Off-Farm Income

Today is a farm update episode everyone.  We will cover:

  • Changing my security plans about goat theft
  • The tractor that ended horsepower
  • The lost art of manure pick up
  • How to irritate staff at the livestock auction
  • Why you should never put scrapies tags in your goats early

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Direct download: 1.31.23_Tuesday_Episode_-_13023_5.05_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Jackson Lohr is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Poultry Production and a former state officer for the Virginia State FFA.  Jackson has known that he wanted to be a state officer since the 6th Grade when a Virginia State Officer took the time to speak with him at the state convention.  Only one problem, Jackson considered himself to be introverted, so how would he get out of his comfort zone?  Ultimately, Jackson found that focusing on the priorities of the FFA allowed him to ignore his fears and get the job done.  And the payoff has been huge.

Not only did Jackson eventually become a state officer, but he also excelled in his supervised agriculture experience and won a National Proficiency Award.  Jackson has grown up on a chicken farm in Western Virginia, and he has been working in some capacity on the farm since he could walk.  He loves this lifestyle and this level of agricultural production.  He is currently completing a two year agricultural management program at Virginia Tech., and then he will be right back to the farm to carry on this legacy!

Direct download: Jackson_Lohr_Episode_1607_-_1523_2.53_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Tip Of The Week

Know what services are available to you, and then learn how to fill the gaps

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://news.yahoo.com/livestock-rustling-no-bull-legislators-043200037.html

https://www.kmvt.com/2023/01/26/reports-livestock-theft-area-how-you-can-work-protect-your-animals/

https://magicvalley.com/news/local/to-catch-a-goat-thief-another-theft-reported-near-buhl/article_698d9a38-9b51-11ed-a5f9-4fffbb2023c7.html

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/man-arrested-on-suspicion-of-new-holland-tractor-theft/

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/gardai-investigate-rural-robbery-in-co-kilkenny/

https://www.norfolk.police.uk/news/latest-news/appeal-after-content-horse-box-stolen-thurning

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/suspected-coventry-fly-tipper-shopped-26081229

Africa

https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2023/01/two-cattle-thieves-in-remand-escape-from-police-cell-through-ceiling-steal-ak47-rifle/

https://dailypost.ng/2023/01/26/adamawa-police-command-arrests-208-suspects-in-26-days/

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/84712-explained-inside-administration-police-units-their-ranks-police-roles

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://tscra.org/grimes-county-woman-arrested-on-felony-charges-in-ongoing-criminal-mischief-case/?fbclid=IwAR1w4dKHMTh2bP3JsXLQ63BJy646ZdpD41ZnClZApHpIBgoG0SUDk8azxds

https://www.denver7.com/news/national/first-responders-are-being-trained-on-obgyn-emergencies-to-help-fill-gaps-in-rural-america

 

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Direct download: OFI_1606_Rural_Crime_-_12723_11.24_AM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Andrew Swafford is a county commissioner in Bledsoe County, Tennessee and at the time of this writing he is 25 years old.  Andrew is also the owner of three chicken houses, a 749 acre plot of timber, a forestry business called Four Aims Forestry and a graduate student at the University Of Georgia.  He clearly is a high achiever, and this is something that we at the Off-Farm Income Podcast have known for almost a decade.  

Andy, as he likes to be called, first appeared on the show in 2015 as a recently graduated high school student with a bee business called Andy's Bee Keeping.  Back then he was collected, bottling and selling honey to customers all around his community in Tennessee.  He was just getting ready to begin college at the University Of Tennessee back then, and oh how far he has gone since then!  

I like to see the progress the guests on the Off-Farm Income Podcast have made from time to time, and I was blown away when I read Andy's resume on Linkedin.  I am happy to welcome him back onto the show today to give us the details on the journey that he has been on and what is next to come!

Direct download: Andrew_Swafford_Episode_1605_-_11223_4.29_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode a previous FFA guest comes back on the show.  It has been 8 years since Andrew Swafford was first a guest on the Off-Farm Income Podcast, and I am amazed with what he is doing today!

On our Re-Cap Episode I'm bringing back his very first interview from 2015 so you can see the before and he after picture.

