White Oak Pastures

White Oak Pastures is a fifth-generation family farm located in Bluffton, Georgia, widely recognized as one of the most prominent examples of large-scale regenerative livestock farming in the United States. Founded in 1866, the farm was transitioned by Will Harris in the 1990s from a conventional commodity operation to a holistic, multi-species regenerative system, a transformation that has become one of the most frequently cited case studies in regenerative agriculture. Today White Oak Pastures raises cattle, hogs, sheep, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese using holistic planned grazing and pasture rotation systems that significantly improve soil organic matter, water retention, and biodiversity. An independent life cycle analysis conducted by General Mills found that White Oak Pastures’ beef production sequesters more carbon than it emits, making it a landmark example of how well-managed livestock can function as a climate solution. The farm operates its own USDA-inspected meat processing facilities, a direct-to-consumer online store, and a butcher shop, maintaining close control of its supply chain and ensuring quality and traceability. White Oak Pastures employs hundreds of people in a small rural community, demonstrating that regenerative farming can support rural economies while restoring ecological health.