About this episode

Cole Mannix discusses his efforts to create an alternative ecosystem for ranchers to reclaim independence from corporate meat processing.

Cole Mannix is a multi-generational rancher from central and western Montana who serves as the founder of Old Salt, a vertically integrated startup enterprise. Coming from a background rooted in mountain grazing and extensive holistic management, Cole spent decades working alongside his family and regional producers to optimize ecological function, riparian health, and predator coexistence on their expansive home landscapes. Recognizing the vulnerabilities ranching families face as processing and retail channels become increasingly consolidated, Cole launched Old Salt to construct an alternative ecosystem of localized market power. Under his leadership, Old Salt has grown to incorporate a membership of ranches operating alongside processing hubs, a direct e-commerce engine, local restaurants, and an annual community festival hosted directly on his family's ranch. Cole is dedicated to creating experiential, relational marketplaces that adequately reward producers, support active workforce ownership, and increase the sheer volume of passionate hearts and hands managing the landscape. In this episode, John and Cole discuss: How Cole engineered an LLC model with cooperative…

People in this episode

Host: John Kempf

Guest: Cole Mannix

Topics covered

• regenerative agriculture
• local markets
• meat processing
• holistic management
• ranching independence

Keywords

• regenerative agriculture
• local markets
• meat processing
• ranching
• holistic management

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Old Salt

Places: Montana

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