Wrapping up our month featuring beef producers, we speak to Michelle Patten of Patten Bookkeeping and Consulting. We spend some time getting to know Michelle and her family's background on a ranch in Montana. We then talk about her business and how getting an operation's financials in order can help prevent a lot of mental stress for generations to come. As we all know, lots of stress is the direct result from financial issues, so we spend some time on how being more intentional with your money ...
Jun 28, 2020•Season 1Ep. 44
A little change of pace today. Today is less of an interview and more of a discussion with friend of the show Trevor Williams. Trevor is creator and host of the Farm Traveler Podcast where he uses his background in Ag Education to bridge the gap between producers and consumers to understand how our food, fuel, and fiber is made. We talk about our podcasts: Our influences, what we've learned, what tools we utilize, what mistakes we've made, and where we go from here. A very cool episode for us to...
Jun 26, 2020•Season 1Ep. 43
Happy Father's Day everyone!! Today we stay in California and speak to Markie Hageman. Markie is a wonderful advocate for the beef industry through her social media and her freelance writing. She tells the story of how she grew up not involved in agriculture, but found her passion for it later in life. She talks about getting uncomfortable learning about the industry to help her understand. She has now started her own beef herd with some Hereford heifers so we know she is on the right start. Che...
Jun 21, 2020•Season 1Ep. 42
Mindset is the key to us living our lives. It controls everything. How we approach our lives directly reflects the results we get from it. Kiah Twisselman is a California ranch girl who has an incredible story of how changing her mindset helped her become the best version of herself. Over the past year, Kiah has lost over 120 lbs and parlayed that journey into a successful life coaching business. We talk about her journey, about how beef played an integral part in her journey, and how she is hel...
Jun 14, 2020•Season 1Ep. 41
Today we speak with Tyler Keckley, owner/operator of Southern Roots Ranch in Northwest Ohio. Tyler is a first generation cattleman who has an incredible journey to present day. We talk about the challenges of being a first generation rancher, along with the benefits. We also speak about balancing a ranch with an off ranch job, wife, kids, and various other obligations. Check Tyler and Southern Roots Ranch out on Facebook.
Jun 07, 2020•Season 1Ep. 40
Welcome to our own personal Beef Month. Today we kick off our special series on Beef with friend of the show Ryan Goodman. Ryan has worked all across the beef industry and is one of the most knowledgeable people out there. We speak to him today about the supply chain issues that are currently facing the beef industry. I believe this episode will put some of the worries around this issue at ease. We then focus the conversation to beef as a part of a healthy lifestyle and how Ryan uses beef, along...
May 31, 2020•Season 1Ep. 39
Happy Memorial Day. Part 4 of our Across the River series features University Of Illinois’ Josie Rudolfi. Josie is an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at U of I. Josie grew up on a farm in Iowa and she releases her family’s story to the work she is doing today. Josie has been instrumental in providing some leading data in regards to ag mental heath. While working in Wisconsin, she helped conduct a study of farmers where the results were very intrig...
May 24, 2020•Season 1Ep. 38
Part 3 of our "Across the River" Series. Today we speak with Kate Niemeier about her and her family's experience with suicide. A few years ago, Kate lost her brother to suicide. As hard as that was for Kate and her family, she decided to not be a victim and to begin to spread awareness. We talk to her in detail about her brother and how his death affected her. We then transition into what she is doing to raise mental awareness for the ag and rural population. Check her out at "Hope In The Hollow...
May 17, 2020•Season 1Ep. 37
Welcome to part 2 of our "Across the River" Series. Today we talk to Deanne Frieders. Deanne is a farm wife from Illinois who, out of her own curiosity and willingness to learn, began "This Farm Girl Cooks." It is a website and blog devoted to helping feed the farmers who feed the world. It began as a place to share recipes, but has evolved into a sort of lifestyle site devoted to farm wives and all women in agriculture. We talk about her journey through the creation of this business and how it ...
