Your Ag Empire

In this deeply personal conversation, ag media personality Kirbe Schnoor opens up about the hidden struggles facing farming families across America. Growing up on an almond farm in California's Central Valley and now hosting Farm Her and Ranch Her on RFD-TV, Schnoor has witnessed both the triumphs and tragedies that define rural life. From her family's own experiences with the highs and lows of ag...

Gavin Spoor represents the new generation of agriculture—first-generation farmers who are building empires from scratch in a world where most inherit their operations. Starting with just six rented acres in Northeast Missouri, Spoor has grown to farm 2,000 acres of row crops and specialty popcorn, proving that you don't need legacy land to create something significant. In this conversation, Spoor...

Jordan Morris represents a new breed in agriculture: the first-generation farmer who's building something from nothing in an industry where most inherit their start. From playing with toy tractors as a kid in Iowa to running Midwest Feeders LLC and helping producers manage risk through innovative cattle coverage programs, Morris has carved out his place in agriculture through grit, relationships,...

Brett Hicks spent 11 years juggling three demanding lives simultaneously: running a poultry operation, building a real estate business, and serving in ministry. Then a business partnership dissolved, forcing him to make a decision most people never have the courage to make. Instead of viewing the loss as failure, Hicks saw it as divine intervention—a chance to walk away from agriculture and pursue...

In this powerful conversation, Tyler Dickerhoof joins Jonathon Haralson to unpack the invisible barriers that keep farmers, ranchers, and agricultural leaders from reaching their full potential. A former dairy nutritionist turned leadership expert, Dickerhoof shares how a childhood tragedy shaped 25 years of leadership patterns and why the most successful people in agriculture are the ones willing...

There is a farmer somewhere right now running on ibuprofen and willpower. He has been hurting for months. He needs to see a doctor, but the nearest clinic is an hour away, and harvest does not stop. Farley Schweighart built a business for that exact person. She is a physical therapist who operates Rural MedEx, a mobile, cash-pay practice that meets farmers, ranchers, and rodeo athletes where they...

Terren Moore signed up for an FFA elective in high school just to get an easy A. That one decision changed his life. He started Moore Peas Company from a backyard patch while still in high school, built a produce business with zero capital, and eventually launched MFI Agency, a farm and ranch insurance firm that now serves clients across 15 states. In this conversation, Terren talks about mentorsh...

Most people know Kent Rollins as the cowboy cook from YouTube. But long before the views and the cookbooks, he was feeding cowboys on the trail with little more than a chuck wagon and a well-seasoned iron skillet. Today, he has a hit show called Cast Iron Cowboy on the Outdoor Channel, a loyal following of millions, and a mission that has not changed: feeding hearty meals to hungry cowboys with fo...

Tyler Dickerhoof grew up on an Ohio dairy farm and spent 25 years building a massive business career. He also spent most of that time operating like a bulldozer. When things got hard, he simply put his head down and pushed. That works in the dirt, but it destroys relationships. In this episode, Tyler sits down with “Your Ag Empire” podcast host Jonathon Haralson to talk about the things leaders bu...

There is a farmer right now running on ibuprofen and sheer willpower. He has not seen a doctor because the nearest clinic is an hour away, and harvest does not stop. Farley Schweighart built a business for that exact person. After hitting the wall in a traditional physical therapy clinic, she walked away to start Rural Medex. It is a mobile, cash-pay practice that meets farmers, ranchers, and rode...

Brett Hicks spent 11 years building what looked like success from the outside: a poultry operation, a thriving real estate business serving poultry growers, and an active role in ministry. Then he walked away from all of it. Not because it failed, but because something else was calling. In this conversation, Brett talks about what it took to close one door before the next one opened, the lessons l...

Terren Moore's journey from accidentally signing up for an FFA class to building a successful insurance agency specializing in farm and ranch coverage proves that sometimes the best opportunities come from unexpected decisions. What started as an easy elective to graduate turned into a life-changing path through agriculture. Moore went from growing vegetables in his grandmother's backyard as a tee...

