Episode Category: Progress in Agriculture
”We're trying to create awareness to critical issues in food production that are important to consumers.”
Farming and ranching come with a lot of responsibility—and even more moving parts. Most of us are juggling land, livestock, weather, business, and family, all at once. It’s a lot to carry, and there’s no one-size-fits-all path through it.
That’s why I appreciate conversations that invite reflection without judgment. Robby Sansom is someone whose story did just that. His perspective didn’t ask me to toss out what I know—it just gave me something new to think about.
He’s the CEO and co-founder of Force of Nature, a regeneratively sourced meat company out of Austin, Texas. He’s also a dad, a husband, and someone who understands that real change doesn’t come from blame—it comes from deeply caring about the land, the animals, and the people who feed the world.
From Big Business to Bison
Robby didn’t start out in agriculture full-time. He was raised in the Hill Country of Texas and spent his early years outdoors—hunting, fishing, and running through the greenbelts near Austin. He went the traditional route: business degrees, big job titles, and all the “right” moves. But somewhere along the way, chasing promotions and paychecks didn’t feel right anymore.
He made a big pivot—left the big corporate world and joined friends to build a meat-based snack company called Epic (yep, the protein bar people). That path eventually led him to co-found Force of Nature, where he works alongside producers to build a more regenerative food system.
And he does it while raising bison, regeneratively, on his own ranch called ROAM.
Why Regenerative Matters (and What It Actually Means)
Let’s get one thing clear: regenerative ag isn’t just a trend or a fancy buzzword. It’s a response to what’s been lost over the years—our soil, our water, and our way of life. Robby didn’t sugarcoat it. The current food system isn’t just broken for consumers—it’s wearing producers down too.
Regenerative ag is about mimicking nature, not fighting it. It means:
Keeping soil covered with plants
Letting animals move the way they would in nature
Using fewer chemicals and less tillage
Letting roots stay in the ground
Growing a wide variety of plants, not just one crop
Paying attention to your local context and conditions
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about moving in the right direction. Improving soil health. Letting water soak in. Building up the land instead of stripping it down.
And Robby made one point I can’t stop thinking about—healthy soil stores more water. Every 1% increase in soil carbon stores 20,000 more gallons of water per acre. That matters in a drought. That matters when storms hit. And it definitely matters when you’re trying to leave something better behind for your kids.
But What About the Farmers Already Doing Everything They Can?
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. It’s hard not to feel like folks talking about regenerative ag are pointing fingers at the rest of us. Like we’ve done something wrong.
But here’s the truth: farmers and ranchers aren’t the bad guys. We’re victims of a system that rewards debt, drives land prices up, and pays us less every year. Robby sees that. He made it real clear—regenerative ag isn’t about blaming producers. It’s about offering another option when the current one just isn’t working anymore.
Most farmers he knows didn’t jump into regenerative because it was trendy. They tried it because they were desperate. Because their old way wasn’t working. Because they couldn’t afford another year scraping by.
How Do You Start If You’re Barely Hanging On?
Robby offered some solid advice here: start slow. This isn’t an all-or-nothing deal. You don’t have to flip the whole farm overnight. You can start with a mindset shift, and one small change at a time. Cover your soil more. Cut back on inputs just a bit. Let your cattle stay in one spot a little less time.
And there’s help out there:
Noble Research Institute
Understanding Ag
Savory Institute
Rodale Institute
Local groups or even nearby producers walking the same road
You don’t have to figure it out alone. And you don’t have to spend a fortune. A lot of resources are free or low-cost. But the key is connecting with people who’ve done it—people who understand your region, your weather, and your crops or livestock.
What About the Money?
Let’s be real. We measure a lot by the bank account. And if you’re already stretching every dollar, the idea of a 7-year transition might feel impossible.
Robby gets that. And he’s not promising a get-rich-quick plan. But he does say there’s hope. A regenerative system might not double your profit right away. But it can reduce input costs. Improve yield over time. And create more revenue streams—especially when you grow more diverse crops or sell direct to consumers.
One thing that really stuck with me was how much damage comes from chasing higher yields while our soil gets worse and our debt goes up. Regenerative ag isn’t a miracle, but it can help stop the bleeding.
Reaching Consumers (Without Losing Your Mind)
Force of Nature works hard to educate consumers—not just sell to them. And they do a great job of telling the full story, from land to plate. But Robby was honest: a lot of consumers still don’t know what “regenerative” means. They just want food that’s good for their families, good for animals, and not full of chemicals.
As producers, that’s our opening. We don’t have to teach them soil science. We just have to tell our story. Share the values behind what we do. Let them see that the same care we put into feeding our families is the care we’re putting into feeding theirs.
