Barnyard Language

Cassandra Row, joining Arlene and Caite from Nebraska, describes “growing” three children (ages nine, six, and four), an accidental homestead (garden; chickens, guineas, turkeys, ducks; a milk cow and calf; summer pigs and butchering), and two businesses: her husband’s ag-service trenching/welding/fencing work and her rural-focused marketing business. With a lifelong ag background (K-State animal...

Arlene and Caite sit down this week with Morgan Tweet, CEO of IND Hemp in Fort Benton, Montana, discuss “growing” her young family, the industrial hemp industry, and a Black Angus cow-calf herd on about 1,200 acres along the Missouri River. IND Hemp, founded in 2019 with her father, employs about 55 people across two Montana locations and has worked with roughly 40 growers, managing over 30,000 he...

Will Westmoreland, a Missouri agroforestry grower, discusses focusing on expanding Chinese chestnuts and developing gluten-free chestnut flour, after past work with elderberries and a family cow-calf operation. He explains chestnut production timelines (fruit in 3–5 years, heavy yields in 8–10) and uses in silvopasture, and describes building retail products through his large Back 40 following. We...

This week, Caite and Arlene interview Iowa farmer, Anna Pesek of Over the Moon in rural Delaware County, about what she’s “growing”: farrow-to-finish purebred Berkshire hogs, pasture-raised chickens and turkeys, a meat business, alternative supply chains, and a two-year-old. Anna describes scaling from two to 21 sows, finishing about 100 pigs a year with hopes of 200+, raising a couple thousand bi...

In this conversation with Shelby Watson Hampton, the first Maryland and first vineyard guest, describes her family’s five-acre estate vineyard and on-farm winery (six grape varieties; planted 2014; winery opened 2017) where they grow, harvest, process, bottle, and sell wine, plus a wedding barn converted from horse stables. Her husband manages the vineyard and works for the county soil conservatio...

In this episode of Barnyard Language, Caite and Arlene sit down with Rob Sand to talk about family, leadership, and what it really means to “grow” something meaningful. Rob shares about raising his two sons, building a strong marriage, and his work in public service. He also gives insight into his run for governor, including his goal of hosting town halls in every county to bring people together a...

Arlene and Caite recap post-Easter farm life—wrapping an easy lambing season, prepping for fieldwork, and navigating spring weather, a sump pump issue, and water system quirks. They share family updates, including a new driver and college acceptance, then welcome Annaliese and Court from the “Ag's Most Okayest Farm Girls” podcast. Together, they chat about rural life across Wisconsin and Iowa/Cana...

This week, Caite and Arlene interview Neil Dahlstrom from the Quad Cities, an archivist at John Deere who manages historical records, collections, antique equipment, and corporate art; he says he cannot collect John Deere items personally due to ethics rules. Dahlstrom, who lacks a farming background, describes his path into archives and his interest in research and historical mysteries, while als...

In this engaging conversation, Suzy Brandt shares her experiences as a dairy farmer and mother, discussing the challenges and joys of balancing family life with agricultural responsibilities. The discussion delves into the importance of crop insurance, the impact of climate change on farming, and the vital role of community support in rural living. Suzy also reflects on her personal growth, parent...

Jared shares how he’s leading regenerative change on his multi-generation farm by earning buy-in from family and a 40-person team through coaching, small trials, and measurable results rather than mandates. He highlights successes with diverse cover crops, lessons from composting paper biosolids to fix nitrogen tie-up, and the challenges of financing and scaling his egg operation without quota on...

In this interview, Brittney Miller, a second-generation quail farmer from South Carolina, shares the story of her family’s 55-year-old business, Manchester Farms. She reflects on how the farm began as her father’s hobby and grew into a nationally recognized operation producing quail meat and eggs. Brittney explains what sets quail farming apart, from faster maturation to specialized housing and te...

Friends, this isn't your typical episode. Today, Caite and Arlene discuss the current state of the United States, characterized by a slide into fascism and systemic human rights abuses. Katie reflects on the stark contrast between her upbringing steeped in American exceptionalism and the troubling reality of modern America. They highlight the importance of addressing issues beyond politics, such a...

In this episode of Barnyard Language, Caite and Arlene discuss various personal and global topics before introducing their guest, Dr. Kate Lund. Dr. Lund is a psychologist and author specializing in resilience. She talks about the importance of managing stress, building emotional intelligence, and fostering resilience in both children and parents. The conversation covers practical ways to cope wit...

In this interview, Amanda from Nebraska shares insights into her life on a family farm, where she and her husband manage a cow-calf operation and grow various crops such as corn and soybeans. Amanda discusses their direct-to-consumer beef business that began in 2021 and how it has thrived, along with her passion for gardening. She reveals her balancing act between farming, her work as a crop insur...

In this interview, Jeannette Beringer from North Carolina discusses her efforts in preserving endangered livestock breeds, particularly focusing on a French meat chicken breed. She details her work with the Livestock Conservancy, highlighting the importance of genetic diversity in agriculture and the risks of relying on narrow gene pools. Beringer shares stories of her personal experience in breed...

On this week's episode of Barnyard Language, Caite and Arlene sit down with Candice Bernard from Arizona, who, along with her husband, operates a diverse farming operation that includes growing alfalfa and grass hay, raising American Wagyu cattle, and running a feedlot. Besides agriculture, they also engage in religious and community activities, with Candice's husband being the preacher at their l...

In this interview, Susan Lester Ryan from Lester's Farm Market in Newfoundland discusses various aspects of her farming business and family life. The conversation highlights that Susan's farm has been in the family for generations and focuses on growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Susan also emphasizes the importance of agritourism and educational programs like the Little Lester's pro...

In this episode of Barnyard Language, Gemma Hodge from Scotland talks about her life on the farm with her husband George, their children, their livestock, and her transition from a beauty business to dog grooming. Gemma shares her struggles with postnatal anxiety, the challenges of managing a farm and raising children, and the adjustments they've made over time. The episode also touches on broader...

In this episode of Barnyard Language, Caite and Arlene, share updates on their lives post-Halloween, discussing children's Halloween experiences, community events, and farm activities. The conversation then shifts to a deeply personal story with their guest, Courtney Miller, who details her journey through autoimmune hepatitis and a life-saving liver transplant. Courtney recounts her initial diagn...

In this episode of Barnyard Language, Caite and Arlene talk about ranching and parenting with Calli Williams, a first-generation rancher from South Dakota. Calli discusses the challenges and rewards of running a purebred Angus cattle operation with her husband. They delve into the importance of building relationships, effectively managing a direct-to-consumer beef business, and balancing family li...

In this episode of 'Barnyard Language,' Caite and Arlene discuss the seasonal changes on their farms, the challenges and joys of raising livestock, and community involvement. Caite shares her windy weather conditions, a local power outage story, and updates on her livestock. Arlene talks about her return to the sport of curling, the community aspects of it, and a family outing to a rented heated s...

In this episode of Barnyard Language, Arlene and Caite discuss the latest happenings on their farms, including Canadian Thanksgiving, the birth of new calves, and the arrival of peak soup weather. Caite shares her dislike for preparing summer foods, preferring hearty soups instead. They also talk about local farming activities, such as the re-roofing of a sheep barn and sorting sheep for breeding....

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The podcast episode features an interview with Jessie MacQuarrie from Prince Edward Island, a dairy farmer, and a large animal veterinarian, discussing her life and career. Jessie describes her farm operations, including a Holstein herd, and crop cultivation. She shares her journey of becoming a veterinarian, her work experience across the Maritime Provinces, and managing a farm alongside veterina...

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