Off-Farm Income

Hattie Brechwald is a chapter sentinel at Kuna High School, has just started her own herd of goats, is a district winner in two welding methods and is my daughter.  Traditionally, Autumm, Hattie and I record a year end episode for New Years.  However, this year Autumm is sick and is in no shape to be a guest on the show, so it is just Hattie and I.  I have been waiting for Hattie to get far enough along in her FFA journey to be a guest on the show, so I can profile her FFA accomplishments for all of you.  About three months ago I realized that she had reached that point.  Since then, I have been looking for the right time.

Well, it turns out that this year's New Years Episode is exactly the right time.  I completely caught Hattie off guard with this.  She was working this afternoon and then went to visit her grandparents.  When she walked in the door, I told her that tonight was the night.  So, her interview is totally extemporaneous.  We literally recorded it about five minutes after she found that we would be featuring her.  I think she knocked it out of the park, and I am proud she did so well with no time to prepare and no advantages just because her dad is the host!

Direct download: Hattie_Brechwald_Episode_1582_-_123022_9.58_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Jana Earp is the Advertising and Partnership Manager at Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in Fort Worth, Texas.  The TSCRA began as a conglomerate of ranchers in Texas that banded together to stop cattle rustling in 1880.  Since the this group has evolved, officially becoming the TSCRA in 1921.  It's mission also evolved and turned from being focused on catching cattle rustlers to helping people succeed not just in raising cattle but in all aspects of agriculture.  

This episode was originally going to be aired as a rural crime episode.  However, it also evolved.  The TSCRA does so much to help people from anywhere in the country to succeed in agriculture that this interview felt more like an ag business episode.  So today, Jana will introduce the TSCRA to all of you and let you know exactly how this organization can help you succeed in agriculture.  

Direct download: Jana_Earp_Episode_1581_-_12722_4.42_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Because of the holidays and the way they fell this year, I am not producing a rural crime episode this week.  However, on tomorrow's ag business episode I am doing a show all about the Texas And Southwestern Rural Cattle Association, which I was introduced to through hosting this rural crime episode.  So, for today's re-cap episode I thought it made sense to go back and revisit a rural crime interview that I had been able to do.  This interview with Debi Metcalf of Net Posse made a lot of sense as there is significant overlap between what her organization does and what the TSCRA does.  So, I'm bringing it back for you today.

Direct download: OFI_1580_Replay_Of_1030_-_122822_7.36_AM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Ty Steffen is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Diversified Crop Production.  On his families property and on leased property in his hometown of Newark, Illinois he grows 4 acres of pumpkins, a 1/2 acre of broom corn and gourds as well as a large vegetable garden.  Using honor system stands Ty markets his broom corn, gourds and pumpkins as decorative produce every fall.  

There is an interesting twist to Ty's story.  During his 9th Grade year he noticed some city land adjacent to a park that was going unused.  Ty actually went to a board meeting for his village and requested to lease that ground to farm on.  That lease was approved, and he obtained two acres, right in town to grow his crops.  Ty is interested in continuing his business and remaining an entrepreneur after high school and college.  

Direct download: Ty_Steffen_Episode_1579_-_12622_4.52_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

A quick farm update on a "kind of" week off between Christmas and New Years.  This one has it all: goats, freezing rain and more....

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Direct download: OFI_1578_Tuesday_Episode_-_122622_6.20_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Hanna Schmidt is a junior at Mullhall-Orlando High School and the secretary of her FFA Chapter.  She also has a business removing invasive cedar trees from the pastures and fields of the people in her community.  In today's episode Hanna explains that the research she has done has indicated that cedar trees rob a lot of soil moisture from the grasslands, and their removal can result in higher carrying capacities for the property owners that she serves.

 

Direct download: Hanna_Schmidt_Episode_1577_-_12622_4.18_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Doland FFA

Avery Miles - Chapter President of the Doland FFA Chapter in Doland, South Dakota

Starting this year the Doland FFA Chapter decorated the town's park on Main Street for Christmas.  The emphasis is on lights, but there is also a beautifully lit up FFA logo at the front of the display tying the community, Christmas and the local chapter all together.  This project began with a $500 grant that was received from the South Dakota FFA Association, and it was quickly matched the Doland FFA Alumi Association.  This is Avery's final year at Doland High School, but she believes that this will be come a tradition and will continue to grow in size and scope.

 

Southern Guilford FFA

Hannah Barnes - Chapter President of the Southern Guilford FFA Chapter in Greensboro, North Carolina

For the past four years the Southern Guilford FFA Chapter has been conducting a toy drive, beginning in mid-November, to collect toys for children in their community that can be given to them as gifts on Christmas Day.  The effort is now split into a whole chapter drive and an additional drive involving the just the officer team.  The chapter is partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps through their Toys For Tots program, and all of the toys are handed over to them for distribution.

In this interview Hannah highlights one of her fellow chapter members that, in spite of the $5 spending limit, donated over $250 worth of toys to the event.  The generosity of this student and the entire chapter is very heart warming.

 

Raft River FFA

Jessi Knudsen - Vice President of the Raft River FFA Chapter in Malta, Idaho

What began with a canned food drive has now grown into a full blown gift giving extravaganza for the community in and around Malta, Idaho.  As the Raft River FFA Chapter has continued to give to their community during Christmas anonymous donors from the community have joined in, giving money to the cause so that more can be bought and the joy of the season can be spread to even more people.

 

Sleepy Eye FFA

Adam Johnson - Chapter President of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter participates in a backpack food program, and this year for Christmas they are putting together "Holiday Boxes" for folks needing some help in their community.  They are making "tie blankets" as a chapter and giving those away in addition some food, an ornament and personal care items.

 

Lumberton FFA

Kamryn McInnis - Chapter President of the Lumberton FFA Chapter in Lumberton, North Carolina

"Share The Warmth" Project - the chapter used the proceeds from their poinsettia sale to purchase coats for kids identified by social services in their county.  52 coats were purchased and donated to children in the area.

 

 

Ripley FFA

Riley Knotts - Chapter Vice-President Of The Ripley FFA Chapter in Ripley, West Virginia

Riley and his fellow chapters members are supporting the "Jackson County Hunting Heroes" program by butchering deer for the veterans who have gone out on the hunts and filled their tags.  The Ripley FFA Chapter has been participating in this program for quite some time, and their involvement continues to develop.  In this interview Riley talks about the veterans and holds in the high regard that they deserve.

 

 

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1576_2022_Christmas_Episode_-_121922_1.38_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Gracee Poorman has overcome a lot in her life, and dealing with the difficult challenges of overcoming obstacles is probably what attracts her to agriculture.  She did not grow up in agriculture, but through a series of twists and turns she found herself working in a commercial hog barn.  She also found many people skeptical about her ability to put in the work and be successful working in that environment, and that drove her to prove them wrong.....which she did!

Today Gracee is married and living and working on the family farm that has been in her husband's family for two centuries.  She is what I would describe as a serial entrepreneur.  Gracee is running several businesses including photography, pressure washing, agricultural consulting and public speaking.  She keeps herself very busy with different streams of revenue as well as working on her families farm.  In this episode, we will get a glimpse into what drives her.

 
Direct download: Gracee_Poorman_Episode_1575_-_12122_3.18_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Dresen Ferschweiler is a really incredible entrepreneur and has what I call "The Entrepreneur's Attribute.  She was first on the show in 2021 talking about how she recognized shortcomings in sheep halters and decided to do something about it, very early on in high school.  I have since met her, her family and her fellow chapter members at the National FFA Convention.  Dresen is the epitome of an entrepreneur, and she is a great compliment to the guest I have coming on the show tomorrow.  So, Dresen's episode was perfect for today's re-cap show.

Direct download: OFI_1574_Replay_Of_973_-_121922_2.30_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Blake Moore is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Agricultural Mechanics and Repair.  Starting on his uncle's farm somewhere around 6th grade Blake quickly found his curiosity piqued when he was in the shop around the tractors, feed trucks and pickups.  Soon, he was working on engines and demonstrating aptitude.

6th Grade was also the very first year of his school's middle school FFA chapter.  Always seeing his father's blue jacket hanging in the closet, Blake knew he wanted one of those.  So, he signed up for the FFA and became very active, only to have his activity level wane just a bit going into his 8th and 9th grade years.  However, one of Blake's advisors saw what he was doing mechanically and how much talent he had there, and encouraged him to start filling out paperwork for a regional proficiency award.  One thing led to another, and Blake just kept winning!  This propelled him all the way to the big stage this year as a National Proficiency Finalist!

Direct download: Blake_Moore_Episode_1575_-_12122_3.00_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Hi everyone.  We have a farm update for you today and some more weather talk.  Yes, I love the weather and I love interesting weather.  We seem to have that in abundance right now, and I talk all about it in today's Tuesday Episode.

 

Direct download: OFI_1572_Tuesday_Episode_-_121922_3.43_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Halle Miller is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Small Animal Production & Care.  She is also a junior at the University Of Akron in Ohio studying marketing and sales.  Halle was previously a guest on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2021 on episode #1063 as she was preparing to graduate high school.  At that point in time she was planning on becoming a nurse, but during that very spring her participation on the sales and marketing team through the FFA lit her fire for this industry, and she is pursuing this at college now.

Thanks to a strong work ethic and dual credit classes Halle is already classified as a junior in college, despite this just being her third semester since graduating.  During high school she was able to complete 46 college credits that she took with her to Akron.  Today she is still operating her dog breeding business, Borders Of Eby Eden with help from her entire family.  And of course, her overcoming a dog phobia that began at age 6 remains a large part of her story.

Direct download: Halle_Miller_Episode_1571_-_113022_1.48_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Get involved and create a community

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/3-break-in-to-bay-hay-and-feed-on-bi/

https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2022/12/police-shortage-california-rural-departments/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/llama-dead-two-others-injured-7930026

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/herd-14-cows-stolen-anglesey-25747562

https://www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-police-news-assets/murray-mallee-local-service-area/theft-from-rural-properties-murray-mallee#.Y5t4Ki-B2J8

Africa

https://www.citizen.co.za/witness/news/stolen-meat-suspect-shot-dead/

https://comarochronicle.co.za/276522/local-farmers-in-awe-amid-alarming-discovery/

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/minister-asks-security-personnel-to-protect-vanilla-crop-from-thieves-4054556

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.kimt.com/news/freeborn-county-man-pleads-guilty-to-theft-chase-in-north-iowa/article_d536e794-7be4-11ed-b72a-9b237050cb62.html

https://muddyrivernews.com/noteworthy/auburn-ill-man-arrested-after-six-week-investigation-into-theft-from-farm-implement-dealer-in-pike-county/20221212141749/

https://tscra.org/volunteer-fire-departments-receive-funding-from-the-texas-and-southwestern-cattle-raisers-association-disaster-relief-fund/

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1570_Rural_Crime_-_121622_10.25_AM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Lance Irving is the program director for the Leopold Conservation Award which is presented to one farmer in each of 25 participating states.  The award comes after a farmer has been nominated for the conversation practices on their farm that are both financially sound and environmentally beneficial.  The award is facilitated and presented by the Sand County Foundation, which is named after Aldo Leopold's watershed book titled "A Sand County Almanac" which was released in 1949.

