Humble Ground

Austin and Justin Petry grew up around their grandpa’s farm, but by the time they were old enough to help, Grandpa had stepped away from farming and was renting out the ground. The twin brothers went on to Kansas State, earned engineering degrees and started their careers. Then Grandpa decided they had a little too much time on their hands and told them they ought to start farming. There was just...

Where does the grape juice in your refrigerator actually start? At Farm Progress Show, we sat down with Washington grape producer Carter Kilian to talk about what it takes to grow grapes for Welch’s. Carter takes us inside grape production in Washington—from managing the vineyard and raising a quality crop to harvest and ultimately seeing those grapes become a product recognized in households acro...

We caught up with Logan and Bobby Lee from the Talk Dirt Podcast at Farm Progress in Boone, Iowa, for a conversation about farming, storytelling and where agriculture is headed. We talk about farming back home in Tennessee, the growing role of social media in agriculture, how podcasts are helping connect people inside and outside the industry, and some of the dream guests we'd love to sit down...

Sometimes the best podcast conversations are the ones you never planned. A few weeks after meeting Jory while filming another project in southern Iowa, we found ourselves back at his farm, sitting down to talk about a lifetime in agriculture. Jory grew up riding alongside his dad on an Allis-Chalmers, farming ground shaped by the rivers and rolling hills of southern Iowa. He came home from Iowa St...

What does it take to raise and market roughly 425,000 pigs every year? On this episode of Humble Ground, we sit down with the team behind the Swine Division at J-Six Enterprises to hear how the operation got its start, how it has grown, and what it takes to produce hundreds of millions of pounds of finished pork. We talk about the people, facilities, logistics and decision-making behind an operati...

Josh grew up on a family dairy in northeast Kansas, started milking cows in fifth grade, and eventually left home to manage thousands of cows in western Kansas. But when it came time to decide what was next, family pulled him home. We talk about why he came back to keep the family dairy going, what it takes to milk 300+ cows three times a day, raising kids on the farm, the future of dairy and why...

What started as a small woodshop in a hog barn on a rural Kansas farm has grown into a company producing roughly 2,000 cabinets and 300 house doors every day. In this episode of Humble Ground, we sit down with Jim Koch, founder of Koch & Company, to hear how it all started. Jim shares how growing up and working on the farm shaped his work ethic, the early days of building a business with what...

Nearly two years after joining us for the very first episode of Humble Ground, Andy Evans of Rocking E Cattle is back in the studio. Just days before we sat down, Andy experienced one of the hardest weeks a cattle producer can face, losing cattle during the extreme late-July heat and humidity that swept across Kansas. It's a reminder that agriculture can be incredibly rewarding, but it can als...

Logan Hanks is a Tennessee row crop farmer and co-host of the  Talk Dirt to Me  podcast. In this conversation, we go well beyond farming. We talk about the risks farmers take every single season, the lessons that come from failure, and why Logan says farmers don't need to go to Las Vegas to gamble—we're already gambling every day with weather, markets, equipment, and the unknown. We also d...

What does it take to keep a diversified Idaho farming operation moving? In this episode of Humble Ground, powered by Fendt, we sit down with Blake from Matthews Land & Cattle to talk about the crops that help feed America, from potatoes and sugar beets to the day-to-day decisions that keep the farm running. Blake shares what it's like managing a modern operation, the challenges and opportu...

In this episode of Humble Ground, Andy Bloom shares what it's like to be part of a farming family where multiple generations work side by side. While each family member operates their own business, they're always ready to lend a hand when it's needed—whether that's Grandpa, Dad, uncles, cousins, or the next generation coming up behind them. Andy reflects on the lessons learned from...

David Steinlage wears two hats—Kansas farmer and engineer at John Deere. But this conversation isn't about machinery or technology. It's about faith, family, and the moments in life that redefine what truly matters. David shares the heartbreaking loss of his daughter, the lessons that followed, and how that experience changed his perspective on success, work, and the importance of being pr...

For this episode, the microphone gets turned around. Joining host Joel Naaf of Naaf Farms, Humble Ground founder Tim Strathman shares the story behind the platform, why it was created, and what he's learned after traveling the country telling the stories of farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. The conversation dives into the early vision for Humble Ground, the challenges of building a med...

