” You have to bring value back to the family operation if you want it to be sustainable for future generations.” 

There’s something about growing up on a farm that pulls you back, even when you think you’ll never return. Maybe it’s the land, the family history, or just the way life feels simpler when you’re working with your hands. But for a lot of people, moving back home isn’t as easy as just packing up and showing up. The farm has to be able to support another family, and that’s where creativity, resilience, and a little business sense come in. 

That’s exactly what Lettie Nickell did when she found her way back to her family’s operation in Southwest Kansas. She didn’t just come home—she built something of her own to make it work.

 ”The story that we believe is vastly more impactful than facts.”   

There’s something about this time of year—the almost-spring season—that gets me excited. The cold days are numbered, the days are getting longer, and plans for the farm and family are starting to take shape. 

Between raising kids, running a business, and keeping things moving on the farm, life is full. And honestly? It’s a little chaotic. But in the best way. 

So, in the spirit of making life a little more fun and slowing down to enjoy the moments, I thought I’d do a top ten list of what’s on my mind right now. Consider this a peek into real life on the farm—what’s working, what’s not, and what’s making life a little sweeter. 

 ”The other thing that really just brings joy to me is the little moments of farm life. So whether that's just like checking cows on pasture in the summer, that's some of my favorite memories growing up. And just holding on to those things when the ag economy or other things seem a little heavy, then it's those little moments that I think really grounds a person and why a lot of us are in agriculture.”  

The world of agriculture has a way of shaping people. It teaches resilience, hard work, and the value of family. For those of us in farming and ranching, it’s more than just a business—it’s a way of life. That’s exactly the story of Hannah Klitz, the owner of Oak Barn Beef and founder of Rural Edge Marketing, who built a business from the ground up while navigating marriage, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. 

 ” So what we're doing is just teaching farmers, ranchers, anybody really, how to utilize money correctly so that we can make the bank plan B instead of plan A.” 

The reality of farming today is that it takes more than grit and hard work to keep an operation going. The numbers matter. The way we handle money matters. And, unfortunately, a lot of farmers and ranchers find themselves navigating uncertain financial waters when the banking system shifts. 

 “Just know that spring always follows winter. And sometimes that's the only thing we can hang on to.”  

Farmers and ranchers have one of the toughest jobs out there. You’re not just running a business—you’re growing food, raising families, and managing legacies that stretch back generations. But let's be honest, some days it feels like the weight of the world is sitting squarely on your shoulders. I get it. And that’s why I want to share the story of DL Lautenbach, a farmer who’s found a way to embrace the small victories and redefine what success looks like in agriculture. 

On a recent episode of the Farming on Purpose Podcast, DL joined me to talk about the challenges and triumphs of farming, family, and entrepreneurship. His perspective is both honest and inspiring, and I’m excited to share some of the wisdom he’s gained over the years. 

“I get to pass on a legacy of skills, just like my parents did for me, and just like their their family that taught them and I get to take it on to the next generation and I hope at the very least they'll teach their next generation.” 

Janelle Anderson grew up in rural Wisconsin, where her family raised animals as much for necessity as for the love of the lifestyle. Life was practical—they ate what they grew, and the lessons learned in the fields and barn stuck with her. But she never imagined how deeply those roots would shape her journey as an adult. 

“ I sometimes pinch myself. It's hard. Ranching isn't easy. It's not easy and I don't want to give that impression, but to get to do what you love so much and are so passionate about it…” 

On this episode of Farming on Purpose, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Laura Hicks, a remarkable rancher who, alongside her husband Mike, built their operation from scratch starting at just 19 years old. Their story is one of grit, faith, and family working together to create something lasting. 

“ So yeah the balance of the family and the business and the farming and all that, just trying to get more systematic and efficient so that we can balance it all.” 

Growing up on a farm shapes who you become. For Abby Bowser, it planted the seeds for a future she couldn't have predicted. Today, she and her husband Brooks run Bowser Family Farms, a regenerative cattle operation in Southern Michigan, where they've found their own path in agriculture. 