And for those of us who don’t want to manage a website or ship orders every week? There are companies out there—like Force of Nature—who want to partner with us and help get that story and product to people who care.
You’re Not Alone
Whether you’re trying to figure out your next move on the farm, struggling to find your place in the food system, or just wanting a better way to raise your kids and run your business—you’re not alone.
This journey isn’t about doing everything perfect. It’s about doing what’s right for you, your land, and your legacy.
There’s no single right answer. But there is a better future, and it’s one we can build together—one choice, one season, and one connection at a time.
To connect with Robby or learn more about Force of Nature, check out their website, Instagram, and Twitter.
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About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:
I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.
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“ I think the biggest thing is just starting that conversation and thinking about it and like coming up with a plan that works for you and your family, and that's gonna look different for everybody based on how old your kids are, how much you trust your kids.”
On today’s episode of the Farming on Purpose Podcast, I had the chance to talk with someone who’s seen both sides of the farm accident conversation—Katie Hammock. She’s not just a dairy farmer’s wife and mom of a toddler, she’s also an ER nurse at a level one trauma center in Virginia, where she sees agricultural injuries more often than any of us would like to imagine.
” Every little boy wants to be a cowboy when he grows up and so I think that's kind of kinda where it started.”
I’ve met a lot of folks in agriculture over the years. Some inherited the family operation. Others married into it. But every once in a while, I talk with someone who’s building it all from scratch. That’s what today’s conversation is about: grit, goats, and growing a ranch when no one hands you the reins.
Zak Copeland is a first-generation rancher running cattle and a goat grazing business out in Idaho. And I’ve got to tell you—his story hit home for me.
” No matter what, if you don't care for your animal, no matter what size of farm, if you don't care for it, it's not gonna produce milk. And if they don't produce milk, then we're out of a job.”
Farming is in your blood. That early morning routine, the smell of silage, the way the cows know you by your boots. It's not something you do—it's something you live. And if you're raising kids at the same time, you know the line between "work" and "life" is pretty much nonexistent.
”I feel like it's my chance to tell my story because if I don't tell it, Netflix and Amazon and somebody else is gonna tell it for me. So it's my chance to tell the truth about how we do things here.”
Farming is more than a job—it’s a way of life. It’s early mornings, late nights, and everything in between. It’s raising kids in the middle of it all, teaching them lessons in hard work, responsibility, and the beauty of growing something from the ground up.
” That's why I always say things don't happen to you. They happen for you.”
Growing up in a farm family teaches you a lot—about hard work, responsibility, and what it means to build something that lasts. But it also shows you the struggles that can come with it—conflict, long hours, and the pressure to keep the family legacy alive.
” 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.
“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 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.
This week’s guest, John Sachse, is a Kansas-based mindset coach helping people to discover their full potential through fitness. Fitness is both mental and physical, and John talks us through how establishing a routine can help you make intentional choices for personal growth.
The first steps in creating a growth mindset for yourself are: establishing routines, visualizing goals, and reverse engineering your life. John is passionate about using routines and small goals to help you reach your overarching goal to reach your “why”.
In addition to working as a mindset coach, John is a husband, father, rancher, and Army National Guard officer.
Helping farm families communicate and resolve conflict
If there is one thing Elaine Froese is passionate about, it’s that conflict is not a bad thing. This week’s guest, Elaine Froese, is Canada’s Farm Whisperer. She spends her time coaching farm families through growth and transition, with an emphasis on understanding.
Elaine grew up as a farm kid, and fell in love with and married a seed farmer over 40 years ago. Together, she and her husband have had their fair share of growth and change on the farm. In this episode, she shared with us her knowledge on how to resolve and overcome challenges, not avoid them.
About our guest:
Elaine Froese, Canada's Farm Whisperer, is helping farm families in transition find harmony through understanding. Elaine farms a 5,000-acre seed farm in SW Manitoba Canada with her husband, son and daughter in-law, and 3 adorable grandchildren. She's on a mission to get clarity of expectations and certainty of timelines for better communication.
You can connect with Elaine on all social media @farmfamilycoach, or through her upcoming speaking events.
The beef industry is a complex and unknown process for most. On our first episode, guest Cassidy Johnston, breaks down the complexities of ranching beef cattle and how those ranchers are also environmental stewards.
At its core, ranching is a family task. Cassidy learned this first-hand as a first-generation rancher. She and her husband, and their three sons, now operate a cattle ranch in Colorado. Cassidy’s unique journey to ranching has given her the insight to communicate with the average consumer about how and where their food was produced.