Birth of a Bold idea

An idea founder for Health First, Bud has a background in conservation and education. In 2007 after retiring from USDA, Davis started a business, Conservation Demonstrations Inc., to assist educators and presenters by providing visual representations of soil functions that could be brought directly to an audience.  This demonstration equipment is being use throughout the US and several other countries to educate farmers, policy makers, environmentalists and children about how land management effects water movement over and through the soil.  

This business keeps him in contact with the leading farm managers, researchers and educational organizations throughout the world of Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture. 

The mission of Health First came as a result of observations of farming systems on a tour in several different countries while providing soil health educational presentations.  The observations indicated that while the focus was on soil health, there was much more affecting the nutritional quality of our food.  Many of the farms observed were subject to management dictated by processing systems, public policy or tradition that were detrimental to the soil, livestock, natural resources, communities or even their families.  They also observed several operations that would serve as beacons of hope in that there are better ways of production if the primary objective is Health. 

Davis believes that protecting and improving our soils is one of the most important gifts we have to offer our future generations, but the nutritional quality of the food being offered is at a critical juncture that can no longer be ignored.  Health First will be an effort to help recognize production methods that will offer a healthier quality of life.

We must always question what we think we know and let our curiosity be our most valuable asset.  

The 11th Commandment, written in a USDA Bulletin in the 1930s, instructed farmers to “care for the land.” Scott Ravenkamp has adopted that commandment as a guide as important as the rest of the Commandments. Farming in the semi-arid environment of eastern Colorado, Scott embraced conservation farming in the mid 1990s. What started as cost saving management decisions on the farm led to increases in soil health that developed into a passion for regenerative farming systems. 

He served as a board member and officer for two no-till organizations in Colorado and Kansas, facilitating the exchange of conservation farming ideas and has spoken internationally to help educate producers on soil health systems and how those systems can be implemented anywhere. 

He now applies that passion as the contract production  manager for Green Cover Seed in Nebraska. Working with 

producers nationwide to grow quality seed stock for diverse forage and cover crops  he observed regenerative systems produced more viable seed stock. It begges the questions, “Why do these systems create more viable seed stock? What other benefits besides germination and vigor may be impacted with healthy soils? How do we reproduce these systems across the globe?”

Some say seeing is believing. Other say belief is knowing something when you are unable to see it. For Josh Lloyd, building soil health is both. 

Spending several years as a contractor building homes across Kansas, Josh knows a little about how structure and function combine to create beautiful living spaces. He sees the same principles can be applied to his farm to create a beautiful living space for his family and the biological communities that make all things happen. He implemented changes in farming practices, and integrated a diverse livestock herd that includes cattle and hairsheep with the belief they would help the soil system in many ways. Several years later he can quantify those decisions with improved soil health scores and income. He recently began growing cash crops together with the belief biological communities above and below ground would allow those companion and relay crops to utilize resources more efficiently by creating crop synergism. So far, the results have paid off. 

His focus on soil health has not gone unnoticed. He has been featured in many agriculture publications and honored by different commodity groups increasing his influence and knowledge along the way. 

Photo: TheFurrowMagazine

Becky Ravenkamp brings insight to Health First’s purpose from two viewpoints. Coming from a ranching and farming background her passion is for the land and the people who make their living from them. After spending all her life involved in ranching and farming, she took interest in nutrition after her own health depended on it. Symptoms of food intolerances in her and her children left her with mommy guilt and regret, forcing her to evaluate nutrient sources and the quality of her own shopping choices.

Transferring what she learned over the years about the principles of soil health to gut health has led to the start of healing and wellness. She continues to be fascinated by the way food effects functions of the whole body and continues to look for the best nutrition options for her and her family. Drawing parallels between soil and gut health principles led to a desire to explore the possibility of creating healthier food from healthier soils. She continues to support the adoption of regenerative production systems and explore the connection they play with nutrient density, plant health, animal health and human health as the Executive Director of Health First.