Humble Ground

Eric and Leif Weyer are identical twins, fifth-generation Kansas farmers, and proof that when farming is in your blood — it never leaves. At just 17 years old, they got their first piece of ground to farm and never looked back. Starting out in the tough agricultural climate of the 1980s, they learned early what it meant to fight through high interest rates, volatile markets, and the uncertainty th...

Bob Mars is a fourth-generation Kansas farmer who has spent more than 80 years on the land he still calls home. Today, he farms alongside his sons, with the sixth and seventh generations of the Mars family living and working just a few miles down the road — a rare thing in modern agriculture. Throughout the conversation, Bob is quick to point out that none of it happens alone. He credits a great w...

Tristan didn’t follow the easy path — and he’s never pretended to. Born in Missouri, Tristan spent years custom harvesting while carrying a simple but big dream: one day owning his own dairy. That dream eventually pulled him north to Wisconsin, where he found a place, took a leap, and began building a dairy operation from the ground up. With the help of good people in the community — and his best...

Take a seat with us on the farm as we dive into the remarkable story of Hildebrand Farms Dairy — a family-run dairy in Kansas bottling fresh milk in reusable glass bottles since  1930 . Discover how three generations have turned simple milk into a community staple, producing about  10,000 glass bottles each week  and redefining farm-to-table dairy for modern consumers. Tune in for tradition, innov...

Talking Beef brings real voices from the beef industry to the table for an honest, easy-to-understand conversation about how beef is actually raised in the United States. Hosted by Tim Strathman, this panel features Dr. Tim Parks of Merck Animal Health, Andy Evans of Rocking E Feeders, Jay Rezac of Rezac Land & Livestock, and Royce Becker of 4-R Farms. Together, they tackle real questions from...

Quentin Connealy is a fifth-generation farmer from Tekamah, Nebraska, where he grows corn and soybeans along the Missouri River bottoms. Born and raised in a farming family, Quentin returned to farming after college, integrating precision agriculture technologies like GPS, variable rate technology, and irrigation management systems into his operation. An advocate for AgTech, he influences audience...

Corey Hillebo was born and raised on his family’s farm in Polk City, Iowa, where he represents the fourth generation of farmers stewarding the land. His operation spans corn, soybeans, aronia berries, and a swine herd, blending tradition with innovation. Corey serves as Farm Manager for Hillebo Family Farms and President of Big Creek Seed. He is also a co-host of the top agriculture podcast, Farm...

In this episode, we sit down with Jared Wareham, owner and CEO of Horizon Venture Management, for an honest conversation about cattle prices, food costs, and the realities shaping agriculture today. With 20+ years in the beef industry, Jared brings a deep, firsthand perspective on genetic improvement, technology integration, supply chain challenges, and business development across animal agricultu...

Matt Turecek of DY Farms grew up farming the tough ground of eastern Colorado, where rain was scarce and grit was required. When he set his sights on a place with more opportunity—and a little more moisture—he followed his family roots to eastern Kansas. After purchasing just over 100 acres, he brought his cattle east, sold the Colorado farm, and started building a new operation from the ground up...

Join Derek Pfrang as he talks about family, cattle, crops, and carrying a Kansas operation into the next generation. With the addition of Holton Meat Processing, the Pfrangs have created a fully connected farm-to-family model. This podcast explores the grit, growth, and vision it takes to build a sustainable ag business that stands the test of time. Learn more about them https://holtonmeat.com Wat...

Born and raised in Seneca, Kansas, Matt Koch has built a name that now stands among the greats in the reined cow horse world. An  NRCHA Million Dollar Rider  and accomplished horse trainer, Matt’s journey has been defined by good horses, great mentors, and the kind of grit that only comes from life on the ranch. From working cattle in the Sandhills to competing under the lights of Las Vegas, his s...

In the quiet heart of Marysville, Kansas, two veterinarians set out to make life better for those who care for animals. What began in 1973 as a small-town clinic would grow into one of the nation’s most trusted names in animal health — Valley Vet Supply. As customer needs changed, Drs. Nagely and Shultz saw opportunity where others saw limits. By 1985, they had transformed a local practice into a...

Nolan Wellensiek is a seventh-generation farmer carrying on his family’s legacy at Wellensiek Acres — a Nebraska farm dating back to 1843. But Nolan’s story doesn’t stop with corn and soybeans. What started as his dad’s wild idea has turned into Big Red Shrimp Co., where Nolan grows fresh shrimp in the middle of the heartland. In this episode, we talk about tradition, innovation, and how one young...

