Rural Life

Producers and Veterinarians Are Taking Back Agriculture’s Story Online

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:31:47 GMT

“In agriculture, if we don’t tell our story, someone else will, and they’re not telling it right,” says sixth-generation rancher Tucker Brown .

Most Americans have never set foot on a cattle operation, yet millions scroll past videos every day telling them how livestock are raised, what antibiotics do and whether beef belongs on their plate. Increasingly, that information isn’t coming from veterinarians or producers. It’s coming from influencers, activists and algorithm-fueled accounts that often get the facts wrong.

At the same time, consumer curiosity about animal welfare and food safety has never been higher. Nearly 70% of U.S. consumers say animal welfare is very important to their purchasing decisions. However, there exists a gap between what people think happens in cattle health and what is actually occurring on farms.

Meet the Experts: Real-Life Ranchers and Vets on Instagram

Ranchers Brown and Emma Coffman recently sat down at a Stockmanship and Stewardship event to discuss the importance of online advocacy, building trust and making an impact through educational content on social media.

Brown is a rancher at R.A. Brown ranch in Throckmorton, Texas. With nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram , he has been using his platform to educate, entertain and build trust with consumers for over seven years. Although admittedly, Brown’s purpose for posting shifted from his original intent.

“At first, it was just to help me sell more registered bulls,” he says. “But what ended up happening was there were more consumers watching my stuff than bull customers, and so, this trust was being built between consumers and myself and other ranchers.”

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A post shared by Tucker Brown (@tuckerbrownrab)

Coffman, the founder and owner of Double E Ranch Advocacy , is a first-generation agriculturalist. Her passion for public agricultural education began when she discovered just how much information was never communicated to consumers.

“When I started getting an interest in agriculture through 4-H and FFA, I had a lot of questions,” she says. “I realized there was a lot of what I thought was very simple, basic one-on-one information about how our food is grown and the labeling behind it that we weren’t talking about to consumers.”

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A post shared by Double E Ranch (@double_e_ranch_)

Both Brown and Coffman agree the people with mud on their boots and dirt on their hands from the farm should be the ones to answer consumer questions where their food comes from and how it’s grown.

Bovine veterinarian Dr. Erika Nagorske, who has amassed almost 17,000 followers on Instagram , takes a highly educational approach. She’ll often post about unique cases asking vet students for their diagnosis, following up with the answer a couple weeks later.

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A post shared by Dr. Erika Nagorske (@docnagorske)

“The reason why I keep doing it is the educational piece, especially for veterinary students. I love teaching vet students and I really like teaching producers who want the extra information,” Nagorske says. “Nobody wins if the vet doesn’t explain what they’re doing and what they’re thinking. It’s a teaching platform.”

Brown, Coffman and Nagorske view what they do as a way to increase public understanding of where their food comes from and the role of veterinarians in agriculture.

“In the ag space, it’s so hard. I think we always complain that nobody understands us,” Nagorske says. “I grew up in a city, fell in love with the industry, and I want to share it. If we don’t share it, we can’t complain that people don’t know.”

Getting Started: 4 Tips for Effective Ag Social Media

Are you thinking about sharing on social media? Coffman and Brown had the following recommendations:

Remember the why: Your goal should be in the front of your mind
Don’t worry about being polished: Being relatable is more important
Use your personality: People often connect with the human before the information
Keep it simple: Answer one question per post

“It’s really about trying to take complex subjects, bring it down to a baseline level and then build your advocacy off of that,” Coffman says. “And don’t be afraid to repeat yourself.”

In cattle production, there are a number of commonly asked questions. Coffman advises going back to these topics with varying approaches to get the message across. Further, there are a lot of everyday on-farm activities that consumers have never seen before. Above all, conveying the information in a way the audience will understand is most important.

Winning Trust: How to Handle Negative Comments Online

As with all social media, there is the potential for negative interactions. How you handle them can be very impactful.

“I always suggest that when you get a negative comment on what you’re sharing … to respond with facts rather than emotion,” Brown says. “It helps you look better, helps you be more relatable and more trustworthy to the 90% of watchers that will be silent.”

The goal isn’t to “win,” but to build trust, he says.

In the end, the public only sees what we share. Misinformation thrives in silence, not in the presence of experts. When agriculture professionals speak openly, transparently and compassionately on social media, the industry benefits.

“When we tell the truth, ranching wins,” Brown says. “That’s all you have to do. You don’t have to come up with a story. All you have to do is tell the truth.”

For these professionals, transparency means allowing the public to see the core values of their work, a view Nagorske summarizes by focusing on veterinarians’ dedication.

“I want them to take away the deep rooted passion that veterinarians have for animals. Even if it’s livestock. Even if the end goal is to consume them,” Nagorske says.

Pennsylvania Farmer Beefs Up Backpacks

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:40:19 GMT

When Amanda Butterfield first heard about a program turning donated beef into snack sticks for hungry kids, she didn’t just file it away as a good idea. She launched her own version — right in the middle of Pennsylvania cattle country.

The initiative, called Beefing Up Backpacks , takes scrap beef cuts donated by local producers, processes them into shelf-stable sticks and distributes them through weekend backpack programs run by schools and nonprofits. In its first production run in May, the team distributed 12,000 sticks. Their year-one goal: 72,000.

“We saw two broken parts of the food system — rural hunger and limited markets for beef — and realized we could strengthen both,” Butterfield says.

Making It Work in Pennsylvania

The project began in mid-2024 as an idea. By fall, Butterfield had helped launch the Pennsylvania Beef Foundation — a charitable arm of the Pennsylvania Beef Council — and secured a partnership with Stoltzfus Meats in Intercourse, Pa., which agreed to process the sticks at cost.

From there, things got real: They coordinated with vendors, wrestled with packaging delays tied to international supply chain issues and navigated labeling and logistics. The first shipment reached students in Towanda Area School District in May 2025, just as the school year ended.

“Not the ideal timing,” she admits. “But food is food — and every delivery counts.”

They’re now producing additional batches for summer and fall 2025, and they’re fielding requests from organizations statewide to expand. “We’ve got more demand than we can meet,” Butterfield says. “We’re still figuring out how to scale it responsibly.”

Filling a Protein Gap

Weekend backpack programs — largely run by churches, food banks and schools — have become a lifeline for food-insecure students. But they’re often short on protein.

Before partnering with Beefing Up Backpacks, the organization CHOP Out Hunger filled bags with mostly produce and shelf-stable carbs. Protein made up just 2% of contents.

“Providing protein-packed beef sticks ensures students receive the nutrition they deserve, even on weekends,” says Dani Ruhf, CHOP’s CEO.

In Towanda, 287 students receive weekly food bags, totaling more than 10,000 bags annually. But the estimated statewide need is staggering: To serve every eligible child, Pennsylvania would need to distribute 500,000 beef sticks per week.

Beefing Up Backpacks takes scrap beef cuts donated by local producers, processes them into shelf-stable sticks and distributes them through weekend backpack programs run by schools and nonprofits.

(Amanda Butterfield)

The Value of Local Protein

Beef was an intentional choice: It’s broadly acceptable across most faiths, has a long shelf life and offers complete protein that’s critical for brain development. But halal and kosher certifications are a barrier for now.

“Our core mission is to feed food-insecure children with the highest-impact option available,” Butterfield says. “Beef trim is accessible, versatile and nutritionally dense.”

Still, sourcing donated beef is no small task. Long-term sustainability hinges on consistent corporate and processor partners. While the program received startup support via a line item in the FY24–25 Ag Excellence Budget at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, future state funding remains uncertain.

“We’re proud to have industry-led groups stepping up,” says Nichole Hockenberry, executive director of the Pennsylvania Beef Foundation. “This effort is about feeding kids — but also showcasing the strength of PA agriculture.”

Barriers to Scale

Even with momentum on their side, Butterfield and her team are navigating familiar hurdles:

Funding. Most grants are short-term and branding-focused. What’s needed is year-round operating support.
Supply Chain Limits. Processing capacity is tight. Stoltzfus Meats is donating labor but might not be able to handle statewide demand.
Lack of Infrastructure. Unlike land-grant-backed programs in Colorado and New Mexico, Pennsylvania’s effort has no student interns, university processors or administrative staff. Every cost comes out of donations or industry support.
Data. There’s no central database of backpack programs. The team is building one from scratch using SNAP household data and on-the-ground outreach — largely coordinated by Butterfield’s daughter.

“We’re building this system while we run it,” Butterfield says.

Inspiration from Other States

While Pennsylvania’s model is unique in its producer-led design, Butterfield credits several other states with blazing the trail:

Colorado. With support from Colorado State University, Five Rivers and JBS, their program now distributes 20,000 sticks per week.
Oklahoma. Led by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the initiative combines beef and pork sticks and distributes 35,000 annually.
Wyoming. A grassroots program supported by local producers and nonprofits distributes 20,000 sticks per year.
New Mexico. Currently launching a pilot with help from New Mexico State University and beef producers.

“We’re in touch with many of these groups, and we’re building a blueprint that others can replicate,” Butterfield says.

A Farmer-Led Call to Action

Butterfield believes public-private partnerships are one of the best tools producers have to solve big problems — and to show the real value of agriculture.

“We’re not just raising cattle — we’re feeding communities,” she says. It’s time the world saw that.”

She encourages other producers to get involved — whether by donating beef trim, coordinating with local backpack programs or even just learning how these systems work.

“So many people, including pediatricians, don’t even know these backpack programs exist,” she says. “We’ve got to change that.”

No one expects a producer to go it alone. But Butterfield’s story shows what’s possible when farmers lead—and bring others to the table.

“This isn’t about feel-good charity. This is how we build local markets, feed kids, and make agriculture matter to more people,” she said.

Butterfield’s message to other farmers is simple: Get involved, however you can.

Donate trim. Call your local processor. Talk to your school district. Ask who’s running food access programs in your county. And if no one is—start the conversation.

