An Introduction to Solar Grazing with Inverter Cattle
February 25, 2026 7:00PM - 8:00PM
Registration Deadline: February 25, 2026 - 04:00PM
Zoom
Contact: M. Charles Gould
Inverter cattle are a specialized composite breed combining Dexter, Belted Galloway, Pineywoods, and American Milking Devon genetics for optimal solar site performance. Inverter cattle possess several key traits necessary for grazing around solar arrays including small stature, hardiness, docile temperament, and efficient foraging. Inverter cattle can produce a product the consumer wants - less fat and meat with flavor. This presentation will introduce participants to inverter cattle and make the case for grazing inverter cattle in Michigan solar projects.
Jess Gray is the CEO of Gray’s LAMBscaping, LLC, overseeing the company’s financial management, policy development, logistics, and reporting. She is crucial in guiding the company towards sustainable agriculture and solar grazing goals. As a 2023 Nuffield International Agricultural Scholar, Gray has represented her company in over half a dozen countries, focusing her research on integrating solar energy with livestock grazing. This innovative approach has drawn interest from various sectors looking at the environmental sustainability and economic viability of ranching in the context of climate change and shifts in land ownership. Gray has been a board member for the American Solar Grazing Association since 2024.
Gray holds an MBA from King University, which has provided her with a strong foundation in business administration, crucial for the effective management and strategic direction of Gray’s LAMBscaping, LLC. Her academic background and professional experience position her as a leader in applying business principles to agricultural practices, promoting a financially sustainable and environmentally responsible model.
Growing up in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Gray witnessed the effects of suburban sprawl on rural communities first-hand. This experience has deeply influenced her commitment to sustainable land management and conservation, driving her interest in solar grazing to preserve agricultural land while supporting renewable energy production.
Under Jess Gray’s leadership, Gray’s LAMBscaping, LLC is at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, advocating for solar grazing as a solution to modern challenges in ranching. Her work and vision for the future of farming are instrumental in setting new standards for environmental sustainability and economic viability in the agricultural sector.
The 2026 MI Ag Ideas to Grow With conference will be held virtually, February 23 - March 5, 2026. The program encompasses many aspects of the agricultural industry and offers a full array of educational sessions for farmers and homeowners interested in food production and other agricultural endeavors. While there is no cost to participate, attendees must register to receive the necessary zoom links. Registrants can attend as many sessions as they would like and are also able to jump around between tracks. RUP and CCA credits may be offered for several of the sessions. More information can be found at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/miagideas/.
Registration for this specific session is part of the larger overall MI Ag Ideas to Grow With program—by signing up for the overall program, you'll gain access to attend this session along with all other program offerings.
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