On today's episode Lance will speak with us about the award, the work of the Sand County Foundation, working for a foundation and his journey that led him into this position.  We will also discuss trends that he is seeing in agriculture and the use of conversation practices and the philosophy of the Sand County Foundation on educating people about this way of farming.

Direct download: Lance_Irving_Episode_1569_-_113022_3.28_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode I am profiling the Leopold Conservation Award that is given out by the Sand County Foundation each year to one farmer in 25 states.  The Sand County Foundation has a significant tie to Wisconsin and, of course, Aldo Leopold.  Whenever I think of old time Wisconsin, I immediately thing of Jerry Apps and his great story telling ability.  So, on today's re-cap episode I thought it would be great to revisit the second interview I ever did with Jerry.

Direct download: OFI_1568_Replay_Episode_-_121422_2.46_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Arturo Madriz is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Agricultural Mechanics and Repair.  He is also a senior at Madera South High School in California, and has a big time job in his father's trucking company.  Just this year Arturo started going out on his own to repair damaged or broken down semis from the families business.  He has driven up to 3 hours to take care of a truck that was broke down on the side of the road.  

Madera sits right on California State Highway 99, which has more north/south truck traffic than any roadway, including interstates, in the United States.  It is narrow and busy with vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed.  Arturo had to replace two trailer tires on this roadway this summer.  This is dangerous and stressful work.  And, he doesn't just switch out wheels.  He breaks the bead off of the damaged tire and re-seats a new tire on to the existing wheel.  

To further help the family business, which his father started years ago after emigrating from Mexico, Arturo is planning on going to a diesel mechanic program after high school.  One of the biggest expenses the business has is paying for expert diesel mechanic work, and Arturo plans to learn what he needs so that they can reduce that expense.  

Direct download: Arturo_Madriz_Episode_1567_-_111722_3.40_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

The last piece of media I took in last night before bed was the weather report.  My favorite meteorologist predicted that the rain we were receiving would turn to snow over night but that little to no accumulation would occur.  She did give the caveat that if snow were to stick it would have to be from a very fast and heavy snowfall, which was very unlikely.

The first thing I heard this morning was my wife on the telephone receiving a call notifying her that her school district was taking a snow day today because of the heavy snowfall over night and the horrible road conditions!  I went outside to feed and found four inches of very wet and heavy snow.  And for a weather dork like me, that is a very happy surprise!

 

Direct download: OFI_1566_Tuesday_episode_-_121222_3.39_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Willie Schoonover is a junior at Mulhall-Orlando High School in Orlando, Oklahoma and he is the treasurer in their FFA Chapter.  He is also the son of two veterinarians and moving quickly towards that same career pathway.  Willie and his younger brother raise goats, cattle, pigs and sheep on their Oklahoma farm, and this is giving them great experience for their futures, as Willie told me that his brother is also interested in veterinary work.

Willie currently has his sights set on Oklahoma State University in two years, after he graduates high school.  However, he has a dream of doing veterinary work with buffalo in Montana, outside of Yellowstone National Park.  Maybe he can be persuaded to seek his bachelor's degree in Bozeman and hang a blue Montana State University flag up as well.

Direct download: Willie_Schoonover_Episode_1565_-_111722_2.13_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Learn what a reactionary gap is and how to maintain one.

Rural Crime In The U.S.

Are the folks in this audience more susceptible to being defrauded of money?  Well.....Perhaps.

Anytime that you have a goal that involves a lot of money, and it is difficult or next to impossible to figure out how you will obtain the money needed to reach the goal you become more susceptible to being scammed.  Then you see a success story like this one and start thinking that the only way you will find success is by getting WAY OUTSIDE THE BOX like this young man did: https://www.agweb.com/news/business/farmland/young-farmer-makes-history-uses-video-games-and-youtube-buy-18m-land

So, in today's episode I want to take a minute to point out a scam that is currently underway.  This is not necessarily a specifically rural crime, but if you are trying to find a way to create the capital needed to purchase your farm, you might stumble across these people while you are searching.  Of course, they would be more than happy to take your money and disappear, even if you don't live in an urban environment and are not one of their traditional victims.

I've said many times that in order to succeed in our entrepreneurial journeys we may need to leave agriculture to obtain something (expertise, training, money, etc.) and then bring it back to agriculture for the lifestyle that we are seeking.  But this is not what I meant!

https://sfstandard.com/criminal-justice/bay-area-people-lost-6-8m-to-scammers-this-year-already-as-pig-butchering-rises/

https://www.orangeleader.com/2022/12/07/video-can-you-identify-this-man-who-stole-from-tractor-supply/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/wisconsin/articles/2022-12-07/state-files-criminal-charges-against-wisconsin-dairy-farm

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/two-old-lags-caught-secret-060000256.html

https://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/23173977.stourbridge-farmer-hit-theft-60-sheep/

https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/25-lambs-stolen-from-cambridgeshire-farms-police-say-some-w-9288281/

https://www.farminguk.com/news/livestock-theft-could-ruin-livelihoods-insurance-expert-warns_61702.html

Africa

https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/two-suspected-cattle-thieves-lynched-in-kaber-149174

https://neweralive.na/posts/otjozondjupa-omaheke-stock-theft-hotbeds-750-cases-reported-countrywide-in-10-months

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/2-men-arrested-on-possession-of-stolen-property-say-police/article_180bf112-11fa-5d48-89d9-6a4ef502b1ef.html

https://www.bctribune.com/news/deputies-recover-stolen-tractor-side-side

https://www.wbiw.com/2022/12/07/man-arrested-while-driving-on-the-flat-tire-of-a-stolen-grain-truck/

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article269719656.html

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Direct download: OFI_1564_Rural_Crime_-_12922_9.47_AM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Jenn & Phil Tomkins (Homestead Jenn & Phil) are the creators of "Rent The Chicken", an affiliate business that is helping farmers across the U.S. and Canada to create extra revenue and support their farming lifestyle.  They are also helping prospective entrepreneurs to get experience running their own businesses and gain the courage to really go out on their own.

Phil & Jenn are based in Western Pennsylvania, but they have affiliates spread far and wide.  They are also growing knowledge about agriculture by creating an easy way for non-farmers to get exposure to raising their own chickens and collecting their own eggs.  Jenn & Phil first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2015 on episode #30, and today they are back to update us on the growth of their business and how they have sustained their transition to being full-time entrepreneurs.

 

 

Direct download: Rent_The_Chicken_Episode_1563_-_112922_3.17_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On tomorrow's ag business episode I am catching up with Jenn and Phil Tompkins of "Rent The Chicken".  They first appeared on the show in 2015 on episode #30.  Their business is still going strong, and they are both full-time entrepreneurs in agriculture.

For today's re-cap episode I wanted to provide you with their very appearance on the show.  

Direct download: OFI_1562_Replay_Of_030_-_12722_8.02_AM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Peyton Parks is a junior at Topsail High School in Hampstead, North Carolina.  She is also a third year member in the Topsail FFA Chapter and she has an eye for entrepreneurship.  Peyton has been riding and caring for horses for several years.  She has been pet sitting for neighbors for about three years now, including people with horses, and she finds herself very attracted to entrepreneurship.  

This has led Peyton to make efforts to grow her business through postings on neighborhood apps that she knows people in her community use.  She has found ways to make her self standout on those apps, and she is seeing results in calls for service.  In her free time Peyton has her business on her mind, and this has led her to explore many of the different pet sitting apps that already exist.  Peyton believes that she can build a better pet sitting app, and she outlines what she believes should be part of the app in this episode.

Direct download: Peyton_Parks_Episode_1561_-_111622_3.26_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

It is that time of year when we have successfully raised a calf crop to finishing weights and deliver them to the butcher.  However, the timing of this trip factoring in the weather and traffic is always an interesting part of our story.  And of course, it can be a little bit bitter-sweet to have these livestock that we have known for so long fulfill their life purpose.  However, it is ultimately a very good day.

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Direct download: OFI_1560_Tuesday_Episode_-_12522_3.56_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Levi Smuin is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Ag Mechanics Repair & Maintenance, and is also from my home state of Idaho!  Levi began his journey in the FFA during his sophomore year in high school.  About one year prior to that he had started working for Rounds Farms & Trucking in Rigby, Idaho.  This has led to a progression of responsibility on the farm and in the trucking business, and it was a natural fit for his placement SAE.

During our interview Levi talked about how important writing the narratives on his proficiency applications were.  When I asked him more about that he talked about the method he used, which was a peer review type method with his fellow FFA students.  He would write something, and then he would have his writing assessed by his classmates.  When they finished preparing the narrative his advisors would look it over and possibly make suggestions.  Then the process would start over again.  I really liked this approach, as you can see that every member in that chapter has a little part in Levi becoming a National Proficiency Finalist!

Direct download: Levi_Smuin_Episode_1559_-_111522_1.32_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Getting physically involved is a rational choice decision too

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20221121

https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/alleged-edinburg-cattle-thief-wanted-after-missing-court-date-records-show/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/23149371.police-launch-investigation-dog-thefts-herefordshire/

https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/7994057/bonsai-worth-15k-stolen-from-vic-nursery/

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/news/fury-in-kerry-after-widow-farmers-herd-hit-by-cattle-rustlers-42182507.html

Africa

https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/how-to-put-the-cherry-on-top-of-your-production/

https://humanglemedia.com/cameroon-army-sets-up-new-bases-to-face-growing-boko-haram-activity/

https://www.kbc.co.ke/news/local-news/article/33589/police-to-get-more-firepower-ppes-in-counter-banditry-plan

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/27659-30-000-of-chicken-stolen-from-perdue-farms

https://www.foxnews.com/us/alabama-tractor-supply-customers-thwart-alleged-shoplifters-open-fire-getaway-cars-tires

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Direct download: OFI_1558_Rural_Crime_-_12122_7.12_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Nick Tsiolis is the founder of Farmer's Keeper, a grain merchandising company in Chicago.  Nick and his team provide grain merchandising advice and assistance to farmers of all sizes, and they are especially helpful to those farmers on the bubble who are thinking about marketing some or all of their grain in the futures markets.

I like to say that I can podcast about agriculture because I know a little about a lot.  However, futures and the marketing of grain has always been a blind spot for me, so I was eager to speak with Nick and to learn more about how this is done.

Direct download: Nick_Tsiolis_Episode_1557_-_111622_6.19_AM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On tomorrow's show we are getting an education on grain marketing.  The first thing I thought of when considering a re-cap episode was this interview with Jake Fanning.  He was well ahead of his age when it came to hedging through the commodities market, and today I want to bring this back to you.

Direct download: OFI_1556_Replay_of_356_-_112822_1.31_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Lila Wantland is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist, a former chapter and area officer and a second time guest on the Off-Farm Income Podcast.  Lisa first appeared on the show in episode #1393 in May of 2022, and little did either of us know at that point that she would become a National Proficiency Finalist this year.  On today's show Lila joins us from her dorm room at Oklahoma State University, where she is studying animal science.  I wanted to have her back on the show to congratulate her on the incredible accomplishment.