“No action is too small when you’re feeding hungry kids,” Butterfield said. “This is how we show the true value of local agriculture—not just in pounds of beef, but in people fed.”

A replication blueprint is in the works. But for now, she and her team are happy to connect, share what they’ve learned, and help others build similar programs across the country.

“When farmers lead, people get fed—and communities get stronger. That’s the story we need to tell.”

Drovers Beef Biz: New Product and Business Announcements to Help Ranchers

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 19:23:50 GMT

Check out announcements about product and service announcements, including a new strategy and advocacy firm, trace mineral paste, cost savings calculator and virtual fencing company expansion.

New Agricultural Strategy and Advocacy Firm Launches

A new firm, Good & Associates , specializing in issues management, government affairs, strategic communications and industry relations for the agriculture sector has launched.

Firm owner, Chelsea Good, aims to bring her experience in federal and state policy, industry coalition building, law, and association leadership to a larger audience. Based in Leawood, Kan., Good & Associates serves clients throughout the U.S.

Good brings more than a dozen years of experience as vice president of government and industry affairs and legal at the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), where she served as a key voice for livestock auction markets and the cattle industry. She will continue to serve LMA as a client of the new firm.

Good & Associates will offer services including: issues and crisis management, government affairs and policy development, industry and stakeholder relations, strategic communications, and legal, governance, and business advisory support.

New Trace Mineral Paste Available to Support Beef Cattle Health and Performance

Cattle producers looking for ways to quickly to support immune function, recovery and overall animal well-being have a new delivery option in Zinpro ProFusion Paste . Similar to the ProFusion Drench, the paste improves trace mineral status within 48 hours and easily administered in cow-calf, stocker and feedlot operations, especially when cattle are prone to reduced feed and water intake.

According to a release, ProFusion Paste is a nutritional supplement designed to deliver a multi-day supply of essential trace minerals and nutrients to cattle during critical periods of stress such as weaning, shipping, receiving and vaccination. It’s also been shown to improve vaccine efficacy and AI pregnancy rates when used at CIDR placement.

Investment Calculator Helps Ranchers Understand Cost Savings for Restoring Rangeland and Pastures

A new Return on Investment Calculator to help ranchers and land managers visualize the long-term cost savings of restoring their rangeland has been introduced by Envu.

Ranchers can see how much money and time they can save by increasing forage availability, reducing grazing strain, and increasing production using innovative solutions like Rejuvra herbicide and Invora herbicide by using the calculator.

According to a company release, Rejuvra herbicide stops cheatgrass at the germination level and protects rangelands for up to four years so desirable forage can return. This increase in forage availability reduces grazing pressure on the land and improves the overall ecosystem. A single application of Invora herbicide can reduce the canopy cover of mesquite for 10 years and huisache for five years. Rejuvra herbicide can help reduce feed cost by $50 to $100 per head and reduce labor costs by $15 to $25 per head.

Virtual Fencing Tech Company Raises Capitol for U.S. Expansion and Productivity

Halter , a technology company increasing productivity on U.S. cattle ranches with its virtual fencing and animal management system , has raised $100M in a Series D fundraising round, valuing the company at $1 billion, according to a company release.

Halter was created in New Zealand and has 150 ranchers across 18 states using the system in the U.S. The capital will help thousands more ranchers increase productivity and deepen their enjoyment of ranching, in turn driving growth in the economy.

Beef Counts: Making a Difference

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:57:45 GMT

Cattle producers understand the nutritional value of beef and protein demand is at an all-time high. While consumers continue to buy beef at retail and through food service, another sector of the population is also in need of this valuable, nutrient dense protein — those dealing with food insecurity.

“Protein is always in demand, and it’s one of the things that is hard to get donated,” says Amy Luginbill, development manager with the Idaho Foodbank. “The Beef Counts program, really helps us ensure we’re able to provide quality beef, quality protein to folks across Idaho.”

Luginbill says 12.7% of the population in Idaho is affected by food insecurity.

Mobile distribution included beef, which is a much needed source of nutrients, along with donated produce, fruit, vegetables, yogurt and canned goods.

(Maggie Malson)

“On average we serve 211,000 people throughout the state each month,” she says.

Of the food distributed, 15% is protein.

“Protein is just an essential part of a well-rounded diet,” Luginbill adds. “The Beef Counts program helps us ensure protein is available and we’re meeting the nutrition needs to provide nourishment and food to folks who need it.”

Beef Counts was the first program of its kind and began in Idaho and Washington in 2010 as a rancher-led initiative to provide a more consistent supply of protein to those in need through the Idaho Foodbank. Partners in the collaboration include AgriBeef, the Idaho Cattle Association, the Idaho CattleWomen and the Idaho Beef Council. In Washington, ranchers partner with AgriBeef, the Washington Beef Council and 2nd Harvest. Donations to the program are used to purchase beef.

“The Beef Counts program has allowed us to provide 230,000 servings of beef throughout Idaho last year. This year, we’re on track to meet or exceed that,” Luginbill says.

In total since its inception, Beef Counts has provided more than 2.6 million servings of beef in Idaho and 1.4 million in Washington. And it’s donations from producers that make the difference.

John Hepton, of Hepton Livestock in Wilder, Idaho, has been involved with Beef Counts for five years. As a cattle feeder, he understands the importance of the product he and his customers work so hard to produce and has a mission to uniquely feed the world through beef. His company has always donated beef to local organizations where he has feeding entities. This year, they decided to make a bigger impact.

“We thought ‘What if we could provide 100 meals a day to the Idaho Food Bank that included beef?’. So, we got with the food bank, and they got with the Beef Council. Through the Beef Counts program, we do that every single day,” Hepton says.

Protein is a much needed source for food banks. Donations are matched and beef is provided by AgriBeef Co.

(Maggie Malson)

Hepton and additional industry partners, like Advantage Veterinary, are excited to have a way for everybody to be involved.

“They’re working in the heat, snow and rain, and they’re proud of what they do,” Hepton says. “They’re proud of how they take care of cattle. They’re proud of the beef they produce. They can all be a part of donating this great product that they put their heart and soul into, and help families in need in Idaho.”

Hepton encourages other ranchers and ag businesses to get involved with the program.

“We’ve had such fun doing it together as a group of cattle feeders,” he says. “We have some of the vendors we do business with and banking institutions donating to Beef Counts now. Our mission is to uniquely feed the world and encourage other people to do the same. We’re really involved in 4-H and FFA, and we want to spread that message as much as we can to use the product that we work so hard to produce to donate to hungry families.”

Overcoming Burnout in the Agriculture Industry

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:31:15 GMT

Burnout isn’t always about doing too much. Sometimes it’s about doing the wrong mix of work or carrying all of the mental load on top of the physical. That’s according to Kacee Bohle, who runs AgriMinds , a group coaching business for members of the agriculture industry.

“You can still have a full plate and feel fine, especially if you’re doing stuff that energizes you,” she says. “But what happens when every single part of your day feels like a chore, even the stuff that you used to love? That’s when you know stuff is starting to get off. You can feel burnt out, even when you love or loved the type of work that you do.”

For business owners, farmers, ranchers and ag professionals, Bohle says people often judge themselves for having negative thoughts about the work they have chosen to do in a field they love. There is pressure to carry on the family legacy and love every part of it, and to feel proud of the work.

“Burnout doesn’t care who you are,” she says. “Burnout doesn’t care who’s in charge. It shows up when you’re over extended, misaligned, and you’re trying to carry all the things all the time without any support,” she explains.

Sometimes the work isn’t optional. The gate needs fixed. The field work needs done. The livestock need fed. Bohle points out even when the tasks can’t change, the conversation can. Sometimes it’s not the physical work that is causing burnout, but the mindset surrounding the work.

“What I mean is I want you to start noticing what expectations, pressure or guilt that you’ve been piling on top of the already heavy stuff,” she explains. “Sometimes what’s extinguishing you isn’t the work, it’s the story that you’re telling yourself about the work.”

For example, it could look like thoughts that are similar to: I should be able to handle this. I shouldn’t be tired. I chose this. I don’t have time to feel burnt out. I just need to push through this. It’ll eventually go away.

As Bohle points out, pushing through only works so long.

“There’s only so much you can brush under the rug before it starts seeping out, bulging and tripping you up,” Bohle says. “Eventually, your energy runs out, and if your mindset isn’t giving you any grace or flexibility, everything is just going to continue to feel harder.”

Can you extinguish burnout? Start with what you can control.

An exercise to address burnout is to create two lists. Write down what gives you energy and what drains you, Bohle suggests.

Notice one item on this list that drains you that you can shift or do differently, she says. Then look at the list of things that gives you energy and intentionally add back in something that gives you energy — even if it’s for just five minutes.

“This is not about trying to fix everything,” she explains. “It’s not even about trying to fix stuff overnight. This exercise is just about noticing what’s going on beneath the surface, giving yourself permission to make some small shifts here. Control what you can control.”

Four mindset shifts to keep in mind:

You’re not lazy or failing.
You’re likely mentally, physically, and emotionally maxed out.
Focus on awareness and small, intentional changes.
Remember, the goal is not to fix everything overnight, but to start noticing and making small, manageable changes.

Your next read: Overcome the No. 1 Challenge in Passing Down Your Family Farm

Questions to Ask Yourself When it Comes to Evaluating Mental Well-Being

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:44:22 GMT

Avoiding self-judgment, recognizing individual differences, focusing on personal needs and being proactive about mental health management are important for the agriculture industry to continue making progress in addressing well being and health.

Ted Matthews, director of Minnesota Rural Mental Health , has been helping farmers and farm families for more than 30 years. As a recent guest on “AgriTalk,” Matthews shared that when it comes to mental health people need to realize everyone is different, their needs are different and how they take care of their mental health will look different. The importance is understanding what that looks like for each individual.

