sheep offer two marketable products—a super high quality wool and meat. Most sheep breeds offer just one or the other, not both.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Unfortunately, Targhees don’t have much of a market in Illinois. At least not until recently. Until now, Kevin sold to buyers back in Montana. His other dilemma was finding adequate sheep shearers. There’s an optimum time to shear for the best product and best price. Kevin found himself in a bind more than once. As a result, Kevin added a more popular Illinois breed to his flock, the hair and meat sheep, Katahdin.

“They definitely are different looking sheep,” says Kevin. “You don’t have to shear them and there’s a good local market for them.” He’s still undecided which species he’ll focus on or if he’ll pursue both. “If I can create demand for the Targhees wool, I will. I need an operation that’s sustainable and profitable,” Kevin explains.

The Lund farm is in every way a ‘fixer-upper.’ The job of growing his herd is just three years in the making. He’s already established top quality pastures and improved soil health, an ongoing priority. He’s clearing adjacent acres of trees to add more pasture to his rotations. They recently leased 70 acres nearby where he plans to grow high quality hay. Kevin is not impressed with local hay varieties and wants to grow his own supply—and hopefully sell to others who develop an appreciation for what truly good hay can do for livestock.

In addition to grass, sheep, and water, Kevin is also caretaker of local wildlife who visit his pastures. He provides special access lanes for visiting deer, offering a way to avoid exterior fences and access vegetation. He also tends a bee hive to ensure local pollinators have their needs met in order to maintain the diversity and keep everything in balance. And don’t leave out the other diverse members of the operation—three working

dogs—Nook, Monk, and Ottis. Nook, a Bordie Collie, is the herding dog. The others, an Akbash and a Great Pyrenees are guardians. Lund also ‘herds’ three free-range cats and about a dozen chickens.

Kevin Lund keeps busy. There’s no end of work to do here, and it’s a great working environment. “I’m working with nature, not against it. I’m improving things, making it better. I’m taking good care of all the critters I’m in charge of. The work keeps my mind focused on good and positive things. It helps keep me calm,” Kevin says with a smile.

www.il.nrcs.usda.gov USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

These acres are the piece of Planet Earth Kevin tends to now. It’s a beautiful place, a peaceful place where he is building a new life with an old-fashioned lifestyle. Probably just what the doctor ordered.

To learn how NRCS and EQIP can help you create a sustainable grazing operation, contact your local NRCS team www.il.nrcs.usda.gov.