Your Ag Empire

In this episode, Jonathon Haralson sits down with Dr. Tom Field, the force behind the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program, to explore the power of starting, building a legacy, and the importance of leading a purposeful life. They dive into the challenges of entrepreneurship, the significance of community, and the need for strength tempered with gentleness. Dr. Field shares his insights on...

In this episode, Jonathon tackles a tough topic: what farmers and ranchers are really passing down to the next generation. It's not just land and debt—it's cycles of stress, silence, and financial habits.  Jonathon dives into generational patterns, from financial management to relationships, and how emotional silence can impact families.  Whether you're a seasoned operator or just starti...

In this special episode of Your Ag Empire , Jonathon Haralson sits down with Brooke Taylor—Empire Ag’s Chief of Brand Strategy and the founder of the Rural Gone Urban Foundation—for a raw, unfiltered conversation about legacy, loss, and the power of choosing to stay. Brooke opens up about what it really took to launch a nonprofit while raising a toddler and fighting metastatic breast cancer. She t...

Nebraska rancher and rural relationship guide Terryn Drieling joins Your Ag Empire to talk about mental and emotional health, breaking generational cycles, and how healing starts with connection—not correction. In this episode, Holly sits down with rancher and rural relationship guide Terryn Drieling to talk about the kind of work most folks avoid—but desperately need: the inner work of healing. F...

This isn’t your average farmer’s market vendor. She’s a mom, a wife, and a Kentucky rancher who’s built an entire life—and business—around healing, hope, and homemade bread. In this episode, she sits down with host Holly Haralson to share the long road to D2 Meats, the infertility battle that changed her perspective, and how she turned her lowest valley into a mountaintop moment. You’ll hear: The...

Cattle prices are at historic highs. You have 500 head on the books, debt to settle, and a market that feels too good to be true. Should you sell? Sit tight? Or find a creative exit strategy? In this episode, Jonathon Haralson walks through the real math, real risks, and real opportunities ranchers are facing in 2025. If you're even thinking about getting out, you'll want to hear this first. In th...

In this episode, Jonathon sits down with legendary cowboy cook, storyteller, and TV host Kent Rollins. From feeding cowboys under the stars to starring in his new show Cast Iron Cowboy on Outdoor Channel, Kent shares what it means to preserve the cowboy lifestyle while staying relevant in a modern world. They talk about his beginnings in Oklahoma, the spirit of chuck wagon cooking, and the heart i...

In this no-guest episode, Jonathon and Holly discuss what they’re seeing firsthand on farms and ranches across the country. They cover a real-world succession planning project in South Carolina, a new mastermind member from Idaho, and how EA Capital is giving producers new financial options in a shaky banking environment. This is a transparent look at how ag families are navigating hard transition...

In this episode of Your Ag Empire , Jonathon sits down with Kim Rounds of Five Rivers Cattle Feeding to talk about the real state of feedyards, the talent drought in agriculture, and why ag storytelling needs a hard reset. From carcass data to hiring red flags, this one pulls no punches. What do nearly a million head of cattle, an underpaid workforce, and your dusty job listing have in common? Kim...

On this episode of Your Ag Empire , we’re sitting down with Kiah Twisselman Burchett —also known as Coach Kiah. From the cattle ranch to the national stage, Kiah has built a platform that reminds us joy isn’t just something we stumble into—it’s something we fight for. She shares her journey from rural California to Kentucky, navigating body image, health, and personal growth every step of the way....

Most farmers and ranchers know the feeling—you walk into the bank with everything you’ve built and still get treated like a liability. In this episode, Jonathon Haralson shares the story behind EA Capital: a lending model built for the real world of agriculture. He talks about what it’s like to create a financial system that respects the people who feed this country. From busted bank relationships...

This time, it’s Brooke and Carman behind the mic. They’ve helped shape the look, voice, and digital footprint of Empire Ag—and today, they’re walking you through the why behind it all. This episode covers where they believe ag brands should be spending their time online, how to think about content when you’re doing it all yourself, and what makes a brand worth following in 2025. You’ll hear honest...

Most folks don’t think about trucking when they picture agriculture, but it’s the backbone that keeps the whole system moving. In this episode, Jonathon talks with Jared Flinn, co-founder of BulkLoads.com, about how his platform has reshaped bulk freight and why small trucking outfits are essential to agriculture’s future. Jared shares how growing up on a Missouri farm and working in grain logisti...

