Why & How I Started A Valais Sheep Farm

Why & How I Started A Valais Sheep Farm

From Million Dollar Grit by Julie Chenell

February 18, 2026 · 18 min · Season 1 · Episode 91

About this episode

Julie Chenell discusses her strategic decision to start a Valais sheep farm as a hedge against AI disruption and a legacy-building venture.

Let’s talk about the question I keep getting: “Why on earth are you starting a farm?” This wasn’t random. It wasn’t a midlife crisis. And it definitely wasn’t me abandoning online business. It was a strategic hedge. If AI is going to disrupt everything (and it will), then I want leverage inside of it — and I also want something completely outside of it. We already owned 15 acres with $300K+ of farming infrastructure. At some point you have to ask: if we’re not using it, why are we here? So we chose a premium niche — Valais Blacknose sheep — and built it like I build everything else. LLC. Bank account. Registry. Mentor. Domains. SEO. Audience. Long game. This is not a quick cash play. It’s legacy, optionality, tax strategy, land stewardship, and honestly… joy. I’m not leaving funnels. I’m just putting one leg in digital and one leg in analog. If you’ve ever felt the pull to build something that feels future-proof and a little wild, this one’s for you. And if you want to watch the sheep journey in real time, come hang out on Instagram.

People in this episode

Host: Julie Chenell

Topics covered

  • farming
  • entrepreneurship
  • AI disruption
  • legacy building
  • land stewardship

Keywords

  • Valais Blacknose sheep
  • farming
  • entrepreneurship
  • AI
  • land stewardship
  • legacy
  • business strategy

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Valais Blacknose sheep

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