About Us
Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that focuses on restoring and improving the health of the land while promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Traditionally, these may include practices such as reducing the use of synthetic inputs, minimizing tillage, and focusing on soil health and biodiversity.
Dairy farming in particular has additional exciting opportunities when it comes to incorporating regenerative principles around alternative forages, manure management, and alternative energy. By implementing these regenerative practices, dairy farmers can help mitigate climate change, improve soil quality, and support healthier ecosystems while maintaining viable and profitable dairy operations.
Regenerative Connections is a Michigan-based organization who is bridging the gap between food and beverage brands & farms by turning sustainability goals into action.
Regenerative Connections, LLC was co-founded by Deidre Iciek and Brent Robinson. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise in the dairy industry, both in terms of dairy production and off-farm consulting roles.
Their mission is to transform the relationship between producers and processors with a focus on sustainability and climate-smart practices, to meet the growing consumer demand for ethically and sustainably produced dairy products.
Regenerative Connections plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between dairy producers and sustainability efforts within the industry, drawing from their experiences and connections.
Deidre Iciek
Co-Founder, Dairy Owner, Regulatory Consultant
Deidre Iciek graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Environmental Studies and Applications in 2005 and has a Master of Science in General Administration from Central Michigan University. She has worked in regulatory compliance within the agriculture industry for the past fourteen years, primarily as a consultant directly with the producers of livestock facilities on National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting and compliance. She is also a certified Technical Services Provider for USDA-NRCS primarily focused on the development of nutrient management. In addition, she is a owner of a mid-sized progressive dairy in central Michigan, which she and her husband began operating in 2014. As a beginning producer she has worked with NRCS to implement conservation practices on her own farm where they are focused on regenerative agriculture practices like cover cropping, alternative forages, reduced tillage, and minimal inputs with progressive nutrient management planning.
Brent Robinson
Co-Founder, Dairy Owner, Dairy Nutrition Consultant
Brent Robinson’s introduction to the dairy industry began with milking cows at a neighbor’s dairy in high school, and upon graduating from Michigan State University with his Bachelor of Science degree in 2002, he moved to Caro, Michigan where he began dairying in 2004. He started with 35 cows and 52 acres. Today, in conjunction with his business partners, he has grown his dairy across two locations. Over the past five years, Brent has increasingly focused on sustainable practices at his dairy by implementing management practices such as appropriate crop rotations, cover crops, planting green, using alternative forages, and alternative tillage methods. Brent also works with other dairies as a nutrition and management consultant for over 21 years, where under his guidance he positively impacts and reaches over 25,000 cows.