Joshua Mechaelsen

Land and Livestock Assistant

Joshua grew up in corn- and soybean-rich central Iowa, where heritage poultry breeds and heirloom vegetables opened his eyes to sustainable agriculture.

After several stints in public service in Washington, D.C. and Des Moines, Joshua returned home to work at Lost Lake Farm, finally realizing his lifelong dream of milking cows and pasturing hogs. He was emboldened as a practicing farmer and advocate for regenerative agriculture, and eventually earned an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security from Royal Agricultural University in the United Kingdom.

Joshua is passionate about integrating livestock and perennial pastures to deliver table-ready food, supply a diverse array of critical ecosystem services and achieve holistic sustainability for farmers and rural communities.