In this episode of “Your Ag Empire” podcast, host Jonathon Haralson sits down in Auckland, New Zealand, with Pete Debus, Director of PrincipleFocus based in New South Wales, Australia. Despite being an ocean away, Debus reveals Australian producers are facing the same volatility, succession struggles, and margin compression as their American counterparts. He shares his philosophy on moving from "r...

Fresh from the Empire Ag Elite Retreat in San Antonio, this episode features Jacob Little of Crop & Range Insurance delivering a masterclass on navigating the current landscape of government programs and risk management. Jacob cuts through the "alphabet soup" of the Farm Bill, offering a straight-shooting look at how changes to payment limits and entity structures can directly impact your bott...

In a surprise solo appearance, Empire Ag CFO Holly Haralson takes the mic for a candid Valentine’s Day conversation that has nothing to do with flowers or chocolates. Holly digs into the complicated relationship between producers and their operations, exploring how deep love for the land can sometimes blind us to the hard decisions necessary to save it. From navigating bankruptcy to facing tough s...

The agricultural economy is tightening, and the strain is revealing cracks in even the most established operations. In this candid, unscripted solo episode of “Your Ag Empire” podcast, Jonathon Haralson addresses the heavy realities facing producers right now—from Chapter 12 bankruptcies to the mental toll of financial instability. Haralson talks about the work Empire Ag is doing behind the scenes...

The financial landscape of agriculture is shifting, and for many producers, the bank is no longer a silent partner but a source of intense pressure. In this episode of “Your Ag Empire” podcast, host Jonathon Haralson sits down with Jordan Morris to discuss the reality of refinancing in a volatile market and the mental toll of banking relationships gone wrong. Morris shares his recent experience of...

Agriculture has a storytelling problem. We are often silent about our work, leaving the narrative open for others to write—and usually, they get it wrong. In this episode of “Your Ag Empire” podcast, host Jonathon Haralson sits down with Kirbe Schnoor, host of FarmHer and RanchHer, to bridge the gap between production agriculture and the public eye. Growing up on a California almond farm before mo...

American agriculture is suffering from a massive empathy gap, and it is time to stop pretending that "hard work" is the only variable for success. In this episode of “Your Ag Empire” podcast, Jonathon Haralson dismantles the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" narrative, arguing that it ignores the critical role of timing and inheritance. He contrasts the reality of sixth-generation farmers oper...

Most producers dread January because they attempt to compress a year’s worth of financial data into three weeks of chaos. This episode dismantles the traditional "shoebox of receipts" panic and replaces it with a structured, year-round workflow designed specifically for agricultural operations. Host Jonathon Haralson argues that effective tax preparation begins on January 2nd, the previous year, n...

Most producers can tell you exactly what fuel mixture their tractor needs or the precise ration for their herd, yet they run their own bodies on empty. In this episode of “Your Ag Empire” podcast, registered dietitian Sheri Glazier joins Brooke Taylor to dismantle the idea that nutrition requires perfection or a Whole Foods down the street. Known as the "Dirt Road Dietitian," Glazier understands w...

There is a distinct difference between owning land and running a business, and too many producers are blurring that line to their own detriment. Cassidy Johnston, a first-generation rancher and founder of JRC Ranch Management & Consulting, joins host Jonathon Haralson to dismantle the "this is how we’ve always done it" mindset that plagues the industry. In this episode of “Your Ag Empire” podc...

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but how you spend them determines if your operation grows or stalls. In this episode, host Jonathon Haralson breaks down the “1,000 Minute Rule,” a concept adapted from business heavyweights Ryan Serhant and Codie Sanchez. It challenges the traditional agricultural mindset that working harder is the only way to win. We look at how to stop trading your time f...

In this eye-opening conversation, estate attorney Kyle Post pulls back the curtain on the critical importance of succession planning for farm and ranch families. Drawing from years of experience helping agricultural operations navigate complex transitions, Post offers candid insights into why so many avoid estate planning, the risks of inaction, and practical steps families can take to protect the...

Not everyone upholding a legacy wears boots every day. Some manage from behind a laptop, two states away, ensuring the books are clean and the cattle fed. In this episode, Mary Kate Pedigo shares her non-traditional involvement in her family’s 120-year cattle operation, proving one does not have to be physically on the ranch to be an integral part of its legacy. Pedigo, a creative agency owner and...