Farming on Purpose

“It’s not something that happens overnight, it’s a gradual transition. We started making our own bars of soap, I started making my own tallow, I started doing all these little things gradually that are creating a more holistic home, but it definitely takes time and you appreciate everything you have a whole lot more.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking to Kerissa Payne of Covey Rise...

“What you feel like in the moments when it is a hard season is real and even in your mind you know in a few years it’s going to be easier but that’s a few years away. I feel like I try to let myself feel those feelings and for me, writing is how I process a lot of that and remembering that it’s ok to feel hard but just know it’s not going to last forever.”  In this episode, I had the pleasure of t...

“The mindset of I do belong here. I belong here. Never underestimate your roots and where you came from and just try to find your place.”     In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Liz Fiedler of Sunny Mary Meadow Farms. Liz shared how her flower farm got started as a farm stand and the many different ag operations were run on her late husband’s family farm. Liz also opened up with us...

“Recognizing the season and what actually is important in that season, I think, is the most important thing you can do.”   In this episode, I wanted to talk about a topic that many followers have asked me about, time management and how to manage all the irons in the fire as a wife, mother, farmer, and business owner. Sometimes it is hard to adjust your expectations to the season you are in, but on...

“Use veterinarians for our knowledge base. We worked really hard for that degree and it matters.”    In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Lauren Mack. Lauren shared her insight on what it is like moving to rural Kansas and buying a veterinarian practice right after graduation. After having been the new person in a small town, Lauren spoke about some ways she likes to get the com...

“The cattle industry is such a long game. You just have to plan for 10, 20 years in advance all the time.”    In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Meghan Gates. Meghan has a lot on her plate as a mother, rancher, and a business woman. Meghan dove into her background in agriculture as well as how she and her husband started their own cattle operation and selling beef shares. On the s...

“It’s different every day, which I love. That was one of my difficulties with an office job; it was a little bit of monotony and boredom. You’re not going to get bored on a farm.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Gabe Spurgoen from South Baldwin Farms. Gabe shared about his career as an architect and how he didn’t feel fulfilled. What started as a way for Gabe to get away...

“I like animals and I like being a steward of animals and having a pragmatic purpose for having lots of animals.”  In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Matt Brechwald, host of the Off-Farm Income podcast. Matt shared about his childhood and how he first got interested in agriculture. Matt also shared about his journey in the ag industry that eventually led him to start a farm w...

“There’s help out there. Like there’s a resource or somebody for you.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dawn Krees. Dawn talked about her podcast Harvesting Her Way, her coaching, and what her clients are wanting to learn more about. Diving deeper into Dawn’s coaching, she explained that it is important to work with your body and as a woman, work with your cycle. Dawn als...

“I think a lot of farmers would like to not rely on the bank or the government, but unfortunately the system and the path we’re heading down today, we rely too heavily on those practices.”      In this episode, I had the pleasure of catching up with Shane Meenen. Shane and I covered a lot of ground in our chat, from A2 milk to insurance. Shane talked about the rules and regulations around regenera...

“Probably one of the top three reasons the sheep industry is slowly dwindling is just the amount of work that goes into it is a lot, like you don’t really get paid for that. I wish that was something that, I would still have gotten the sheep anyways, but I wish I would have known that going into it.”    In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Charity Epperson. Charity and I cover quit...

“Financially right now in agriculture, it’s so expensive to get going. I have no idea how first-generation people do it and I have nothing but respect for them and what they go through to get going.”    In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Kendel Hofer. Kendel is the third generation on her family ranch and keeps it going with help from her husband and two boys. Kendel dives into h...

“Flexibility pays more than what you can ask for in a salary.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Calli Williams, or you may know her as the Millennial Rancher. Calli shares about her family’s cow/calf operation, how Calli met her husband, Tate, and how they are combining their cattle operation knowledge and making their own cattle operation thrive. Calli said that her involvem...

“I have developed actual relationships with my customers because it is farming. It is such a small world at the end of the day and all of my customers are either friends or family to me at some point in time. Even customers from previous banks, we still talk and we still have that relationship because you’re in farming and I feel like everybody’s the same in the agriculture community. They’re good...

“I learned a lot about who I was and who I was capable of being and that was just an awesome experience.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Camarie Roorda. Camarie and her family have been involved in agriculture and the rodeo industry for years and Camarie shares about her journey in rodeo. Camarie’s experience in rodeo helped spark her two businesses, the Performance Pon...

“I think that it’s important for consumers to know that when you are in a rural area you cannot receive the same products, sometimes at all.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ashley Comeau. Ashley and her husband, Adam, are the current owners of Brant’s Meat Market in rural Kansas. Brant’s Meat Market has been in operation for over 100 years and Ashley talks about the his...

“That is where when you are starting a new business, you have those challenges. You have to think around the corner. You have to think, ‘I know what I want, now how can I explain it to someone who’s never met me?’”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Brad Fourby of Leafy Green Farms. Brad’s farm is unique and innovative. Situated in Southeast Kansas, Brad is able to grow his...

“So there’s a fine line and balance that needs to happen and I know that Texas is good about having those conversations and cattle raisers are active in those conversations and trying to make sure that both sides win and come out with what they need, but that we’re preserving this heritage of these families that have put countless hours and generations into feeding not just America but the world a...

“It’s a balancing act of just being your authentic self and figuring that out. As humans we are always evolving, interests change, stages of life change, all of those things. If you look at what I shared 6 or 7 years ago, it’s still the same basis of agriculture but I have changed a lot myself.”  In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Andrea Flemming. You might know Andrea better...

“I think it’s all just a balancing act and just trying to put a pencil to it. We do a lot of penciling because we’re new at this, we’re figuring it out. So what works for our neighbor may not work for us because they’re in a different situation than we are and that’s ok.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jess Trask of Perigo Hay and Cattle. Jess shared about her experience on...

 “I think there are still a lot of questions about what the future of the farm is going to look like and what we’re going to do with it. People want to be involved and I’m honestly really grateful for that, that they feel so proud of the family farm, that they want to see things do well and see it succeed and be the beautiful place that they remember it being.”  For this week’s episode, I wanted t...

“I would say the biggest thing is, you definitely have to put your ego aside and your pride and just know that you’re going to do things wrong and you will learn so much more from doing them wrong than doing them right.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Kristin Harms. Kristin shared about the transition she and her husband made from having careers outside of agriculture to ha...

“I had to learn everything the hard way. I was going to the library all the time when I had time to do that. I’m listening to podcasts all the time. I’m trying to network with people like you and find people on social media and compare and just join all these groups where you can ask questions. That’s really how you get through it; you’ve got to find people who are willing to share their knowledge...

“Having a game plan is going to save you time and money in the long run.”  In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Thea Larsen. Thea opened up about how motherhood changes you and how the help you need as a mom isn’t always logistical. Thea also talked about being a ranch wife and working with your loved ones. Her words of wisdom that confrontation doesn’t have to be conflict and...

“I love the marketing work that I do. I love solving the problems I get to solve for all the different clients and all the different capacities that I work with. I love that variety.”  For this week’s episode, I wanted to share my story with you! In most of my previous episodes we got to hear stories from people that have inspired me and I thought it was time to give you a little more insight into...