At France Family Farms near Scott City, Kansas, farming is about more than raising crops—it's about building something that can thrive for the next generation. In this episode, we sit down with the France family to talk about the values that have shaped their operation, the challenges and opportunities facing modern agriculture, and the constant pursuit of efficiency that keeps the farm moving for...

Born in the heart of the Kansas Flint Hills, Firegrass Wagyu is a family-founded ranch built on generations of Heartland heritage, regenerative agriculture, and a commitment to raising exceptional American Wagyu beef. With a focus on humane, sustainable ranching practices and unmatched quality, Firegrass delivers richly marbled beef crafted by the land, the legacy, and the people behind it. Learn...

Brent Buessing of Buessing Holsteins represents the fourth generation of a Kansas dairy operation—but the way he farms today looks a lot different than it did for the generations before him. In this episode, we sit down with Brent to talk about how technology—specifically robotic milking systems—is reshaping the dairy industry. From improving efficiency and animal care to giving farmers better dat...

Ross Chastain didn’t just grow up around racing—he grew up in watermelon fields. Long before the spotlight, he was loading trucks, working the land, and learning what hard work really looks like on his family’s farm in Alva, Florida. In this episode of Humble Ground, Ross talks about those roots, how agriculture shaped his mindset, and why he still carries that identity with him today. We get into...

Tim Burdiek bought his first farm in 1979—right before agriculture hit some of its toughest years. What followed in the 80s tested everything: finances, faith, and whether the farm would survive at all. In this episode, Tim and his son Kent sit down to talk through those hard years, what it really took to hang on, and how those experiences shaped the way they farm today. Now, with Kent farming ful...

Spencer Jones and his wife didn’t inherit a cattle operation—they built one from the ground up. What started at Kansas State University as a shared vision turned into Jones Family Angus, a first-generation operation rooted in the heart of the Flint Hills. While she continues her work at K-State, together they’ve carved out their place in the cattle industry—raising Angus cattle with intention, gri...

A lot of folks think taking over the family farm just happens—but for most, it’s anything but easy. In this episode, Corbin, Austin, Will, and Blake sit down with Tim to talk about what it really looks like to be the next generation. Working off the farm, coming back, earning your place, and figuring out how to build something alongside the generation before you. There’s no straight path. Just lon...

I sat down with four dairy producers to talk about what it really takes to keep modern dairy operations running every single day. From early mornings in the parlor to managing herds that produce millions of gallons of milk every year, these farmers share the realities behind the industry. Thomas from Enneking Dairy, Andrew from Linn Willow Creek Dairy, Brent from Buessing Holsteins, and Christian...

Bill Sunneberg has spent his entire life farming — and at  96 years old , he’s still sharing the stories that come with a lifetime on the land. But Bill’s legacy goes beyond farming. Over the years, he built an incredible collection of nearly  600 pedal tractors and pedal cars , now showcased at a museum in  Pawnee City, Nebraska . In this episode, Bill talks about growing up in agriculture, the c...

Logan Metzger and his wife are building something special in Kansas with their farm-to-table operation,  Purple Rose Bison . What started with cattle has evolved into a growing bison herd and a vision to one day run several hundred head across the prairie. In this episode, Logan shares how they got started, why they made the switch from beef to bison, and what it takes to launch a new ranching ope...

After the passing of his father, sixth-generation farmer Kevin Bergman is stepping into a new season — one marked by responsibility, reflection, and resolve. With a growing family, a role in ag retail, and the farm to steward, Kevin is asking what it will truly take to see a seventh generation of Bergmans on this land. This episode explores legacy, leadership, and the quiet pressure of keeping a f...

For more than 50 years, Dan Broxterman has farmed the Kansas soil full time — but his story started long before that. As a young boy, he learned early what responsibility looked like. Long days. Hard seasons. Showing up when it wasn’t convenient. Farming wasn’t just a job — it was a way of life. Alongside his wife of nearly 50 years, Dan helped build not only a successful farming operation at Brox...