Sunovis Ranch

05/28/2026

This spring has been BUSY here at the Ranch! 🌱

Earlier this month, Dana Bowen Cummings and Paul Cummings had the opportunity to spend the day in beautiful Madison, Indiana, presenting about solar grazing through the R-STEP program—and what a wonderful experience it was. ☀️🐑

We are very grateful for the invitation, the warm welcome, and the opportunity to be part of such thoughtful conversations around agrivoltaics, agriculture, and rural communities.

One of our favorite parts of this work is getting to connect with people across the great Hoosier state. And truly—what a gorgeous setting for it all. We always enjoy any excuse to spend time in Madison! 😀

Thank you again for having us!

05/24/2026

It’s lamb time here on the Ranch! 🐑🥰

05/24/2026

We’re grateful to see agrivoltaics and solar grazing continuing to be part of important conversations across Indiana. ☀️🐑

Last week, Dana Bowen Cummings and Paul Cummings had the opportunity to participate in the IU Center for Rural Engagement Conference in beautiful French Lick, where discussions focused on how agriculture and renewable energy can work together—not against one another.

At Sunovis Ranch, we believe deeply in the potential of agrivoltaics to help support working lands, rural communities, and the future of agriculture in our state. It was encouraging to see so much thoughtful engagement around these topics and exciting to be included in the conversation.

Thank you to WFIU Public Radio for highlighting this growing work and to everyone helping move these conversations forward.

📰 Read the story here: https://www.ipm.org/news/2026-05-19/conference-highlights-ways-farmers-can-use-land-for-both-solar-and-agriculture

Presenters showed how they manage vegetation and raise sheep around a solar development on their land.

05/21/2026

Sunovis Ranch was very proud to be among the excellent line-up of speakers at this week’s conference!

05/16/2026

🐑 May 16, 2026! 🐑

Today brought one of our favorite signs of spring at Sunovis Ranch… the first lambs of the season have arrived! 🐑🌱

One thing that surprises people sometimes is that we don’t lamb in the winter like many traditional sheep operations. For 4-H families, winter lambing often makes sense because lambs need time to grow before fair season rolls around.

At the Ranch, though, we have different goals. We choose to lamb in the spring so it lines up naturally with the return of fresh forage, greener pastures, and warmer weather for both the ewes and babies. It’s a slower, more natural rhythm—and one we’ve really come to appreciate. 🥰

There’s something pretty special about watching new life arrive out in the pasture on a spring day! 💚

05/11/2026

We’re excited to share that Sunovis Ranch will be participating in an upcoming webinar hosted by the University of Minnesota Extension: “Ewes and Utilities: Ins and Outs of Sheep Solar Grazing.” ☀️🐑

Dana and Paul Cummings will join industry leaders to discuss the practical realities of solar grazing, what we’re learning through our work at Sunovis Ranch, and why agrivoltaics continues to create exciting opportunities for agriculture, land stewardship, and renewable energy.

Best of all? The webinar is free and open to anyone interested in learning more — whether you’re a farmer, landowner, solar developer, student, or simply curious about the future of agriculture and energy. Join us!

📅 May 12, 2026
⏰ 8 PM ET
🔗 Register: z.umn.edu/eweutilities

Hear sheep solar grazing practical insights from Dana and Paul Cummings from Sunovis Ranch as well as Jess and Marcus Gray from Gray's LAMBscaping.

05/11/2026

A pretty great way to end the semester...! ❤️🐑☀️

On Friday, we celebrated the Franklin College Biology Department Sheep Research Team (SRT) after their final session at Sunovis Ranch for the year.

Pizza on the patio, sheep in the background, and lots of conversation about a semester full of learning, research, and teamwork. We’re proud of these students and excited to cheer them on as they head into summer!

05/06/2026

Dana Bowen Cummings is thankful for a great day at the Indiana Spring Sustainability Forum last week. 🌱

There were so many thoughtful conversations about the future of food, agriculture, and sustainability—and so many people doing the work to move it forward.

Huge thanks and congratulations go to Sarah Beth Aubrey for bringing together such an inspiring group! 👏🏻

The future of agriculture is evolving—and it’s exciting to be part of the conversation. 💚

04/29/2026

One of the things we love most about Sunovis Ranch is the people we get to share it with. 💚

Our latest blog highlights our partnership with the Franklin College Biology Department and their pre-vet students—something that has been part of our story since 2020.

During the school year, students join us on Fridays to get hands-on experience working with the sheep. Over the years, they’ve helped with everything from FAMACHA training and immunizations to tracking weights and even witnessing live lamb births (always a favorite moment)! 😍

We’re so proud of these students—and excited to share that every one of our “alumni” who has applied to vet school has been accepted. 🐑🎓

It’s been such a joy to be part of their journey, and we’re grateful for our partnership with Dr. Ben O’Neal and Franklin College.



👉 Read more here:

At Sunovis Ranch, we’ve always believed that what we’re building here goes beyond sheep and solar grazing. It’s about stewardship—of the land, of our animals, and of the people who will carry this work forward. One of the partnerships we’re most proud of reflects that belief in a very real...

04/15/2026

We love partnering with the Franklin College Biology Department and are proud to support ALL of the Academic Programs at Franklin College on today! 💙💛

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