Direct download: OFI_1604_Replay_Of_078_-_12523_7.57_AM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Connor Pence is a 2022 National Proficiency Award Winner in the category of Diversified Livestock Production.  In and of itself, this is a phenomenal accomplishment, but wait.....there's more.  Connor is also a 2021 National Proficiency Winner in the category of goat production.

Connor first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast one year ago exactly when I given the opportunity to interview him about his Goat Production Proficiency Award.  As a goat raiser myself, I found myself learning a lot from Connor.  I titled that episode "How To Win A National Proficiency Award" because as we did the interview, it became apparent to me that the benefit of the interview with Connor exceeded goat production.  He was giving students a template of what to do if they wanted to reach these prestigious heights.

Now, Connor has done this twice.  Naturally, the title of this episode is "How To Win Two National Proficiency Awards".  Connor is breathing "rare air" with this accomplishment, and it is to our benefit to have him back on the show to share how he did this.

 

Direct download: Connor_Pence_Episode_1603_-_122222_10.42_AM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Today is a farm update episode everyone.  We will cover:

  • Beautiful night skies during calving/kidding season
  • The lure of the predator
  • The great relief of remembering that goats are just dumb
  • The archeology of our local area of Idaho
  • The worst roads in America

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Direct download: OFI_1602_Tuesday_Episode_-_12423_6.50_AM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 6:59am MDT

Jared Weigandt is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Landscape Management.  He and his twin brother, Jordan, are poised to one day take over the family business, Sidney Landscape Services and become the 4th Generation of their family to own this business.  They are also the 6th generation in their family to work in the landscape business, and what was apparent from this interview was that their deep family roots in this business are not taken for granted.

Jared is currently attending college at the University Of Northwestern Ohio and studying diesel technology.  Jared works a lot on equipment repair and maintenance in his families business and is expanding his skills through this program.  He is already applying what he has learned on the job.

 

Direct download: Jared_Weigandt_Episode_1601_-_1323_2.18_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Tip Of The Week

If you have a pet sheep that you love, make sure to treat the “help” with respect

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.wyomingnews.com/today-tomorrow/article_0676edb8-9751-11ed-9355-2330ed569969.html

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/teen-charged-with-stealing-a-tractor-tried-to-sell-it-on-facebook-edgecombe-sheriff-says/

https://www.kltv.com/2023/01/19/2-livingston-men-convicted-timber-theft-liberty-county/

https://www.wcax.com/2023/01/19/experts-share-tips-avoid-being-victim-logging-theft/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.miragenews.com/police-seek-public-assistance-after-theft-of-932286/

https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/23258978.people-urged-police-eyes-ears-halt-rural-crime/

https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/man-convicted-after-skinning-sheep-and-feeding-it-to-hounds/

https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/23260704.two-men-arrested-connection-theft-14-cows-anglesey/

Africa

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/crime/stolen-goats-confiscated-mpumalanga-january-2023/

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/police-disrupt-farm-attack-recover-19-sheep-18-january-2023/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/18/abducted-burkina-women-flee-gunmen-through-bush

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://navasotanews.com/college-station-man-arrested-for-stealing-8-head-of-cattle-near-navasota-and-trying-to-sell-them/

https://www.foxnews.com/media/man-stolen-tractor-leads-police-hours-long-chase-hitting-dumpster-church-what-day

https://www.porkbusiness.com/news/industry/stolen-show-pigs-found-after-48-hour-search-denver?fbclid=IwAR3A0-kv1zKA6H_NibcvRk6_M_H336O3UJMbpf9xj52lL0uB5I_pFoEYkZk&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

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Direct download: OFI_1600_Rural_Crime_-_12023_3.19_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

The Shepherdess At Harmony Farms is named Grace, and she has an unbelievable story.  Starting at the age of 11 she lived in the suburbs of Austin, Texas and was purchasing and re-marketing garage sale items online.  She developed an incredible talent for online marketing during her teen years to the point that she developed a 7 figure apparel company using the marketing skills she had developed.  Then, there was a drastic change.

Grace was living with her parents at this time, and they decided that it was time to move to an area where they could purchase some land and get further away from encroaching urban sprawl.  This took the whole family to northeast Texas, where her folks bought 30 acres.  In an effort to keep their agricultural property tax exemption, they began raising sheep, and for the first two years, Grace wanted nothing to do with this.  However, in 202o that all changed.

