Green grass will shine in the sun in the Heart Mountain farming area in a turf building year for a start-up business.

It’s literally a first for the Big Horn Basin farming world.

And that’s a big motivator for Travis White who farms at 2172 Lane 10.

“We don’t have a single sod farm in the Big Horn Basin,” he said. “People have to go to Montana to get their sod. If it’s possible, I think people would like to keep their money local.”

In launching Heart Mountain Turf, White will be converting 60 acres of his farmland to sod growing in 2025, virtually right out the back door of his house. He’ll eventually have 100 acres in sod.

Seed for sod is specially grown in Oregon. The first year is 100% devoted to establishing and growing the turf.  Sod is not ready for the market until year two.

In the first year, the growing grass is sprinkler irrigated twice a week and mowed twice a week.

“It’s a misconception that when you cut the sod you’re taking soil off,” White said. “By mowing, you grow compost, and it creates its own sod. You’re building more.”

The move into sod has a heavy initial cost, in part due to specialty equipment.

“There are planters, mowers, sod harvesters. My tractor looks like a monster,” White joked.