Beyond The Crops

Thank you so much for tuning into our safety series so far. This week we're welcoming Kayla Cowell to Beyond The Crops as she shares the truly miraculous story of her father surviving a grain bin fall and how that was a huge factor in her pivoting her career path and choosing to come back to the family farm.  Remember we launch new episodes every Tuesday. We’d love to hear your feedback on th...

This week, we are bringing back our farm safety series. This is the first time that we're getting the perspective of a mom who had a child that was injured on their farm. Katie's son got his hand stuck in a feed auger. And the story is pretty incredible. She shares how sometimes like the knowledge that the farmers have of the equipment can be very helpful in a situation where somebody ha...

In this episode of Beyond the Crops, we are taking a break from our farm safety series to catch up on some recent events and share personal updates.  We discuss our experiences at the Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days, including a live podcast and panel discussions. We also dive into the Farm Wives Club event organized by Kylie Epperson, emphasizing the importance of community and support...

As part of National Farm Safety Week from September 15th to the 21st, we are continuing our farm safety series. This series bring on different farm families to share their real-life experiences to raise awareness about farm dangers, help other agricultural families prepare, and offer support after accidents. In this powerful and emotional episode, we sit down with Madi Kerr, a young woman from a m...

As part of National Farm Safety Week from September 15th to the 21st, we are continuing our farm safety series. This series bring on different farm families to share their real-life experiences to raise awareness about farm dangers, help other agricultural families prepare, and offer support after accidents. Calli Williams (Millennial Rancher on Instagram) shares about her husband's accident...

We  are continuing our crucial farm safety series with mother- daughter duo Emily Wilson and Amy Doherty as they share about how their dad/husband was seemingly the first person to survive a Mycotill exposure. Mycotill is a vaccine used in cattle to treat bovine respiratory disease. It works incredibly well in animals and unfortunately has severe risk in humans. In most cases, humans do not surviv...

We  are kicking off our crucial farm safety series by diving into a harrowing real-life experience shared by Auna Koenigs from Northern Iowa. Auna opens up about a terrifying accident on her family farm that nearly cost her father his leg—and his life. Auna recounts the day her father's leg got caught in a sweep auger, and highlights the farm safety lesson that her family had practiced for ye...

In this episode of Beyond the Crops, we dive into the importance of prioritizing fitness and how our approach to health and wellness has evolved over time. Join us as we share our personal fitness journeys, from college days to the realities of parenthood and beyond. We discuss the challenges we've faced, the lessons we've learned, and the reasons why making fitness a priority is more cr...

We are back together again after what feels like ages! In this episode of Beyond the Crops, we’re catching up on all the life that’s happened in just a few short weeks—like MP’s spontaneous and wild trip to California, complete with cybersecurity issues, winding mountain roads, the grossest hotel you can imagine, and we even debate how to pronounce "Oregon." We also reflect on the real c...

In this powerful episode we are talking with rural firefighter and paramedic Mike Bailey to tackle one of agriculture's most critical and often overlooked issues: farm safety.  With agriculture ranking among the most dangerous industries in the U.S., especially for families raising children on the farm, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone in the farming community. Mike shares his fi...

In this episode we are bringing on the men and answering your burning questions that came in from Instagram. Tune in as we dive into a variety of topics, from the quirky concept of a "wife swap" to how Josh and Levi really feel when it comes to transition planning in farming.   Our husbands share their insights on navigating the challenges of succession planning and offer valuable advice...

In this episode of Beyond the Crops, we're diving into the critical topic of farm succession planning. Passing down the farm is more than just a business transaction; it's about preserving a legacy and ensuring the family's future. For this episode we've brought on Elaine Froese, a certified farm family coach, mediator and farm advisor who empowers families to increase profit b...

This week we take a break from interviews to catch up on our personal adventures and give you the latest updates from our farms. We talk about summer trips and how to get off the farm (it's totally worth it). We also dive into the current state of our crops. Tasseling, irrigation, and the challenges posed by unpredictable weather. Tune in for an engaging mix of farm life insights and lighthea...

