About Us
Making pastoralism more accessible to future generations
As Seen In…
v e n t a n a m o n t h l y
Grazing School of the West (GSW) is a nonprofit multidisciplinary vocational training program for aspiring livestock and land stewards. With learning hubs in both southern and northern California, GSW provides affordable agricultural education that addresses the specific needs of varied landscapes across the West using an ecologically prescriptive approach to sheep, goat and cattle grazing.
Our values of care, collaboration, curiosity, discovery & equity are embedded in everything we do.
What We Do
Our mission is to provide meaningful land-and animal-based learning experiences that inspire a new generation of practitioners who understand ecology, animal husbandry, and community care to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. Through the practice of prescribed livestock grazing, we aim to effect positive change on landscapes impacted by climate change, while also providing opportunities for regionalized food and fiber production.
Why We Do It
Our vision is to create a culture of CARE for the land, for animals, and for each other.
We aim to create a safe place to learn for a diverse community of people with various learning abilities and styles, including:
New and aspiring grazing practitioners, ranchers and farmers
Experienced livestock business operators, managers, and those who aim to add prescribed grazing to existing operations
Industry-adjacent professionals (soil science, fire professionals, rangeland managers)
Technical service providers (NRCS and other climate-smart practitioners)
K-12 & young adults (curriculum and early exposure in land stewardship, ecology & grazing animals)
Who We Serve
Our People
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Cole Bush
CO-FOUNDER / DIRECTOR
Entrepreneur, advocate and educator, Cole is the owner of Shepherdess Land & Livestock and Shepherdess Holistic Hides. With over a decade in the prescribed grazing industry, she is a voice for promoting viable vocations in regenerative agriculture, proactive land stewardship, and fire prevention.
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Olivia Tincani
CO-FOUNDER / PROGRAM DESIGN
Food & Farm Business Educator and Strategist specializing in strategic planning, farmer training program design, whole animal systems, and community facilitation.
Olivia Tincani & Co, LLC.
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Sandra Keats
DIRECTOR / STRATEGY & DEVELOPMENT
Producer, storyteller, project manager, communications strategist, and burgeoning goat farmer. After producing The Biggest Little Farm, Sandra turned focus to nonprofit work that fosters deeper connections between people, the land, animals, their food, and each other.
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Diane Anastasio
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Programs Manager and Shepherd at Shepherdess Land & Livestock and a weaver dedicated to bridging climate-beneficial fibers, prescribed grazing and craftsmanship. Diane has a Master’s Degree in Gender and Sociology, which they incorporate into programming work at GSW.
Our Partners
We collaborate with over a dozen organizations to develop and deliver our programs and resources.
