Country Tough with Brandy Von Holten

Welcome to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  Today's guest is Alaina Cross!  She is one amazing cowgirl!  I have known her since she was a youth Extreme Cowboy Association competitor.  Alaina starts colts and has even trained mustangs!  Her uplifting zest for life will have you waiting for her next word.  Just a kind soul and an even more amazing mom, wife, and cowgirl.  Alaina took a sp...

Welcome to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten.  Today we have Karen Cummings as our valued guest.  She has been in my life before Von Holten Ranch.  Karen is now a massage therapist and a Country Tough Trail Versatility competitor.  I do not have a lot of friends that stick around for the different chapters of my life; Karen has been around for almost 20 years.  If you ever need a massage therap...

Welcome to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten.  It is my pleasure to introduce Abigail Hoffman.  Abigail is the owner of Tailwind Horsemanship, LLC and is a graduate of Clinton Anderson's Clinician Academy.  Abigail is a Clinton Anderson Ambassador.  Iowa is where she currently presides, but the world has no limits for this professional cowgirl.  In this podcast you will get to meet Abigail...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  Today is a first-generation cowgirl that is blazing the way for her mother and niece to join in the passion of being top performing cowgirls!  You will love the freedom and dedication of horsewoman, Shayla Shipley!  I first met Shayla at a clinic where she was a way more advanced competitor that I am and I WAS TEACHING THE CLINIC!  Shayla is h...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  Today’s guest is international clinician and world champion horseman, Lee Hart!  He is my trainer and is the longest returning clinician at Von Holten Ranch.  Lee has a staggering list of accomplishments including WRCA World Champion Bronc Rider to WRCA Top Hand to the American Royal Colt Starting Champion to the EXCA World Pro Champion and EX...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  Today we have the pleasure of interviewing two cowgirls from West Virginia!  Mary White, 84, and Alicia Stickel, 61, drove separately from West Virginia to attend a Big Boss Mare Production called Chix in the Sticks!  Mary drove herself and set her trailer up herself!  With owning a trail riding facility, it was refreshing to see an older cowg...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  Today we have two of the five owners of Phantom V Distillery, Chris Groves and Mike Hammerly!  Five friends came together to create an innovative alcohol that is closely related to Brandy (the alcohol, not me).  Brandy is made from fruit, but cannot be distilled greater than 160 proof.  Phantom V’s alcohol is coming in at 192 proof.  When you...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  Today’s guest does not need an introduction from me at all!  Sarah Leonhard was worked for Purina for an extensive length of time.  She is now an Associate Sales Manager and the Farm Consultant Team Leader.  Sarah discusses Land o Lakes, the largest farmer owner cooperative in North America and its proud representation of the Purina brand and...

Welcome back to Big Boss mare with Brandy Von Holten!  This week’s guest is Kim Abney Shrader.  She is the owner and manager of Shabby 2 Chic Boutiques which is a retail clothing and accessories store that has a store front, a mobile boutique, and is available online!  Kim manifested her boutique, after being in real-estate for years.  Steve, her farmer husband, told her to go for it and that is e...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten.  Today’s guest is Nikki Freeman!  Nikki is a diversely talented “smartie pants and health nut”!  She is a college professor at the University of Central Missouri and is a cross fit, barre, and piyo instructor!  Nikki is currently working on her nutrition certification.  After turning 40 she realized she needed to change, and the current diet cu...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  If you love law enforcement and BBQ, then you are going to love this interview!  Meet Jason Worthley!  Jason is a homegrown Missouri boy!  Jason started as a 911 dispatcher but then has had the titles of jailer, deputy, K-9 deputy, and undercover narcotics while working with the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force.  After Jason left the Morgan County...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  This week’s interview is with Sydney Kotow.  She is a hot shoer, AKA a hot farrier that works with a forge.  There are not a lot of lady farriers, and even less that work with a forge.  Sydney is not a shy person and will tell you how it is!  She and I will have many adventures together over the next four decades.  Our latest adventure include...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  Today’s interview is with Arkansas mule trainer, Leslie Waymack!  She and I were both presenters at the 2021 MidWest MuleFest.  Leslie is super close to retirement from teaching high school social studies.  Her plan is to become an outfitter that can go where the wind takes her.  Leslie and I have several parallels but the main one is that you...