Join us for this inspiring interview episode with Marilyn Backman, entrepreneur, mother, and farm matriarch extraordinaire. We had a great conversation about building businesses and diversifying income, while growing relationships and serving your customers well. Marilyn has raised 4 boys along with her husband on their family farm in Minnesota. She’s developed incredible relationships with farmer...

In this episode of Beyond the Crops we are navigating the challenges of raising children in a technology-driven world with our special guest Jen Stutzman, who is known for her insightful parenting approach and emphasis on the importance of setting boundaries with technology. Jen provides practical advice on encouraging kids to embrace boredom, fostering creativity, and the benefits of limiting scr...

Join us for a special 4th of July episode of Beyond The Crops! This week, we're celebrating the holiday with some fun farming history and a good old crop update. We'll take you back in time to discover where the saying of "knee-high by the 4th of July" comes from, other farming practices, and we'll even share some personal stories from our own childhoods spent in the field...

In this episode, we sit down with Noah Young to uncover the secrets of planting seeds of influence in the digital world. Join us as Noah shares his insights on the power of intentional storytelling, strategic use of social media, and effective ways to monetize your unique skills. Whether you're an aspiring influencer, entrepreneur, or simply looking to amplify your online presence, Noah'...

In this episode of Beyond the Crops, we are diving into a topic that's sparked a lot of interest on our social media platforms—artificial food dyes. We discuss our personal experiences, the impact of these dyes on our children, and the scientific research behind the effects of artificial food dyes on health and behavior. Thrive market finds: Find Jena's thrive market food dye swaps here....

The quality of life we enjoy living rurally is something that is difficult to put into words, but rather it must be experienced. This week we brought Shelly Greving on the podcast to highlight her brainchild, Evolution of the Heartland, a movement highlighting  how rural America is changing. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear how Evolution of the Heartland is helping to bring awareness around...

This week we’re excited to kick off a new series: On Farm Succession Planning. We have been wanting to lean into this topic since we started podcasting and this week we’re brining you an interview from Brooke Didier Starks , founder and owner of Legacy Legal.   Brooke is an Estate Planning Attorney who caters to farm families and entrepreneurs. She strives to break hard topics into bite-size piece...

Welcome back to another episode of Beyond the Crops! This week we are diving into a hot topic that’s been sparking debates online: Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech. We unpack the polarized reactions, especially around his comments to women about prioritizing marriage and family, a perspective rooted in his Catholic faith. Connect with us outside of the podcast @‌jenaochsner and...

We are back together and ready to dive into this episode focusing on finding motivation and overcoming burnout.  But first, we have to celebrate out podcast's ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Congratulations to us and a huge THANK YOU to you for listening and supporting Beyond The Crops. In this episode discover how we manage burnout, handle the ebb and flow of planting seasons, and balance daily farm c...

MP & Josh give updates on planting season and some early-season scouting tips. Right now is a crucial time for scouting on the farm and making decisions for your crop.  Connect with us outside of the podcast @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass @‌beyondthecrops_ Thank you to the sponsor of this episode , Fieldview. Both Jena and MP have used Fieldview on their farms for the past several years and...

Part 2 of our two part interview with Keri Anania, Owner & PA-C at Nebraska Functional Medicine. In this episode we talk about where to start with functional medicine as a mother for your kids. We talk about practical steps to take mitigate stress on our bodies, start feeling better and live a happy healthier life. Nebraska Functional Medicine - Keri’s Practice Instagram Facebook Find A Practi...

Part 1 of our two part interview with Keri Anania, Owner & PA-C at Nebraska Functional Medicine. In this episode we talk about what functional medicine is and how it connects to fertility, hormones, gut heath, MTHFR and more. Keri shares where you can start with functional medicine and listening to your body. Nebraska Functional Medicine - Keri’s Practice Instagram Facebook https://www.ifm.org...