Direct download: Lila_Wantland_Episode_1555_-_111022_3.18_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

We did something very different for Thanksgiving this year.  We took a trip to Moab, Utah and spent the holiday with friends, rather than family. We then returned to a snowy farm to kick off the Christmas season!

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Direct download: OFI_1554_Tuesday_Episode_-_112822_12.49_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Will Harman is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Beef Production.  Will farms with his family in Northwest Indiana where they grow corn and soybeans as well as raise cattle.  The families cattle herd began with show animals for 4H, but as time went on and Will and his brother Ben were showing less, it turned into a direct marketing beef business.  

Will's older brother Ben was a guest on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2018 in episode #518.  Today he is a senior in college, and Will is in his first semester of college.  Will is studying agricultural business with a minor in animal science at Purdue.  He is looking forward to a future of returning to the family farm, if that is possible.  He joked in the interview that if he does that he will have to learn to drive a semi and become a "super trucker".  Ben is also interested in becoming a butcher, and he is currently doing everything he can to get exposure to that profession.  

 

Direct download: Will_Harman_Episode_1553_-_11922_1.44_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Horrifically evil and violent crimes exist today, and they have always been with us.

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.nydailynews.com/true-crime-justice-story/ny-thanksgiving-eve-murders-20221119-skj6nxxqvndlddaeosnhc2isca-story.html

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/vandals-destroy-irrigation-system-at-jacksonville-farm/77-5d3e0134-60d5-4b83-837f-67d78158702f

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/farm-thefts-what-you-can-do-to-protect-yourself/

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsbirmingham/poachers-armed-with-air-rifles-arrested-in-village-during-police-sting/ar-AA14k0ku

https://www.farminguk.com/news/dog-kills-seven-sheep-and-injures-dozens-in-north-wales-attack_61571.html

Africa

https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/cattle-farmers-in-nkomazi-fearful-after-30-cattle-are-stolen/

https://newsghana.com.gh/cameroon-deploys-troops-to-secure-border-with-chad-and-car/

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/82083-mob-lynches-suspected-thieves-burn-vehicle

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.kltv.com/video/2022/11/19/man-survives-being-trapped-grain-bin/

https://www.farminguk.com/news/men-who-raided-13-farms-for-tractor-gps-kits-given-prison-sentence_61552.html

 

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Direct download: OFI_1552_Rural_Crime_-_112222_10.31_AM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Pete Curran began his career in agriculture at age 55 after a job loss.  He began working in seed sales and started meeting farmers.  This lit him on fire about agriculture, farming operations and farmers.  Soon, he was doing something unconventional, asking farmers if he could take photographs of them.  This led to a collection of photos and ultimately his book, "When I Listened To A Farmer".

I discovered Pete through social media, and he sent me a copy of his book.  The photographs that he has been able to capture with just an iPhone are fantastic, and he clearly has an eye for telling a story through a lens.  The writing style in the book is unique and makes you think.  As Pete explains it, this is exactly how he communicates, and it works.

Direct download: Pete_Curran_Episode_1551_-_11222_6.18_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

I have a ton of gratitude for all of you, and thank you so much for being in this audience.  Happy Thanksgiving!

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Direct download: OFI_1550_Thanksgiving_-_112222_2.57_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Justin Duenke is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Diversified Agriculture.  Growing up farming on a row crop operation, his family decided to add cattle to the farm when he was 9 years old.  During a bad drought and seeing very poor corn out in the field, Justin's father made the decision to chop the corn for silage rather than try to sell it, and to feed it to their cattle.  The only problem was that they did not have cattle, but they remedied that by purchase approximately 100 bred heifers.

Since that time they have stuck with the cattle, partially as a continuing hedge against a situation like this in the future and partially because Justin and his brother found their farming passion came from working with the livestock.  Today they raise horses and cattle, grow soybeans and corn and are now experimenting with forage sorghum and rye as cover crops.

Justin is currently a sophomore at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri.  He is studying agricultural science but which eventually focus on nutrition.  Justin wants to have the knowledge that will allow him to bring nutritional expertise back to the farm and to develop rations and methods to better feed their cattle.

 

Direct download: Justin_Duenke_Episode_1549_-_11822_6.37_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Happy Thanksgiving Week to all of you!  On today's solo episode, I want to take some time to thank our great sponsors!

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Direct download: OFI_1548_Tuesday_Episode_-_112122_6.39_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Annamarie Stone is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of diversified livestock production.  She is also a Missouri State Officer and three time guest on the Off-Farm Income Podcast.  On today's episode Annamarie comes back on the show so I can property congratulate her on being a national proficiency finalist and being a state officer.  All of us here at the Off-Farm Income Podcast are very proud of what Annamarie has been doing.

Direct download: Annamarie_Stone_Episode_1547_-_11322_2.36_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

The more exotic the animal, the higher the risk?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.ksal.com/flatbed-stolen-with-1-2-of-a-hay-bale/

https://www.webstercountycitizen.com/opinion/article_fb4be72a-653e-11ed-a71f-0ba7e2e22c77.html

https://www.fox5vegas.com/2022/11/16/some-10000-mink-loose-missing-after-vandalism-rural-farm/

https://www.nola.com/news/northshore/two-accused-of-killing-stealing-deer-in-washington-parish/article_f30ee776-0677-50e4-8820-02f23b7267f4.html

https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/have-ewe-seen-this-sheep-illinois-boys-1st-4-h-project-stolen/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-63649938

https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/maidenhead/181734/police-recover-more-than-1-million-worth-of-tools-stolen-during-rural-crime.html

Africa

https://allafrica.com/stories/202211160392.html

https://issafrica.org/iss-today/no-silver-bullet-to-stop-cattle-rustling-in-east-africa

https://solacebase.com/troops-kill-dreaded-bandit-leader-kachalla-gudau/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/coastal-farm-store-burglars-receive-6-and-10-year-sentences/

https://www.sctonline.net/state-slideshows-press-releases/mdac-ag-theft-investigation-stolen-airplane-engine-leads-recovery-6373be1461843

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/delays-continue-in-case-of-activists-who-removed-chickens-from-local-poultr/?ref=recent

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Direct download: OFI_1546_Rural_Crime_-_111822_1.13_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Ross Cady is a territory manager for Corteva Agriscience in South Central Minnesota.  Ross first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast 7.5 years ago in 2015 on episode #27.  He was one of the first ever FFA students featured on the show.  Since then he completed high school, was an Illinois State Star Finalist, graduated from Iowa State University and found the job that he had always been imagining with Corteva Agriscience.

In today's episode Ross and I catch up on 7.5 years of life, we discuss the four internships he did during college and how they helped shape him, and we discuss how he identified the career position he wanted and then reverse engineered the pathway to obtaining that job - which he did!

Direct download: Ross_Cady_Episode_1545_-_11122_4.11_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Ross Cady was first a guest on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2017 on Episode #027.  He is appearing on the show again on tomorrow's Ag Business Episode, seven years later.  He is now a college graduate and has just started his career as a territory sales manager for Pioneer in Southern Minnesota.  I could not be more excited for him or proud to feature him on the show again.  To give you an accurate before and after picture, we will replay his original episode today.

 

Direct download: OFI_1544_Re-Cap_Episode_-_111622_3.57_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Evan Mogler is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Diversified Agricultural Production.  He is also a senior in high school and a fantastic mechanic with plans to develop a myriad of mechanical skills from service to software, exclusively on John Deere Tractors.  Currently Evan farms with his family on their 3rd generation farm in Inwood, Iowa.  Evan assists the family and 40-50 farm employees with their 4,800 sows and 100,000 annual market hogs, the 6,000 head of cattle they run through their feedlot and the row crop operation that fills the 2.5 million bushels of grain storage they have on the farm.

Evan's plan after high school is study for two years, to develop his expertise on John Deere Equipment, which is exclusively what is used on the family farm.  He then hopes to go to work for the John Deere Dealership his family does business with as a mechanic until the time is right for him to take over the mechanic role on the farm.

Direct download: Evan_Mogler_Episode_1543_-_11222_7.11_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Today I was listening to a radio show, and they were commenting on a TikTok Video in which an individual stated that there is no way to live on less than $25/hour in the U.S. with current cost of living averages.  This got me thinking about another topic I have touched on in the past, and that is how lucky those of us with a rural mindset are because we can live so cheaply in so many rural areas.  It also got me thinking about the common refrain about college tuition being so high and outrageous student loan debt compared to the reality that I encountered at the National FFA Convention.

On today's show I want to cover these thoughts more in depth.

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Direct download: OFI_1542_Tuesday_Episode_-_111422_7.16_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Morayah Cupp is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of  e Services.  She is also an Agricultural Education student at Oklahoma State University and the owner of Mo's Mobile Coops, an innovative chicken rental business outside of Imperial, Nebraska.  Morayah first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2020 on episode #815.  Today she is back to discuss her selection as a National Proficiency Finalist and the experience she just completed at the 95th National FFA Convention.

Direct download: Morayah_Cupp_Episode_1541_-_11122_4.27_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

If you employ people, even seasonally, you should know something about domestic violence.

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Hay-I-91-exit-tractor-trailer-Hartford-17558670.php

https://www.taftmidwaydriller.com/news/catalytic-converter-theft-prevention-offered-in-taft-saturday/article_6950b198-5f99-11ed-9627-8fe95efb6659.html

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/farm-fencing-vandalised-as-trailers-stolen-9283200/

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/police-probe-launched-after-life-28441134

https://www.facebook.com/groups/756119108133221/permalink/1523888154689642/

Africa

https://www.kbc.co.ke/police-net-hundreds-of-stolen-livestock-as-crackdown-on-rustling-intensifies/

https://www.thebharatexpressnews.com/police-ambushed-gang-of-20-who-set-traps-for-officers/

https://mouthpiecengr.com/2022/11/unemployed-man-jailed-9-months-for-stealing-2-goats/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.bgdailynews.com/news/bg-man-pleads-guilty-in-theft-fraud-case/article_09c240ea-8903-598e-aca5-a89a5fdd1b63.html

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/delphos-man-jailed-vehicular-assault-004500960.html

https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2022/11/domestic-dispute-led-to-shooting-rampage-that-left-4-dead-in-rural-pa-township-police.html

 

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1540_Rural_Crime_Episode_-_111022_5.20_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

James McMurtry is a songwriter, singer and musician who has been writing incredible lyrics since the 1980's and touring the country entertaining audiences ever since.  I have had tickets to see James for months with a show date of October 25th for several months.  I reached out to James' business manager and made the request for an interview, and James graciously said "yes".  So, during the afternoon prior to the show I sat down with James in his hotel room and learned a lot about music and song writing.

 

Direct download: James_McMurtry_Episode_1539_-_102522_5.32_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Erik Dylan is a singer and songwriter who has written some of my favorite songs such as "Baseball On The Moon", which he collaborated with Luke Combs on, and "Map Dot Town".  He first appeared on the show in episode #471 and was gracious enough to agree to an interview.

