Niko Horster

Niko Horster is co-owner, with his wife Liana, of Shire Beef LLC, an all grass, holistically managed cow finishing and breeding operation in Vershire, VT.

Born in Munich, Germany, he has been a resident in Vermont for over 20 years and has been farming with cattle for 16 of those years. He is focused on restoring the vitality of the soil on their home farm as well as all the rented parcels they graze cattle on (350 acres under management).  Soil testing, holistic management, permaculture design principles and soil carbon assay are all part of the tools employed to produce carbon-sequestering beef. Shire Beef LLC is a major beef supplier to local restaurants (Skinny Pancake and Worthy Burger).

He is the president of the board of the Vermont Grass Farmers Association, which provides technical assistance to farmers in conjunction with the Extension Service of the University of Vermont as well as an annual conference on grass farming and related topics and on-farm workshops throughout the season. He serves as a volunteer for Vital Communities list serves.

His professional career includes working in IT industries (Logistics – Digital Equipment), publishing (Marketing and Sales – Chelsea Green Publishing) as well as residential and light commercial construction (Project Manager -O’Hara and Gerke)

After earning his Ph.D. from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München in Philosophy of Science and Logic, he lives with his wife Liana and four kids on Broad Acres Farm in Vershire.