About Sprouting Gear

At Sprouting Gear, we are committed to saving our environment and leaving a legacy for future generations. We believe that feeding livestock fodder is a responsible and sustainable choice that offers numerous benefits for our planet.

Our mission is to promote the use of fodder as an economical and environmentally friendly feed option that maximizes the use of our resources. By using less water and reducing methane emissions, we are reducing our impact on the planet and creating a more sustainable future for all.

We are dedicated to providing high-quality barley fodder that not only meets the nutritional needs of livestock but also helps reduce our carbon footprint. Our goal is to make it easy and accessible for farmers and animal owners to make a positive impact on the environment while also improving the health and well-being of their animals.

Join us in our mission to create a more sustainable future and leave a positive legacy for the next generation.

James is the Senior Vice President and General Manager, Grass and Rangeland with EarthOptics. In this role, James introduces ranchers to the new technology of mapping and quantifying soil health and carbon sequestration capabilities of their soil. This technology can help managers make the best decisions for their land and provide added revenue through soil credits. James has spent the last few years introducing new technologies and management practices to historic ranching operations as both sides of his family have been ranching for almost 400 years and he has an extensive network of agriculture operations.

Prior to working at EarthOptics James spent ten years working for King Ranch as the Land Resources Manager and Horse Division Manager. In these roles, James managed the surface and sub-surface activity of the ranches as well as revitalized the historic Horse Division, winning the 2019 AQHA Best Remuda Award and raising the ranch’s first-ever bred and owned World Champion. James also founded Bloody Buckets Cattle Co. and The Land Board to manage and consult on livestock, resources, wildlife, and governance. Additionally, James has served in the Marine Corps for sixteen years, currently as an infantry Major and battalion operations officer.

"I have spent time reviewing the startup presented by Paul Pluss for Sprouting Gear Inc. I like the proposed model and think it has merit as an alternative to traditionally farmed alfalfa and grass hay. In my experience with a variety of horse and cattle feeds, the easier digestive ability and the low cost of Sprouting Gear solves the two biggest issues for ranchers and farmers. I also appreciate that this product has the ability to provide a carbon inset and offset for agriculture operations that can be executed throughout the value chain. Cattle eating a natural feed will also provide better soil as they digest this product and put it into the ground.

I am and have been involved with livestock operations that have raised cattle and horses for 5, 15, 150, and 170 years. If SGI were to open a facility in my part of Texas, I would support it and be a customer immediately."

Dr. Casey L. Bradley is a leading authority on animal nutrition and health with a special interest in sustainable animal farming. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Michigan State University, and her Master’s and Doctorate from The University of Arkansas. She has over 20 years of experience in the swine industry, working in various roles, from production to academia to feed companies to feed additives. She is the founder of The Sunswine Group, a consulting firm that helps producers, enterprises, and individuals achieve their professional and business goals.

Dr. Bradley has advanced the field of animal nutrition and health with her research and innovation. She has implemented superdosing phytase and xylanase in corn-soy diets for swine, created novel feed additives, and disseminated her knowledge through global symposiums, research presentations, and keynote speeches. She is highly sought after for her expertise and insights by industry stakeholders and media outlets. She has also been active in industry committees such as the NANP Feed Composition Committee, AFIA Nutrition Committee, ASAS Public Policy Committee, and the Midwest Swine Nutrition Committee.

I am currently the founder and managing partner of PureAg llc. We design and manufacture
biologic soil stimulants and inoculates. Our products are designed around microbiologic
organisms that plants utilize to uptake nutrients, increase yield, control pests, and fight off
disease. While we specialize in bio-fungicides, bio-pesticides, and bio-fertilizers for the organic food markets, we sell successfully to conventional farming world wide. Our green chemistries and biologic products are approved for use in organic farming, (NOP program of EPA and USDA) certified by Organic Certifiers, and/or OMRI approved, and contain no GMO’s. We are also very active in the Golf industry and the Organic Golf movement.

I have been in the wastewater side of our business for thirty-two years. Our expertise lies in high strength waste streams. We also do remediation work on long chain hydrocarbon clean-up sites.

We have designed and built wastewater facilities world wide. Our portfolio includes:

BioReactors / BioGas Reactors / Sequencing Batch Reactors / Aeration Basins
Contact FiltersTrickling Filters / Biologic Inoculants and Amendments / Evaporation Basins
Oxidation Basins / Odor Control Bio-Venting / Liquid Ion Exchangers! / Nitrifying and
Denitrifying Filters / Remediation Technologies / Micelle Surfactants

I recently retired from Emigration Improvement District where I was elected the Chairman and trustee for seven terms (28 years). The EID is a water and sewer district in Salt Lake County. Utah

Thomas R. Brill is an Advisor and Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig LLP. He is an expert in energy law and policy, especially in relation to climate change and environmental justice. He advises us in environmental law, carbon sequestration, and other low-carbon solutions in working towards a net-zero solution for animal feed.

Dr. Micheal Hebert counsels clients on strategies for maximizing intellectual property protection and leveraging that protection in several areas of life sciences. His practice includes drafting and prosecuting patent applications in genetics, gene therapy, personalized medicine, pharmaceuticals, virology, antibodies, stem cells, and microbiology. Micheal also has experience conducting due diligence research and analysis for freedom-to-operate investigations, patent validity opinions, patentability opinions, and technology licensing.

Chase Means focuses his practice on intellectual property matters. He has deep patent prosecution and counseling experience in a wide range of industries within the electrical engineering, electronics, and computer sciences fields.