Managed Grazing at Agape Farmstead

Project Date: October 2025

Location: Adams, TN

Waterway improved: Red River Watershed

Restoration methods: Portable electric fencing

Portable electric fencing cost-share for rotational grazing

In the fall of 2025, the Cumberland River Compact provided cost-share assistance to help Remy Powell purchase portable electric fencing for Agape Farmstead, the farm he co-founded near Clarksville, TN in 2022. The fencing allows him to rotate his grazing lambs between smaller sections of pasture, helping the grass and soil to recover after periods of grazing.

This practice, known as managed grazing or rotational grazing, improves soil health and reduces erosion. It’s linked to better forage quality, increased bird and insect life, and more carbon sequestration. On top of the environmental and ecological benefits, rotational grazing also helps farmers by improving animal health and stocking density, leading to higher profits.

Agape Farmstead is home to a diverse array of animals, from chickens and turkeys to donkeys and sheep.

Regenerative Farming Roots

Remy Powell is no stranger to regenerative agriculture. He first got involved with farming in high school through his local FFA chapter– where he started showing hogs as a tenth grader– and has been raising livestock ever since, ranging from goats to tarantulas.

In 2022, after completing a masters degree in environmental public health at the University of Florida, he moved to Adams, TN with his family. There, he co-founded Agape Farmstead, a 5 acre farm dedicated to raising chickens, turkeys, goats, and lambs using regenerative practices. He began implementing sustainable techniques he had read about, such as “chicken tractors”– mobile pens used to move chickens around to graze in different sections of pasture.

A chicken underneath a chicken tractor. — Chickens graze at Agape Farmstead inside of a chicken tractor.

As the farm grew, Remy added goats to the mix and tried out rotational grazing using portable electric netting. Due to logistical issues and (in Remy’s words) “goats always finding interesting ways to try to harm themselves,” the netting didn’t work out; however, the idea stuck with him until he attended the Compact’s River Friendly Farms Grazing School in the spring of 2025.

Making Managed Grazing More Manageable

The Grazing School workshop, which is designed to give farmers hands-on experience with managed grazing methods and equipment, gave Remy the chance to see what other farmers were using for rotational grazing. That exposure made the whole process feel a lot more accessible. “Well, this is a lot easier than it seems,” he remarked. “[Grazing School] helped push me over the edge in terms of figuring out electric [netting]… and now it’s a matter of tuning it in, instead of it seeming like a huge, daunting process.”

Remy told CRC’s Working Lands team that with traditional grazing methods, his pastures had been getting “absolutely beat up.” He was interested in trying portable fencing again– this time, to rotate his lambs between different paddocks. He knew this could control soil erosion and help plants naturally regenerate.

A man holds fencing in front of an onlooking crowd at a outside in a field. — River Friendly Farms Grazing School workshops connect farmers with grazing experts to demystify managed grazing and explain how it can improve livestock production outcomes while helping the environment.

In September 2025, the Compact provided Remy with cost-share assistance to make the project happen. Remy was able to purchase fencing posts, a geared reel, and 200 feet of electric netting material. These purchases aligned with the Compact’s goal of supporting Tennessee farmers in making sustainable improvements that prioritize water quality, soil health, and natural regeneration. Remy’s farm is in the Red River watershed of the Cumberland River basin, so the stormwater runoff and soil that erodes off his land have a direct impact on the health of the Red River.

Since adding the portable fencing, Remy has successfully implemented rotational grazing on his property. In addition to giving his grass more time to recover, he’s noticed that the practice has improved his lambs’ health, since he can now limit their access to leftover chicken feed (which lambs love to snack on but isn’t good for them).

Looking into the Future

Remy is looking forward to seeing improvements to forage and soil health in his pastures when the growing season returns this spring. When asked about his future plans for the farm, he talked about adding goats back into the mix and getting some pigs to do some natural composting on the property. Overall, his goal is to keep growing and to keep stewarding the land responsibly by using regenerative farming practices.

Two donkeys face the camera in a dirt field. — Donkeys and lambs at Agape Farmstead.

In addition to farming, Remy is pursuing a PhD in agriculture at Tennessee State University and teaches agriculture at Clarksville Christian School. “I know one of the big issues that I’ve had with a lot of my farmer buddies that are older is they’re worried about the next generation of farmers,” he said. “And I always encourage them to come into my class and see what the next generation actually looks like.” Teaching students about where their food comes from is the minimum requirement for his classes, he says. But what really excites him is when his students get interested in farming and even decide to pursue a career in agriculture.

He also supports students with internship opportunities on his farm, where they can see the benefits of sustainable farming practices– like rotational grazing– firsthand.

A man pulls a large structure of wood, wire, and metal panels. — Remy Powell demonstrates a portable chicken tractor on his farm.

This project was funded by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Other project partners include:

Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (S-SARE)