May 10, 2020•Season 1Ep. 36
Part 1 of our "Across the River" Series. Today we feature friend of the show Adrienne DeSutter. Adrienne is a farm wife and former counselor from Illinois who has become an outstanding advocate for mental health in agriculture. We talk about her background and how she felt compelled to begin working on mental health advocacy in ag. Check her Facebook page out at
May 03, 2020•Season 1Ep. 35
Chiropractic Medicine is often misunderstood and mischaracterized. Today, we talk to Ryan and Abbie Hewkin about their business and how Chiropractic medicine can be a useful tool in treating our overall health and well being. We talk about having a holistic approach to our health and learning about how all of our body is connected. We also speak about the accessibility of chiropractors in rural America and how that is a bit of an untapped resource. Check Ryan and Abbie out online at https://www....
May 01, 2020•Season 1Ep. 34
Part 2 of taking a deep dive into the world of dairy farming. Brittany Olson is a 5th generation dairy farmer from Wisconsin. We discuss her own journey with anxiety and how she has become an avid advocate for those struggling with their mental health. We talk about the pressures that come with dairy and the challenges with sharing our story.
Apr 26, 2020•Season 1Ep. 33
Dairy farming is a life like no other. Over the past several years, their industry has been through the ringer. Tara from the New Mexico Milkmaid does a wonderful of telling the story of dairy farmers across the country. We speak to her about her family's operation, her role as an enviornmental scientist, and the effect that COVID-19 has had on the industry. A great conversation with such an influential woman. Go check Tara out online at https://newmexicomilkmaid.com/
Apr 19, 2020•Season 1Ep. 32
For some of us American farmers, we believe that the challenges we face are unique to us in the States. The truth is, agriculture is a global community with all of us facing unique challenges. Today, we talk to Welsh farmer Will Evans about the stresses that are facing agriculture in the UK. Will is also host of the Rock & Roll Farming Podcast where he talks to folks in British Agriculture every week to highlight the unique characters involved. Go Check Will out online at http://www.rockandr...
Apr 12, 2020•Season 1Ep. 31
The Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) is a multidisciplinary collaboration of five leading research and health care institutions. This collaboration brings together unique and complimentary expertise to address existing and emerging occupational health and safety issues in agriculture. Megan Schossow is the Outreach Coordinator for UMASH. Today we talk about her life growing up in agriculture and how it has helped serve her in role at UMASH. Check out UMASH online at um...
Apr 06, 2020•Season 1Ep. 30
Suicide is an issue that is very hard for most to talk about. Susan Springer is doing all she can, along with her organization Suicide Prevention Corporation of Iowa County Wisconsin to help normalize this conversation. We talk about Susan's own experience with suicide and about how her ties to the agriculture community help bring her closer to farmers in her area. Go check out Susan and her organization at https://suicide-iowacountywi.org/
Mar 29, 2020•Season 1Ep. 29
Welcome to our first Bonus Episode. Today we chat with Charlotte Halverson and Linda Emmanuel from AgriSafe Network. AgriSafe was formed in 2003 by rural nurses who believed that together they could improve the health and safety of farmers and ranchers. Charlotte and Linda are both nurses who are involved with AgriSafe and today they talk with Jason about the effects of COVID-19 and its effects on the Ag community. Jason and Charlotte first discuss the virus and its origin, symptoms, and how peo...
Mar 26, 2020•Season 1Ep. 28
Amanda Radke has been a great influence on me for a lot of years. I began reading her Beef Daily Blog shortly after I graduated college and have been an avid follower ever since. She fulfills many obligations as a rancher, wife, mother, writer, and speaker from Mitchell, South Dakota. She is an incredible advocate for the beef industry and a mentor for folks like me trying to tell their story. We talk to her today about her writing on mental health and what sparked her to focus on these things i...
Mar 22, 2020•Season 1Ep. 27
Welcome to the 4th and final installment of our series on producers and influencers from Missouri. Today on the show we talk to Macey Hurst. Macey is a very active advocate for the beef industry, in particular Missouri Beef. She is an active producer owning Lady Livestock Company with her mother and sister. We talk about how cracking the "cowboy culture" is tough when it comes to talking about mental health in the cattle industry. Find Macey on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/macey.hurst/
Mar 15, 2020•Season 1Ep. 26
Today is our 3rd installment of our series featuring Missouri producers and influencers. We talk today to Kylie Epperson of Vandalia, Missouri. Kylie is one half of the voices behind the Midwest Farm Wives Podcast. We speak today to Kylie about her journey from what she thought was going to be a career as a school teacher to becoming a partner with her husband in their farm operation. We also talk about Kylie's (and her partner Whitney Larson's) work in bringing light to the perspective of the f...