Welcome to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten.  This episode is with Gary Vaughn, Jr. from Greenbrier, Arkansas.  He is living proof that a man can go through heartache and move forward.  Gary has turned his life around from multiple felony charges to an active member in his church.  He has come back from bankruptcy to having a well-paying job that he has been at for years.  The largest heartach...

Jason Cook is an American Cowboy that had a huge influence by his great grandfather.  When someone tries to explain the term “humble”, they just need to have a 5 minute conversation with Jason.  He believes in a solid foundation is the root to all great horses!  To excel with your equine you need to have consistency and quality.  In smartness, he ranks equine in this order (in general):  Mules, ma...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten.  Today’s interview is with one very creative first-time momma, Hanna Perry!  I met Hanna when she competed in extreme cowboy racing and then crossed paths again when she was the competition photographer for the Country Tough Trail Versatility National Championship!  Once a year, I have a Goal Setting Sisterhood private group.  It was there that...

Tinker Turner is a professional. His full time job is horses. He is a trainer, instructor, clinician, and judge. He has trained, showed, and judged Professionally for 30+ years. He has won countless events in Europe and the U.S. in reining, roping, trail classes, working cow, pleasure, halter, versatility ranch horse, & colt starting challenges. Some to mention- World Shows in reining, working...

Meet Stacie Smith and Mary Bell!  They are two of the three ladies hosting the MidWest MuleFest!  2022 will mark their 5th year!  These two ladies are a hoot!  In this interview you will get to meet these two and hear their love and compassion for inclusion in the equine industry for mules.  Normal people can make extraordinary impacts in the world.  Stacie and Mary are making the mule owners top...

Scott Simms has many judging certifications in numerous associations.  As his personal equine goals change, his focus is now on giving back and helping develop the next generation of knowledgeable cowboy and cowgirl!   There's always lots to learn from people that have been there and done that.  Scott is an excellent role model and has a plethora or agriculture knowledge and is willing to sha...

Bailey Marriott is blazing her OWN way through this world!  She loves her family, her country, her modern day western heritage, and business!  Her story will motivate and captivate you!  Coffee shop, cattle rancher, and clothing and western apparel store owner/manager!!  Bailey is a small town girl with big dreams!  

When you are around Sean Beaver, you feel like you are in the presence of greatness!  He's a mover, a shaker, a Veteran, and is not afraid to take chances on a business venture that SCREAMS USA!!!!!  Being around strong, independent thinkers will help you become a strong, independent thinker!  I would highly recommend listening to this episode multiple times!  Go check out Great American Kite...

Alina Shcherbina is helping people have those difficult conversations about life insurance.  This is who my husband and I have our life insurance policy through.  You never know how much better you will sleep until you have your loved ones set up for financial security if tragedy strikes.  There are scammers out there and different types of policies that are not set up to benefit the client.  Alin...

Thank you for joining Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten today!  Today’s guest is one of easiest cowgirl’s in the world to love and cheer on as she blazes her own path in the equine industry, Lauren McCain!  She is on the Country Tough Trail Versatility National Board, a certified judge, a horsemanship and mulemanship clinician, an equine breeder, and just an all-around friend to the equine spec...

It is my pleasure to introduce soon to be DVM Maria Juarez Byrd!  Maria is one of the most determined work horses I know!  Everything she has worked for academically has come from huge sacrifices and pure grit.  Maria had enough college credit hours from high school to expedite her time needed to obtain her undergraduate degree.  After being accepted into the prestigious College of Veterinary Medi...

Welcome back to Big Boss Mare with Brandy Von Holten!  Today’s guest is one heck of a cowgirl, Hannah Kaufman!  Not only is she a barrel racer, but she is extremely multifaceted in the equine industry.  Hannah has made custom leather pieces that are just as beautiful as they are useable!  She also trains horses to have a career in barrel racing, teaches clinics, and can help equestrians all over t...