Since 1971, Buessing Dairy has been a cornerstone of its small-town community. Now, as Roy and Roger Buessing prepare to hand the reins to the next generation, Roy reflects on a lifetime spent on the farm — from his early days growing up among the cows to milking 300 head alongside family. In this episode, Roy shares the highs, the hard work, and the heart behind building a multigenerational dairy...

Rokeyroad Creamery is a family-owned dairy nestled in the scenic hills of Nemaha County, Kansas, where tradition, quality, and community come together. Established in the late 1990s as a continuation of the Rokey family’s passion for farming and registered Holsteins, the Creamery is built on decades of dedication to raising healthy cows and producing fresh, wholesome dairy products. From their sig...

From the struggles of the 1980s farm crisis to 45 years of raising quality cattle, the Alverson family has built a legacy rooted in hard work, perseverance, and a love for the land. Join Ron, Brent, and Brock as they share the story of Alverson Cattle Co.—a cow-calf operation with eyes on the next generation. It’s about more than cattle; it’s about family, resilience, and keeping rural traditions...

Blake Matthews joins us from Idaho to share the story behind his family’s fourth-generation farm, where they grow everything from potatoes and beets to wheat and corn—and also run a cow-calf operation and feedlot. We talk about the evolution of the farm, managing such a diverse operation, and what it takes to keep a multi-generational legacy thriving in today’s ag world. For more episodes visit ht...

We sat down with Donald Hornung, President and CEO of CrustBuster/Speed King, Inc., to talk about life growing up in rural Kansas, the challenges of building a business through some of agriculture’s toughest decades, and what it means to carry on a legacy. From its humble beginnings in Spearville, KS, CrustBuster grew into a nationally recognized name in farm machinery by staying innovative, adapt...

Chase Larson joins us to share the story behind Bestifor, a sixth-generation farm that’s grown far beyond the fields. From high-quality hay and grain to land management, trucking, fabrication, and even hay for exotic pets—Bestifor represents a modern ag business rooted in tradition. Now stepping in to lead the next chapter, Chase talks about inheriting more than just the land—he’s carrying forward...

Nick Hasenkamp joins us to share the powerful and personal story of his father, Bob Hasenkamp—a lifelong Kansas farmer who was born on the family farm in 1951 and never left. Bob farmed alongside his father, Alfred, until Alfred’s passing in 1977. Fifteen years ago, Bob died by suicide, leaving behind a grieving family and a story that echoes the silent struggles many farmers face. Nick, one of Bo...

Rick Strathman of Strathman Farms joins us to share a powerful story of family, farming, and resilience. Raised around a dairy operation, Rick began farming in the 1980s—a time when agriculture was anything but easy. Alongside his brother Roger and now three of their sons, the Strathmans have built a diversified operation in Kansas rooted in grit, faith, and a deep love for the land. For more epis...

What started on a Kansas half section turned into a lifeline for farmers across the country. In this episode, we sit down with Elmer Haug, the man behind Elmer’s Repair—a shop that’s been keeping older tractors running strong since 1974. With over 1,700 Case and IH tractors dismantled and tens of thousands of parts shipped across the U.S. and beyond, Elmer’s team has built a legacy on grit, know-h...

Beck's began as a small family farm in 1937, rooted in the heart of Indiana with a simple yet powerful purpose: to help farmers succeed. What started with Lawrence Beck planting hybrid seed corn on just a few acres has grown into the largest family-owned retail seed company and third-largest seed brand in the United States. Through decades of faith, hard work, and unwavering commitment, Beck&#...

For over 100 years, the Didier family has worked the same Oklahoma soil—enduring dust storms, war, heartbreak, and hardship—transforming 160 acres into over 2,000 acres of sustainable pasture and legacy. Today, Chris and Grant Didier carry on the legacy of their father, Jimmy, and their great-grandfather, Pierre, running a fully modern cow-calf operation built on ethical practices, cutting-edge te...

In this episode, we sit down with Derek Thompson , one of the founders of NextGen Cattle Co. , to hear the story of how he, his brother, and his cousin turned a shared vision into a vertically integrated beef business with impact. Raised on values like trust, integrity, and passion for the land, the trio set out to create a seedstock operation built specifically for the commercial cattleman. Today...