“Because we are all different, we have to look at how we handle things personally, and not what we should do based on what other people do,” Matthews says. “We need to focus on what our mind needs, and then, as a family member, what are the family members’ needs, not what they should be. I think that’s a huge part of understanding mental health.”

Matthews says a positive step is that people are starting to understand that mental health is a huge part of physical health too.

“People need to [realize] that how you take care of yourself is by being nice to yourself,” he says. “Don’t beat yourself up for all the things you do wrong. Make sure that, if you’re going to keep score, you also score the things that you do right and the positive things you do and are.”

Based on Matthews’ advice, here are some self-evaluating questions farmers and ranchers could ask:

Self-Awareness

Am I being too judgmental toward myself?
What do I need to feel better?
Am I comparing myself unfairly to others?

Stress Management

How am I handling stress?
Are my stress levels impacting my physical health?
What specific strategies help me manage my mental well-being?

Personal Needs

What are my unique mental health needs?
How do I take care of myself differently from others?
Am I acknowledging both my challenges and my strengths?

Emotional Check-In

Am I giving myself credit for what I do right?
How am I processing difficult emotions?
Am I being kind to myself?

Support and Communication

Do I have people I can talk to about my mental health?
Am I comfortable discussing my feelings?
Would talking to a professional help me?

Check out the rest of the conversation where Matthews shares about parenting adolescents during this time of growth and development, and what people can do to navigate social media that helps protect their mental health.

Your next read: Rural Minds: Breaking the Silence Around Mental Health in Agriculture

10 Tips to Make Work Less Stressful

Wed, 28 May 2025 15:51:59 GMT

Rural America is made up of hard working, strong individuals who take pride in raising food for themselves and the world. With that comes stress of managing a farm and family life. People in agriculture are not immune to mental health challenges, but may feel isolated or that they lack resources to find help, says Karen Funkenbusch, director of Missouri’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance program.

“That makes it especially important for people in rural communities to be aware of challenges friends, neighbors and acquaintances might experience in their everyday lives,” she says.

Sam Polly says he sees stressed-out farmers, ag industry professionals and colleagues through his work as a pesticide applicator training coordinator for University of Missouri Extension, but taking time to lend a listening ear or offer a kind word can make a difference.

During May, Mental Health Month, Polly and Funkenbusch offer 10 tips to lighten the load for others:

1. Encourage breaks. Set the example by taking a 15-minute walk occasionally. Ask a coworker to join you on a “walk-and-talk.”

2. Just say no. Set boundaries and accept that others have them also. Learn to say and accept “no.”

3. Check your judgment. “Offer a nonjudgmental listening ear,” says Polly. “Let them know they are not alone, and thank them for having the courage to face their challenges.”

4. Be the example. Encourage others to show kindness by setting an example. Lift others up by jotting a message on a sticky note and leaving it on a windshield, computer screen or mirror.

5. Accommodate. When possible, build flexibility into your work and home environment.

6. Give grace. Before your colleague even arrives at work, they may have already done a day’s work: getting kids to school, cooking breakfast, throwing in a load of laundry. They might have had to deal with forgotten homework or lunch money, a flat tire, an escaped pet. Before you add to their anxiety, pause and remember that employees are people whose days sometimes get off to a rough start. Ask yourself if their performance is helped or hurt by how you react, and give grace where you can, says Funkenbusch.

7. Put elephant on the menu. Step back and break tasks into manageable portions. Think about, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

8. Start the day with gratitude. When you see a coworker struggling, suggest that they write down three things they are grateful for each morning. Make it a morning habit to think of three things or people you are grateful for while you brush your teeth.

9. Seek awe every day. Take a walk and relish in the little things like icicles on the barn, the smell of freshly cut hay, spring flowers, fall color or the bawl of a newborn calf. Polly calls it “medicine for the mind.”

10. Use available resources. Find resources in the Mental Health Toolkit, from MU Extension and the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center, at http://muext.us/MentalHealthToolkit

Your Next Read: Join the Conversation Around Mental Health: You Just Might Save a Life

Mental Health and Ranching: Why You Should Dig Up the Family History Book

Fri, 23 May 2025 18:40:24 GMT

Mental health has gained a stronger foothold in agriculture in the past five years and as ranchers we need to continue giving the topic space in our conversations.

Lauren Van Ewyk and Bridgette Readel are two individuals setting an example for how to give the mental health topic more space and presence online and in-person through their podcast The Rural Well and the National Farmer Mental Health Alliance .

“I do see an elevated awareness yet recently I spoke to a group in North Dakota who told me I was the first to speak about rural mental health in their county,” Readel says.

At first, the topic might seem heavy or challenging to discuss but understanding the impacts of mental health, signs and methods of improvement all make the conversation easier to have.

What Impacts Mental Health
There are no limits on what impacts an individual’s mental health. From personal experiences, volatile markets and unpredictable weather to traumatic experiences from generations prior mental health can be impacted.

“It’s important to remember that the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem,” says Van Ewyk.

One influential factor that is often unrecognized is how our ancestors processed their experiences which could have resulted in transferred trauma or generational trauma. Many immigrants started farming in the U.S. in state of survival mode where every decision was based on how to keep their family alive. Constant survival mode can result in overused resilience which can cost relationships.

Van Ewyk says, “The reality of generational trauma is we are impacted whether we agree to be or not. This trauma is passed down through epigenetics and can be passed down four or five generations.”

Signs of trauma may be hidden or presented in ways we might not expect.

“Trauma has often been hidden by the acceptable and excessive use of alcohol, abuse and farm accidents that weren’t really accidents,” Readel says.

Trauma can be held, transferred or transformed but first needs to be normalized.

“66% of the American population has experienced trauma and that doesn’t include the homeless or those in the child welfare system,” Van Ewyk says. “The most important piece to remember about trauma is each experience can be valuable to our stories and how we help others. Recognizing this is a part of transforming trauma.”

Declining Mental Health Signs
The signs of strong or poor mental health vary from individual to individual but the three main categories to look at are big changes in emotion, behavioral changes and self-harm. Mental health first aid trainings are one way to learn how to look for these signs and gain confidence in addressing them.

It’s not just on spouses, friends and neighbors to look for these signs. Bridgette notes that trainings are being incorporated in both youth farm safety days and continuing education for supporting industries such as feed and seed dealers, ag lenders and rural clergy.

Van Ewyk also likes to bring awareness to alternative stories which are a person’s indirect way of sharing what’s bothering them.

She says, “A farmer might share with me that he is stressed about the weather, the crop is below average, his wife is sick and the markets are all over the place. The alternative story is that his wife is sick and that’s what I ask about.”

Having the ability to pick up on alternative stories can be helpful to both you and the other individual.

Having the Mental Health Conversation
When we care about someone, it can add an extra weight leading up to a conversation, especially if we are concerned about saying the wrong thing. Van Ewyk and Readel encourage others to consider location, curiosity and validation before starting the conversation.

Readel says, “I like to make sure I am in a location where they are comfortable. This might be a barn, pasture or buddy seat.”

A little added comfort can add ease to the conversation.

Curiosity helps us ask the right questions, which are open-ended questions that can’t be answered with yes, no or fine.

Examples can include:
Tell me about….
Help me understand more about….

Validation helps the other individual feel seen and heard and is the missing link in many of these conversations, Van Ewyk says.

“It isn’t necessarily agreeing with the other person, but it is acknowledging what they are sharing and feeling,” she adds. “It is a mutual respect for each other even if you see things differently.”

Authentic resilience requires the willingness to share in one another’s struggles.

“We can’t heal it if we don’t feel it, which means it is ok to sit with our hard emotions, and share with others who also have had to do hard things in life,” Readel explains. “The real goal is to not stay there, but to grow, to learn from others and find the support and plan that allows you to thrive again!”

How to Improve Mental Health
Improving mental health, like the signs varies from person to person and farmers can improve right from the farm if they want.

“Farmers are fixers by nature. Once we have the tools, we fix it,” Van Ewyk says.

When she works with her clients, she finds that many of them only require a couple of sessions to address what’s going on and find the right tools to help them fix the problem.

These tools and processes can look like decreasing stress through farm-related activities, creating boundaries with family and friends, working on where and how to have business conversations versus family conversations and connecting with others who are or have gone through similar struggles.

If you want to help others who you notice are struggling remember to listen and sit in silence even if it is uncomfortable. In many cases, a listening and nonjudgemental ear helps more than we realize. If you yourself are struggling, there are people in and outside of the ag industry willing to listen and help you thrive again.

Resources
Agri-stress helpline – 833-897-2474
National Farmers’ Mental Health Alliance
The Angel Network

Listen to the full conversation here .

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Op-Ed: Secretary Rollins Announces Policy Proposals to Enhance Support for Family Farmers

Mon, 19 May 2025 15:11:37 GMT

Small family farms are the backbone of our nation. Throughout our history, they have secured the promise of liberty made by our Founders. And they are the indispensable foundation of democratic civics and republican virtues. As Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Madison in 1785, “small landholders are the most precious part of a state.”

Today, with my friend Governor Jim Pillen, we kicked off the Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative at Ohnoutka Family Farm in eastern Nebraska. This new policy initiative at USDA will address a series of issues within food, agriculture, and rural America but will specifically focus on challenges faced by small family farms.

We know these challenges, such as labor costs and availability, are not easy ones to address. But we are committed to focusing on the needs of Americans who operate small farms because of their patriotism and commitment to their land.

USDA Steps Up to Address Obstacles
During my time as Secretary of Agriculture, I’ve met with family farmers who have faced too many obstacles as they work to maintain or start new operations.

For example, many small farms lack reliable access to capital. At USDA, we are reforming the Farm Service Agency loan program to streamline delivery and increase program efficiency.

