Meet Michael Leicht | Owner/Operator, Ventura Brush Goats

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Leicht and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Working with livestock, especially rascally goats is an intense responsibility because we are on-call 24-7. There are a thousand scenarios in which we might have to drop everything no matter the time of day or night and tend to the herd. From unplanned wildlife encounters to unexpected veterinary challenges to escape artist goats, we are always on the hook to respond, no matter what else might be going on with our day. Most of the time, we get the call just as we are washed up and sitting down for dinner.

What should our readers know about your business?
Founded in 2018, Ventura Brush Goats was born in the ashes of the Thomas Fire. The largest CA wildfire on record at that time, the Thomas Fire made it clear that more work was needed to maintain vegetation in our Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and open spaces in California. Beginning with only a handful of goats, we quickly learned that the massive amount of work that had to be done to keep our communities safe would require thousands of goats and sheep. With the help of a few experienced people, Ventura Brush Goats has doubled gross revenue and number of animals every year since our inception. Some challenges have been so great that they seemed insurmountable, yet seven years later, we are serving a broader region than any other company, with several herds working in multiple southern and central counties in California. When times are tough and problems escalate into emergencies, we would not have been able to rescue the missing goat, make payroll during financial difficulties, and secure that important vegetation management project if we didn’t have a winning mindset. The culture of our team is to laugh in the face of impending challenges, knowing that no matter what needs to be done, giving up is not an option. Ventura Brush Goats consists of some stubborn goats that refuse to quit, and as a result, we are able to clear thousands of acres of fire fuel around homes and valuable property each year. We work in tough terrain, in heat, wind or rain and the best reward we get is hearing about the homes that have been spared because a nearby wildfire ran out of vegetation to burn.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One really cool spot that many don’t know about is Moraga Vineyard in Bel Air. The only commercial vineyard/winery in LA, they offer amazing wines from grapes grown on-site. The coastal influence and fertile southern exposures make for a world class product, and most impressive is their commitment to good agricultural practices. Moraga has been ratcheting up their soil and environmental conservation practices, and so began hiring our sheep to graze the weeds in their vines each spring. the sheep do wonders for the soil and eradicate encroaching vegetation with gusto. Any friend spending time in LA would have to check out Moraga.
Another activity one might enjoy is bicycling along the Ballona Creek bike path in Culver City. If you catch it at the right time of year, you might ride right past our goats as they clear vegetation behind the Apple Music building.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Mike and Jan Canaday have pioneered the Targeted Grazing industry in California, and have provided us with endless support and advice on how to handle our animals, how to satisfy our customers, and how to create an environment for our shepherd employees to thrive. Mike passed away this past May, 2024 and has left a hole in the industry, and in our hearts. He was one of the few people who could truly understand what it means to grow a targeted grazing business in California and we are extremely grateful to have worked and grown alongside him.

Website: https://www.venturabrushgoats.com

Instagram: @venturabrushgoats