Darnell Dugger was born in Columbus, Georgia, to parents Victor Dugger and Olivia Chambers – both Army veterans themselves. Growing up as a military kid shaped his character from an early age. He graduated from high school in 2005 and attended Valdosta State University briefly on a football scholarship before making the decision to join the Army at 19 years old to support his first-born child.
He served with the 1st Calvary Division and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009. Serving in the military instilled values of discipline, mission focus, and adaptability that continues to guide him today.
After leaving the military, Darnell built a career in IT, working his way up to become a software support engineer. Though he spent years working in IT, Darnell knew that farming was always in his blood.
“My father’s stepfather was a farmer in Colfax, Louisiana, where it was common to catch a horse ride from cowboys passing by,” said Darnell. “I always carried that dream of working the land and becoming a full-time rancher.”
Darnell eventually would become burned out from the corporate world and longed to get back to the basics.
“Oddly enough, I had a vivid dream about sheep – a ram was pulling my leg while I was crawling in a room,” recalls Darnell.
He took this dream as a sign and made the bold decision to leave his job, sell his first home, and use some of the proceeds to self-finance a sheep operation. As a first-generation rancher with no formal agricultural background, he faced significant challenges. Finding affordable land and securing funding proved to be major obstacles since banks were hesitant to provide loans without farming experience.
“I started farming by sourcing land through Georgia Farm Link, a wonderful program that connects beginning farmers with landowners,” said Darnell. “I fell in love with Spalding County because it’s covered with amazing farmland.”
At Acre & Herd Ranch, Darnell specializes in raising American pasture-raised Katahdin sheep for premium lamb meat. He prides himself in being dedicated to regenerative agricultural practices through rotational grazing.
Darnell sells directly to consumers, offering whole or half lambs, as well as premium cuts, basic lamb meats, and specialty items through his online store.
Beyond meat production, he’s expanded into solar grazing – providing eco-friendly vegetation management solutions for utility-scale solar farms.
“My trained sheep flocks naturally manage grass and weed growth around solar panels while providing soil benefits through natural fertilization, creating a sustainable partnership between agriculture and renewable energy,” said Darnell.
On November 10, 2025, in honor of Veterans Day, Darnell was among five honorees during Kubota Tractor Corporation’s annual dealer meeting, Kubota Connect, held in Grapevine, Texas. Him, along with the other honorees, were selected as this year’s “Geared to Give” farmer veteran recipients of new Kubota equipment.
Darnell was given a Kubota MX5400HST utility tractor, which he says has been “absolutely game-changing” and has become the backbone for his farm and solar grazing business. From maintaining pastures across multiple solar sites to handling the heavy lifting that comes with rotational grazing, the MX5400HST utility tractor delivers every time for him.
“The power and reliability mean I’m spending less time on maintenance and more time actually working with the animals and land,” said Darnell. “Whether I’m moving equipment, managing fencing infrastructure, site preparation, or keeping ground conditions perfect for the flock, this tractor handles it all without breaking a sweat.”
The versatility of the tractor allows Darnell to take on more solar grazing contracts with confidence, knowing that he has the equipment to back up his promises.
Darnell credits the principles he learned in the military as what now guides his farming philosophy. He loves being able to provide families with high-quality, pasture-raised American lamb while simultaneously healing the land through regenerative practices.
“As a first-generation rancher, there’s incredible satisfaction in building something from the ground up, watching my sheep naturally improve soil health, control vegetation, and contribute to both food security and renewable energy goals,” said Darnell.
As a single father of two boys (aged 19 and 11), he’s excited to teach them the value of hard work and one day working for the family business.
“The dual nature of my operation, raising premium lamb and providing solar grazing services, allows me to support veteran farmers like myself while contributing to sustainable food systems and clean energy development,” said Darnell.
Darnell is proud to serve as Vice President of the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Georgia, where he works to support fellow veteran farmers across the state of Georgia. He also partners with Athens Land Trust and American Farmland Trust, ensuring that agricultural voices are heard in renewable energy conversations.
The Farmer Veteran Coalition of Georgia is working on getting established as a FVC state chapter.
He also has memberships with the Georgia Sheep & Wool Growers Association, American Solar Grazing Association, and carries the Homegrown By Heroes label. But to him, it’s more than just equipment or memberships – it’s about partnering with organizations that genuinely understand what he does and that care about helping veteran farmers succeed.
“My goal is to become one of the largest sheep herders in Georgia while continuing to demonstrate how veterans possess the unique skills and character needed to strengthen rural communities and create sustainable food systems,” said Darnell.
To learn more about Darnell and Acre & Herd Ranch, visit https://acreandherd.com/ and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
