Cathy R. Payne

Cathy R. Payne is an award-winning author who actively advocates for heritage livestock breeds. She has raised many heritage breeds including American Guinea Hogs, Gulf Coast Native sheep, American Blue and American White rabbits, and Silver Fox rabbits.

After retiring from a thirty-three-year career in elementary education, Cathy owned and managed a sustainable farm, Broad River Pastures, in Elberton, Georgia. In mid-2018 she sold the farm and is now engaged in speaking, writing, and consulting for heritage livestock mammals and livestock conservancy practices.

Cathy received a silver medal for nonfiction/animal books from Readers' Favorites Award in 2019 for her book, Saving the Guinea Hogs. This award came just six months after the book's release. She lives in Athens, Georgia and enjoys talking about Guinea Hogs every chance she gets.