The acquisition of land for new farmers has also become increasingly difficult amid high costs and real estate development. That’s why we’re using prioritization points and regulatory action to disincentivize the use of federal funding for solar panels to be used on productive farmland. And we’re expanding permitting of unused or underused federal land for long-term leases to small farms and streamlining the federal land leasing process so the program works better for farmers and adjacent landowners.

We are also aware many new farmers lack access to infrastructure such as cold storage and processing facilities. To address this disparity, we are working to provide state-level grants for infrastructure tied to the needs of new farmers. And by the end of the year, we will ensure applications for every farmer-focused program are available for electronic submission.

And finally, we are working with governors and state legislators around the country to find solutions to the challenges small farms face. We recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to find areas of collaboration between USDA and the states, which are the laboratories of democracy.

State and Federal Governments Must Work Together
Earlier this month, we hosted a roundtable at USDA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., with small-farm operators from around the country. We had the privilege of welcoming hog farmers from Ohio, third-generation local producers from Virginia, first-generation dairy farmers from Mississippi, Amish and Mennonite farmers from Pennsylvania, and many others who have devoted much of their lives to the land and their customers.

The Founders did not chart the path of our nation so USDA bureaucrats in Washington can look over the shoulders of law-abiding American citizens.

As I was reminded by the witness of those who visited USDA, the Department of Agriculture was founded so every farming mother and father can raise their children, work their land, and spend time with their families and their God.

This is the mission of USDA, and now, under the leadership of President Trump, is the time to return to the fundamental work that will restore rural prosperity in forgotten communities across the nation.

Based on feedback from the hundreds of small family farmers I have met and talked to over the last 90 days, USDA is now making tangible changes to our policies to ensure family farmers can continue to work their land and new farmers can take on this way of life without obstruction.

While USDA has many programs to assist farmers, we know it takes government entities, non-profits, and the private sector focusing their efforts together to improve the viability and longevity of small family farms.

We were honored to announce this new policy initiative in Nebraska today. The existence and work of small farms are too central to our nation’s history, cultural heritage, and food supply to allow them to slowly disappear from our landscape. To steer clear of a problem that every American wants to avoid, it is imperative that federal and state governments provide proactive intervention so these small operations can preserve their inheritance for generations to come.

Good Communication Key to Family Business Success

Mon, 12 May 2025 13:42:57 GMT

Most people in agriculture have a “sorting pen” story or have seen a meme about working cattle with family and the challenges it can bring. However, these scenarios also offer opportunities to grow.

When a person or a family recognizes the way they’re doing things isn’t working and want to make changes in how they communicate or deal with emotions, it starts with acknowledging the issue.

“If you know things aren’t going how you would like them to go or you want them to go differently, the first step is awareness,” says Terryn Drieling, a Nebraska rancher who shares about the importance of mental health awareness in agriculture through her website , podcast and social media .

The next step is reflecting on conversations that you’re a part of and how you actually feel.

“Your body is really smart, and it remembers a lot of things that your brain doesn’t, and so it there’s sensations in your body that will clue you into what’s going on,” she explains. “So just double down on that awareness. Then ask honest questions.”

Drieling defines an honest question as one you don’t know the answer to yet.

“An honest question can be yes or no, but if you ask an open-ended honest question, you’re going to get more information to help you move forward,” she explains. “Honest questions don’t just apply to you asking them of other people, they also apply to yourself.”

A related ranching scenario could include one generation owns the ranch and the second has gone to school, is ready to come back and implement new ideas.

“Mom and Dad maybe aren’t excited about it, but if both parties are asking honest questions about the different ideas, they’re going to learn so much about why mom and dad don’t want to implement something new,” Drieling explains. “Maybe it’ll make a lot of sense to the kids coming back, or mom and dad will learn that more about this new idea and decide to try it.”

Honest questions allow both parties to hear their own answers.

“You have to hear your own answer and we receive what comes out of our mouth better than if someone would tell us the same thing,” Drieling says. “That can also be helpful. You learn something from yourself and others in the process of asking honest questions.”

If the sorting pen has gotten stressful, asking honest questions later can help create better outcomes the next time, she adds.

What could we do differently next time to prevent that from happening?
How did you envision that going or what was the outcome that you were hoping for in that situation?
What expectations do we want to have for this project in the future?

“It’s really important to make sure that you take a deep breath before you ask an honest question, especially after a stressful situation, and that you yourself are regulated and not angry,” she says. “It’s also okay to say I am genuinely curious, and I want our experience next time to be better, and that’s why I’m asking these questions. And honestly, sometimes people are so not used to having curious, honest questions asked that it’ll take them off guard and they’ll be a little bit defensive.”

Drieling suggests people start asking honest questions when the stakes are low. For example, if you’re driving through the cows together, take the time to get curious.

Some honest questions include: How did you get into this? What made you want to do this? Where did you learn all that you learned about it?

“Ask those questions ahead of time, so they’re used to you asking questions before you need to use them in the heat of the moment,” she adds.

At the core, humans want to be seen, known and heard, and that their experience is validated. The first thing Drieling wants people to understand about validation is what it isn’t.

“I think sometimes there’s this misconception that if you validate someone and their feelings and see them and recognize what they’re feeling or what they’re going through, that you agree with them. And that is absolutely not true,” she explains. “You can validate someone and completely 100% disagree with what they’re feeling or how they’re behaving. That’s not what validation is. Validation is just a recognition of what is happening with the other person.”

Drieling uses the analogy of working with mama cows during calving season. If you have one that has its head up, and it’s very watchy, that cow is being protective and showing how they feel about getting too close.

“Validation is seeing that cow and taking a step back and letting her know, ‘I see you,’” she says. “I see you don’t want me to come any closer, so I’m going to take a step back. You know you’re not going to hurt her calf, but she doesn’t know that, so you don’t maybe agree with how she’s acting, but you see it, and you’re letting her know you see it.”

Validation is seeing and hearing someone else’s side of the story, but you don’t have to fix it.

“An important piece of being able to validate others is being able to validate ourselves in what we’re feeling,” she adds. “If you’re having a hard time validating other people, maybe look back and start with yourself. Oh, I’m feeling angry. I can see that I am feeling that way, and it’s okay. You don’t even have to agree with yourself about what you’re angry about.”

Another concern Drieling has about those in agriculture is the competition of how hard people work and how many days they don’t take off.

“That’s not good in the long term. That’s not sustainable,” she says.

Just like regularly changing the oil in a truck or tractor helps it runs well and the engine doesn’t lock up, Drieling says regular maintenance is important for humans.

“Maybe nothing major is going on right now, but you can still check in and talk to someone,” she says. “I think sometimes we are so used to separating everything out that we don’t realize that everything works together as far as mental, emotional and physical health.”

Your next read: How Focusing on Good Movement Draws Good Movement In Both Cattle and People

How Focusing on Good Movement Draws Good Movement In Both Cattle and People

Thu, 08 May 2025 13:46:58 GMT

The path to mental health and emotional well-being started for Nebraska rancher Terryn Drieling in 2016 while moving cows. After she opened the gate and asked the first couple pairs to move through and they did, she sat horseback on top of the hill and watched as the rest of the cows picked up their calves and headed off in the direction of the fresh pasture.

“I was reflecting on the phrase, ‘good movement draws good movement’ because I was witnessing it,” says Drieling, who learned the concept during stockmanship schools in college. “Good movement is when we are aware of ourselves and aware of our cattle, and we communicate accordingly. It’s low stress for them and low stress for us. It’s good movement, and it draws good movement.”

Drieling, who grew up on a small feedyard, and her husband, Tom, live and work on a western Nebraska ranch with their three young children. She realized good movement applies to people too. As she reflects on the last decade, events in her life challenged her to make some changes and she’s passionate about helping others in agriculture understand the importance of emotional health.

During the pandemic, one of the ranch’s herdsman was unable to work, then quit.

“It was me and my husband taking care of two full herds of cows by ourselves with the help of a day worker,” Drieling says. “That was a lot. I look back at pictures of myself during that time, and I’m like, ‘how did I keep going?’”

After finally hiring another full-time herdsman, Drieling says that’s when the anxiety and stress hit her.

“It was really a protection, a fight or flight thing, that I was going through for several months of 2020 and when I finally had some safety, that’s when it all hit, and I realized, ‘Oh, I am not okay.’ I started diving more into inner work,” she says.

Then in 2023, Drieling’s dad passed away unexpectedly.

“My dad passing away so suddenly, and me being thrust into the deep end of healing is really what pushed me the rest of the way into sharing these ideas and shedding light on mental health and emotional well-being in agriculture,” Drieling says.

Through analogies from farming and ranching, Drieling shares examples of how the concept of drawing good movement applies to both animals and humans through her website and social media .

“What happens when you’re escalated with your cattle and how do they respond? I can relate that back to how people respond when we’re escalated. It’s similar to how cattle respond; they don’t want to be around you, or they get fighty,” Drieling says.

When it comes to better understanding ourselves and others, there are two things Drieling feels really strongly about.

“The first thing is, by not recognizing and acknowledging and using our emotions the way that they’re meant to be used, and shoving them down and getting back on that buckskin and powering through, we are literally killing ourselves,” she says. “The suicide rate in agriculture is high and as scary as it is to learn how to experience our emotions, because for so long, we’ve been taught to shove them down and power through, it’s scarier to me the rate at which we’re dying by suicide and/or being diagnosed with chronic illness.”

The importance of health hits close to home for Drieling as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024.

“While I can’t prove it, I do believe that my tendency to shove down anger and emotions for all of my life provided the fertile soil for that cancer to grow in,” she says. “Emotions don’t go away when we don’t address them, and so it’s important for us to acknowledge them. Emotions are messengers. They’re meant to help us along the way. If we can acknowledge them, feel them, then use them how they’re meant to be used, we’re going to be so much farther ahead with our actual health.”

Secondly, Drieling sees a lot of chatter online about young people not wanting to come back to the farm or ranch and blaming the younger generation for not wanting to work or complaining they don’t have work ethic.

