REFA Solar Farm Virtual Tour
How can solar development help keep family farmland in the family while creating new agricultural opportunities?
Join Renewable Energy Farmers of America (REFA) for a special virtual farm tour featuring Meredith DeBorde of Lazy D Farm in Ennis, Texas, where livestock production and utility-scale solar are working side by side.
Faced with the possibility of losing a portion of their land to a proposed high-speed rail project, the DeBorde family chose a different path – partnering with Lightsource BP to host the Elm Branch Solar Farm. Today, their family continues to own and operate their land while grazing sheep across more than 2,000 acres beneath solar panels, demonstrating how renewable energy can support both farm viability and long-term land stewardship.
During this virtual tour, participants will hear firsthand how the DeBordes integrated sheep grazing into their operation, the lessons they’ve learned about managing livestock in a solar environment, and how agrivoltaics has diversified their farm business. From selecting guardian dogs and protecting livestock from predators to monitoring flocks with drones, the family has developed a thriving system that complements their existing cattle operation.
Whether you’re interested in agrivoltaics, considering solar development on your land, or looking for ways to diversify your farm income, this tour offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from landowners who are putting these concepts into practice every day.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see how one Texas family is using agrivoltaics to preserve their land, diversify their operation, and build a more resilient future for the next generation.