Once Grace embraced taking care of the livestock and farming, she fell in love with the lifestyle and work.  This led her to develop a passion for findng a way to stay on the farm.  She took the online marketing skills that she already had and started applying them to the families farming enterprise and "The Shepherdess At Harmony Farms" was born.

Today Grace is selling premium Dorper Sheep, online courses, merchandise, sheep supplies and other SWAG.  She is fired up about telling young people how they will be able to get into farming and why that is a great choice.  And, she is putting outstanding content out on her blog and her YouTube Channel.  And, I am lucky enough to interview her today.

Direct download: Shepherdess_Episode_1599_-_11823_11.24_AM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am speaking a marketing prodigy who has come into her own marketing Dorper Sheep as well as educational materials regarding how to farm and raise sheep.  This made me think of my interview with Jeremiah Geise who first appeared on the show in 2021 and talked about niche marketing for three different species of livestock.  So, I decided to bring this episode back for you to compliment tomorrow's show.

Direct download: OFI_1598_Replay_Of_1235_-_11823_2.02_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Lizzie Schafer is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Beef Placement.  Lizzie and her brother have been showing cattle nationally for their family farm for several years now, both from a competitive standpoint and in an effort to market their genetics.  Over the years, Lizzie has taken on more and more of the responsibility of the cattle side of their families farm, including become the herd manager and making many of the major decisions about their cattle business.

Lizzie was recruited by several colleges for livestock judging during high school.  Ultimately, she chose to being her college career at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kanas.  Lizzie told me that livestock judging is the #1 sport on that campus, and they take care of their livestock judging students very well.  She is studying agricultural communications and hopes to be standing outside of the show arena waiting to interview the winners and tell their stories at some point in the future.  

Direct download: Lizzie_Schafer_Episode_1597_-_122122_1.53_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Hello everybody.  We have a farm update episode today, and I am excited about the developments at our place.  I hope you will join us to talk goats, a new market for goats, beef, word of mouth marketing and so much more!

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Direct download: OFI_1596_Tuesday_Episode_-_11623_7.49_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Carrie Rhoades is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Dairy Production.  Carrie grew up on a dairy farm in Ohio, and has been part of the FFA since her 8th Grade year.  During that time she has been trading labor with her family in exchange for feed, space, veterinary treatment and everything else that comes with raising a show string of dairy cattle.

Early on Carrie's parents let her know that she was welcome to pursue a college education wherever she wanted, but she was going to have to find a way to pay for it herself.  She decided that she did not want to go into debt to get her education, so she had to find a way to afford the costs.  Also, she decided that college was going to be her best opportunity to live somewhere else and have a different experience than what she had always known in Ohio.  It was not that she didn't like Ohio.  Actually, she knew that she was going to spend her life in Ohio, but she thought it would be good to have one different experience during her life, and the best opportunity would be during college.  However, this created the challenge of non-resident tuition.

Knowing this was coming, Carrie got busy during high school.  She took as many dual credit courses as she could, all for free. When she graduated she had 30 credits, or her entire freshman year, completed.  At the beginning of her senior year of high school she began looking for scholarships.  She did not allow herself to indulge in imposter syndrome.  She applied for everything, even the scholarships that she thought she might not be qualified for.....and she received several.

Mostly coming from her local community, Carrie set off to Oklahoma State University late in the summer of 2022 with one year of college already completed and scholarships that would pay for the next three semesters.  That left Carrie with only three semesters to pay for.  She is already on the hunt for more scholarships to get her the rest of the way, and she is going to live in school housing on the school farm for a very reasonable rate to take care of that expense.  It can be done everyone!