Today on Your Ag Empire , Jonathon sits down with Sharon Beach—a Texas rancher who built her reputation one handshake at a time. Sharon spent 25 years at Merck, then pivoted into private equity where she helped raise $165 million. Now she’s leading EA Capital, connecting investors to agriculture-backed lending without the corporate fluff. If you’ve ever wondered how to bet on yourself (and back it...

You don’t have to be a fifth-generation farmer to make it in ag. You just have to want it bad enough. On this episode of Your Ag Empire , we’re sitting down with Gavin Spoor—a first-generation farmer from northeast Missouri who went from renting six acres as a college kid to running a 2,000-acre row crop and specialty popcorn operation. In this episode, we cover: Why the business side of farming h...

What happens when you walk away from comfort in pursuit of calling? On this episode of Your Ag Empire , rural entrepreneur Alex Lowery joins Jonathon to talk about her journey from corporate agriculture to building multiple purpose-driven brands in small-town America. Alex shares the origin stories behind Lowery & Co., Rural Changemakers, Middle of the Field Media, and Sweet Bliss Candy Compan...

In this episode of Your Ag Empire , we’re sitting down with Haley Davenport—the heart and hands behind Steel Marie Collective. A single mom of two, vintage western entrepreneur, and unapologetic advocate for starting over, Haley brings a refreshingly honest take on rebuilding life after it falls apart. She talks about what it means to pursue purpose over perfection, the power of creating a home-ba...

Lesley Kelly shares her journey through mental health challenges, founding Do More Ag, and building a personal brand that bridges rural life and advocacy. On this episode of Your Ag Empire , we welcome Lesley Kelly —a farmer, entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and the voice behind High Heels & Canola Fields . Lesley shares her deeply personal story of overcoming anxiety and postpartum depre...

In this episode of Your Ag Empire , we're flipping the mic and putting Holly Haralson in the guest chair. Holly is the COO of Empire Ag and the driving force behind Empire Financial Services. Her journey from pharmacist to farm finance expert is anything but ordinary. We unpack the pivotal moment that shifted her career, how a traumatic experience led her to refocus her life, and the surprising si...

This week on Your Ag Empire , we sit down with Jordan Morris: a first-generation Iowa cattleman, LRP/LGM agent, and dad to five boys. Jordan owns and operates Midwest Feeders LLC and helps producers navigate market risk through StockGuard. He's also the newest member of the Empire Ag team. In this episode, we unpack Jordan's journey from toy tractors in town to running a multi-site cattle feeding...

Looking for better ways to manage your farm finances, create budgets, or make smarter decisions with real-time data? In this episode of Your Ag Empire , we talk with Erin Arick from Figured , a cloud-based farm financial management platform built specifically for farmers, ag advisors, and accountants. We explore how Figured integrates with QuickBooks and Xero, helps track profitability by crop sea...

In this episode of Your Ag Empire , we sit down with Brian Scott, a fourth-generation Indiana farmer and the voice behind The Farmer’s Life . Long before TikTok trends and algorithm hacks, Brian was using social media to connect with consumers, document his days on the farm, and advocate for agriculture with honesty and humility. We talk about how ag content has evolved over the past decade, why h...

On this episode of Your Ag Empire , we’re sitting down with sixth-generation Iowan and marketing pro Lexi Marek Beeler. She’s the founder of L&B Consulting and the woman behind the new rural women’s event, Hey Sister. From showing pigs to building a thriving business rooted in family and agriculture, Lexi shares how she’s navigating entrepreneurship, motherhood, and returning to the family far...

On this episode of Your Ag Empire , we’re joined by Lettie Nickell—a fourth-generation Kansas rancher who's turning tradition on its head. From managing feedyards to transforming an old grain bin into a hit Airbnb , Letty is proof that the future of agriculture belongs to those willing to think outside the box. Lettie shares how she returned to the family operation with one rule: bring value or do...

After years of veterinary school and only four years in the field, Kari Jo Kelso walked away from her full-time vet career to chase something unexpected—t-shirts. Now the founder of Kelso & Co., Kari Jo has built a thriving apparel business and renovated a historic downtown space to support other rural entrepreneurs. In this episode of Your Ag Empire , we talk about grief, creativity, small-to...