The Livestock Conservancy is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction. 

In this podcast, rare breed livestock and poultry experts share their best advice, challenges, and celebrations in chats about agriculture history, scientific breakthroughs, marketing, husbandry, genetics, farm life, and everything in between. Each month features a new species listed on the Conservation Priority List and new guests who share their stories about raising and marketing rare breeds. 

To participate in these conversations, follow The Livestock Conservancy on Facebook (@livestockconservancy). 

Brittany Sweeney serves as the Communications Manager for The Livestock Conservancy, showcasing the amazing things that happen when people come together around a common cause. A skilled communicator with a background in journalism, Brittany handles our PR, social media and editor duties for The Livestock Conservancy News, E-News, Breeders and Products Directory and much more. Brittany is passionate about animals and food and spends her free time cooking, fostering shelter dogs and chasing after her own 5 cats, dog and backyard chickens. Email Brittany at bsweeney@livestockconservancy.org.

Rhyne Cureton, also known as “Pork” Rhyne, serves as The Livestock Conservancy’s Breed Association Manager. He is known across the country and even overseas as an international swine educator; educating experienced, as well as new and beginning farmers, on small-scale pork production. Rhyne has farmed in both Texas and North Carolina, raising pigs, poultry, goats, and cattle based on rotational grazing practices. During the summer, Rhyne travels to Uganda and Tanzania to train rural pig farmers on how proper livestock husbandry and health correlate to farm profitability as well as the importance of supply chain infrastructure and value-added opportunities for horticultural commodities. Rhyne has a Bachelors Degree in Agricultural Education (Professional Services) from North Carolina A&T State University. Currently, he serves on several boards and committees for organizations such as NC Choices, National Young Farmers Coalition, and EATBETA International.

Jeannette Beranger is the Senior Program Manager for the Conservancy. She came to the organization with 25 years’ experience working as an animal professional including veterinary and zoological institutions with a focus on Heritage breeds. She has been with The Conservancy since 2005 and uses her knowledge to plan and implement conservation programs, conduct field research, and advise farmers in their endeavors with rare breeds. She is co-author of the best-selling book “An Introduction to Heritage Breeds.” At home she maintains a Heritage breeds farm with a focus on rare breed chickens & horses. In 2015 she was honored as one of the top “45 Amazing Country Women in America” by Country Woman magazine for her long standing dedication to endangered breed conservation.

Cindra Kerscher serves as a Program Coordinator for The Livestock Conservancy. Having been raised in a rural, Pennsylvania farm community, Cindra fully appreciates small, family farmers.  She is currently working toward a degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Central Carolina Community College and becoming a Certified Beekeeper from the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. She is raising several breeds of heritage chickens and a small diversified farm is in her future. Cindra answers your phone calls, emails and letters, coordinates requests for the Conservancy’s display & marketing materials, assists with Breeders Directory updates, and supports advertising and fundraising efforts throughout the year.