“I think the most important thing is focusing on what our priorities are, because those priorities give us a purpose even when goals become unattainable or the course shifts or something happens in life that changes our trajectory. If we know what our priorities are.  We can choose to focus on those every single day.” 

“And it's very important that you're thinking about what's best for the whole family and the whole ranch. Instead of just what's best for you or your individual family.” 

“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 family farm has a story worth telling. When I sat down with Ashlynn Jones, a third-generation cattle woman from Southeast Iowa, we talked about something that hits close to home for many of us - how to share our farming story with the world. 

“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. 

“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 on the Farming on Purpose podcast. 

Growing up with family farms in Nebraska and Illinois, Ashlee understood the value of agriculture from a young age. Her passion for helping farm families led her to specialize in farm succession planning. Now, she's dedicated to assisting farmers and ranchers in Kansas with this crucial process. 

“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 and farm transitions.

That's where Elaine Froese, known as Canada's Farm Whisperer, comes in. With over 30 years of experience coaching farm families, Elaine has a wealth of wisdom to share about building strong relationships and successful farm transitions.

“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 supplements and caring for livestock.

“I think it’s all just a balancing act and just trying to put a pencil to it. We do a lot of penciling because we’re new at this, we’re figuring it out. So what works for our neighbor may not work for us because they’re in a different situation than we are and that’s ok.”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jess Trask of Perigo Hay and Cattle. Jess shared about her experience on her family’s hay farm and why they decided to get involved in the cattle industry. Not having a background in cattle, Jess had quite the learning curve to figuring out how to manage their cattle operation. Jess also talked about the importance in learning and always being open to learn new things and adapt. Getting stuck in traditions or how things are always done can be dangerous for a farm or ranch’s success. Jess dropped an exclusive look into a new project they have in the works!

“I had to learn everything the hard way. I was going to the library all the time when I had time to do that. I’m listening to podcasts all the time. I’m trying to network with people like you and find people on social media and compare and just join all these groups where you can ask questions. That’s really how you get through it; you’ve got to find people who are willing to share their knowledge with you and that’ll save you some of the heartache.” 

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tiffany Baxter, owner of Backyard Butchery.  Tiffany talked about how she started her fully mobile butcher shop and some of the obstacles she had to overcome. Tiffany also shared what her farm operation looks like and her plans to expand the farm to hold more animals. Tiffany was very open about sharing what has and hasn’t worked for her, obstacles with Backyard Butchery as well as her own farm operation.   

“If we could come together, our community is not going to have to worry about what happens on the coast to not get us the food we need to sustain ourselves. Why do we have to look so far away for food when it’s right here in our backyard?”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Laurie Bruce, co-owner of Bruce's Bullseye Farms. Laurie and her husband are first-generation farmers and are working on expanding their farming operation. One way they are expanding is with Laurie’s commercial kitchen. Laurie shared how it started with her making sand plum jam and jelly for friends and family and grew to a commercial kitchen where Laurie makes all kinds of farm-to-table products. Laurie also talked about the value of being able to provide for yourself and your family with products from their farm, especially when remembering the food supply issues during COVID and the current prices of food.

“We really need more people outside of the community advocating, but we also need more people to say, ‘ Hey, your job is stressful. I could not do it. I could never do what you do, but I support you.’”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Meg West. Even though Meg did not grow up in the agriculture industry, it is her passion to advocate for those in agriculture. Meg explains why she loves the western lifestyle and why it is important for her to advocate for mental health resources and accessibility for people in the ag community. Meg started a campaign on social media using #AgLetsTalk to start the conversation about mental health and to help break the stigma that is associated with mental health.

“I would say trajectory is a keyword. When you pull back a slingshot or a bow and point it somewhere, it’s going to go wherever you point it. Where you’re aiming is where you’re going.”

In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Ashley Jackson. You might know Ashley as The Boot Babe on Instagram or TikTok. Ashley started The Boot Babe to be more inclusive for all types of women to share the experience of wearing cowboy boots. Ashley also shared how important it is to be involved in your community especially if you want to see change and the importance of being a leader.