The Engler Journey

The outdoors provides opportuntities for personal growth. Join Olivia Vanderford in welcoming current Engler senior, Elijah Riley! He is the owner and founder of Big Gumdrop Outdoors with the mission of connecting urban young people back to nature. Elijah enjoys being a mentor for young people and inspiring them to give back to the outdoors through conservation. Tune into this episode to hear how...

Never be afraid to start something and just take a leap of faith. Join Olivia Vanderford in welcoming current fifth year student in Engler and true storyteller, Lana Hebda! She is the owner and founder of "lana hebda creative" where she captures the special moments in people's lives through photography. Lana enjoys being a generational entreprenuer and she hopes to share her photography with gener...

You are on a journey and every day being shaped. Join Olivia Vanderford in welcoming current Engler senior and serial entrepreneur, Alexis Jansen! She is the owner and found er of Black Dirt Boutique, recently received her CDL (Commercial Driver's License), and thrives on learning new skills . Little did she know a small note bearing the words "You are still being shaped" would change her life. Tu...

This summer, Fire in the Belly is focusing on the Engler Entrepreneurs who have committed to the climb. Elijah Riley is our third Summer Build Program student to be on the podcast. This cohort, led by Brennan Costello, provides Engler Entrepreneurs with community and accountability as they navigate and fine tune the many processes necessary to advance their businesses right alongside their peers....

This summer, Fire in the Belly is focusing on the Engler Entrepreneurs who have committed to the climb. Allison Walbrecht is our second featured student who is pursuing entrepreneurship through Engler's Summer Build Program. This cohort, led by Brennan Costello, provides Engler Entrepreneurs with community and accountability as they navigate and fine tune the many processes necessary to advance th...

This summer, Fire in the Belly is focusing on the Engler Entrepreneurs who have committed to the climb. Mads Kreifels is one of seven students who are putting their noses to the grindstone through Engler's Summer Build Program. This cohort, led by Brennan Costello, provides Engler Entrepreneurs with community and accountability as they navigate and fine tune the many processes necessary to advance...

Entrepreneurship can take blood, sweat, and tears, but it can also be a passion project. Halle Ramsey invites us to lean in further through her book "Letters to God ". As the current #1 New Release in Christian Poetry, Halle e xplores the collision of joy, lament and hope through the lens of the Gospel. She is an outdoor enthusiast, author, coach and Engler's new Chief Mindset Development Officer...

Join Hailey DeMers in welcoming Engler alum, David Schuler to the podcast. David represents the newest generation to continue the legacy of the Schuler Red Angus cow-calf operation. Using the heart and spirit of Schuler Red Angus, David showcases the beauty of cow-calf operations on social media by creating unexpected artwork that is bringing the communities and the agriculture industry together....

In an episode FULL of laughter, Grant and Erin dive into what entrepreneurship looks like as a young couple. Grant is an alumnus of the Engler Program where we are no strangers to the challenging times and rewarding moments family businesses can bring. For Grant, one of those rewarding moments was when he gained a business partner in his wife Erin. We are blessed to welcome Erin to the Engler comm...

"I'm 22 without a diploma, but I have been gifted an opportunity to provide others with the fuel to develop their education while developing agriculture."  There are people with a fire in their belly that don't have access to better education. They are content and truly believe that while they have nothing, they also have everything. On this episode of Fire in the Belly, Makenna Kirchhoff hosts a...

The White brothers are no strangers to puns in their line of work. After unexpectedly going viral for blue-collar-themed apparel, Workman Trading Co., Eli, and Ian's lives have significantly changed. On this episode of Boots on the Ground, Hailey DeMers hosts a conversation about the turbulent path entrepreneurship provides, the new frontier of social media marketing, and how the "Why?" behind it...

There are dozens of ways we could introduce Abby Miller  as our guest this week but to say the least, she has a fire in her belly. A fire that at times was sustained by sheer grit and willpower. L isten along to this episode to hear about Abby's adventure wit h Pat, a 57' Chevrolet pickup .   Through the countless trials and tribulations of the past two years, Abby has successfully brought this pi...

