As a professor in Michigan State University’s Department of Animal Science and co-director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture, Dr. Jason E. Rowntree has dedicated his career to improving the sustainability of beef production and grass-based farming systems both in the Midwest and around the world.
Rowntree’s service to SARE spans many years, including his time on the North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Technical Committee from 2017 to 2021, and his leadership on the NCR-SARE Administrative Council and Executive Committee as the Technical Chair for the Research and Education Grant Program.
Over his tenure at MSU, Rowntree has emerged as a premier state and regional leader in quantifying the environmental impacts of grazing enterprises. He was an early pioneer in measuring livestock greenhouse gas footprints and determining the specific drivers of soil organic carbon sequestration. A dynamic researcher and practical educator, Rowntree centers producers in his work, helping them navigate market-based sustainability transitions within the beef supply chain while ensuring complex science translates directly to practical management solutions on the ground.
Some of Rowntree's work has been backed by USDA-SARE. Between 2012 and 2016, his NCR-SARE Research and Education project mainly targeted Michigan beef producers. It led to advances in science-based grazing techniques and boosted local rural economies. The success of these early efforts opened doors to further opportunities, including a recent $19 million USDA FFAR grant. This grant involved an interdisciplinary team across 11 academic fields at 12 universities, as well as federal agencies and industry partners. In recognition of his leadership in research, MSU awarded him the esteemed Charles Stewart Mott Distinguished Professorship of Sustainable Agriculture.
Internationally, Rowntree has conducted agricultural workshops and advised sustainability boards worldwide. He has traveled to countries such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom to share his expertise on regenerative grazing systems and sustainable livestock management. Closer to home, through his collaborations with Michigan State University's Michigan Inter-Tribal Land Grant System, he has developed strong partnerships with Bay Mills Community College and Michigan State University Extension, and supported the Tribal Food System Needs Assessment and Action Plans for the 12 Tribal Nations in Michigan. He has testified before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee to advocate for vital Research and Extension priorities in the Farm Bill. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and on the Board of Directors of the American Grassfed Association and the Grassfed Exchange, and lends his expertise to advisory committees for the North American Meat Institute, Regenerate America, and the Savory Institute. Throughout his career, he has acted as a trusted mentor to dozens of students and early-career scholars, investing in their professional and personal growth to shape the next generation of sustainable agriculture professionals.
Leaders in sustainable agriculture offered tributes as Rowntree was nominated and selected to receive this recognition, including:
- I’m so pleased to hear that Dr. Rowntree has received this well-deserved recognition from SARE for his research and leadership in the areas of beef cattle production and regenerative grazing systems. While this work began at our MSU Lake City Research Center in Michigan, it has received worldwide attention. Dr. Rowntree’s approach emphasizes practical and applicable solutions for producers and ranchers, while promoting the economic sustainability of their operations and long-term environmental benefits. His impact on Michigan agriculture and beyond is undeniable. We’re privileged at MSU to have access to his expertise and ability to assemble leading experts to solve some of agriculture’s biggest challenges. – Dr. George Smith, Director of Michigan State University AgBioResearch
- I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the 2026 NCR-SARE Heroes Recognition than Jason Rowntree. I first met Jason in 2015 when he brought me on as a master’s student, and one of my very first projects was leading SARE focus groups with producers who had implemented regenerative grazing practices in the region. Even then, it was clear that Jason’s approach to research was rooted in listening to producers and building science around the questions that mattered most to them. Over the past decade, I have watched Jason turn the Lake City Research Station into a hub for regenerative grazing research, education, and producer engagement. Through his vision, persistence, and ability to bring people together, he has created a space where producers, researchers, students, and industry regularly come together to learn from one another and advance sustainable agriculture. Under his leadership, the station has become a testbed for numerous SARE-funded regenerative grazing projects and a place where producer questions are turned into research, and research findings are then translated into demonstrations and practical learning opportunities. Central to my experience with Jason as a SARE hero is his remarkable ability to invest in people. More than a decade after I began my master’s with him, he remains one of the most influential mentors in my life and career - a sentiment I know is shared among all of his former students. He creates opportunities, builds connections, and supports people in the sustainable agriculture space long after they leave his direct orbit. His impact can be seen not only in the science he has helped advance, but in the many students, researchers, extension professionals, and producers he has inspired along the way. The field of regenerative grazing research — and our understanding of how grazing can contribute to more sustainable beef production — is stronger because of Jason’s vision, leadership, and commitment to producers. – Stanley Paige, Colorado State University