Beyond The Crops - podcast cover

Beyond The Crops

Mary Pat Sass + Jena Ochsnerbeyondthecrops.buzzsprout.com

Jena & MP bring a unique perspective to the world of agriculture, offering a blend of humor, heart, and wisdom honed from their combined years on the farm. With a deep passion for their families, their farms, and the communities they call home, these two farmwives delve into the daily triumphs and tribulations that come from rural living.


They discuss everything from the latest advancements in agriculture and the art of balancing family with farm duties to the time-honored traditions and recipes that make life on the farm so special. Their stories will make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings, and inspire you to see the beauty in the ordinary moments of life.


"Beyond The Crops" is not just a podcast for farmers; it's for anyone who appreciates the enduring values of hard work, resilience, and the simple joys of living close to the land. Whether you're an urban dweller curious about rural life or a fellow farm enthusiast, you'll find something to love in the genuine and heartfelt conversations of Jena & MP. 

Subscribe today and be a part of their journey as they cultivate a deeper appreciation for the remarkable world of agriculture.


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Episodes

53. Mental Mindset As A Long Game- Mental Health Tools and Strategies

Today we are talking about how we work on our mental mindset, how it's a long game, and some of the different strategies we use to heal and maintain our mental health. This is especially timely going into a season where mental mindset has been a challenge for both of us in the past. Fried Ice Cream Bars recipe 5 Minute Journal Our Daily Bread Devotional - the quarterly option is FREE Connect with us outside of the podcast @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass @‌beyondthecrops_...

Apr 23, 202439 min

52. Permission to invest in YOU-Prioritizing Personal Growth When Saying Yes to You Feels Challenging

Kylie Epperson joins us this week as the first ever repeat guest on Beyond the Crops! The three of us are very passionate about encouraging women to find their roles and step into who YOU are meant to be on your farm, in your family, in life in general. We share all the ways we have invested in ourselves through retreats, online courses, etc. Whether it was for business or personal development, we all have gone to a retreat with something in mind and came away with so much more! We hope this epi...

Apr 15, 202450 min

51. Tillage For Dummies and Pre-Planting Encouragement

Join us as we welcome our husbands back to the podcast. Today we're learning more about different tillage types and why we do them in words WE can understand! We also leave you with some encouragement going into the busy planting season. Link to the heated lunchbox Josh uses. The “salty water” we couldn’t stop talking about is our favorite electrolytes from LMNT. We all drink at least 1 pack every single day. The boys beg for salty water, they love it too!! Use this link and get a free sample pa...

Apr 09, 202444 min

50. How Functional Medicine Healed Chronic Migraines and Lyme Disease

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, on this episode we’re starting a new series, Backroad Real Talk, where we explore more personal topics we care about. This week we’re sharing our experiences with functional medicine. Today Jena is sharing the health journey that she's been on and how she finally got my migraines under control after TWELVE years of suffering with them weekly if not daily. Connect with us outside of the podcast @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass @‌beyondthecrops_...

Apr 01, 202453 min

49. Planting Prep: How We're Physically and Mentally Preparing for the Most Important Pass of the Season.

Planting is the most important pass of the season. It’s the only time the farmer gets to play offense and what happens during planting has a direct impact on yield and profitability. It is a BIG deal and it puts our farmers (and us as wives) under a LOT of stress. Tune in to hear HOW and WHY we are diligently preparing for this important season. There is a lot to get ready on the farm, but there is also a lot we are doing to get our bodies and minds ready as well! Breville Touch Espresso Machine...

Mar 26, 202441 min

48. Celebrating National Ag Day, Daylight Savings Drama, + a Looming Tik Tok Ban

It’s not secret that Daylight Savings Time absolutely sucks. BUT did you know that there is scientific proof that this hour shift in time has detrimental effects on our mental and physical health and even causes deaths every year?! Tune in to hear the history behind DST and WHY it is time for the clock to run out on DST. Is the clock running out on TikTok too?! The US government is trying to force a sale of TikTok or ban it from US app stores impacting millions of people and the income of an ast...

Mar 19, 202428 min

47. Why We Don't Have Health Insurance: All About Christian Healthcare Ministries

We're excited to finally bring you a highly requested episode from Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), a faith-based healthcare cost-sharing ministry. CHM operates on the principle of Christians helping fellow Christians with their medical bills. They offer various programs tailored to different needs and budgets, providing an alternative to traditional health insurance. In this episode, we'll deep dive how CHM was a pivotal part of MP and Jena both stepping away from their full time off the ...

Mar 12, 202437 min

46. Dicamba, Online Land Auctions, and "Sustainable" Energy

Levi joined Jena for a new series we are bringing to the podcast called Farmer Hot Takes! Hear Jena and Levi’s HOT TAKES on dicamba, online land auctions, and “sustainable energy.” Remember that these are just our opinions on these topics and it’s ok if your opinion is different from ours! There is a lot happening in the world and Levi admits that it is easy to keep his head down and just focus on the actual land and everyday physical farming. We thought it would be fun to hash out a few of thes...

