Turning environmental changes into opportunities

By Lindsey Weber

Turning environmental changes into opportunities

Stephanie Mathis

In the heart of California’s coastal hills, Santa Barbara County, Stephanie Mathis is redefining what’s possible on marginal land. Managing part of her family’s expansive 14,000-acre ranch, Stephanie has introduced a herd of goats to tackle wildfire risks, rehabilitate underutilized land, and combat invasive species. Her secret weapon? Nofence’s virtual fencing technology.

“For years, I dreamed of using goats to transform our land, but the challenges of fencing this terrain seemed insurmountable,” Stephanie explains. “With Nofence, we’ve made it happen.”

A sustainable grazing system for the future

Stephanie’s ranch is no stranger to environmental challenges. Dense vegetation, steep ridgetops, and invasive plants like mustard and artichokes have made traditional land management difficult. But her goats, guided by virtual fencing, are turning these obstacles into opportunities. “Our forests were at high risk of burning. Now my goats are clearing fire hazards and rehabilitating land we couldn’t use before,” she explains. By grazing dense undergrowth and removing fuel ladders beneath the ranch’s coastal oaks, the goats are helping to create safer, healthier forests.

Simplifying grazing with technology

The precision grazing offered by Nofence has also enabled Stephanie to reclaim land that was previously unusable for livestock, improving both soil health and biodiversity.

The goats graze through dense undergrowth, clearing fire hazards and rehabilitating marginal lands with precision.

Planning for growth and community impact

While her husband oversees their cattle operation, Stephanie is focused on using Nofence to manage her goat herd, and she’s already thinking ahead about expanding the technology to their cattle operation.

“I’d love to integrate Nofence for our cattle. It would allow us to create smaller paddocks and improve grazing efficiency across the ranch,” Stephanie says. “The idea of managing both goats and cattle with virtual fencing is exciting. It opens up new ways to protect the land while improving productivity.”

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