“From my observation, it’s not a lack of want to work or work ethic. It’s the lack of wanting to enter into that environment,” she says. “The question I think we need to ask ourselves is what has happened that’s making young people not want to come back to agriculture or come back to the family farms and ranches, then really do a gut check. If we’re honest with ourselves, I think it is the lack of emotional intelligence and how we communicate and treat each other. It’s important because it’s good for our physical health. And it’s important because if we want our relationships on our farms and ranches to sustain, we need to have that emotional intelligence.”

Focusing on good movement and self-awareness has helped Drieling and her husband communicate better with each other.

One of the most frequently asked questions she gets is, “how do I get my dad, husband, wife...on board with this?” and her answer is always, “you can’t do it for them.”

“If you want them to get on board with it, you have to start with you and your own work,” Drieling says. “Good movement draws good movement. If you want things to be different within a relationship, the best place to start is with yourself.”

Your next read: Be A Good Neighbor: Check In and Watch for Signs of Stress

Criminal Charges Dropped Against South Dakota Ranching Couple

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 17:21:20 GMT

On April 28, the Trump Administration announced criminal charges against Charles and Heather Maude were being dropped. The South Dakota ranching couple was preparing for trial over a land dispute with the U.S. Forest Service.

The husband and wife duo, who were charged individually with criminal trespass, have a small cattle and hog operation with land adjacent to the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. The ranch land has been in the family since the 1910s.

“The Maudes are not criminals. They have worked their land since the early 1900s and something that should have been a minor civil land dispute that was over and done with quickly turned into an overzealous criminal prosecution on a hardworking family that was close to losing their home, children and livelihood. Not in this America, not under President Trump,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in a statement released by USDA.

(X.com)

Attorney General Pamela Bondi echoed those thoughts: “The prior administration’s misguided agenda must be reversed in order to make America safe again. This Department of Justice will spend our resources and efforts on prosecuting criminals, getting drugs off the streets, and identifying and dismantling the weaponization.”

Additional news about civil charges is pending.

For several months, news of the couple’s case has circulated on social media and garnered national attention with concerns of government overreach. During that time, cattlemen’s groups and legislators urged those in Washington, D.C., to reconsider the facts and come to a reasonable solution.

“No family farmer or rancher should have to go through what the Maude family did,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman, in a joint statement from NCBA and the Public Lands Council. “The targeted prosecution of the Maude family was way out of line for the U.S. Forest Service, and this was a clear example of government overreach that had direct, catastrophic impacts for a hardworking fifth-generation ranching family.”

PLC president and Colorado rancher Tim Canterbury says it’s important for permittees and the agencies to work together to come to a resolution when issues like these arise.

“As permittees, we are required to work collaboratively with the government, but when federal agencies view ranchers as the enemy, it threatens the trust that every single rancher has in their federal partners,” Canterbury shared. “The public outcry we saw on behalf of the Maudes goes to show that public lands ranchers everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief that the USDA under Secretary Rollins is no longer trying to slap handcuffs on hardworking farmers and ranchers.”

For the Maude’s work on the ranch continued has usual with the couple tending to their cow herd, pigs and two children.

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Grit, Grease, and Gears: Meet the Colorado Teen Breathing New Life into Old Tractors

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:58:17 GMT

Colorado teenager Tyson Hansen is a shining example of that old saying “If you start them young…”

That’s because Hansen, 17, has cultivated a rare passion for buying and restoring classic tractors. It is a passion passed down from his great grandfather, who started the Hansen family farm and pieced together a massive tractor fleet over the years.

“He had over 200-some tractors, mostly two-cylinder, and when he passed, they had the big auction and my dad bought one to remember him by, and well now it’s our family tractor,” Hansen remembers. “My dad still talks about the first day he let me drive it, and he always says since that first ride, I was just hooked.”

The tractor that launched his lifelong love for tractors - the 1934 John Deere GP in all its glory.

(Photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions)

That first taste of classic tractor heaven was on the hardened steel green seat of a 1934 John Deere GP, a popular two-plow row crop setup John Deere built and sold from 1928 to 1935.

The high school junior says he’s wrenched on about 16 to 17 classic tractors at this point, all while participating in his high school FFA program and wrestling for the varsity team. And it’s not a hobby he tackles alone in a dusty, dark barn – his dad, stepmom, and brother all pitch in and help out. Because everyone knows nothing brings a family closer than bonding over busted knuckles and stripped chassis bolts.

Tyson says his family is “pretty much a John Deere family” but that he has started to feel the pull from other legacy brands.

“I started out as a John Deere guy, but I don’t even actually own any John Deeres,” he says, adding that right now his personal collection consists of two classic Case IH tractors and two Farmalls.

That doesn’t mean a young man can’t dream big, though, and Tyson’s big dream restoration project is to someday fix up a John Deere Model R.

He purchased his latest tractor, a Case 400 Super Diesel Western Special Edition with a hand clutch – one of only eight ever built, he says – with the goal of fixing it up and flipping it to raise enough cash to make that dream a reality.

“Once I got that tractor I went online and looked up some Facebook groups where the guys are all about Case, and I didn’t know anything about them at the time, so I just started asking guys for help and next thing I know within an hour I had about seven or eight texts from guys asking to buy that thing off me,” he says. “That’s when I realized that 400 is a little rarer than I figured it would have been.”

His Case 400 is also going to end up helping his fellow students in the FFA program. Tyson’s FFA teacher has asked him to bring the 400 in and is going to let the young man lead his classmates through a lesson on how diesel engines work.

Work is a key word in any farming family, and the Hansen family is no different.

“I don’t know why, my dad always tells me I won’t like it when I am out of high school, but I like to work,” Hansen says. “I guess I’ve just got a working mindset – I’m not the biggest fan of sitting in the house.”

Check out Tyson Hansen’s latest Tractor Tales spotlight below, where the teen shows off his rebuilt Case 400 tractor. And subscribe to the Farm Journal YouTube channel to get all of the latest Tractor Tale videos.

Also keep an eye on U.S. Farm Report every Saturday morning for the debut of the newest Tractor Tales feature.

Your Next Read: 2001 John Deere Smashes Record With $132,500 Price Tag

Inaugural Greg Henderson Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Award

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 23:25:05 GMT

In honor of the former Drovers editor, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) created the Greg Henderson Memorial Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Award, which was presented at the 2025 CattleCon in San Antonio.

“This award recognizes agricultural journalists who exemplify the values Greg Henderson championed throughout his career,” says John Robinson, NCBA Senior Vice President of Membership, Communications and Events. “Greg was known for his courage in addressing challenging industry issues, his unwavering commitment to fairness, accuracy, and honesty, and his advocacy for positive change in agriculture. He built deep personal connections to the agricultural community, earning the respect of farmers, ranchers, and fellow media professionals alike. This award celebrates those who embody these principles and carry forward his legacy of impactful journalism in service to agriculture.”

(Maggie Malson)

Ron Hays, Oklahoma Farm Report, received the inaugural award. The selection committee had this to share about Hays:

With a career spanning more than four decades, Ron has become a trusted voice for producers, known for his ability to deliver accurate, timely, and insightful information on critical issues affecting the cattle and beef industry. His dedication to fostering understanding, advocating for agriculture, and maintaining a deep connection to the community he serves reflects the very essence of this award. Ron’s work has earned him the respect and admiration of farmers, ranchers and colleagues alike, making him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious honor.

“I was surprised but incredibly honored when I learned that I had been selected for the inaugural Greg Henderson Excellence in Ag Media Award,” Hays says. “Over the years, it had always been a special treat to catch up with Greg at major beef cattle industry events and get his take on some of the big issues impacting the beef cattle industry.”

Hays remembers several conversations with Henderson in recent years.

“To realize, with his passing, that I was selected to be given the award that bears his name — and to be the first one to receive it — it’s one of the highest honors in my ag journalism career,” he says.

Even after 50 years, Hays says he still enjoys covering farmers and ranchers.

“I still am thrilled to be a farm broadcaster and ag journalist,” he says. “One reason is the incredible variety of stories and meetings and issues that make almost every single day a new experience. It challenges me to understand the story and the background of it to best explain it to those who listen and read our information.”

The second reason — the people.

“There are so many wonderful folks I have met and have gotten to know, and many have become lifelong friends as well,” Hays adds. “Some are colleagues in the trade media world, some are the experts we have interviewed many many times, and some are the farmers and ranchers who are so very very good at their jobs.”

Long-Time Ag Lender Learned Leadership Skills Growing Up In the Shadow of Omaha Stockyards

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:29:59 GMT

Growing up in the shadow of the Omaha Stockyards, Tom Jensen learned about hard work and business ethics working alongside his dad. He spent many days sorting and loading cattle.

“Some of my fondest memories growing up were visiting ranchers with my dad,” Jensen says. “Those were the days before cell phones, so I’d see him talk face to face with customers and learned how to conduct business. He always said, ‘the only thing you have in this world are your name and your reputation so don’t mess it up.’”

Jensen’s dad passed away when Jensen was only 15 years old, and his mother sold the stockyards. He attended the University of Nebraska – Omaha and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. During college, he worked as a bank teller, night manager, then in his last semester of college, he took a position in ag lending at the Livestock Exchange Building in Omaha.

“It was 1979, and I took the job at the stockyards because that’s like my second home to me,” he says. “It was an interesting time. Agriculture was struggling. We talk about high interest rates today, but we were charging customers 22-23% interest in the early 80s. It was very difficult, but for a young person, it was a great opportunity to learn.”

In 1984 Jensen joined First National Bank of Omaha in Correspondent Banking, working with community banks on agricultural overline loans. The following year Jensen started a direct Agribusiness department.

From July of 1985 until June 2020, FNBO Agribusiness department had growth to $2.5 billion of loan commitments. The department had many outstanding team members throughout the country.

