“Some years you're going to make more money than other years and I think as long as you  don't outpace your budget, then you'll end up being just fine.” 

Starting to farm isn't easy, especially when you're juggling a full-time job. But for Brenna Beard, a beginning farmer from central Indiana, the pull of continuing her family's 200-year farming legacy was too strong to ignore. 

“Having a spouse that you are on the same page with when it comes to growing your business makes a huge difference. If you guys are both running in the same direction for your dream, you get so much farther, so much faster versus if only one of you has that dream or if you are going in different directions with that dream.” 

As I sit in my hammock on a beautiful day, surrounded by the sounds of our farm, I can't help but reflect on how far we've come. From our humble beginnings seven years ago with a few cows, goats, and chickens, we've grown into a thriving operation with crops, more livestock, and even a dairy cow (my pet project). 

As I sit here on my farm on August 7, 2024, I can't help but think about the challenges we're facing in agriculture. We've been hearing a lot of tough news lately, and it's got me thinking about how we can stay strong and keep our farms going, even when things look bleak.

First off, let's talk about what's happening. Big companies are laying off workers, cattle markets are down, and grain prices aren't looking great. Here are some of the numbers we're seeing:

• Kinze is laying off 193 people from their plant in Williamsburg, Iowa.

• John Deere in Moline is cutting 134 jobs in their seeding and cylinder sectors. This is on top of 489 job cuts they made to salaried employees earlier this year.

• Agco saw a 6% reduction and reported net sales of $3.2 billion in quarter two this year, which is a 15% drop from the same time last year.

It's enough to make anyone worry. But here's the thing – we've been through tough times before, and we'll get through this too. We never know when the markets will change, but we can rely on a resilient mindset no matter what the economists are predicting.

“Legacy to me is the culture that you leave for your family so that the next generation has great stories to tell and is grateful for the opportunities they’ve been given. That’s what legacy means to me.”

As a farmer or rancher, you know that your work is more than just a job - it's a way of life that's deeply connected to family, legacy, and the land. But sometimes, the very things that make farming special can also create challenges, especially when it comes to family communication and farm transitions.

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

“The mindset of I do belong here. I belong here. Never underestimate your roots and where you came from and just try to find your place.”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Liz Fiedler of Sunny Mary Meadow Farms. Liz shared how her flower farm got started as a farm stand and the many different ag operations were run on her late husband’s family farm. Liz also opened up with us about losing her husband unexpectedly and her grief journey so far. Liz is more than just a flower farmer and business owner, Liz is also a nurse practitioner and she noted how the two have some commonalities. One other hat that Liz wears is a coach for other people wanting to start their own flower farms or operations. She has learned a lot in her journey to get where she is and wants to help others by sharing her knowledge and experiences.

“Recognizing the season and what actually is important in that season, I think, is the most important thing you can do.”

In this episode, I wanted to talk about a topic that many followers have asked me about, time management and how to manage all the irons in the fire as a wife, mother, farmer, and business owner. Sometimes it is hard to adjust your expectations to the season you are in, but once you do and set realistic, achievable goals, it will help you stay on track. I use tools like Google calendar to help me with time management. I have adopted the philosophy that there’s a home for everything in your home, business, and even digital material. That has really helped me stay organized and be more productive. An important tip I talk about is finding support systems to help guide you and achieve your goals, as well as support you on your journey!

“I learned a lot about who I was and who I was capable of being and that was just an awesome experience.”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Camarie Roorda. Camarie and her family have been involved in agriculture and the rodeo industry for years and Camarie shares about her journey in rodeo. Camarie’s experience in rodeo helped spark her two businesses, the Performance Pony Company and RodeoKids. Camarie explains why she finds it important to invest in kids and help cultivate their passion for ag and rodeo.

“So there’s a fine line and balance that needs to happen and I know that Texas is good about having those conversations and cattle raisers are active in those conversations and trying to make sure that both sides win and come out with what they need, but that we’re preserving this heritage of these families that have put countless hours and generations into feeding not just America but the world a lot of times.”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jana Earp. Jana and I covered quite a few topics in our conversation. Jana talked about her efforts to educate students about where their food comes from. Jana also shared about posting her outfit of the day online. She had lots of corporate wear and wanted to dress in more western clothing and how she incorporates some corporate attire into her everyday western, comfortable outfits. Jana also opened up about her health tragedy that happened and how she needed to go back to the farm to slow down because of what happened.

Don’t forget to join our Facebook group, Farming On Purpose, to enter for our one year anniversary giveaways, check out our merch for the podcast, to share your stories, and support other farmers and ranchers.

“We like to consider ourselves a one-stop-shop, which I think is a phrase I probably started in agriculture marketing that a lot of places use now. To give an idea, we had a customer call and say they forgot to pick up donuts and asked if we could stop and bring donuts, and we said, ‘Yep’. We want to be the call they make and we want to provide that service.”

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Karoline Rose Bohannan. I have known and worked with Karoline for years and it was so fun to have her be on the podcast. Karoline shared the how and why behind the three businesses she’s started so far as well as why it is important for her and her businesses to help the next generation of farmers and ranchers. There’s always lots to do as a business owner and Karoline gave some insight on how she tackles her to-do list.

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

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

Helping farm families communicate and resolve conflict

If there is one thing Elaine Froese is passionate about, it’s that conflict is not a bad thing. This week’s guest, Elaine Froese, is Canada’s Farm Whisperer. She spends her time coaching farm families through growth and transition, with an emphasis on understanding.

Elaine grew up as a farm kid, and fell in love with and married a seed farmer over 40 years ago. Together, she and her husband have had their fair share of growth and change on the farm. In this episode, she shared with us her knowledge on how to resolve and overcome challenges, not avoid them.

About our guest:

Elaine Froese, Canada's Farm Whisperer, is helping farm families in transition find harmony through understanding. Elaine farms a 5,000-acre seed farm in SW Manitoba Canada with her husband, son and daughter in-law, and 3 adorable grandchildren. She's on a mission to get clarity of expectations and certainty of timelines for better communication.

You can connect with Elaine on all social media @farmfamilycoach, or through her upcoming speaking events.