Could Leather Be the Missing Piece for Regenerative Ranching? with Cate Havstad of Range Revolution

About this episode

Cate Havstad discusses how innovative leather production can support regenerative ranching and create economic viability for ranchers.

We've spent a lot of time on this show digging into the dire state of modern farming and ranching, and the challenging economics for those trying to build a regenerative future. Our guest today, Cate Havstad, is no stranger to these challenges as a first-generation farmer and rancher. That experience led directly to an innovative solution that could be an important missing piece in this economic puzzle. As she explains, only about 65 percent of the cattle she sent out to slaughter was actually used, leaving hides and other materials treated as low-value byproducts rather than essential parts of a living system. That waste isn't just ecological. It's economic, and it puts real pressure on ranchers trying to do things the right way. Cate is changing that. As the founder of Range Revolution [https://rangerevolution.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqwOmqB0g6bvjxI_oEm4JUr0_F3hTAtYKSCaTdBAYawQEuM-bkI], she's building a new market for regenerative hides, turning them into high-quality leather goods while creating an additional revenue stream for ranchers committed to land stewardship. Her work challenges the idea that sustainability and luxury are incompatible, and shows how value-added products can…

People in this episode

Host: Agrarian Futures

Guest: Cate Havstad

Topics covered

• regenerative ranching
• sustainability
• leather production
• economic challenges
• waste reduction

Keywords

• regenerative ranching
• leather
• sustainability
• waste
• economic viability

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Range Revolution

More episodes of Agrarian Futures

• The Farm Bill Explained with Judith McGeary · June 12, 2026 · 43 min
• What Animals Teach Us About Caring for the Land with Fred Provenza · May 26, 2026 · 1h 6m
• How Land Heals with Judith Schwartz · May 8, 2026 · 37 min
• Life on the Range with Glenn Elzinga · April 20, 2026 · 55 min
• Blending Forest and Field with Steve Gabriel · April 1, 2026 · 30 min
• The Economics of the Other Half with Jim and Mark Kleinschmit · March 19, 2026 · 44 min