Mar 05, 202422 min

45. BEEF, It's What's For Dinner (Part 2)

We’ve been over all of the cuts of beef AND how to navigate a cut card. NOW it’s time to go over how to COOK all the different cuts of beef! Shop premium dry aged beef from Jena and Levi’s farm here: Double O Farms Use code BEYONDTHECROPS for a discount! Cheesesteak Style Sloppy Joes The Infamous Dry Ranch Mix - Double O Farms Connect with us outside of the podcast @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass @‌beyondthecrops_...

Feb 27, 202443 min

44. Re-thinking Nitrogen- How Microbes Could Change the Future of Ag

Today’s episode is brought to you by Pivot Bio. Visit Pivot Bio to get a limited time deal on Pivot Bio PROVEN 40 On-Seed, named one of TIME’s Best Inventions! If you’re intrigued be sure to check out some YouTube videos of how Pivot Bio PROVEN40 worked on Jena and Levi’s farm: How we increased yield AND applied less Nitrogen per acre The results are in - Did Pivot Bio prove itself? Growing corn in a drought and PROVING it with Pivot Bio Harvesting corn in a drought - did our crop PROVE itself?!...

Feb 20, 202441 min

43. Banks and Climate Change?!

Hot Takes in Ag - Banks combating climate change?? We’re diving into the Net Zero Banking Alliance today. We’ll go through what it is, what we learned from our research, and how it could impact agriculture in the future. Subscribe to Magnetic Ag here: Home Connect with us outside of the podcast @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass @‌beyondthecrops_...

Feb 13, 202421 min

42. BEEF: It's What's For Dinner

Join us as Jena shares her expertise on all things BEEF! You’ll leave this episode feeling hungry, but also more confident to have conversations with your custom butcher. Jena also shares knowledge of how to cook certain beef cuts. We hope you enjoy! Shop Double O Beef Here! Connect with us outside of the podcast @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass @‌beyondthecrops_...

Feb 06, 202444 min

41. Small Business- Where to Start?

Join us for an interview episode with Peggy Coffeen, the founder of UpLevel Dairy. Peggy is an entrepreneur who has started two successful businesses on her own. Today we dive deep into Peggy’s entrepreneurial journey and share tidbits for integrating your business into the life you want to be living. Shop Pri' CBD Here! YouTube video mentioned in the episode. Connect with us outside of the podcast @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass @‌beyondthecrops_...

Jan 30, 202432 min

40. Diversifying Your Operation

Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Crops! Today we’re talking diversification. Having multiple income streams can help farm economics in the long run and today we’re going to be discussing a bunch of ideas that came in from YOU, our listeners. You can find us on Instagram @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass

Jan 23, 202440 min

39. An Intentional 2024

In this episode, we re-cap the first half of the Farm Futures Business Summit and share some of the key takeaways. Jena shares some big life news! We end the episode with our intentions for 2024. Link to The Love Prescription You can find us on Instagram @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass...

Jan 16, 202443 min

38. Yearly Wrap Up with Everyone's Favorite Farm Husbands

As promised, we bring you the 2023 wrap up featuring everyone’s favorite farm husbands - Josh and Levi! Tune in to hear the final take on the 2023 growing season from the farmers themselves. Purchase your own 10 year crop journal from Grounded Journals here: 10 Year - CROP Farmer's Journal Register for Precision Planting’s Winter Conference here: Winter Conference OR here: Winter Conference ‌ ‌ You can find us on Instagram @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass...

Jan 09, 202449 min

37. Merry Christmas and The End of 2023

I know we promised you guys are wrapped episode this week, but Mary Pat and I have both been very busy as I'm sure all of you have been too in the craziness of getting ready for the holidays. We are taking this week off and just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas We really appreciate all the support you've given us. Our first real growing season of recording together. This has been a really fun outlet for Jenna and I to share things that we normally wouldn't share on our social med...

Dec 26, 20231 min

36. Trial Results Are IN!

We are students of our crops. Every year on our farms we try new things to see how they affect our bottom lines and decide what we’ll change for the future. On this episode we’re going through the results of some of our on-farm trials from the season. We catch up on the last week and where we’re at with our Christmas plans. Here’s a link to the love language quiz: The Love Language® Quiz Link to Hannah Dorn’s “where to print photos” blog post: Where should I print my photos? - hannahdorn.com Lin...