On tomorrow's show I am featuring another great songwriter and performer.  This episode with Erik flows into tomorrow's episode very well, and I am happy to bring some great music back to the Off-Farm Income Podcast.

 

Direct download: OFI_1538_Re-Cap_Of_471_-_11922_7.46_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Cydney Stables is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship.  She achieved this by starting a floral business her junior year of high school that she calls "Flowers By Cydney".  Cydney states that this was during the Covid Pandemic, and 80% of the reason she started this business was that she wanted to make people feel a bit better during very tough times.  

Cydney is currently a sophomore at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa where she plays guard on the basketball team and is also a scholarship athlete on the golf team.  Cydney played basketball all through high school, which led to her being recruited by Graceland Univeristy, but she did not start golfing until her senior year of high school.  However, she picked up the sport so fast that she made it to state that year and Graceland also asked her to play golf for them.  

Direct download: Cydney_Stables_Episode_1537_-_102022_3.21_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

There is a lot going on, on our farm, and here is a bullet list of today's topics:

  • Goats are eating our cover crops - and that is good thing.
  • The time has changed!
  • I'm seeing an increase in demand for beef and eggs all the sudden.
  • Bird shortages.
  • The 2022 World Series - 20 years later.

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Direct download: OFI_1536_Tuesday_Episode_-_11722_6.30_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Trentin Doss is the owner of Doss Repairs and a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance.  He is a senior at East Buchanan High School in Gower, Missouri.  Trentin will be heading to the National FFA Convention for the very first time this year to find out if he becomes the National Proficiency Winner.  Trentin has been repairing other people's engines since he was 11 years old, and over time he has progressed into larger equipment and more sophisticated repair techniques.  When Trentin finishes high school in 2023 he has his sights set on becoming an mechanical engineer and building large tractors for companies like John Deere or New Holland, etc.

 

Direct download: Trentin_Doss_Episode_1535_-_101922_6.16_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Plan ahead for potentially contentious situations

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.myarklamiss.com/crime/man-accused-of-attacking-former-catfish-farm-employees-in-mississippi/

https://www.newschannelnebraska.com/story/47616568/columbus-man-and-woman-arrested-in-connection-to-farm-building-breakin-near-stanton

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.farminguk.com/news/livestock-rustlers-steal-18-cattle-from-farm-near-wrexham_61448.html

https://www.itv.com/news/border/2022-11-03/two-men-arrested-after-quad-bikes-stolen-from-keswick-farms

Africa

https://kesq.com/news/ap-national-news/2022/11/03/nigeria-police-search-for-farm-workers-abducted-over-levies-2/

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/toilets-have-been-stolen-and-sold-in-dunoon-breaking-31-october-2022/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.dailybulletin.com/2022/10/29/man-arrested-on-suspicion-of-stealing-1000-in-hay/

https://www.gwcommonwealth.com/state-press-releases/mdac-ag-theft-investigation-leads-recovery-stolen-property-yalobusha-and-6363f4166e62b#sthash.9j19A7mX.dpbs

https://www.norfolkneradio.com/townnews/crime/two-people-arrested-on-burglary-related-charges/article_a600bfcc-5b64-11ed-88c8-33e94e583789.html

 

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1534_Rural_Crime_-_11422_7.16_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Farmer Lee Jones is a lifelong farmer, regenerative farming expert and innovative entrepreneur.  Along with his brother, Bob, Lee owns and operates his families farm on land that has been his families farm twice.  Everything you need to know about how to succeed in your personal quest to farm, i.e. perseverance, entrepreneurship, vision, goal setting and valuing people is in this episode.  The Jones farm has existed for over 50 years, has been auctioned off and then risen again to grow to great levels of success.  The principles discussed in this interview are essential for any person who has farming as a goal in their life.

 
Direct download: Farmer_Lee_Jones_Episode_1533_-_101922_5.58_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Hanna Laney sells beef direct to restaurants in the Portland, Oregon area and first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in episode #784.  Today I'm bringing this episode back to highlight this method of farm business sustainability and tie in with tomorrow's ag business episode.

 

Direct download: OFI_1532_Re-Cap_Of_784_-_11322_3.24_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 3:44pm MST

Gracie Minyard is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in the category of agricultural sales & entrepreneurship, the 2022 Georgia State Star in Agribusiness, a national delegate to the National FFA Convention and she is on the livestock judging team at Blinn College in Denham, Texas.  Gracie is also an entrepreneur and the owner of Gracie's Market, which she started the summer between her 8th and 9th Grade years.  Today, Gracie has two produce stands, has just started selling her own value added products and has visions of more locations and a larger business after she finishes her Agriculture Business degree in college.

Direct download: Gracie_Minyard_Episode_1531_-_101822_4.21_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

We are back to the farm and the simplicity of the farm life, but for three days last week my world was a whirlwind!  A greater professional honor has never been bestowed upon me, and there are so many people to thank.  In today's episode I want to re-cap the experience for you.

 

Direct download: OFI_1530_Tuesday_Episode_-_103122_3.59_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Laura Wuebker is a 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Agricultural Communications, a former Ohio State FFA Officer, former farm news director, college student at Oklahoma State University and current farm broadcaster.  She began her broadcasting career during high school doing the farm report for a local radio station that hires high school students for agricultural segments.  This led to her discovering a passion for agricultural communications and ultimately a job with Ohio Ag Net creating pre-recorded segments.  It also led Laura to a double major of agricultural communications and agricultural business.

 

Direct download: Laura_Wuebker_Episode_1529_-_101222_5.47_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Sometimes nice guys do finish last….

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2022/10/21/iowa-us-bank-vp-sentenced-falsifying-farm-loan-documents-cedar-falls-monona/69580727007/

https://www.tsln.com/news/strayed-or-stolen-south-dakota-brand-board-hiring-new-investigator-and-inspecting-manager-ranchers-dont-know-if-thefts-are-being-investigated/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.limerickpost.ie/2022/10/22/garda-alert-over-limerick-farm-robberies/

https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/local-news/945700/garda-appeal-following-theft-of-horse-box-from-yard-close-to-limerick-village.html

https://www.midlands103.com/news/midlands-news/gardai-investigating-cattle-theft-in-laois/

https://www.farminglife.com/country-and-farming/machinery-worth-ps50000-stolen-in-county-armagh-including-lamborghini-190-tractor-a-daewoo-130-digger-and-herbst-low-loader-3888784

Africa

https://reviewonline.co.za/554320/a-joint-operation-leads-to-the-recovery-of-11-cattle-in-limpopo/

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-10-23-festive-season-is-theft-season-for-stock-farmers/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/westmoreland-man-arrested-alleged-turner-102036866.html

https://www.blainecountyjournal.com/story/2022/10/12/news/two-arrested-charged-with-5-felonies-6-misdemeanors-in-blaine-county-vandalism-case/8117.html

 

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1528_Rural_Crime_-_102422_5.23_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Jenny Schweigert is a small farmer, agricultural advocate and a very well know agricultural communicator.  Jenny has also faced challenges due to Crohn's Disease that threatened her life and put her on the sidelines of her ag communications business for several months.  In today's episode Jenny and I catch up and have a great conversation about meaningful agricultural advocacy and communication.  Jenny first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2015 in episode #50.

 

Direct download: Jenny_Schweigert_Episode_1527_-_101822_5.11_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On today's episode we go back into the archives to revisit a great interview with a great agricultural communicator, Lyndsey Murphy.  Lyndsey first appeared on the show in 2019 when we spoke about the businesses she was building in Ohio.  She has a very interesting story, and this is one that I am very proud to bring out of the archives to play for you again.

Direct download: OFI_1526_Replay_of_792_-_102422_5.53_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Megan Clark is a 2022 National Proficiency Finalist in Agricultural Communications.  She is also competing at the National Convention in extemporaneous speaking.  Her pursuit of a National Proficiency Award will be the final act in her illustrious career as part of the CAC Media Group in Iowa, and she is currently pursuing a degree in agricultural communications at Iowa State University.

Megan first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2021 at the recommendation of her advisor, and she was certainly a polished speaker then.  She has never slowed down and continues to advance her speaking and communications ability.

Direct download: Megan_Clark_Episode_1525_-_10522_3.41_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

The whole family is headed to Indianapolis this week, and on Friday at 8am EST I will be part of the FFA National Convention Session and be receiving my Honorary American Degree.  I cannot tell you how much this means to me, but in today's episode I try.  I also have some thanks to give out on today's show!

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1524_Tuesday_Episode_-_102422_4.28_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Kaitlyn Hart is a 2022 American Star Finalist in the category of Agribusiness.  She is also a senior at the University Of Georgia, an ambassador for the University Of Georgia College Of Agriculture and the owner of a flower business called Kait's Blossoms.  Kait has been part of the FFA since her sophomore year, and she will be graduating from college with a degree in Hospitality Management in May of 2023.

Direct download: Kaitlyn_Hart_Episode_1523_-_101322_1.40_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Are you being proactive to educate yourself about crime prevention?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/livestock/ny-stolen-cattle-case-borders-on-dangerous-precedent-opinion/article_b9f56c76-4bc9-11ed-8ac7-bfdcb4962126.html

https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2022/10/20/waterloo-resident-accused-of-stealing-horse-mane-hair-from-stable-in-wayne-county/

https://wset.com/news/nation-world/city-breaks-up-homeless-camp-pulls-out-150-stolen-cars-tons-of-trash-live-pigs-big-four-corners-natural-area-portland-oregon-housing-crisis-damage-neighbor-george-donnerberg-park-and-rec-environmental-impact

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.northants.police.uk/news/northants/news/news/2022/october/stolen-trailer-recovered-by-rural-crime-team/

https://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/arid-40986272.html

https://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/stolen-trailer-is-traced-in-less-than-24-hours-9279904/

Africa

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/560495-police-arraign-four-herdsmen-over-alleged-cattle-theft.html

https://www.namibian.com.na/117109/read/Chicken-and-goat-theft-suspects-granted-bail

https://theeagleonline.com.ng/farmer-jailed-30-days-for-stealing-goat/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.kcbd.com/2022/10/18/warrant-details-arrest-woman-charged-fatal-crash-involving-farm-tractor/

https://dothaneagle.com/community/jcfloridan/news/local/crime-and-courts/two-arrested-on-drug-firearm-charges-in-jackson-county/article_007fc8a4-4bc4-11ed-9ed2-6b539f22b665.html

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/596544336/concordia-parish-man-arrested-for-felony-theft

 

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1522_Rural_Crime_-_102022_4.54_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Lesley Kelly is a farmer, podcaster, author and speaker with a very personal message about mental health on farms.  Growing up on her families farm in Saskatchewan, Leslie thought she was bound for the big city and things "bigger" than farming.  However, as those dreams started to come to fruition she realized that she missed the farming lifestyle, and when the opportunity to farm full-time with her husband, father and brother presented itself she and her husband made the leap.  

There have been many stressors throughout this journey from mother nature and the nature of farming.  These have taken their toll on everyone in the family in one way or another.  On today's episode Lesley will discuss her journey, why we both love Mad Men and breaking the stigma of mental health in our agricultural communities.  