Mar 08, 2020•Season 1Ep. 25
Today we continue our series featuring Missouri Producers and Influencers. Carey Portell makes her second appearance on the podcast. We talk about her journey into public speaking. How she overcame her naturally shy and introverted personality to become one of the more sought after public speakers in Missouri. We also talk about her overcoming her battle with prescription pain medicine after her multiple surgeries following her life changing car accident. Find Carey online at http://careyportell...
Mar 01, 2020•Season 1Ep. 24
Today we kick off our series highlighting Missouri agriculture producers and influencers. Caroline Sicht is a farm girl from Ashland, Missouri who has taken her love for telling others about life on her family farm and turned it into a business. Caroline runs TellYourFarmStory.com, a site where she is bridging the gap between producer and consumer. We talk about her journey from a college softball player to working as an advocate for the ag industry. Caroline has become a good friend of the show...
Feb 23, 2020•Season 1Ep. 23
Cynthia Martel is an extension agent with the Virginia Cooperative Extension who is taking her recent training to the farmers she serves. We talk to her about her different roles around the country from New England to the Midwest to finally settling in Virginia. One thing that is common is we are all facing struggles everywhere. You can connect with Cynthia at [email protected]. Stay tuned to the end of the show to find out an event where I will be speaking at the end of the month.
Feb 16, 2020•Season 1Ep. 22
Today we welcome Jessica Peters. Jessica is a dairy farmer from Pennsylvania who has been very outspoken in her awareness of mental health in agriculture. Jess speaks openly on her social media page about the stresses involved in ag. She has begun a google document called "Our Ag Secrets" where people can anonymously leave their issues in this document. Go check Jess out on line on her Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/seejessfarm/. To access Our Ag Secrets doc click here Check out her bl...
Feb 09, 2020•Season 1Ep. 21
Today on the show we have the pleasure of speaking to Jeff Ditzenberger. Jeff is a farmer from Wisconsin who has done some extraordinary work in helping to break the stigma surrounding mental health in ag. Jeff has battle with his mental health for a number of years now. After overcoming many issues, he has begun an outreach group to help others like him. To reach Jeff, find him on facebook or send an email to [email protected] (Apologies for the subpar audio quality. I had a bit of an issue i...
Feb 02, 2020•Season 1Ep. 20
Today on the show we have Michelle Jones. Michelle is a wife, a mother, and a farmer from Montana. Michelle has been very open online about her struggles with her anxiety and depression. She’s taken action to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in ag. She has a comprehensive resource page on her website that is devoted solely to mental health. Michelle is also very active in policy serving in both the Montana Grain Growers Association and on the National Association of Wheat Growers...
Jan 26, 2020•Season 1Ep. 19
Ben Gotschall is a dairy farmer from Nebraska. We discuss the different anxieties that come from farming full time vs splitting the time between a town job and the farm. We also speak about the stresses facing the dairy industry. Check out Ben at https://holtcreekjerseys.com.
Jan 19, 2020•Season 1Ep. 18
Today Jason speaks to Dave Pratt, CEO Emeritus of Ranch Management Consultants, the company that puts on the Ranching for Profit (RFP) schools. RFP helps its graduates find the breakthroughs that will improve the health and productivity of their ranches, the profitability of your business and the quality of their lives. Jason and Dave talks about the importance of asking why in ranching business. They speak about how the ranch operation should serve those who work and own it. That having a good ...
Jan 12, 2020•Season 1Ep. 17
Greetings everyone! Just a short solo episode this week discussing the importance of gratitude. A short conversation I had with a mom a few weeks ago sparked some serious introspect and thought about gratitude. Gratitude is one of the strongest feelings that one can feel throughout their day. It was gratitude that helped get me through a very stressful week!
Jan 05, 2020•Season 1Ep. 16
* Greetings!! We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas… we know we did!! We have a bit of a late Christmas present for you today! Jason speaks with Lesley Kelly on the show today. Lesley is a wife, mother, farmer, podcaster, blogger, and an advocate for the ag industry from Saskatchewan. Lesley is the co-founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation, a Canadian non profit organization who’s focus is on combatting the mental health crisis in agriculture. We talk to Lesley about her backgro...
Dec 30, 2019•Season 1Ep. 15
