“And at the end of the day, the best thing you can do is, as long as you have good intentions, is to put some piece of your story out there because I promise you somebody will find a connection.”  Every farm has a story worth telling, but finding the confidence to share it isn't always easy. In this episode, third-generation cattle woman Ashlynn Jones shares her journey of returning to the family farm and finding her voice as an ag advocate. From winter chores to family transitions, she shows...

“This is what I describe simple living as, it’s figuring out what you want to focus on and doing more of that while figuring out what you want to focus less on or there’s a distraction and eliminating those things.”  Creating a life that aligns with your values is important. That's why I was thrilled to chat with Ryan Mitchell on the Farming on Purpose podcast. Ryan's journey from city living to homesteading offers valuable insights for anyone dreaming of a simpler, more fulfilling life on...

“If you trust the process, the process will reward you back.”  As a sixth-generation cattle farmer in Southern Minnesota, Haley Ammann-Ekstrom knows a thing or two about juggling responsibilities. She farms alongside her husband and father, manages a cow-calf herd, and has recently ventured into selling beef directly to consumers. But what makes Haley's story truly inspiring is her passion for educating the younger generation about agriculture and her determination to keep her family's...

“What is so understood to you is not understood to the average person. And I know that sounds really silly as especially multiple generations. Like it's just. It's so ingrained in everything, that outside perspective, like you're missing it. And that's one of the things that I will say as coming in from a total outside perspective, what I didn't know, I realized somebody else didn't know too. So I had to figure out how to communicate it.”  As a farmer myself, I love sharing stories of other...

“This idea of how all the different sizes of farms co-exist in agriculture today is one of the biggest problems that we have the opportunity to solve.”  I often find myself thinking about the future of agriculture and where family farms fit into the bigger picture. With fewer small farms and more large operations, it's a topic that's close to my heart and crucial for our industry.  The Numbers Tell a Story  Let's look at some eye-opening facts:  In 2023, there were 1.9 million farms in the...

“If you don’t send it out, if you don’t publish it, it doesn’t happen. You can’t learn from it. You have to push “go” to learn from it.”  As a farmer's wife, mother, and business owner, I understand the challenges of juggling multiple responsibilities while trying to grow your farm or ranch. Marketing often falls to the bottom of our to-do lists, but it's crucial for our success. Today, I want to share some practical tips on how to make marketing a manageable part of your routine.  Why...

“I continuously am impressed with young producers and beginning producers alike of their determination and their resiliency. If they want to be a part of this industry and they want to live in rural America, and they want to find a way to help be on the farm, they have to come up with very innovative things.”  As a farmer and podcast host, I'm always eager to learn from experts in our field. Recently, I had the pleasure of catching up with my college friend Ben Brown, now an agricultural...

 “I think that a lot of landowners really want someone who's willing to learn and being very open and wanting to learn, being inquisitive, being curious.”  As a farmer or rancher, you know the importance of planning for the future. But when it comes to passing down your farm or ranch to the next generation, it can be a challenging and emotional process. That's why I invited Ashlee Westerhold, Director of the Office of Farm and Ranch Transition at Kansas State University, to share her insights...

“Having a spouse that you are on the same page with when it comes to growing your business makes a huge difference. If you guys are both running in the same direction for your dream, you get so much farther, so much faster versus if only one of you has that dream or if you are going in different directions with that dream.”  As I sit in my hammock on a beautiful day, surrounded by the sounds of our farm, I can't help but reflect on how far we've come. From our humble beginnings seven years...

As I sit here on my farm on August 7, 2024, I can't help but think about the challenges we're facing in agriculture. We've been hearing a lot of tough news lately, and it's got me thinking about how we can stay strong and keep our farms going, even when things look bleak.  First off, let's talk about what's happening. Big companies are laying off workers, cattle markets are down, and grain prices aren't looking great. Here are some of the numbers we're seeing:  Kinze is laying off 193 people...

“Buying the farm is probably the best not only personal but financial decision. Best decision for my family. It’s really opened up a quality of life that we wouldn't have had otherwise.”  Growing up on his family's dairy farm in Utah, Derek Penrod always knew he wanted to be a farmer. But with no clear path to take over the family operation, he had to forge his own way. Now, Derek runs a first-generation farm in Idaho, growing alfalfa and raising Scottish Highlander cattle.  In this week’s...

  “Legacy to me is the culture that you leave for your family so that the next generation has great stories to tell and is grateful for the opportunities they’ve been given. That’s what legacy means to me.”     As a farmer or rancher, you know that your work is more than just a job - it's a way of life that's deeply connected to family, legacy, and the land. But sometimes, the very things that make farming special can also create challenges, especially when it comes to family communication...