Direct download: Lesley_Kelly_Episode_1521_-_101122_4.14_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On today's re-cap episode we are going back to episode #912 when we spoke with fellow ag podcaster, Jason Medows.  Jason is a cattle rancher in Missouri with his wife and children.  His podcast, Ag State Of Mind, deals with the issues of mental health in agriculture, and in this interview we have a very candid discussion.  This is a great tie in to tomorrow's ag business episode that is going to touch on a lot of the same subjects.  

 

Direct download: OFI_1520_Replay_Of_912_-_102022_7.25_AM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 7:34am MST

Cameron Pokorny is the 2022 Wisconsin State Star in Agribusiness, valedictorian of his class, a Presidential Scholar, A Coca Cola Scholar and is beginning his post-high school education at the University Of Wisconsin, Platteville as a sophomore in college because of all the dual credit courses he took in high school.  Cameron is also the owner of Cam's Coop, a poultry business producing eggs and meat that donates 95% of what it produces to charity.  In addition to business owner, Cameron was also his FFA Chapter's President and a seven year FFA student.

Cameron joins me on today's show for the second time since I first found out about his business and supervised agricultural experience in 2019.  A lot has changed since then, and he will catch us up on all of it today.

Direct download: Cameron_Pokorney_Episode_1519_-_10422_4.44_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Today is a legitimate farm update!  We will cover:

  • Weaning our calves and why this year all the neighbors have something say
  • The progress of my cover crop experiment

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1518_Tuesday_Episode_-_101722_4.14_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

As an agricultural broadcasters I can't say that it is not intimidating to interview a student who has risen to the level of being a national proficiency finalist in ag communications, but that is just what I did in today's interview with Jordan Howell.  However, I found out something during the interview that compounded this original factor.

Jordan Howell is just completing her first semester at Iowa State University.  All throughout high school she had been working at a radio station and learning the ins and out of the radio business, including the market reports for agriculture.  She was able to compile this into a great supervised agricultural experience and record book, and ultimately this has culminated in her being selected as a national proficiency finalist this year!

With me being a self-trained, amateur agricultural broadcaster, that was intimidating enough.  However, I am also a self-trained, amateur meteorologist, and during our interview I found out that Jordan had chosen to go to college in Iowa because she is pursuing a degree in meteorology, and she though Iowa State Univeristy's program was exceptional.

I have looked into meteorology programs several time and decided that I did not have the mathematical aptitude to complete one.  However, that did not stop me from asking Jordan a lot of questions about meteorology and having a very interesting conversation about....you guessed it, the weather!

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Ag Communications

HIGH SCHOOL: Howells-Dodge High School; Howells, Nebraska

MASCOT: Jaguars

FFA ADVISOR: Hannah Groth

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR JORDAN HOWELL:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Howells-Dodge High School Website:

Jordan's FFA Advisor's Email Address: hgroth@hdcjags.org 

Howells-Dodge High School Telephone Number: 402-693-2207

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”.U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

Direct download: Jordan_Howell_Undetermined_Episode_-_92222_4.08_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Pay attention to the cases out on the fringe.

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.salon.com/2022/10/10/activists-saved-piglets-from-a-factory-farm-have-been-acquitted_partner/

https://www.goskagit.com/news/crime/farmers-killing-of-elk-sets-off-legal-dispute/article_3b2fd2b6-467c-11ed-95c7-bf5d9bb43acc.html

https://easttexasnews.com/polk-county-news-2/3070-stolen-tractor

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.steinbachonline.com/articles/rcmp-searching-for-suspects-following-theft-of-tools-in-zhoda

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23037536.man-jailed-hastings-burglary-dna-found-milk-carton/

https://www.farminguk.com/news/north-wales-sheep-butchered-and-another-shot-with-crossbow_61286.html

Africa

https://informante.web.na/?p=327367

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/civil-security/farm-attacks-and-murders-raise-concerns-on-food-security-in-addition-to-personal-safety/

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/man-arrested-following-murder-of-young-farmer-during-robbery-on-limpopo-farm-20221010

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.wsfa.com/video/2022/10/05/alabama-farmers-donate-tons-hay-drought-stricken-texas/

http://www.westcentralsbest.com/todays_country_1057/news/arrest-made-in-livestock-theft/article_bf39bc84-496a-11ed-87fd-5b95c83407c7.html

 

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1516_Rural_Crime_Episode_-_101322_10.50_AM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Karoline Rose is the founder and CEO of Cattleman U, KRose Company, and The Rancher's Daughter. Her mission is to show ranchers - specifically ranch women - how valuable their creative side is on the ranch. She believes empowering women on the operation is the best way to ensure the operation continues on for the next generation, and that is what she and her team strive to do. Watching women strive for and achieve personal and professional growth on their ranch lights her up.

Karoline first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast seven years ago as she was beginning this journey.  Today we get caught up.  It is amazing how far she has come in under ten years.

Direct download: Karoline_Rose_Episode_1515_-_10422_7.26_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On tomorrow's ag business episode we are catching up with previous guest, Karoline Rose.  I first had Karoline on the show in 2015, and she was doing amazing things then.  However, her progress and everything that she is doing in the world of cattle marketing and cattle raising is really astonishing.  The growth of her multiple enterprises is coming along at an astonishing rate.  I am going to replay her original interview today so you can compare it to the new interview I did with her tomorrow.

Direct download: OFI_1514_Replay_Of_342_-_101322_8.41_AM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 8:51am MST

Being a small farmer and constantly needing to fix things and problem solve for equipment that I need but that is not manufactured, I find myself really jealous of those people with great mechanical aptitude.  Today's guest is not only one of those people, but he is also the 2022 National Proficiency Winner in the category of Ag Mechanics Design & Fabrication.

Levi Marlatt has been working out in his dad's shop ever since he can remember, and at some point he realized just how much he enjoyed machining parts and equipment.  He started doing this more and more out of his own curiosity and to help his father with his high performance diesel business.  When Levi wasn't out helping to raise corn and soybeans on the families Indiana farm, he found himself solving problems and discovering a very mechanical aptitude.

About the time that Levi began in the FFA and realized that he needed an SAE, his father started referring his diesel customers to Levi to machine parts for them and to reverse engineer parts that failed and improve them.  Levin took to this with zeal, and through word of mouth he has created a client list of customers in 8 different states.

Today, Levi is the owner of Marlatt Machine, and he is attending college to perfect his welding skills, learn to read blueprints and get an associates degree in machining.  Everything that Levi is studying is immediately applicable in the shop and in his business, and he loves it.  He has a long term goal to create lightweight chassis for pulling tractors and to sell them all over the nation.  Something tells me that this will happen, and this won't be the last product that Levi creates and sells.

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Marlatt Machining

HIGH SCHOOL: Rushville Consolidated High School, Rushville, Indiana

MASCOT: Lions

FFA ADVISOR: Blaire Orme

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR LEVI MARLATT:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Rushville Consolidated High School website:

Levi's FFA Advisors' Email Address: ormeb@rushville.k12.in.us

Rushville Consolidated High School's Telephone Number: 765-932-4051

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.
REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and ensure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers, and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

"Because American farmers are able to provide for so many of us, they give more and more of us the freedom to pursue goals and livelihoods beyond growing the food we need to survive."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack 

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: Levi_Marlatt_Episode_Undetermined_-_92822_5.50_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

This weekend was my annual father/daughter trip to Yellowstone National Park.  Man are we lucky to live so close!

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Direct download: OFI_1512_Tuesday_Episode_-_101022_8.04_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

How would you like to launch your career as a film maker in high school?  Well, that is what today's guest has done, and of course there is an FFA component to his journey that has propelled him to this place as well as to being a National Proficiency Finalist!

Hayden Endicott graduated high school last spring, and he has launched directly into his chosen career as a film maker.  Since the age of 10 Hayden has been making films and learning to use a camera.  Over that time he has developed great skill behind the lens, directing people and seeing ideas come to fruition.  This has led to his company, "Criminal Productions".

Hayden's three older brother's preceded him in the FFA and inspired him to be a member.  Since that time, he has made several films for the Riverton FFA chapter and even made small, fictional films outside of his SAE.  You may remember Hayden's brother, Hunter Endicott, as a guest on our show in episode #397.

One of the things that I found so compelling about Hayden's journey and his maturity is the research that he did into college and film school.  His research indicated that there was nothing he would learn in college that he could not learn on his own with the availability of resources on the internet today.  So, he chose not to attend college, put the tuition money into his business and spend this time developing his business and creating content.

Hayden currently has a 40 minute, agricultural movie in production and he already has a commitment from one theater to show it.  He is learning not only film making but also the business of selling films, and he is trying to create a project that is profitable so he can use that to show investors that his business is worth investing in.

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Criminal Productions

HIGH SCHOOL: Riverton High School FFA; Riverton, Kansas

MASCOT: Rams

FFA ADVISOR: Jacob Larison

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR HAYDEN ENDICOTT:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Riverton High School website:

Hayden's FFA Advisors' Email Addresses: jlarison@usd404.org

Riverton High School's Telephone Number: 620-848-3386

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

Direct download: Hayden_Endicott_Undetermined_Episode_-_92122_5.00_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Never give up - property can be recovered and crimes can be solved years later.

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2022/10/05/news/nm-supreme-court-ruling-resolves-legal-question-about-prosecuting-cattle-theft/173051.html

https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/crime/report-horse-shot-killed-while-grazing-in-brown-county/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.humberside.police.uk/news/two-arrested-following-warrant-farm-haisthorpe

https://globalnews.ca/news/9175675/canola-theft-central-alberta-farm/

Africa

https://news.yahoo.com/tv-garden-experts-killed-fed-140404459.html

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-10-03-police-recover-firearms-ammunitions-in-turkana-as-war-on-bandits-intensify/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.ketk.com/news/local-news/sheriff-stolen-hay-baler-recovered-over-a-year-later/

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/oct/04/cody-easterday-who-perpetrated-244-million-ghost-c/

https://wvmetronews.com/2022/10/04/pennsylvania-brothers-charged-in-alleged-tractor-theft/

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1510_Rural_Crime_-_10522_4.46_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

The whole point of the Off-Farm Income Podcast is to provide you with business ideas that will help you to support your farming or ranching lifestyle through entrepreneurship.  Today's guest is already doing that, just at age 22.  There is a twist to Justin Miklaszewski's business.  The business he created, which is exploding by the way, guarantee's his farm will sell 100% of the livestock it produces at a premier price.

Justin started direct selling cuts of meat when he was about 15 years of age.  This happened not because he was trying to start a business but because he was out of freezer space with two pigs he was feeding that he was unable to sell at the state fair.  He put out an ad on Facebook to sell the meat and the response he got was huge. He saw something in that opportunity and explored it.  He had desired to own his own business for years already at that point, and this seemed to be a good fit.

Over the next six years he built this business up to the point that he constantly had people coming to his home to pick up meat.  It was sometime after that, that he realized he needed to find a retail location, and then, just like that, the perfect spot opened up on a highly trafficked highway.  That location and the large number of farmer's markets that he was participating in propelled him into a very fast growing business.