One of the biggest changes Jensen notes is the consolidation of the packing industry. He says there used to be several 8-10 independent packing plants in Omaha whereas now there are just a couple, along with the large companies. He also saw consolidation on the production side.

“One of my longest standing customers, when we started doing business, they were feeding 3,000 cattle. Today, that feedyard is around 22,000 head,” he explains. “It’s still run by the family, and that’s how a lot of the industry is. It isn’t consolidated with corporations, but by families that have been successful and continue to expand their operations to bring back the next generations.”

Jensen was promoted multiple times throughout his career and at the time of his retirement in June 2020, he was a Senior Vice President and member of the Bank Board of Directors.

Jensen has been involved with the Nebraska Cattleman and National Cattleman’s Beef Association additionally serving on the Cattle Fax Board of Directors for eight years.

“I think it’s really important to be involved in policy issues because it sets the standards that we need to have one unified voice when we go back to D.C.” Jensen says. “If you’re not involved, you can’t complain about what happened.”

Through the years Jensen also enjoyed interacting with college students as a guest presenter for Agriculture Economics classes at multiple universities.

“We talked about case studies of loans and what to expect from a lender if they were going to go back to the family operation,” he says.

When it comes to leadership, Jensen says he always tried to lead by example.

“I wouldn’t ask somebody to do something that I wasn’t willing to do myself, whether it be the smallest task or the largest task,” he says. “There are challenges in lending, and you have to face those head on. You also need integrity to do the right thing even in difficult times.”

Jensen reflects on his time working at First National Bank of Omaha and the customer first mentality the family bank focused on through the years. The family has always stood behind agriculture in good times are bad.

“The former president who recently passed away would always ask how our customers were doing,” Jensen says. “He took a long-term view and realized in agriculture there are cycles. He would say it was my job to figure out how to make sure they remained our customers, not only for the generation that we were in, but for the next generation.”

Jensen and his wife, Mary Ruth have been married for 45 years and have three daughters and eight grandchildren.

Your next read: Managing Cattle and Crew Well Are at the Heart of This Cowboy

Managing Cattle and Crew Well Are at the Heart of This Cowboy

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 21:51:46 GMT

George Littrell Jr, “Frank”, has been working for Midwest Feeders, Inc. in Ingalls, Kan. for more than 31 years. He moved from Alva, Okla., to Kansas in February 1993 with his wife and infant twins.

“I always wanted to be a cowboy. Taking care of animals is in my blood,” Littrell says. “My favorite part of the day is in the morning and getting everything ready for the day. If the morning starts off well, it’s usually a good day.”

Littrell gets to the yard early in the day and gives his crew processing orders. They ship every day, except Sunday. He likes to make sure his crew is running well during the day, and makes sure all the records balance at the end of the day.

“For me to do my job I need other people to do their job,” Littrell says. “Years ago cowboys were everywhere. Now they’re getting harder to find. You have to have a good crew.”

Littrell’s started driving a feed truck when he began at Midwest Feeders. His passion for caring for cattle soon moved him to the head cowboy position.

“When I began as head cowboy everything was pencil and paper,” he recalls. “We would record treatment records on index cards.”

When Littrell started in the early 90s, the yard had a one-time feeding capacity of 4,500 head, and has expanded to 90,000 since then.

“Frank is a very dedicated employee,” says Jeff Sternberger, who helps manage Midwest Feeders. “He tries very hard to do his best every day. He understands cattle and can read the cattle as well as anybody I’ve ever met. He’s probably allowed us to grow faster than we would have otherwise.”

As the current Cattle Foreman, Littrell runs a crew of 21 cowboys, 2 outside processing crews and works weekly with consulting veterinarians. The cattle management system has vastly changed over the years and is now completely computer-based tracking an animal’s health daily including treatments, processing, implanting, shipping, receiving and inventories. As Littrell’s role has expanded, he misses riding pens daily, but really enjoys working with his team and the cattle.

When Littrell is not at the feedyard he enjoys spending time at the lake with his family and playing with his 4 grandchildren. He has passed on his passion for the cattle feeding industry and great work ethic to his son, who is the Mill Foreman for Midwest Feeders, Inc.

Your next read: Learning Hard Work on the Farm Leads Dan May to A Lifetime in the Cattle Business

First Generation Texas Rancher Shares Her Experience to Build Connections With Consumers

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:31:11 GMT

Growing up in a military household in Temple, Texas, Emma Coffman’s path into agriculture didn’t come by tradition, but rather inspiration. Her mom had learned sewing and baking in 4-H and felt it important for Emma and her younger brother to also participate in homemaking projects.

“When I got involved in 4-H, I saw other kids showing livestock and I wanted to do that,” Coffman says.

While her parents weren’t on board at first, she was able to convince them let her try. She showed sheep, goats and a heifer during her high school years.

“It was instant love,” she says. “I had no idea where I was going to go in life with it, but I knew I wanted to be in the livestock field.”

That inspiration to be in agriculture led Coffman to apply for a livestock ambassador program giving her a crash course in animal science lessons while still in high school. She then attended Texas A&M University where she studied animal science.

“Every class was very overwhelming at times,” she says. “I looked at my classmates who were raised in the industry, and for them, this was something they learned when they were 5. I was soaking it all in and writing down every word.”

Coffman worked throughout college, interning with horse trainers, cattle ranches and the sheep unit at A&M. She also spent time in Australia on a study abroad trip and had accepted a job on a cattle ranch, but before she could start COVID happened.

“I think God rerouted my plans,” Coffman says.

Her career path took her to Virginia consulting for a nutrition company then back to Lubbock, Texas doing data management for feedlots. That led to managing a cow-calf operation, then working for a company focusing on bovine IVF. Throughout that time, Coffman began her company, Double E Ranch, and sharing her experiences on social media. She has more than 80,000 followers across her social media platforms and creates content to empower people to make informed decisions based on knowledge.

Coffman began sharing her experiences through social media to show what farmers and ranchers do day-to-day.

(Alicea JaRe Photography)

“As a first-generation agriculturalist, what I initially saw as my biggest disadvantage has turned out to be the greatest blessing the Lord could have given me,” Coffman says. “It has provided me with the unique opportunity to break down complex topics and present them in ways that are more relatable and understandable to everyday consumers.”

In addition to connecting consumers with the people raising beef, Coffman also engages the next generation of ranchers by sharing stories to motivate and guide them as join the industry and build their own businesses. She hopes these conversations will help grow the network of beef advocates for years to come.

Coffman encourages the industry to be patient with newcomers. She notes with the average age of producers in their 50s we’re going to see more change in the next 5-10 years.

“We’re losing people we love and who have a lot of heritage, but it also means bringing in a generation wanting to learn and willing to embrace new technologies,” she days. “These young people are ambitious, they are incredibly talented, they’re smart, and they are willing to work; sometimes harder than someone else who was born into it.”

She says there will be a lot of questions to answer, but that’s how we learn. “There are no dumb questions, except for the ones we don’t ask,” Coffman says.

On the flipside, Coffman encourages young people to travel and gain experience beyond where they live. She learned that herself when she arrived in Virginia for her first full-time job and was introduced to fescue, which she had never heard of.

“Everything nutritionally I was taught had to change, but that allowed me to have so much more insight to how production agriculture changes within states, regions and abroad,” she says. “I saw so much technology in Australia too. It might not work the same way in the U.S., but we can take pieces of it and incorporate to fit our needs.”

Through her advocacy work, Coffman bridges the gap from those on-the-ground producing food and fiber to the consumers making purchasing decisions. She wants to see the hard work, dedication, and positive impact of beef production are recognized and valued.

“It is not just about protecting the industry—it is about ensuring a strong future for agriculture and the generations to come,” she says.

You can follow Emma Coffman on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube , TikTok , or visit her website, Double E Ranch .

Coffman was recognized by the Masters of Beef Advocacy program as the 2024 Advocate of the Year, which is selected by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.

Brand Name Vs. Generic: Tools By Any Other Name

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:19:43 GMT

There are a few tools commonly used on farms that literally aren’t made the way they used to be made, including Vise-Grips and Channellock.

Vise-Grips were invented in 1923 by blacksmith William S. Petersen in Dewitt, Neb. The tool was popular with local farmers, and by WWII it was so widely accepted the U.S. military provided Vise-Grips to its mechanics. Veterans spread the word, and Vise-Grips became a standardized tool across the U.S.

In Europe, locking pliers are called mole grips or mole pliers because they were first manufactured by the M.K. Mole and Son Tool Company — shortly after Petersen released his Vise-Grips.

Petersen’s family-owned company was eventually bought out, and the Vise-Grip-brand is now owned by Irwin Tools. Some professional mechanics believe old Vise-Grips work better than new ones. They scour auctions and pawn shops for Vise-Grips stamped with “DeWitt, Neb.” They also covet Vise-Grips with the locking lever held in place by a roll pin instead of newer versions that attach the lever with a rivet.

Vintage Vise-Grips made in the original factory in DeWitt, Neb., are identified by “Petersen Manufacturing, DeWitt, NEBR” in the logo and by a roll pin that attaches the release handle. Newer Vise-Grips are missing the hometown logo and use a rivet rather than a roll pin to affix the release handle.

(Dan Anderson)

The Tool That Defined Jaws

Just as Vise-Grip has come to mean any locking plier, Channellock now refers to any pair of pliers that have adjustable jaws. Channellock pliers have roots in a blacksmith shop run by George DeArment, which eventually became Champion-DeArment Tool Company. Chief engineer Howard Manning developed a pair of pliers with a unique tongue-and-groove, adjustable hinge point that were patented as Channellock pliers in 1935.

The popularity of the adjustable pliers spawned knockoffs until “Channellock” became a generic term, similar to Kleenex and Chapstick. To protect the brand, Champion-DeArment changed its name to Channellock in 1963.