 

Direct download: Carrie_Rhoades_Episode_1595_-_121522_3.37_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Tip Of The Week

Be skeptical of outrageous stories and do a little checking

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://original.newsbreak.com/@yanasa-tv-1592052/2888279621257-cattle-mysteriously-die-or-go-missing-stumping-investigators

https://ksltv.com/517786/owner-deputies-fear-7-young-horses-were-stolen-outside-of-elberta/

https://news.yahoo.com/sheriff-officials-conduct-livestock-road-194737726.html

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/opinion/contributors/2023/01/12/we-all-pay-for-grocery-theft.html

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/dudley/sedgley/2023/01/12/search-on-to-find-culprits-for-stolen-trailer/

https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/lincolnshire-police-appeal-for-information-on-farm-burglary/

https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/crime/nfu-warns-of-scammers-claiming-to-be-energy-company

Africa

http://www.times.co.sz/news/138392-theft-suspect-whipped-with-siswebhu-dies.html

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/police-arrest-six-for-limpopo-game-farm-robbery-confiscate-ammunition-guns-and-cash-20230112

https://www.citizen.co.za/witness/news/bishopstowe-farmer-shot/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/wisconsin-woman-accused-poisoning-vet-husband-with-euthanasia-drugs/2CLFM32TINDKXOIGVKF5PWTXRA/

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Oregon-OKs-killing-2-wolves-in-new-pack-after-17714419.php

 

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Direct download: OFI_1594_Rural_Crime_-_11323_4.36_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Darrell Anderson is a career, agricultural broadcaster.  He left his families farm after high school for college, and during college discovered his interest in broadcasting.  This led Darrell in several different directions.  Today, after a career's worth of the radio business Darrell is working as an independent agricultural broadcaster.  He hosts a syndicated, 90 second show, called Farm To Fork that is played on stations all around the country, five days per week.

In today's episode Darrell will retrace his journey to where he is at today.  And, we we will talk about how a young person who wants to be an agricultural broadcaster can start their own, independent show in the way that Darrell has, today.

Direct download: Darrell_Anderson_Episode_1593_-_12822_9.14_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am speaking with a gentleman who has a career's worth of experience in farm radio, radio in general and in creating a syndicated radio program.  This took me all the way back to episode #36 for our re-cap episode when I profiled John Harrer who was beginning The Whoa Podcast, and we talked about building this type of broadcasting business.

 

Direct download: OFI_1592_Replay_Of_036_-_11123_4.35_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Ethan Meissner is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Agricultural Processing.  Since his 8th grade year Ethan has been working at a local meat locker near Marshfield, Wisconsin.  He started out doing carry outs, cleaning coolers and any other small jobs that needed to be done.  But over time the business and Ethan both evolved and changed.  Today, the locker specializes in making sausages and hot dogs, pretty much anything that is ground and then stuffed into a casing.  Ethan has become much more proficient and knowledgeable in running machinery and really the whole operation.  This ultimately led his boss to trust him enough to take a day off on the weekends and leave Ethan in charge.  

Today Ethan is studying agricultural engineering at the University Of Wisconsin at River Falls.  He actually started out at another university studying just mechanical engineering.  However, he missed agriculture and transferred so that Ag could be part of the emphasis of his major.  On the weekends and during breaks from school Ethan returns home and works at the meat locker.  For the summer he has his eye on some internships so that he can explore this career field even further.  

 

Direct download: Ethan_Meissner_Episode_1591_-_121422_1.46_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

On today's farm update show I want to inspire you on your journey in pursuit of your new lifestyle!  

Direct download: OFI_1590_Tuesday_Episode_-_1923_4.30_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Trenton Jones is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Diversified Horticulture.  He is also a former chapter, regional and state officer in Missouri.  Trenton is currently in his junior year of college at Northwest Missouri State University where he is majoring in Agricultural Media, and he says that he finds himself leaning towards broadcast media at the moment.

Trenton's supervised agricultural experience and business began when he and a friend decided they would raise some plants and sell to friends and family.  Eventually, they went down divergent paths.  Trenton decided that he wanted to grow the business and get more serious about it, and the friend kind of faded out of it.  This led to Trenton taking a job in the industry so he could learn more about the business.  This eventually led to business opportunities for Trenton, filling opportunities that the business he was working for did not fill.  This led to Trenton's business, "Trent's Tropicals", which he closed down last January because of how busy he had become as a state officer.  However, Trenton says that "Trent's Tropicals" might make a comeback.  He is finishing college for now, but that idea is still within the realm of possibilities.  