 “I think we have to figure out what makes sense for ourselves. And for the amount of effort that we're putting in are we going to reach our goals? Are we going to get there realistically on a timeframe that makes sense? And how does that impact other people in our lives? That can be a very challenging conversation to have with yourself, but I think it is one that is worth having.”    As farmers and ranchers, we're no strangers to hard work. But these days, many of us are finding ourselves...

 “I believe that farming and agriculture give us an incredible sense of purpose because we have a job to do and we show up to do it every day.”   In farming, family life and business often mix together. We're not just running farms – we're raising families and shaping futures. Today, I'm sharing my journey of balancing motherhood and running a business in agriculture.    The Motherhood Motivation  "What I mean when I say I have four kids" – this phrase I often use means more than just how...

“I think we just respect each other’s time and we know we both are trying our hardest and some days are better than others.”   Join us in this inspiring episode of Farming on Purpose with Sumiko and Harrison Mills. Sumiko and Harrison share about their background and how they got started on their ranch. They openly talk about the renovations they undertook themselves and what a long journey that was. They also share details about the opening of their Butcher Barn and some of the things...

“Learning to recognize the season you’re in is the first half of this and learning to live in the season you’re in is the second half.”  Join us in this midsummer episode of Farming on Purpose. In this solo episode I’m going to share some of The Lazy Genius principles that have helped me over the last few years. This lifestyle shift has helped me in more ways than one and I feel is pretty applicable to farm life, mom life, and being a business owner. Listen in as I go through some of the...

“I think it’s about figuring out what you’re doing already and finding a home for what you’re already doing.”  While some of the ideas presented in this episode may be different, it's important to recognize that in order for a business to be sustainable, it must also be profitable. This episode presents ideas to consider in food marketing that you may not have considered before.  Join us in this informative episode of Farming on Purpose with Ali Cox. Ali shares about her family’s history in...

“You have to believe in what you’re doing and everyone involved has to believe and agree.”  Join us in this powerful episode of Farming on Purpose with Harry Frederick. Harry shares about the journey to start their sheep operation in Kentucky. Sheep were not common in their area when they got started so there were some snags they had to iron out, but now they get to help out other sheep farmers with their knowledge and working dogs. Border Collies are utilized on the farm to help corral and...

“It’s the season of life we’re in right now and we’re making it work.”  Join us in this powerful episode of Farming on Purpose with Amanda. Amanda shares about her family’s operation and the cattle operation that her and her husband own and run. Amanda delves into the different avenues she has pursued not only for additional off-the-farm income, but to fulfill her own passions. Amanda offers great advice about finding your priorities and making sure what you’re doing aligns with those...

“Being authentic has really paid off for us. Not necessarily directly in our business, I don’t know that it’s affected our bottom line, maybe it has,... but people love to see people that they can relate to.”  Join us in this enjoyable episode of Farming on Purpose with Macey. Macey shares about owning a cow calf operation with her mom and sister and how the family dynamics changed as the business grew. Macey talks about the importance of having and building a supportive community that you...

“Anybody who is at all a part of agriculture, at all a part of direct-to-consumer knows that there is a lot of money that goes into this.”  Join us in this insightful episode of Farming on Purpose with Amanda. Amanda shares about finding her place on a multigenerational cow calf operation. Amanda opens up about what led her to start selling their beef directly to consumers. Amanda delves into how diversifying your operation can mean different things and reveals some realistic reasons for...

“I never saw this coming. I never saw the opportunity to come back full circle and continue that.”   Join us in this enjoyable episode of Farming on Purpose with Jess Perez. Jess shares about her family’s history being farmers, how her and her husband moved for his law career, and how Jess found her way back to agriculture. Jess opens up about running a cow/calf operation, getting into selling their beef direct to consumers, and some of the hurdles they’ve faced along the way. Jess also talks...

“I just have a passion for putting farm-fresh products on people’s tables.”   Join us in this informative episode of Farming on Purpose with Joseph Blakeslee. Taking us behind the scenes of his butcher shop, Bare Bone Butcheing as well as his farm, Blakeslee Acres. Joseph shares about how he knew he wanted to be a farmer from a young age, how he and his wife started their farm, and some of the things Joseph learned along the way. Joseph touches on a very important topic in agriculture, mental...

“Sick animals cost you a lot of money so keeping them healthy is the full goal.”   Join us in this informative episode of Farming on Purpose and learn more about KSX Performance with Kaitlyn Keller. Taking us behind the scenes of her business, Kaitlyn shares about her love for animals, helping people, and how that translates into her business and how she operates. Kaitlyn dives into her products and explains some of the benefits of them.  Listen in as we delve into the world of animal...