Small Producers Spotlight: Southern Sunny Acres
Hi, y’all! Johanna here from the TX Soil Sisters.
(The podcast media player is below w/ links to things we talk about. Or listen here.) This podcast conversation was recorded on July 6, 2026.
How do you build a regenerative farm from scratch as a family, grow a business, and work toward profitability?
L to R: Tokie and Ty Morgan | Southern Sunny Acres Farm | @southernsunnyacres
In this episode, the Soil Sisters connect with Ty and Tokie Morgan of Southern Sunny Acres, a veteran-owned family farm in East Texas producing pasture-raised chicken, eggs, and lamb. Starting with just 50 broiler chickens in 2021, they've grown their direct-to-consumer operation by focusing on regenerative practices, serving their local community, and making thoughtful business decisions along the way.
Ty and Tokie share the honest lessons they've learned while scaling a farm business—from managing freezer capacity and cash flow to reducing input costs through "no-icide" farming and improving efficiency with better systems. They discuss the challenges of growing a farm before it reaches profitability, the importance of tracking metrics, and the mindset shifts required to build a sustainable operation.
They also talk about running a farm as a married couple, including how they divide responsibilities, communicate through challenges, and protect their relationship as they build a business together.
The conversation previews their keynote at the Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference (Aug. 3-4), where they'll share their journey, practical strategies for working as a farm couple, the value of accountability groups, and how grants and community support can help farmers move forward.
Whether you're starting a farm, expanding a direct-to-consumer business, or looking for real-world lessons in regenerative agriculture and farm entrepreneurship, this episode offers an honest look at the work it takes to build a successful farm.
🎧 In this episode:
How Southern Sunny Acres grew from 50 to 300+ chickens
The realities of building a farm business before reaching profitability
Creating a direct-to-consumer model and responding to customer demand
The Profit First approach to understanding farm finances
Reducing costs with regenerative "no-icide" farming practices
Improving efficiency with better systems and infrastructure
Running a farm business as a married couple
Communication, roles, and accountability on the farm
Finding support through farmer networks and peer groups
Using grants and resources to help grow an operation
What to expect at the Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference
Happy farming and healthy living, y’all.
Jo (and Crystal) ❤️
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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE:
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Time Stamps & Links
00:00 – Soil Sisters Welcome
00:30 – Meet Southern Sunny Acres
02:38 – Why Ty & Tokie Started Farming
04:13 – Scaling the Farm
05:46 – Building a Direct-to-Consumer Business
08:10 – Expanding Their Market
10:18 – The 'Profit First' Mindset
13:22 – Efficiency Improvements That Increase Profit
17:09 – Regenerative "No-icide" Farming
19:31 – Farming, Marriage & Business
26:18 – Finding Your Strengths
27:42 – Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference (SFFFS)
29:46 – Building a Regenerative Farming Community
36:51 – Agricultural Grants
43:11 – Why Asking for Help Matters
46:21 – Creating a Sustainable Farm Income
48:40 – SFFFS Conference Details and Ticket Information
49:48 – Closing