Dec 19, 202337 min

35. Harvest High's and Low's

We’ve finally decompressed from harvest and are ready to share our highs and lows, along with some lessons learned. We also catch up on what we’ve been up to since the end of harvest and entering into the holiday season. You can find us on Instagram @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass

Dec 12, 202341 min

34. Do Farmers Actually Retire?

Tune in for this interview episode with MP's Dad, semi-retired dairy farmer. They talk about his farming career, he shares some great advice, and there's lots of laughs along the way. We hope you enjoy! Shop for cheese at www.thecheeseryil.com You can find us on Instagram @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass

Dec 05, 202348 min

33. He Said, She Said: Q&A with Levi and Jena

Levi and Jena take over this episode and answer YOUR questions submitted on IG. Our conversation ranges from love languages, farm life, marriage, crop insurance, and more. We hope you enjoy this episode and are able to laugh along with us. MP will be back next week! Phew! You can find us on Instagram @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass

Nov 28, 202334 min

32. Simplify The Holiday Hustle

Simplify the holiday hustle by implementing a few of the tips we share on this episode. We dive into our family traditions and what makes the holidays special for us. We talk through some of our recommended gifts that won’t overwhelm or clutter your loved ones homes. Embracing Advent Book ‌ Shop Some of our Favorite Small Businesses: Gateway Farm Maple Products from a family farm in Vermont Papa Citrus Heirloom Navel Oranges (not open for orders yet but they will be soon!) Farm Kid Popcorn From ...

Nov 21, 202338 min

31. Deep Dive into the Enneagram with Rural America’s Enneagram Teacher, Terryn Dreiling ( Part 2)

A special episode with Terryn Dreiling, Rural America’s Enneagram Teacher. We dive deep into the Enneagram, the 9 types, and how it can be a useful tool in everyday life. Terryn is an amazing resource and has a lot of wisdom to share on this topic! Find Terryn online @terryn.drieling Listen to her Podcast: Good Movement Draws Good Movement Terryn also does 1:1 Coaching and Group Trainings. You can find more info on how to work with her here! Here’s a link to the Road Back to You book mentioned i...

Nov 14, 202335 min

30. Deep Dive into the Enneagram with Rural America’s Enneagram Teacher, Terryn Dreiling ( Part 1)

A special episode with Terryn Dreiling, Rural America’s Enneagram Teacher. We dive deep into the Enneagram, the 9 types, and how it can be a useful tool in everyday life. Terryn is an amazing resource and has a lot of wisdom to share on this topic! Find Terryn online @terryn.drieling Listen to her Podcast: Good Movement Draws Good Movement Terryn also does 1:1 Coaching and Group Trainings. You can find more info on how to work with her here! Here’s a link to the Road Back to You book mentioned i...

Nov 14, 202331 min

29: Now or Never: Reflecting on What Harvest Has Taught Us

Harvest is still rolling on the Sass farm and Jena’s family got sick right after their harvest wrapped up. Tune in to hear what we’ve learned as we reflect on what this season has taught us so far! Email jena@doubleofarms.com if you’re interested in the corporate/bulk beef box gifting options this holiday season! For individual orders check out shop.doubleofarms.com and use code BEYONDTHECROPS for a discount! You can find us on Instagram @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass...

Nov 07, 202339 min

28. He Said, She Said: Q&A with MP & Josh

MP & Josh take over this episode and answer YOUR questions submitted on IG. Our conversation ranges from working together, working with family, our life before kids, what we do for fun, and more. We hope you enjoy this episode and were able to laugh along with us. Jena will be back next week! Phew! You can find us on Instagram @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass

Oct 31, 202342 min

27: Running on Fumes + The Volatile Soybean Market

We’re running on fumes from Harvest 2023, both of us possibly hit some breaking points since we last talked. Sharing some updates from our lives plus some info on a recent article on the soybean market. We share our thoughts and reactions to it and how it impacts our operations. Shop for Cheese here when new orders launch. Sign up for email updates in the meantime. Shop Jena’s Double O Beef - don’t sleep on that fajita meat. You can find us on Instagram @‌jenaochsner and @‌marypat.sass...

Oct 24, 202333 min

25. National Farmers Day

National Farmers Day is celebrated each year on October 12th. Today we’ll be sharing some the history and some fascinating facts about farming, the backbone of America’s economy. National Farmers Day is not just a day to celebrate the hard work and dedication of America’s farmers, but also a day to acknowledge how far we have come in agriculture and how bright the future is for the next generation. From the food on our tables to the clothes on our backs, the contributions of farmers reach every ...

Oct 10, 202347 min

24. Talking Mental Health in Agriculture with Ashley Machado

Today we’re discussing the stigma surrounding mental health in rural areas and how it affects seeking help with our special guest for today, Ashley Machado, is a Counselor & Mental Health Consultant focusing on the Ag industry. Ashley shares practical tips and resources for folks in the Ag industry to cope with stress, anxiety, and more in this demanding profession. ‌ Be sure to check out her new podcast M Well the podcast with her husband Manny. Ashley is a great resource if you are looking...

Oct 03, 202351 min
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