Justin competes against himself, and part of what drives him is the ability to see just what he can accomplish.  Considering that he is just 22 years of age, it is going to be exciting to see where he takes this!

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: Justin_Miklaszewski_Episode_1509_-_10322_3.58_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On tomorrow's ag business episode I am featuring an absolute phenom of agricultural entrepreneurship who is building quite a retail business for the livestock that he raises on his farm.  For today's re-cap episode I am going to take you back to an interview I conducted with David Hancock who was doing the same thing when we first spoke, and he has continued to build an unbelievable business since then.

The original show notes are below:

SHOW NOTES

KEY IDEAS: 

Do you dream of farming and being able to stay on your farm full time?  Do you love to share agriculture and what you love about it with other people?  Do you enjoy livestock and love to brag about the meat you produce on your own place?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then selling retail cuts of your own meat at a farmer's market or on your own place might just be the answer you are looking for.

Let's face it, my show is all about using entrepreneurship to support your farming endeavors.  Even though this is what I do and what I teach, it does not mean that it is the ultimate goal.  Ultimately, all of us would like to do nothing but farm.  We would like to be that person who wakes up with the chickens, beds down the cows and only leaves the farm because we want to in between.

Our guest today, David Hancock, has a recipe for doing just that.  No two farms or farmers are alike, and you may have more or less challenges than David has had to overcome.  But one thing is for certain, he loves farming and needed to figure out a niche to achieve his dream of farming full time.  He did that through selling individual cuts of meat.

David shares a wealth of information in this interview.  It is practically a blue print for anyone who wants to find a way to farm full time.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION AND LINKS:

Facebook: LINK

Website: LINK

Telephone: 301-752-2353

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1508_Replay_Of_944_-_10322_5.25_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

In today's episode, I finally get to the other half of the story.  In my previous interviews with Case Edwards, who is an American Star Finalist this year, he has always given all the credit for his accomplishments to a classmate of his named Terrance Crayton.  When Case was a sophomore and Terrance was a junior, Terrance approached his FFA advisor and suggested that their chapter have a small engine team.  His advisor said, "sounds good, you put it together, teach it and run it" and Terrance did.  At Terrance's suggestion this is where Case got his first exposure to small engine repair, and it has now propelled him all the way to being an American Star Finalist in the category of placement.

In and of itself, that is an amazing story, but of course there is more.  Terrance is also an American Star Finalist.  That is right, both he and Case, will share the stage as American Star Finalists this year at the National FFA Convention.  Terrance's category is agribusiness.  Since he was in the 9th grade Terrance has been repairing people's equipment and small engines for them.  At first he relied on his grandfather to drive him from place to place, but eventually he saved enough of his money to purchase his own pickup which he turned into a service truck for small engine repair. 

Terrance's business grew and grew with the help of word of mouth advertising as well as Facebook Marketplace.  Today he is studying Ag Education at Auburn University, and this time next year he should be employed as an FFA Advisor.  Terrance gives credit to his grandfather's ability to teach mechanics to him for giving him the interest in small engines.  He gives credit to a typo on a class schedule that put him in an "Ag" class rather than the "Art" class that he wanted.  And he gives credit to his ag teacher who kept nudging him into FFA activities until he finally totally committed and his accomplishments in the FFA really took off.  

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Agribusiness

HIGH SCHOOL: Wetumpka High School, Wetumpka, Alabama

MASCOT: Indians

FFA ADVISOR: William Norris

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR TERRANCE CRAYTON:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Wetumpka High School website:

Terrance's FFA Advisors' Email Address: william.norris@elmoreco.com

Wetumpka High School's Telephone Number: 334-567-1178

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and ensure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers, and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

"Because American farmers are able to provide for so many of us, they give more and more of us the freedom to pursue goals and livelihoods beyond growing the food we need to survive."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack 

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: Terrance_Crayton_Episode_1507_-_92922_5.13_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

This weekend we did an experiment selling coffee from our farm on a friend's coffee trailer.  I wouldn't say that we have a new business, but I was reminded how just trying something can lead to a waterfall of business ideas, and I will discuss this with you today.

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1506_Tuesday_Episode_-_10322_5.50_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Agriculture is a large umbrella, and below that umbrella there are divisions.  The fact that there are divisions does not mean that this is contentious, but it does mean that everyone in agriculture generally leans one of two ways and then gets more specialized from there.  I happen to lean towards animal agriculture, and that is fueled by my passion for cattle.  Today's guest leans towards crops, and he has a passion for cotton!

Peter Bliss has been farming for several years now.  Starting out 30 acres of inherited ground, he has built his farming enterprise into hundreds of acres of owned and leased farm ground.  He is growing cotton, wheat and almonds.  Even though taking care of cotton is much more complicated than the almonds that he grows with less potential profit, that is where is passion lies.  

It is so interesting to me to know that the way I feel about raising cattle and watching them graze in the field is the way that Peter feels about seeing cotton plants come up and eventually display their snowy white fiber.  Really, after spending 30 minutes speaking with Peter about his farming endeavors, there is no question as to why he has been  nominated as an American Star Farmer Finalist this year!

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Cotton, Almond & Wheat Production

HIGH SCHOOL: Golden Valley High School, Merced, California

MASCOT: Cougars

FFA ADVISOR: Cody Jacobsen

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PETER BLISS:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Golden Valley High School Website:

Peter's FFA Advisor's Email Address: cjacobsen@muhsd.org

Golden Valley High School Telephone Number: 209-325-2011

FFA LINKS

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and ensure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers, and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

"Because American farmers are able to provide for so many of us, they give more and more of us the freedom to pursue goals and livelihoods beyond growing the food we need to survive."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack 

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

Direct download: Peter_Bliss_Episode_1505_-_92822_4.47_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

The “old and the new”, community and technology, can win against rural crime.

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.wdam.com/2022/09/26/deputies-searching-stolen-tractor-jones-co/

https://wgno.com/news/louisiana/livestock-theft-in-lasalle-parish-leads-to-arrest-of-mississippi-man/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.farminglife.com/country-and-farming/rural-thieves-targeting-farm-pick-ups-including-older-toyota-hilux-and-mitsubishi-l200-models-3858393

https://www.farms.com/ag-industry-news/sask-rcmp-warning-farmers-of-truck-thefts-016.aspx

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/farmers-urged-to-be-vigilant-as-number-of-sheep-stolen-on-the-rise/

https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/22641781.witness-appeal-following-theft-quad-bikes/

https://durham.police.uk/News/News-Articles/2022/September/Rural-Watch-members-thanked-after-stolen-vehicles-recovered.aspx

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/22569871.expensive-milk-churns-stolen-bennetts-farm/

Africa

https://www.herald.co.zw/police-blitz-targets-illegal-meat-vendors/

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-09-27-ruto-warns-against-relief-food-theft-as-he-flags-off-aid/

https://dailytimes.com.pk/1002745/11-killed-by-cattle-rustlers-in-north-kenya/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://texasborderbusiness.com/additional-suspect-arrested-in-multimillion-dollar-burglary-case/

https://www.thetrucker.com/trucking-news/the-nation/mississippi-man-steals-truck-of-driver-who-stopped-to-help-him

 

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Direct download: OFI_1504_Rural_Crime_-_93022_4.55_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On today's episode I get to catch up with one of the first guests I ever had on the show, Pake McNally.  Pake first appeared on the Off-Farm Income Podcast in 2015 to talk about blacksmithing and his aspirations for ranching.  Today he is back and we will be talking blacksmithing, why he joined the Army at age 30, starting a family, starting over in the blacksmith world and much, much more.  You are going to enjoy this interview.  I sure did!

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Direct download: Pake_McNally_Episode_1503_-_92822_7.59_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On today's re-cap episode we are going way back into the archives, all the way to episode #18.  I am going to replay an interview I did with Pake McNally over seven years ago when he had just taken over a blacksmith shop and was building that business with aspirations of having his own cattle herd.  On tomorrow's ag business episode I am having him back on the show to catch up, see what's changed and get a glimpse into what his life looks like now.  I thought letting you hear the "before interview" would help prepare you for the "after interview.

The original show notes are below.

If you are interested in this business don't forget your safety glasses!

KEY IDEAS:

ADVICE FROM PAKE MCNALLY:

READ YOUR ART: In Pake's free time he finds magazines to read that inspire his artistic ideas.  He looks at car magazines and other things that give him ideas.  He and Nevada Miller both do the same thing to give them ideas, they look at magazines and journals about their interests and receive inspiration.

PRACTICE: When Pake is not looking for inspiration in reading materials, he is tinkering and experimenting with cheap or free materials that he has found and can afford to practice with.

MAKE MISTAKES: Pake tells you not to be afraid to make mistakes.  The only way to get better is to "fail forward."  Experiment, make mistakes and learn from them.

EDUCATE YOURSELF: Don't ever stop learning.  Pake is always reading, experimenting and doing whatever he can to keep learning.

STAY HUNGRY: Do not allow yourself to become complacent.  Pursue something that interests you, and if that interest fades find something else that interests you.

PAKE MCNALLY'S PERSONAL HABIT THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO HIS SUCCESS:

TINKER, EXPERIMENT AND SEEK KNOWLEDGE: When Pake gets home from the shop in the evening it is automatic for him to pick up experimental materials, a magazine or a Youtube video that is going to help him grown in his craft.

BEST BUSINESS ADVICE THAT PAKE MCNALLY HAS RECEIVED:

SAY NO: Of course you want to say "yes" at some point.  That day is coming.  But one thing that is consistent across all genres of entrepreneurs is the inability or at least struggle with saying "no".

Pake was reminded early by Tom Smith, a blacksmith and mentor to Pake, that he would have to be able to say "no."  If Pake says yes to everything the quality of his work will suffer, both because he would not have time to do his best work and because he would take projects that do not interest him.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

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Direct download: Pake_McNally_Replay_Episode_1502_-_92822_8.05_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Today's guest is the epitome of the reason that interviewing FFA students, and specifically, American Star Finalists is so rewarding.  The level of knowledge, skill and ability that these students have is always amazing.  What is even more amazing is the way in which the FFA can bring it out and help them achieve new heights of achievement.  

This is definitely true for Cory Yarbrough who is an American Star Finalist in the category of Ag Placement this year.  Cory has grown up on a farm in northeast Georgia, and he is an expert in the broiler chicken industry already!  At the age of 21 Cory has immense experience in working in his families four broiler houses, doing hatchery management at the University of Georgia and even consulting for chicken producers when he did an internship in the poultry industry.  Birds are definitely the backbone of what drives Cory in agriculture.  

In addition to all of his work with chickens, Cory raises cattle for his family and manages market hogs for his uncle.  There is no question why diversified livestock is the title of his placement SAE.  Cory will be graduating with a degree in poultry science this December, and then it is on to post-graduate studies to get his PhD in poultry science.  He will be focusing his career on solving problems for poultry producers, like his family, through research and education.  And, he will be the third generation of poultry science graduate from the University of Georgia in his family, and the third generation a post-graduate degree in poultry science in his family as well.  