Direct download: Trenton_Jones_Episode_1589_-_121322_1.44_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Tip Of The Week

Brand your cattle, especially if they aren’t close to home

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.drovers.com/news/industry/top-10-scandals-seen-cattle-industry-2022

https://www.thefencepost.com/news/cattle-missing-from-baca-county-colo/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://globalnews.ca/news/9385037/rural-robbery-redwater-new-years-day/

https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/countryside-riders-targeted-by-bike-thieves-amid-record-lows-in-police-detection-rates

https://www.southernstar.ie/news/pedigree-angus-bull-and-four-in-calf-cows-stolen-4254875

Africa

https://www.chronicle.co.zw/five-men-nabbed-for-stealing-35-cattle/

https://www.mmegi.bw/news/jwaneng-police-concerned-by-rising-stock-theft-cases/news

https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/rift-valley/2023-01-02-two-sisters-killed-by-bandits-amid-prayers-for-peace/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.thegeorgiavirtue.com/georgia-crime/owner-of-farm-labor-company-sentenced-to-prison-for-leading-multi-state-conspiracy-involving-forced-labor-of-farm-workers/

https://www.kwch.com/2022/12/08/kansas-cowboys-help-recover-cattle-after-semi-overturns-highway-50/

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Direct download: OFI_1588_Rural_Crime_-_1623_1.28_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Farm Link is a program in Nebraska that strives to match up retiring farmers and ranchers with new and beginning farmers and ranchers that are looking for an operation to take over.  The obstacles of entry into farming and ranching are very high, making it difficult for a newcomer to get started.  At the same time there are retiring farmers and ranchers that want to see their land support another family the way that it did theirs, and they are willing to work with a young person to make this happen.  

Allan Vyhnalek is an extension educator for the University Of Nebraska at Lincoln, and he started the Nebraska Farm Link Program in January of 2021.  In today's episode we will discuss how it works, options for transition plans and some of the things he sees that are holding new and beginning farmers back from taking full advantage of this resource.  

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Direct download: Allan_Vyhnalek_Episode_1587_-_12622_3.49_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

On tomorrow's ag business episode we are looking at the concept of farm transition again.  It has been several years since I have done this, but it is a topic that we should keep front of mind because it is a valid way to begin farming or ranching.  Back in 2017 I interviewed a young man who was a National Proficiency Finalist and a sophomore in college.  He was raising his own cattle and working for a neighbor on his ranch, and that neighbor was ready to retire.  The neighbor did not have a family member who wanted to farm the ground, and he was transitioning the operation to my guest, Stetson Dittmar.  On today's show we will revisit that conversation.  

Direct download: OFI_1586_Replay_Of_389_-_1423_4.45_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Jay McClure is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Forage Production.  This is the result of Jay's efforts on his families farm taking over responsibility for hay production under several center pivots.  Jay is now a full-time farmer and has chosen this path as his career for the rest of his life.  

Jay is faced with a unique problem.  The family farm has been in the family for over 100 years, and during that time it has grown more and more reliant on irrigation.  Jay and his family pump water from the Ogallala Aquifer, which is running out of water.  Jay believes that the farm will not run out of water before his father retires, however he does believe that the aquifer will be exhausted before he is ready to retire.  So, in addition to the everyday challenges of production agriculture, Jay is faced with what to do when the time comes and how to continue an over 100 year tradition in face of losing a precious resource.  

Direct download: Jay_McClure_Episode_1585_-_12822_8.25_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

On today's farm update show, let's talk about my goals for 2023, including:

  • Be better at gopher control
  • More frequent pasture rotations
  • Sell sweet corn in a road side stand
  • Start a working dog
  • Become more of a vagabond on Idaho’s back roads
  • Graze goats on our canal more
  • Start a couple of pack goats

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Direct download: OFI_1584_Tuesday_Episode_-_1223_3.51_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

Will Sherman is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Ag Processing.  He has been cutting meat at Mound City Butcher Block in LaCygne, Kansas since he was 14 years of age.  At age 18, just months after graduating high school he is already managing the shop.  Will takes a lot of satisfaction from cutting meat.  He sees it as a way to serve his community by preparing their meat for them, whether it be livestock or wild game.  

Will is still deciding whether or not college serves his purposes, but he is sure that butchering is part of his future.  He wants to eventually own his own shop, whether that means purchasing Mound City Butcher Block or starting from scratch.  If he does attend college, his education will be geared towards making him a better business manager and butcher in his chosen profession.  

Direct download: Will_Sherman_Episode_1583_-_12722_4.02_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MDT

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