”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. 

“ 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.” 

“Teaching classes and being able to plant the seed itself for other people to get excited for things that have been lost in our generation has also just been something that has brought  tons of happiness and joy.”  

City girl turned farmer Jessica Lewis shares how she built Back to Roots Farm in Thomasville, Georgia, starting with bottle baby goats and growing into a thriving business teaching homesteading skills. With her seven-year-old daughter already sharing her passion for farming, Jessica shows how starting small and being willing to pivot when markets change can lead to success in agriculture, even without prior experience. 

“My life does revolve around farming but I also think we have good boundaries where I’m not resentful of that.”  

Growing up on a farm, Heather Nienhueser always knew she wanted to marry a farmer. While some people couldn't wait to leave farm life behind, she put "must be a farmer" at the top of her list of requirements for a future spouse. Today, she's living that dream as a farm wife and mom in South Central Nebraska, where she balances raising three kids, running multiple businesses from home, and renovating an 1890s farmhouse. 

 “The opportunity is out there, you’re just going to have to do a better job than trying to compete with Walmart on price and volume.” 

When I first met DL on TikTok, we were chatting about bottle calves. But as I got to know his story, I knew there was so much more to share. His journey from running a 400-head operation to starting over with just five borrowed calf hutches speaks to the heart of what farming is really about - family, resilience, and finding your own path to success. 

“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 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 the land. 

“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. 

“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.” 

“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 ago with a few cows, goats, and chickens, we've grown into a thriving operation with crops, more livestock, and even a dairy cow (my pet project). 

“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 episode of the Farming on Purpose podcast, Derek shared his inspiring journey of becoming a self-made farmer while balancing family life and a full-time job.

“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 working even harder - both on and off the farm. Let's talk about this growing trend and what it means for our families and our futures in agriculture.

“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 they’ve learned along the way. Listen in as we talk about all thing's renovation and butchering.

“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 principles, share how I’ve implemented them into my life, and see if they might help you as well.