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Diversified Livestock Production

HIGH SCHOOL: Madison County High School, Danielsville, Georgia

MASCOT: Red Raiders

FFA ADVISOR: Katherine Bell

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR CORY YARBROUGH:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Madison County High School website:


Madison County High School's Telephone Number: 706-795-2197

Cory's FFA Advisors' Email Addresses: kbell@madison.k12.ga.us

Support FFA

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and ensure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers, and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

"Because American farmers are able to provide for so many of us, they give more and more of us the freedom to pursue goals and livelihoods beyond growing the food we need to survive."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack 

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Direct download: Cory_Yarbrough_Episode_1501_-_92222_3.13_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Thanks to friend of the show, Warren Clark, we have an interesting study about off-farm income to present you with today.  Also, I've got a farm update for you, and let's talk about the best example of prioritizing starting a farm I've ever covered on this show!

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Direct download: OFI_1500_Tuesday_Episode_-_92622_4.10_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

When Terrance Crayton of the Wetumpka FFA Chapter started the small engines team as a student at the school, he just wanted to work with engines.  I doubt he knew what that was going to lead to.  When he did that, one of the people that he encouraged to join was a sophomore named Case Edwards, who happens to be today's guest.  Case took to working with engines like a duck takes to water, and it broadened Case's FFA career and put him on an unbelievable trajectory that led him to become a chapter, district and state officer as well as a National Proficiency winner in 2021.

Today, Case is back on the show because now he has been nominated as an American Star Finalist in the category of Ag Placement that is a result of the work that he has done over the years in mechanics.  The jobs that Case held during this time are a direct result of him learning about small engines, and he gives a ton of credit to Terrance for that.  As Case stated during our first interview in 2021, if you had shown him a spark plug at the beginning of his sophomore year of high school, he wouldn't have known what to do with it.  Now look at him!

If that story were not enough, Terrance, wasn't just a coach.  He was also a fellow student and chapter member, and he was running his own small engine business.  He competed in the FFA as well, and unbelievably he is also nominated as an American Star Finalist this year, but in the category of Agribusiness.  I will do a separate interview with Terrance, but enough cannot be stated about the fact that Case and his classmate that inspired him to try mechanics are both nominated as American Star Finalists in the same year!

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Agricultural Placement

HIGH SCHOOL: Wetumpka High School, Wetumpka, Alabama

MASCOT: Indians

FFA ADVISOR: William Norris

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR CASE EDWARDS:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Wetumpka High School website:

Case's FFA Advisors' Email Address: william.norris@elmoreco.com

Wetumpka High School's Telephone Number: 334-567-1178

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and ensure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers, and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

"Because American farmers are able to provide for so many of us, they give more and more of us the freedom to pursue goals and livelihoods beyond growing the food we need to survive."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack 

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Direct download: Case_Edwards_Episode_1499_-_92122_4.07_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Participate in your community, it will shield you from many of the effects of rural crime.

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://kmph.com/news/local/stolen-hay-trailers-worth-roughly-37000-returned-to-owner-in-porterville

https://www.ketk.com/community/1000-reward-for-info-on-10-hay-bales-stolen-in-crockett/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

From James Dixon - https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/21480205.scores-sheep-dead-horrific-dog-attack/?ref=nuo

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/dog-destroyed-after-attacking-sheep-7606725

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/crime/8000-litres-red-diesel-stolen-suffolk-farm-9285986

Africa

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/watch-they-were-armed-to-the-teeth-small-scale-farmer-living-in-fear-of-livestock-thieves-20220921

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/traditional-court-condemns-19-year-old-to-death-breaking-21-september-2022/

https://www.myjoyonline.com/chop-bar-operator-arrested-for-allegedly-buying-stolen-goats/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.taftmidwaydriller.com/news/man-arrested-for-thefts-in-lost-hills-buttonwillow/article_da305494-39c5-11ed-b958-3f3c4751b2a3.html

https://www.panolawatchman.com/general/panola-county-sheriffs-office-assists-in-cattle-rustling-case/article_b32b8cc8-39da-11ed-a9b0-67d8f741d897.html

https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/students-receive-money-after-goats-were-stolen-from-them

 

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Direct download: OFI_1498_Rural_Crime_-_92322_6.39_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

The technology that is emerging in agriculture is really amazing, and it all points to a future with less rural crime and easier management.  It also brings people into agriculture that may have never believed they would wind up there.  Enter today's guest, David Philpot.

You may remember in episode #988 that I interviewed David Smith of Ceres Tag about the rural crime prevention and detection capabilities of this smart ear tag.  As David has been growing his company, he has been speaking to groups about investing with him.  Both David and, well, David, are from Australia, and this is what brought them together.  David Philpot belongs to an investor's group, and during one of their meetings David Smith came to speak with them about investing in Ceres Tag.

Not only did David Philpot become an investor, but he realized that a website called Mapipedia, which had been a hobby of his for some time, would be highly useful when paired with Ceres Tag.  So, the two David's began working together and have just completed a mock sheep theft in Australia in which Ceres Tag, coupled with Mapipedia, was able to detect the theft and help law enforcement track down and recover the stolen sheep.

On today's episode David Philpot will explain all of the possible uses of Mapipedia in the livestock industry, including better management, bio-security and theft prevention.

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Direct download: David_Philpot_Episode_1497_-_91322_4.42_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Two weeks ago on our rural crime episode I read a report of a "mock sheep theft" that was conducted by the University Of New England in Australia involving Ceres Tag and Mapipedia.  On tomorrow's ag business interview I am interviewing the creator of Mapipedia and talking all about how it can help with livestock theft detection and recovery as well as biosecurity and management of grazing.  I thought it made perfect since to play our previous interview with David Smith, the creator of Ceres Tag on today's re-cap episode to prime you for what we will be talking about tomorrow.

The original show notes are below:

Every week on our rural crime episode I report on stories of stock theft in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, etc.  For so many years it has just seemed at best to be a nuisance that came with raising livestock and at worst, a devastating incident that could drive you out of business.

Technology has actually helped stock thieves.  For all of our efforts to brand livestock, keep electronic records and surveil the most likely location to sell the stolen stock it still goes on.  And today with big pickups and bigger livestock trailers in addition to portable working pens, it is easier than ever for thieves to take off with your livestock without leaving a trace.  At least in the 1800s, they could only move as fast as the cattle, and they left tracks to follow.  Today, on a paved road, there is no such luck.

It is about time that technology jumps ahead of the stock thieves, and I think that it has happened.  A couple weeks ago I read an article about a livestock tag that communicates directly with satellites in outer space and that is very difficult to remove from a cow's ear.  I reached out to the company and asked if this tag had been designed to help combat livestock theft, and they told me that it had been.  I immediately requested an interview to profile this new technology for all of you.

Today the CEO and Co-Founder of Ceres Tag, David Smith, joins us to talk about getting rid of stock theft.  David is going to talk about all the capabilities of this tag that he and his wife invented in Australia, and what the implications will be both for theft deterrence as well as grazing efficiency and direct marketing.  There are some incredible possibilities here, and I am eager to share them with you!

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Direct download: OFI_1496_Replay_Of_988_-_91322_5.13_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

In the 1980's the "Future Farmers Of America" changed their name to simply the "FFA" because they knew that they were helping to create opportunities for students, inside and outside of agriculture, that went beyond traditional farming.  What a move by this organization!  Looking at the results they are getting in 2022 with their top achieving students, you can see just how much further the influence of the FFA has been able to spread since making that move.

Today's guest, Marin Lonnee, is a perfect example of the results of this decision.  Marin was introduced to the FFA through a middle school agriculture class when she was in the 6th Grade.  That class exposed her, not only to the FFA, but to agriculture, research and her own, innate talents.  The spark that lit the fire with that first class has resulted in years of research by Marin.  

Marin's research has not always been solely focused on projects that fit within the parameters of the FFA, but most of the time it has been.  Regardless of where it fit, her research has always included a social component with a practical impact on people and the betterment of their lives.  

Today, Marin is an American Star Finalist in the category of Agriscience Research.  In speaking with her about what she has done, the reasons she has chosen her research project and her vision for their applications it is no mystery at all why she has been nominated for this prestigious award!

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Agriscience Research

HIGH SCHOOL: Oconee County High School; Watkinsville, Georgia

MASCOT: Warriors

FFA ADVISOR: Chelsea Bengaud

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MARIN LONNEE:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Oconee County High School Website:

Marin's FFA Advisor's Email Address: cbegnaud@oconeeschools.org

Oconee County High School Telephone Number: 706.769.6655

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”.U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue

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Direct download: Marin_Lonnee_Episode_1495_-_9822_2.01_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On last week's Tuesday episode I started talking about how my original business, Idaho Gopher Control, has now had three sets of owners.  It got me thinking about the all of the unintended, positive ripple effects of starting my very first business.  It also made me realize how close I came to chickening out on starting my own business, and what would not have happened if I gave into fear.  On today's episode, I'd like to discuss those things with you.

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Direct download: OFI_1494_Tuesday_Episode_-_91322_4.13_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

I am always thrilled when a previous guest returns to the show as an American Star Finalist.  It is a thrill to know that these students went on to carry their talents to that level.  That is the case with today's returning guest, Cotton Booker.

Cotton first appeared on this show in episode #671.  Back then he had just become the National Junior Auctioneering Champion, and he was representing the FFA while doing that.  Cotton has his own auctioneering business and has continued to master his craft.  Obviously, his success has been recognized as he is now one of four finalists for the American Star Award in Agribusiness.

Cotton is now in his junior year of college at Oklahoma State University, and he is studying ag business as well as pre-law.  He hasn't quite decided to whether or not law school is in his future just yet, but he sees a lot of application for a law degree in his families business.  Already an expert in the business of auctioneering, Cotton has a reverence for his profession that we should all envy.  There is no doubt in my mind that is has been my privilege to interview him these two times and that on both occasions I have been speaking with the future leader of this industry.

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Auctioneering

HIGH SCHOOL: Colfax High School; Colfax, Washington

MASCOT: Bulldogs

FFA ADVISOR: Michael Heitstuman

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR COTTON BOOKER:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Colfax High School website:

Cotton's FFA Advisors' Email Addresses: MICHAEL.HEITSTUMAN@csd300.com

Colfax High School's Telephone Number: (509) 397-4368

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue

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Direct download: Cotton_Booker__-_9722_5.33_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Have you insured your assets and feed from theft and fire?