Chuck keeps us laughing and engaged by sharing his unfathomable stories and wildly inspirational lessons learned by taking a few risks and asking hard questions. With numerous careers and ventures, Chuck stresses the importance of mentorship by sharing about mentors' roles in his life and how those individuals have contributed to his success. Now a full-time Western artist, Chuck attributes his st...

Engler students are  known for their commitment to the pursuit of purpose-driven lives. Ben Schow, a senior in  the Engler program, is  a prime example of this. The love he has for his hometown  community  led him to take a  questionable high school  idea and grow it into a brand recogniz ed by most who are native to East Campus . Those who know him know that he has worked hard over the past four...

Anna Kobza, one of our own here at Engler, has made it her mission to build a community around creating conversations related to agriculture, specifically the cattle feeder. We had such a pleasure learning from Anna as she shares her experiences with social media, breaking in to the agricultural industry, and fighting for a community that has been on her heart for years. Thank you, Anna , we are t...

While we know hay is for horses, it also has plenty of other uses. Carter might tell you that being in the hay business has taught him more life lessons that anything else. Those fields might seem a little more valuable after listening to this episode. Starting as a kid just trying to make a little extra cash, Carter now operates Holland Hay full time while also being an active, full time college...

This week we are thrilled to host one of our own, Engler alumni, Jake Wilkins on the show. Jake tells us about the starts and stops he has along the path of entrepreneurship. Recently, Jake discovered a pain point for the bow hunting community and has been inspired to solve this problem. After investing  in quality time with his family and working his   full-time job , Jake uses spare time as an o...

Finally, a long overdue introduction of the team that gives good communication a new definition - the spring 2023 Engler communications team. Meet Emma Hoffschneider, the gal who ensures that our social media platforms are sparkling with the latest updates of captivating stories from our Engler entrepreneurs and community experiences. When we want to live in a moment forever, we get to. Cole Kalko...

At the age of 15 , Torie picked up a camera to help with her family's livestock operation. O ver ten years later , Torie and her camer a have traveled the country to capture thousands of moments, many of which reflect agriculture and western lifestyles. We are excited to welcome Torie Egger on to this week's episode of Boots on the Ground where we discuss the photography industry, tricks of the tr...

Chandra Spangler is no stranger to living life with an overloaded schedule packed full of unfulfilling to-do's . This week on Fire in the Belly, we hear from Chandra on how she tackled the creeping approach of burnout by making sure that her mental health, family and marketing business stay at the top of her priorities. We also get an insider look at how she went through the process of rebranding...

Patti Knobbe, founder  of The Good Earth Company based out of West Point, Nebraska  shares her story that includes motherhood,   entrepreneursh ip and a  fascinating insight into the world of holistic health . She is a Board Certified Naturopathic Doctor, Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Master Herbalist and Yoga Instructor. Tune in with Hailey DeMers to learn about the power of making smal...

On this episode of Fire in the Belly, Makenna Kirchhoff hosts Keeley Conrad who is a sophomore horticulture major and fellow Engler Entrepreneur  who has combined macrame, t he art of tying knots in patterns with h er obsession of plants through her business: Seeds and Strings. In today's episode, we hear from Keeley about how her passion for fa mi l y a nd f a it h has i mpa cted her journey of e...

On today's episode of Boots on the Ground, Hailey DeMers hosts Matt Dennis and Michael Stepp, the cofounders of Handlebend. It started with a mug and evolved into a 14,000 square foot red-brick building located in the heart of O'Neill, Nebraska that includes a flower shop, coffee shop, and tap room. Listen along as these two blue-collared free spirited dudes share with us their heart for building...

Tracy Brunet is a savvy businesswoman, dynamic storyteller, and an entrepreneur who takes on each day with a "fire in her belly." She is the owner and CEO of Farm Marketer and Cottage Marketer, as well as the host of the Impact Farming Show.    Her story will challenge you, inspire you, and get your boots on the ground.   

Shannon Beck of Nodest Home Plants epitomizes what it means to live with purpose through entrepreneurship. This green thumb helps people of all backgrounds and knowledge levels successfully navigate plant parenthood.    Learn more about Nodest and Shannon's journey from the film industry to entrepreneurship in this week's episode of the Engler Journey podcast.