The Farmer's Greatest Asset Podcast
The Farmer's Greatest Asset podcast is dedicated to supporting and empowering farmers by recognizing that their greatest assets are the knowledge, experience, mind and health. Hosted by husband-and-wife duo Jesse and Dr. Leah, this podcast combines their unique backgrounds to provide valuable insights. Together, they explore topics that help farmers thrive both personally and professionally. Tune in for a blend of practical advice, real conversations, while having a little fun along the way as they talk about all thing's agriculture and family.
Episodes
18 episodes
Coffee on the Porch: Copper and Sugar
In this hot and humid Iowa summer, we share updates on our hay making, crop conditions, and innovative approaches to foliar feeding crops with precise nutrient mixtures. We discuss how we're transitioning to drone technology for better applicat...
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21:22
Coffee on the Porch: Haymaking, Mindset, and Green Beans
Jesse and Dr. Leah share their "Coffee on the Porch" conversation covering farm updates, personal reflections, and practical health tips for agricultural families.• Discussing the satisfaction of haymaking season and the nostalgia of fr...
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24:31
Hay Bales and Life Tales: Dad Edition
Jesse and Leah reflect on the invaluable lessons learned from their fathers that have shaped who they are as farmers and as people. Despite being busy with hay baling during Father's Day weekend, they take time to honor the wisdom that's been p...
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12:55
The Rhythm of Rural Life: Planting and Growing Together
Jesse and Dr. Leah share updates from their farm life, discussing their new high tunnel greenhouse project and the seasonal transition from planting to summer maintenance. They explore the physical and mental health benefits of growing your own...
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24:08
The Work Will Always Be There, But Your Kids Will Not
Farm life means constantly juggling seasonal pressures with family needs while battling self-imposed time constraints. Jesse and Dr. Leah explore the mental and physical toll of the farming mindset that everything must be done immediately and p...
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24:58
Seven Simple Steps to Feel Better Today
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and today we discuss practical strategies for farmers, ranchers, and anyone who's been running on empty during busy seasons. We share our personal experiences with burnout and stress while offering seven si...
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17:48
When the land means more than dirt
We explore the deep emotional connection farmers have to their land and the importance of legacy planning to preserve family farms for future generations. • Farmland represents more than monetary value—it carries the blood, sweat, ...
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21:11
Buffalo Mentality: Facing Storms Head-On
We believe the farm's greatest asset is the farmer – their knowledge, experience, mind, and health. • Springtime on the farm means planting crops and loading fat cattle in Southeast Iowa• Unexpected challenges are inevitable on...
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19:01
Planting Seeds of Wellbeing
We explore the transformative impact of taking breaks during busy farming seasons and how it can rejuvenate your mindset and productivity. Our recent family getaway in the middle of planting season proved that stepping away from farm responsibi...
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25:20
Hydration and Sleep: Two Non-Negotiables for Health
We explore the fundamentals of health by focusing on two critical but often overlooked aspects: proper hydration and quality sleep. These two pillars form the foundation of success by ensuring farmers maintain their most valuable asset - their ...
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32:58
Beyond the Acres: Learning to Listen in Tough Times
Steve Boender returns to continue our heartfelt conversation about finding meaning through faith in farming and life's challenges. He shares wisdom about weathering economic cycles in agriculture, offering practical strategies for staying resil...
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35:20
Faith, Family, and Farming: How One Farmer Built a Multi-Generational Operation
We welcome Steve Boender, a farmer from Oskaloosa who shares his remarkable journey of faith, family, and farming over 50 years. Steve reveals how he and his wife Jan started with nothing but an FHA loan at ages 18 and 19, building a diverse ag...
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39:02
Spoon-Feeding Your Crops
We dive deep into nitrogen management strategies, balancing science with the practical realities of farm operations to maximize yield while controlling input costs.• Fall versus spring anhydrous application depends on soil conditions, w...
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47:00
Soil Health, Root Structure, and Spring Planting Decisions Will Define Your Season
Beck's Field Agronomist Greg Shepard shares insights on spring planting readiness, soil biology research, and practical farming recommendations based on Beck's Practical Farm Research (PFR) findings. The conversation explores the fascinating co...
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45:38
Children Leaving the Family Farm: A Parent's Emotional Journey
Wrestling with the paradox of wanting our farm kids to stay while knowing they need to leave to grow is an emotional journey every farming family understands. Together, we unpack our real conversations with our nearly-grown son about his impend...
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37:45
The Farmer’s Health is the Key to Farm Success
The episode focuses on the crucial link between a farmer's health and the business operation. We dive into how acknowledging personal well-being can create a thriving farming business. • Importance of asking for help and shifting m...
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52:00