Behind the Scenes Pt. 3:

Intro

Over the past few months we’ve pulled back the curtain on our operation and introduced you to the heartbeat of Zero G—most recently, an inside look at Tristi and the many hats she wears on the farm but also in our family. From compliance and creative to day-to-day coaching in our classes, she’s the steady hand that allows us to operate. Now it’s time to meet the other half of the launch crew.

In Behind the Scenes Pt. 3, we’re spotlighting Brent—owner, forward-observer-turned-farmer, and the guy who turns whiteboards and checklists into calm, repeatable systems. This is the story of how Kentucky roots, military precision, and a lifelong love of animals converged on a covey of Coturnix quail (that started as a joke and became a mission). Buckle up—we’re heading into the why behind the way we work.

Early Years: From Kentucky Roots to the Wild West

Brent was born in Kentucky and raised on a steady diet of “use what you have, waste nothing,” the kind of ethic that smells like campfire and iron. Life pulled him across the map—Georgia, then New Mexico, North Carolina, to Colorado, to Missouri and returning to Colorado—teaching him to adapt quickly: new landscapes, new neighbors, same daily rhythm of honest work, and work to complete a mission. Those miles would later fuel a farm culture built on checklists, calm habits, and a willingness to adjust until the system runs smooth.

The Horse Arena: Arabian Youth Nationals

Before field radios and rucksacks, there were early arenas and polished tack. As a kid, Brent showed in the Arabian horse world, competing at Youth Nationals multiple times as well as local and regional shows. He competed in Western Pleasure, English Pleasure and many other classes with family owned horses but also showing other owners horses as well. The horse world didn't end at shows it even transferred to endurance races. Hours in the saddle taught him quiet hands, pattern recognition, and poise under pressure as well as understanding breeding and show grading criteria's. That early obsession with structure + feel—bloodlines, conditioning, timing—planted a seed for the breeder’s brain he uses today.

The Paintball Connection: Strategy, Troubleshooting, and Teams

Brent has played competitive paintball since he was 16, and he still plays and coaches teams. Tournament days sharpen fast problem-solving: diagnose the failure, fix the smallest thing that moves you forward, communicate the plan, run the rep. That same loop runs the farm—broken valve, odd behavior, temperature blip—observe → decide → act → review. Layered with the FO mindset, it’s a durable, analytical problem-solving engine that keeps birds, students, and projects on track.

Service and the Forward Observer Mindset (2008–2015)

In 2008, Brent joined the Army and served as a Forward Observer, deploying to Haiti for earthquake response and to Iraq before completing his service at the end of 2015. FO life is measurement, clarity, and accountability: define the target, call the shot, verify effects, adapt. He credits that role for the pillars of the farm—attention to detail, planning, execution, and trouble shooting—repeated until they become second nature.

Family First: Brent + Tristi, Fifteen Years and Counting

Somewhere between maps and move-ins, Brent married Tristi. They’ve been together over a decade, stacked with two boys, countless school pickup lines, and multiple cross-country moves tackled as a team. The family rhythm drives the farm rhythm: predictable service windows, safety-first habits, and a shared belief that small daily wins beat heroic weekend scrambles.

Whole-Animal Ethic: Lessons from Home

Brent’s dad spent years in mountain man reenactment and traditional skills, where the rule is simple: use and process as much of an animal as you can. That value shows up on processing day—humane handling, clean stations, labeled packages, and a deep respect for what you raise. Efficiency here isn’t just economic; it’s ethical, and it shapes how classes are taught and how systems are designed.

The Quail Origin Story: A Joke That Stuck

Zero G’s quail beginnings? A joke between Brent and Tristi that got out of hand in the best way. They picked up Coturnix on a lark, then realized how perfectly these birds match their style: fast cycles, honest feedback, measurable improvements. What started as a laugh became a lane—and it opened a door Brent didn’t know he missed.

Back to Bloodlines: Genetics and the Old Spark

Working with Coturnix let Brent return to the genetics and breeding work he loved during his Arabian horse days—selection pressure, recordkeeping, conformation, vigor. The scale is smaller, the feedback loop faster, but the craft is the same: applied biology, tight logs, patient iteration. He loves how quail make data visible—shell quality, hatch curves, growth rates—so you can tune husbandry like a well-set scope.

Building the Business: Plan, Execute, Review

Peek behind the curtain and you’ll see whiteboards, spare parts bins, and laminated checklists. That isn’t overkill; it’s a culture. Hatches are staged, brooders are mapped with temperature targets, density is calculated, and biosecurity is treated like a pre-flight. After each cycle: debrief, tighten, repeat. Customers don’t just get eggs or classes; they get systems that anyone can run on a cold Tuesday morning.

Gratitude and Trajectory

From Kentucky roots to Georgia rain and New Mexico sun; from Youth Nationals to Haiti and Iraq; from a quail joke to a working farm—Brent’s path is a straight line made of pivots. He credits Tristi, the boys, mentors, teammates, and a community that keeps showing up. The mission now is simple: keep teaching, keep refining, and keep building a place where good notes, steady hands, and humble birds turn effort into results.

Why It Matters

Behind each egg and every class is a family that believes in clear plans, earned skill, and respect for the animals in their care. Brent’s story isn’t about perfection; it’s about being prepared—the kind of prepared that helps others get confident faster. That’s the spirit behind the scenes: measure, adjust, repeat—and invite the community along for the next better version.