Channellock pliers have roots in a blacksmith shop run by George DeArment, which eventually became Champion-DeArment Tool Company. Chief engineer Howard Manning developed a pair of pliers with a unique tongue-and-groove, adjustable hinge point that were patented as Channellock pliers in 1935.

(Dan Anderson)

A similar problem occurred for the Crescent Tool Company, which was founded in Jamestown, N.Y., in 1907. Adjustable wrenches were common, but the Crescent Adjustable Wrench featured a patented screw-mechanism that eventually led to them being standard issue in many military tool boxes throughout WWII. As with Vise-Grips, WWII exposed military mechanics to the value of Crescent wrenches, and after the war they found homes in many civilian toolboxes.

There are now many types of adjustable wrenches for sale. But only adjustable wrenches from the Crescent Tool Company carry the company’s trademark that guarantees they are Crescent-brand wrenches.

Your Next Read: Why Are Some Wrenches More Expensive Than Others?

8 Things Farmers Can Do Now to Improve Heart Health

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:01:22 GMT

For farmers, managing high levels of stress is part of the job. From weather and market fluctuations to equipment malfunctions and animal health challenges, balancing it all can be tough.

A recent review published in the scientific journal Cureus collected data from 12 studies that looked at the relationship between cardiovascular disease and farmers. The researchers found that male farmers aged 45 and up have an increased risk of heart disease compared to their non-farming peers.

Tawnie Larson, a project consultant for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, says women in rural areas are also at an increased risk for heart disease. In addition, living in rural communities often results in decreased access to health care, “or (farmers) do not see their doctor on a regular basis,” Larson adds in a K-State release .

According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 44% of women in the U.S. are living with some sort of heart disease -- for many of the same reasons that men suffer from heart disease.

“Blood pressure tends to rise in women earlier than men,” Larson says. “Early signs of hypertension for women include fatigue, sleeping issues, bloating, headaches and blurred vision or dizziness. Don’t write these symptoms off; talk to your doctor before you have a problem.”

She encourages men and women to check their blood pressure on a regular basis; if you can’t get by the doctor’s office regularly, take advantage of blood pressure machines often available at a local pharmacy or other location.

Other conditions that affect heart health include high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, poor diet, obesity, limited cardiovascular activity and hearing loss.

“People, in general, may also ignore or downplay their susceptibility to heart disease and put off necessary actions to improve their wellness,” Larson says. “Poor heart health can lead to heart attack or stroke.”

Larson offers eight things farmers can do now to improve heart health:

• Make healthy choices, such as eating a healthy diet, being more active and maintaining a healthy weight.

• Make small changes. Set one goal per week, rather many changes at once.

• Reduce stress by focusing on what you can control.

• Find a favorite stress-reducing activity and do it regularly.

• Start a regular walking routine. Listen to music or a podcast.

• Read books.

• Spend time with family or friends.

• Take up an activity that gets your heart rate up, and gradually build to higher rates of activity.

Your Next Read: Passing on Values (and the Business) from One Generation to the Next

Oklahoma Ranch Manager Arrested on 83 Felony Counts of Larceny of Livestock

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 22:52:42 GMT

A 60-year-old Stuart, Okla., man was arrested Jan. 8, by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers Cody Hyde and Gavin Gatrell. Darrel Bernard Morris faces 83 felony charges of larceny of livestock for unlawfully selling cattle owned by his employer.

The investigation began in December 2024 after Special Ranger Hyde received evidence and a witness statements indicating that Morris, the manager of a ranch in Hughes County, Okla., had stolen 83 yearling cattle between January 2023 and December 2024 from the ranch.

According to the investigation, Morris transported the stolen cattle to several livestock auctions, where he sold them for over $108,000.

Morris was arrested at his residence on felony charges.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association extends a thank you to the Hughes County District Attorney’s office for their joint efforts in this investigation to successfully bring this case to prosecution.

Lessons from a Small Town

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:35:53 GMT

“Well, I was born in a small town, and I live in a small town…”

It’s easy to take small town life for granted. I admit there were times I thought small town life was boring. When I moved off to college, I thought it was amazing to live down the street from a Dairy Queen and be less than 10 minutes from multiple shops and stores. The best part? Walking a few houses down the street to see my friends.

But as time wore on, I longed to be back in rural America. There’s nothing like it – especially if your small town embraces the concept of community.

I think that’s what drew me into learning more about the story behind Audubon, Iowa. The thought of a small town of 2,100 people coming together to make their community an inviting place to raise a family was simply a story I couldn’t pass up.

One of Audubon’s residents, Kate Hargens , said something that really struck me.

“In order to continue to recruit people back into rural communities for jobs, we need to support the growth and essential businesses like a grocery store and stores that improve quality of life such as a rec center, coffee shop or movie theater,” she says. “Young professionals currently entering the workforce with young families are not willing to sacrifice the comforts of a larger town or city when looking for a job.”

Animal agriculture needs small towns that thrive to attract the right kind of people. It’s true that you aren’t just recruiting people to a job – you are recruiting them to a life.

I thought about the small town that I live in today. It’s not very big, and it’s not perfect. But I’m proud of the work community members have done to improve the park, rally around our local 4-H club, and support a local restaurant that has delicious (and enormous) tenderloins that draw people in from hundreds of miles away. I appreciate that my neighbors cheer on our kids and would not falter to step in and help if needed.

I’ll never forget what our community was preparing to do 11 years ago. We were bracing for what was later named “Snowmageddon,” and most importantly, I was preparing for the birth of our youngest child. The forecast for our induction day looked awful so we decided to head to the big city early and stay at a hotel until it was time.

A neighbor later told me that they were prepared for the Shike baby to come in the storm and had outlined a plan for the trucks to clear our road if needed. I think they were a little disappointed we didn’t put them to test!

My point is this doesn’t just happen everywhere. But that’s not uncommon in a small town.

Regardless of where you live, I challenge you to be a Kate or a Jason or a Steve or a Nicki. Be someone who thinks about others and puts the needs of the whole above their own. There’s no question there’s an upside for these Audubon, Iowa, community members. But the reality is they didn’t have to spend their evenings and weekends raising money, writing grants and cleaning up their town – literally and figuratively.

In the paraphrased words of John Mellencamp, if you had the privilege of growing up in a small town, don’t forget where you came from.

Your Next Read: The Power of Community in Rural America

Vacation Ideas for Ranchers

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 17:50:50 GMT

Run the ranch like a business is a phrase thrown around frequently and for good reason. Most often, it is referencing knowing your numbers and maintaining a profit focus as opposed to only being a lifestyle or hobby. But what about the other aspects of running a business, like taking a vacation and coming back with a clear mind?

Cheyenne Schriefer knows exactly how challenging it can be for ranchers to sneak away on a vacation but doesn’t let that stop her family from making memories across the country and world. She also helps others do the same with her travel agency – All Travel Matters.

“It’s easy to not do it because it costs money and might be hard to find someone to feed cows while you are away, but you just need to make a point to do it,” says Schriefer.

Leaving for a few days might require asking others for help whether that is another generation on the ranch, a neighbor or a friend. If you worry about being a burden, ask yourself if you’d do the same for them? Additionally, programs such as McKnight’s Ranch Academy can be great training resources to answer employee questions while you are away from the operation.

Travel preferences vary greatly between individuals and families and there are easy vacation options to ease into traveling.

“I find that ranchers don’t travel much and it can overwhelm them, so starting out with trips that might take a day or two drive is a good place to start,” Schriefer says.

For individuals who prefer nature and being outside, National Parks and road trips are two enjoyable and flexible options.

Cheyenne says, “It doesn’t have to be something big. People hear the word vacation and assume it has to involve a plane ride. It can just be a quick trip.”

However, for people who don’t mind air travel, don’t underestimate the opportunities of taking a quick flight to Nashville or Napa Valley depending on how far you want to get from home.

Longer trips take a little more planning and might require more travel depending on your preferred destination, especially if you live in rural areas of the Midwest.

“Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are the main Caribbean beach destinations you can get to easily,” she says.

Cheyenne and her family go to Mexico frequently and she recommends it as a simple vacation to plan from a travel standpoint.

“If you have a little sliver of time in June to get away, River Cruising is another great option,” Schriefer says. River Cruises or even other group tours can reduce the overwhelm of traveling abroad.

If you are interested in traveling abroad, give yourself a few months to obtain a passport and know where you are traveling.

Cheyenne says, “Each destination has its own warnings per say. We try to educate our clients about culture, tipping expectations and language barriers.”

If you aren’t familiar with traveling abroad, working with an agent can ensure you have transportation from the airport to your hotel that speaks English at a minimum.

The biggest things to remember when planning a vacation as a ranch family are to be flexible and consider travel insurance for those unexpected hiccups. Getting away from the ranch may seem stressful at first, but it gives you the opportunity to come back with a clear mind and make memories with your family.

Find the the full conversation here:

Heartwarming Stories of 2024

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 13:46:00 GMT

From wildfires to hurricanes, there were no shortage of natural disasters for cattle producers to contend with, but many times ranchers stepped in to help other ranchers. Despite hard times, we can always look around and find some good in the world. We’ve rounded up several stories that show the resilience and good nature of those in the cattle industry.

Hurricane Helene Wreaks Havoc for Cattle Producers in the Southeast

Mississippi Sale Barn Raises $33,000 for Hurricane Helene Relief

Drone Rescue as Farmers Find Helene Victims and Deliver Supplies

Hay Donated by Illinois Farmer Makes its Way to North Carolina

ONEOK Foundation Donates $100,000 to Wildfire Disaster Relief Program

A Record-Breaking Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show

American Royal Association Receives Grant From Bayer Fund

Dealing With Wildfires One Day At a Time

Video Royale Annual Sale and Wildfire Benefit

Your next read: Father-Son Camp Soars to 30 Years of Success on Illinois Farm

The Value of Networking

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Networking can be defined as the practice of building relationships and exchanging information with others to create mutually beneficial connections. I recognized the value of networking at a young age and have tried to instill that understanding in my children as well.