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/police-tractor-saddles-water-stolen-from-elderly-woman-leads-to-marijuana-raid/article_8964cdb6-3113-11ed-b93e-efe1579e9372.html

https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/suspicious-fire-at-dulls-farm-prompts-investigation-boone-county-sheriff-says

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.gx94radio.com/2022/09/10/publics-help-needed-in-recovering-a-stolen-truck/

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7899117/missing-tas-calves-found-after-theft-fear/

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/police-investigate-theft-20-lambs-7565995

Africa

https://www.zimeye.net/2022/09/10/david-muhambi-in-serious-grain-scandal/

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/farmkenya/article/2001455285/farmers-mount-electric-fences-to-guard-avocado

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/essex-man-jailed-after-arson-attack-on-farm-kills-120-pigs/

https://www.x95radio.com/2022/09/09/vernon-woman-charged-in-connection-with-recent-cattle-theft/

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Direct download: OFI_1492_Rural_Crime_-_91222_5.35_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On today's episode I get to interview a neighbor.  Well, at least a neighbor  compared to so many of my other guests.  Felecia Hillyard raises goats and flowers at her farm on Chicken Dinner Road in Caldwell, about 20 miles from my farm.  She has a very interesting business model with enterprises that compliment each other.

To hear Felecia tell her story, the first time she laid eyes on goats, behaving like goats behave, she was enamored.  This got her started talking about how much she wanted to raise goats when she was at work, and it turned out that one of her colleagues name Jamie, raised goats of her own.  Ultimately, Felecia purchased 12 goats from Jamie, and Jamie ended up being a close friend and mentor to her.

Soon, Felecia leased the farm that she currently owns and started growing her herd.  It wasn't long after that, that she recognized that between manure, bedding and hay waste the goats were leaving behind what would be great compost.  She started making compost with the bi-product and needed something to do with it.  This led her to start growing flowers.

Felecia found a farm that was going out of business and selling a hoop house, and she bought it.  After disassembling it at their location she transported it back to her farm and put it back together.  Today, Felecia grows flowers in her goat compost, cuts them, arranges them and sells them at an unsupervised roadside stand in front of her place.  She hasn't experienced any problems with theft, and since the beginning the bulk of her sales have changed from cash purchases to electronic purchases.

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Direct download: Felecia_Hillyard_Episode_1491_-_9722_5.49_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

On today's episode we are revisiting a very early episode I did featuring Chris and Ramona Long.  They were raising rabbits and then creating "rabbit tea fertilizer" with the manure that was for sale.  I loved the concept that they had, and how they were using the waste as a value added product.

This interview is a perfect tie in for tomorrow' ag business episode, and I am looking forward to bringing it back to you right now.

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Direct download: OFI_1490_Re-Cap_Of_058_-_91222_6.35_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

The complexity and diversity of a large scale production agriculture farm is always mind blowing to me.  I can get stuck trying to understand just one aspect of a farm at that scale, let alone see how it all works together.  Fortunately for today's guest, Jacob Wuebker, he does not have that problem.  And, his mastery of the processes of his families farm and his ability to document all of it through his supervised agricultural experience has led him to be nominated as an American Star Finalist in Ag Placement this year.

Jacob starts his day at 6am, going straight to one of his families pig barns where they farrow out over 100,000 pigs each year.  For the next three to four hours he has various responsibilities in the barn before heading outside.  At that point it it time to grind grain, and he grinds a lot!  Feeding all the pigs on the farm demands a lot of grain, and this is not even counting the dairy steers they raise up from approximately 250 lbs to finished weight on their homegrown feed.

If there is time left after the grinding, Jacob can find himself pulling out over 2 miles of hose to spread manure on their crop fields, spreading straw in the cattle pens for bedding or working the ground in a tractor.  Jacob's future is in this farm, and that is what motivated him to take several dual credit classes during high school and have already graduated college in December of 2021!  It probably has not hurt that his mother is also his FFA Advisor and has been there to guide him through the dual credit process as well as his record book.

Jacob is doing what he loves, and it shows in how he is being recognized as an American Star Finalist!

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Ag Placement

HIGH SCHOOL: Versailles High School; Versailles, Ohio

MASCOT: Tigers

FFA ADVISOR: Dena Wuebker

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR JACOB WUEBKER:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Versailles High School Website:

Jacob's FFA Advisor's Email Address: dena.wuebker@vtigers.org

Versailles High School Telephone Number: 937-526-4773

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”.U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

Direct download: Jacob_Wuebker_Episode_1489_-_9722_5.23_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Today is a farm update episode everyone.  I've got a ton of reasons to be both excited and thankful this fall, and I will be detailing them in this episode:

  • We have our irrigation shut off date
  • I am already feeding hay (with a caveat)
  • My newly planted cover crop is coming up very well!

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

Direct download: OFI_1488_Tuesday_Episode_-_91222_3.54_PM.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Our guest today has an amazing story of becoming involved in agriscience research, not limiting his research interests to one aspect of agriculture and of doing good in the community.  He also has an amazing story of legacy.  Ryan Hess is part of the Stephenville FFA Chapter, and as an American Star Finalist in Agriscience Research he not only is the third finalist from Texas in three years, but he is the third finalist from Stephenville High School in three years!

As if his contributions and findings in research were not enough, Ryan has been very involved in both the FFA and his community.  He was pivotal in the town of Stephenville in getting funding for and installation of calisthenics equipment along their river trail.  Also, he has served in many officer roles over the years, including that of Texas State Officer.

Ryan is not studying Ag Communications at Texas Tech University, along with his preceding American Star Finalists from Stephenville High School.  He hopes to continue his research in the area of social interaction and find new and better ways to share the message of agriculture with the world.

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Agriscience Research

HIGH SCHOOL: Stephenville High School; Stephenville, Texas

MASCOT: Honey Bees

FFA ADVISOR: Ryan Best

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR RYAN HESS:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Stephenville High School FFA website:

Ryan's FFA Advisor's Email Address: ryan.best@sville.us

Stephenville High School's Telephone Number: (254) 968-4141

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: Ryan_Hess_Episode_1487_-_9622_5.04_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Tip Of The Week

Pay attention to the rising cost of living - now that you understand rational choice crime.

Ceres Tag Article:

Ceres Tag Episode Link

https://www.une.edu.au/connect/news/2022/09/report-released-on-stock-theft-prevention-ear-tag

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/crime/elderly-couple-targeted-in-rural-home-invasion/69-dd37dcc0-3563-4005-8664-143cfe88ce9b

https://www.lobservateur.com/2022/09/01/tpso-seeks-help-identifying-generator-theft-suspect/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.northernirelandworld.com/news/crime/rural-crime-alert-as-police-probe-a-spike-in-burglaries-in-mid-and-east-antrim-3835334

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-09-07/two-sheep-found-dead-and-two-injured-in-dog-attack-in-dorset

https://www.itv.com/news/2022-09-07/you-shouldnt-buy-meat-in-the-pub-butchers-worry-food-fraud-is-on-the-rise

Africa

https://www.theafricareport.com/238234/crops-and-conflict-how-insecurity-affects-nigerias-agriculture-sector/

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/watch-28-stolen-sheep-found-inside-minibus-taxi-abandoned-on-n12-20220905

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-09-07-three-arrested-after-robbery-and-stabbing-on-farm-in-leslie/

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.ouraynews.com/news/keeping-eye-ranch

https://www.centralmaine.com/2022/09/01/two-teens-charged-in-arson-burglary-theft-case-in-farmington/

 

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

 

 

Direct download: OFI_1486_Rural_Crime_-_9822_6.35_PM.mp3
Category:rural crime -- posted at: 12:30am MST

We have talked about the different ways in which businesses get started on this show many, many times.  The most common answers are people being frustrated that something does not exist and then creating it, or people seeing a product or service and knowing that they could do it better.  While these encompass the vast majority of stimulus behind business development, there are other reasons that can be even more compelling.  In today's episode our guests, Karen and Nik Fitch, will share their story of the development of the Cuddle Cow Company and how unbelievable adversity inspired this business.

Nik and Karen have been married since 2017, and prior to meeting each other they were both already on a path to farming and raising cattle.  After they exchanged vows, they were able to obtain a farm together that was in CRP.  This gave them time to focus on fixing up facilities as well as the home, and they continued to build a herd of cattle that Karen had already started on her father's property.

Since she was very young, Karen had been dealing with a congenital condition called "AVM" or "arterial venous malformation" which was located on her upper spine.  This had required constant monitoring by physicians and some surgery to deal with, but the prognosis was good.  However, in 2019, quite by surprise, that all changed and Karen found herself with a significant spinal cord injury as a result of the "AVM".  This led to months in multiple different hospitals, her having a very elevated risk to Covid when that began and her not not having the use of her limbs and needing 24 hour care.

This is the type of situation that can and does lead so many people to lose hope or to blame the world for being unfair.  However, in Karen and Nik's case it led to inspiration.  After the spinal cord injury took place they were inspired to start a business that would raise money for spinal cord research at the same time as it functioned as a business for them.

Seeing a gentleman whose business model was donating a pair of shoes to somebody in need for every pair that he sold inspired them to try the same thing.  There were a few criteria for this business.  First, they wanted the business to somehow share their farm and love of agriculture with the world.  Second, they wanted the business to help further spinal cord research.  And last, they wanted to provide the comfort to their customers that had been brought to Karen when somebody sent her a blanket to snuggle with while she was in the hospital.  Cuddle Cow Company was born.

In today's episode hear the incredible story from Karen and Nik themselves, and find out all about how they decided to sell blankets, how they are able to enhance those blankets and how they have broadened their product line!

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

 

Direct download: Off_Farm_Income--Episode_1485-Nik_And_Karen_Fitch-COMM_10_54-090722.mp3
Category:farming -- posted at: 12:30am MST

Direct download: OFI_1484_Replay_Of_Episode_541_-_9622_4.22_PM.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST

I have always enjoyed profiling guests who had their own meat rabbit business.  It is a very interesting niche business that seems to have so much upside.  However, I have never had a guest on the show who has a meat rabbit business that has propelled them to being a finalist for the award of American Star Farmer!  Well, that is exactly what Emily Makos has done, and it is my pleasure to introduce you to her today.

Emily has been raising rabbits since she was 8 years of age on her families "hobby farm" in Wisconsin.  After getting to know rabbits better and better over time, she decided to start selling rabbits for meat.  She actually broke into this business selling them into the restaurant business, and this eventually evolved into direct sales to individual customers.

Later, Emily pivoted again and started selling rabbits to people as a form of dog food.  There are aspects of rabbit meat that people really like, and she was able to serve this customer base.  What is so interesting about this aspect of her business is that she is vertically integrated, and she is able to take advantage of the entire rabbit.  Emily sells the fur, she dries the feet and ears for dog chews and she grinds the rest of the animal for a healthy dog food for discerning dog owners.  Since her consumer for this products are not human, she can do all of this herself without USDA oversight.

Emily is currently studying to become an occupational therapist in an accelerated program through Concordia University.  She sees rabbits staying as a part of her life, and hopes to use them as therapy animals in the future.

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Rabbit Production

HIGH SCHOOL: Juda High School; Juda, Wisconsin

MASCOT: Panthers

FFA ADVISOR: Joseph Lynne

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR EMILY MAKOS:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Juda High School Website:

Emily's FFA Advisor's Email Address: lyne@judaschool.com

Juda High School Telephone Number: (608) 934-5251

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

  • Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
  • Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
  • Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”.U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

 

Direct download: Off_Farm_Income--Episode_1483_Emily_Makos-COMM_10_57-090222.mp3
Category:FFA -- posted at: 12:30am MST