Many have reminded me that who you know can get you in the door, and what you know will keep you there. I have seen evidence of this in my career.

Thank you, 4-H
I credit much of this skill of networking to my years in 4-H and being on our county horse judging team. Our coach would take us across my home state of Kansas to compete, and we would travel to national contests in Texas and Oklahoma. I was building relationships with my peers and adults within the industry.

My first college adviser was one of those people I met while being on the judging team. Decades later in Idaho, I was having my horse shod and the farrier was good friends with that adviser when they lived in Manhattan. Talk about a small world. Making connections like this happens a lot within the agriculture industry.

It goes both ways
While I have benefited from building relationships, I also want to be able to reciprocate. As I’ve gotten older and further in my career, I find it just as satisfying to reach into my network and share that knowledge with others. It’s gratifying to see someone with a need and be able to guide them to a resource. Recently, I saw an announcement for contract video work and reached out to someone whose work I follow and admire. I thought he would be a good fit for the position and sent him the notice.

The road to success
It’s the ability to introduce yourself and meet other people and their willingness to build those relationships as well that keep the world moving forward in a positive direction.

None of us operate in this industry as an island, and learning how to collaborate, communicate and exchange ideas respectfully are the skills needed to maintain good relationships that lead to success for all of us.

As you look to the final weeks of the year and into 2025, think about your personal and professional network. How can you use it to meet your individual goals, and how can you be a relationship builder for others?

Your next read: Finding Peace: Managing Mental Health During the Holiday Season

Montana Stockgrowers Association Elects Lesley Robinson As President

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 21:56:14 GMT

Fourth generation rancher, Lesley Robinson, was recently elected the first woman president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA). Robinson’s family has been ranching in Phillips County, which is in the north central part of the state, since the early 1900s. She and her husband, Jim, have been married for 39 years and have ranched their entire lives. Currently they own and operate the Lazy JD Cattle Company, a ranch purchased in 1958 by Jim’s family.

“You have to have a passion for ranching to love it,” Robinson says. “If you don’t have a passion for it, it’s going to be very hard to get up every day and go through everything that you have to do to make a ranch successful.”

Robinson’s interest in leadership was inspired by her parents, who were both involved with livestock associations.

She previoulsy served on MSGA’s board of directors from 1996-2000 and has spent the last two decades dedicating her time and knowledge to the livestock industry on the local, state and national levels.

“My vision for the cattle industry in Montana and across the nation is to keep agriculture land in production,” Robinson shares. “We need to keep the ranchers on the land producing beef and encourage young people to come into ranching. It’s important we find ways to help people be successful in ranching, so that we can keep the land in production.”

With a record number of dispersions in Montana and other states, Robinson says remaining sustainable is a top priority.

“Right now we have the good markets, but we need to be able to be sustainable when the markets drop also,” she says. “It’s important to find ways to make your place sustainable in the bad times along with the good times.”

This cattlewoman recognizes not everyone agrees on all the issues, but it’s important to work together.

“We need to work on the tax rules that are going to sunset next year in 2025 and I think that most of the organizations, if not all of them, can agree on estate tax needs to be either get rid of estate tax or at least keep the limits that we have in place right now,” she says.

A quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald inspires Robinson daily. She has a sign on her wall with it that reads ‘Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.’

“You can still have a loss, but don’t give up, because not every everybody can win, so just keep trying and come back,” Robinson says. “We have losses every day in ranching, so we’re resilient, and we have to just keep going.”

For more information, visit mtbeef.org .

Your next read: Nutritional Requirements of Cattle in Winter

What the Next Generation Can Do to Prepare for Transition Planning

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:43:19 GMT

The interconnectedness of agriculture business and family relationships can make transition and estate planning feel challenging. Having the conversations and carrying out the legalities are two separate components that require great detail. Add on managing finances and what should be an exciting opportunity for the rising generation can quickly become overwhelming.

Jessica Groskopf, a Nebraska farmer and transition planning expert, talks about transition and estate planning in a different light. She spoke on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast about how the next generation can prepare themselves. She recognizes the challenges that come with the process, but also sees the hidden opportunities that can help the rising generation build for the future.

“There is a big part of the message missing when it comes to talking about estate and transition planning,” Groskopf says. “That part of the message is what we can do as the younger generation to prepare ourselves for that eventual transfer.”

Jessica and her husband know firsthand what it is like to build for the future even when there has been a lack of transparency and communication from the senior generation. Together, they turned what looked like a less-than-ideal buy out to others into a great opportunity for themselves by using emergency funds, good debt, flexible investments, and alternative revenue.

Groskopf says, “Fifty percent of land owned by an operator was purchased from a non-relative.”

That means the younger generation needs to start preparing financially because the likelihood of them purchasing property is very high.

Financial preparation can include many components. The Groskopfs knew they wanted to buy farmland at some point regardless of if it was in the family or not. So, they started early to prepare for their unknown scenario of a down payment for property.

“The key to savings and investing is time,” Groskopfs says. “The younger you start saving and investing, the better off you will be especially if you are allowing that money to grow over a significant amount of time.”

About five years after they began saving and investing, Jessica and her husband bought into the family partnership with the money they had accumulated. The amount of time, and money needed for a down payment is unique to each individual person and family.

Emergency funds are the first step to financial security.

“For most farm and ranch families, I prefer they have three to six months worth of family living expenses on hand,” says Groskopf

Emergency funds are the safety net that families can use to safeguard against bad debt and continue to move forward financially. One smart practice with emergency funds is to make sure they are in an easily accessible account that earns interest. Two account examples to explore are high-yield savings accounts or money markets.

The next step is to tackle “bad” debt.

“Not all debt is bad and debt is certainly not dumb,” Groskopf says. “Debt is a tool…I think most people understand what bad debt is, but I want to provide a clear definition. Bad debt has a relatively high interest rate, usually over seven percent. Bad debt is also purchasing items that are not necessary.”

Other considerations to make about debt include depreciation, tax advantages and if the item putting you in debt is adding value in other areas of the business. It ultimately comes down to how you manage debt because even good debt can pile up and put farmers and ranchers in less-than-ideal financial positions.

Once you have an emergency fund, and have paid off “bad debt”, it’s time to focus on other savings and investments.

“If the money will be needed within three years, it should go into the savings bucket,” Groskopf says. “High-yield savings accounts, money markets and bonds are all examples of accounts that can be used for shorter-term savings. Accounts used for savings should earn enough interest to outpace inflation, look for options with an annual percentage yield of 3% or higher.”

Groskopf says to invest money that will not be needed in the short term. Investment accounts usually have higher rates of returns but require leaving the money in the accounts for long periods of time to receive the advantages of using them.

For farmers and ranchers aiming to secure their financial future, Jessica recommends investing in flexible accounts. When picking an investment account, considerations need made to what tax and penalties may apply upon withdrawal of the funds along with any other stipulations that come along with the account. Once you have selected the account, you will then need to select the investments within the account. Producers should look for lost cost, diversified options such as Index Funds, Mutual Funds or Exchange Traded Funds, she adds.

“If your head is spinning when it comes to all this information, I’d encourage you to sit down with a financial advisor and explain your situation. Share how long you’d like to invest and how accessible you need the funds to be,” Groskopf says.

Alternative revenue streams or town jobs are a common risk management strategy for farm and ranch families. Whether they pay for living expenses or even supplement the business during the beginning years, they can be a valuable tool.

“I’m someone who says that it has to fit with the farm or the ranch,” Groskopf says. “You have to make sure the seasonality of the business doesn’t conflict with the farm or ranch and that you have the flexibility you need to get everything done.”

Financial and non-financial considerations need to be made before committing to another form of revenue for your personal life or ranch.

Building for the future takes time and experience.

“No one has taught any of us how to do this finance stuff…it is not something you should inherently know,” Groskopf explains. “If you are starting from scratch, go back to your balance sheet. Write down what you do and don’t have in place and even what you don’t understand. Connect with an expert such as your local banker or a financial planner who can help you move forward.”

If you are not comfortable investing on your own, work closely with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) professional, Certified Public Accountant, tax preparer, and/or investment advisor.

Listen to the full conversation:

Your next read: Tax Turbulence: How Sunsetting Provisions Could Change Your Bottom Line

American Royal Association Receives Grant From Bayer Fund

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:28:00 GMT

The American Royal Association has received a grant for $20,000 from Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S. The grant will be used to support the American Royal K-12 agricultural education programming in 2025.

“We appreciate the support of Bayer Fund as we strive to enhance our long-standing youth field trip experience and new programs, like AgStem camp, educational clinics and career development events,” says Lauren Luhrs, director of partnerships at the American Royal Association. “Since its founding in 1899, the American Royal has consistently weaved education into its programming. As we have expanded to host events year-round, our focus on education has also grown. This Bayer Fund grant will be tremendously beneficial as we work to impact the future of agriculture.”

The American Royal, whose purpose is to champion food and agriculture, will be using the grant funds to expand several of its education programs for students with minimal exposure to agriculture as well as youth with deep roots in the industry. The Bayer Fund grant will allow the American Royal to enhance these events with supplementary educational materials and take-home resources for participants, and offset costs for event setup, on-site medical care and security teams.

“Bayer Fund is proud to support the American Royal Association and their work to make real, sustainable impacts in the Kansas City area and beyond,” says Al Mitchell, president of Bayer Fund. “Programs like the American Royal’s youth education programs help our neighbors and make our community stronger.”

Bayer Fund supports Bayer, one of the country’s largest life-sciences companies, in achieving its mission of Health for all, Hunger for none by working with organizations and non-profits, like the American Royal Association, to support health and wellness and food and nutrition.

Learn more about the American Royal at americanroyal.com .