Farming on Purpose

Marriage, Parenthood & Building a Business

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“You can do anything you set your mind to. I say that all the time—and I say that as a working mom. There’s judgment, exhaustion, and chaos, b...

Year-End Tax Planning and Financial Confidence on the Farm

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“If cash is king, cash flow is queen.”  In this episode of Farming on Purpose, I sit down with Tressie Mitzner, economist with Kansas Farm Mana...

How Agritourism Is Transforming Farming

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“I don’t want to spend my short years on this earth doing things that are insignificant.” — Andrew Miller In this episode of Farming on Purpos...

Estate Planning, Hard Conversations, and the Future of Your Farm

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Imperfect planning is still better than no planning. If you don’t talk about it now, the people you love are going to be in a really hard spot.”...

Finding Where You Belong on the Farm or Ranch

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Finding your place in agriculture isn’t always simple—or straightforward. In this special mashup episode of Farming on Purpose, we’ve pulled tog...

The First Acres: Honest Lessons from Beginning the Farm Journey

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Starting a farm from the ground up isn’t easy—but it’s possible. In this episode, I pulled together stories from beginning farmers who are doing...

Staying in the Game: The Story You're Telling Yourself This Season

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

  ”A topic we talk about on the podcast or have talked about several times is the stories that we tell ourselves and how much they matter and sh...

Raising Kids, Cows, and Conversations: Paige Dulaney’s Real-Life Look at Ranching, Transition, and Family

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 ”We're not six year olds anymore. We're not children anymore. We're adult children and we're trying to raise our families too and continue a lega...

The Real Roots of Regeneration

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

(Insert audio file of the episode (or link to listen on Spotify/Apple Music/etc.)     ”We're trying to create awareness to critical issues and f...

Farm Accidents, Family, and Being Ready for the Unthinkable

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 “  I think the biggest thing is just starting that conversation and thinking about it and like coming up with a plan that works for you and y...

Using What You’ve Got to Build the Life You Want

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

” Every little boy wants to be a cowboy when he grows up and so I think that's kind of kinda where it started.”   First-generation rancher Zak...

From Backyard Birds to a Full Homestead: Raising Kids, Animals, and Purpose

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

” Just having the confidence and the know-how that, like if something were to happen like 2020 did we'd be good for a while. And I want other peop...

A Family Legacy of Dairy and Determination

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 ” No matter what, if you don't care for your animal, no matter what size of farm, if you don't care for it, it's not gonna produce milk. And if...

Building a Business That Works for Your Family and Your Farm

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

”I feel like it's my chance to tell my story because if I don't tell it, Netflix and Amazon and somebody else is gonna tell it for me. So it's my ch...

Building a Stronger Farm Family

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 ”  That's why I always say things don't happen to you. They happen for you.”  Erica Leubner grew up on a dairy farm, witnessing both the c...

Building a Future on the Farm: How One Rancher Found Her Own Path Home

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 ” You have to bring value back to the family operation if you want it to be sustainable for future generations.”  When Lettie Nickell moved ...

Life on the Farm: The 10 Things on My Mind Right Now

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 ”The story that we believe is vastly more impactful than facts.”    This episode is a fun, laid-back look at life on the farm, juggling moth...

Building a Business, Raising a Family, and Keeping Agriculture Strong

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

”The other thing that really just brings joy to me is the little moments of farm life. So whether that's just like checking cows on pasture in the s...

How Smart Money Moves Can Keep Your Family Farm in Business for Generations

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 ” So what we're doing is just teaching farmers, ranchers, anybody really, how to utilize money correctly so that we can make the bank plan B in...

How to Redefine Success on the Farm and at Home with DL Lautenbach

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

 “Just know that spring always follows winter. And sometimes that's the only thing we can hang on to.”   DL Lautenbach shares his heartfelt jo...

From Wisconsin Roots to Tennessee Dreams: A Farmer’s Journey with Family, Motherhood, and Entrepreneurship

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“I get to pass on a legacy of skills, just like my parents did for me, and just like their, their family that taught them and I get to take it on to...

Building a Ranch From Scratch: How One Family's Faith and Grit Created Their Legacy

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“ I sometimes pinch myself. It's hard. Ranching isn't easy. It's not easy and I don't want to give that impression, but to get to do what you love...

Special Christmas Eve Episode "Christmas Eve Puppies: A Bedtime Story"

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

  A Note to Parents  Dear listeners,    Tonight's episode is something special - a departure from our usual conversations. As Christmas Eve approa...

From Conventional to Regenerative: One Family's Journey to Building a Sustainable Farm

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“ So yeah the balance of the family and the business and the farming and all that, just trying to get more systematic and efficient so that we can...

Celebrating 100 Episodes: Finding Purpose in Agriculture

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“I think the most important thing is focusing on what our priorities are, because those priorities give us a purpose even when goals become unattain...

Working Full Time While Building Her Farm Dream with Brenna Beard

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

From City Life to Farm Life: How Jessica Lewis Built Back to Roots Farm

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Teaching classes and being able to plant the seed itself for other people to get excited for things that have been lost in our generation has also ...

Finding Joy in Farm Life with Heather Nienhueser

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“My life does revolve around farming but I also think we have good boundaries where I’m not resentful of that.”   Nebraska farm wife Heather N...

From The Archive-Beginning Farming and Resetting Your Farm Practices with DL Lautenbach

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“The opportunity is out there, you’re just going to have to do a better job than trying to compete with Walmart on price and volume.”  In this ...

Sisters, Mothers, Ranchers: How Three Women Are Building a Legacy at Giles Ranch Beef

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“And it's very important that you're thinking about what's best for the whole family and the whole ranch. Instead of just what's best for you or you...

Finding Your Voice in Agriculture with Ashlynn Jones

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“And at the end of the day, the best thing you can do is, as long as you have good intentions, is to put some piece of your story out there because ...

Finding Your Path to Homesteading: Lessons from Ryan Mitchell's Journey

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“This is what I describe simple living as, it’s figuring out what you want to focus on and doing more of that while figuring out what you want to ...

Balancing Family, Farm, and Future in Southern Minnesota

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“If you trust the process, the process will reward you back.”  As a sixth-generation cattle farmer in Southern Minnesota, Haley Ammann-Ekstrom kn...

From City Girl to Farm Entrepreneur: Lindsay Graham's Journey

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“What is so understood to you is not understood to the average person. And I know that sounds really silly as especially multiple generations. Like ...

Current State of Farming: A Tale of Two Scales

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“This idea of how all the different sizes of farms co-exist in agriculture today is one of the biggest problems that we have the opportunity to solv...

Make Marketing Part of Your Routine

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“If you don’t send it out, if you don’t publish it, it doesn’t happen. You can’t learn from it. You have to push “go” to learn from it.”...

Navigating the Changing Landscape of Agriculture: Insights from Economist Ben Brown

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“I continuously am impressed with young producers and beginning producers alike of their determination and their resiliency. If they want to be a pa...

Farm Succession Planning: Securing Your Family's Legacy

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 “I think that a lot of landowners really want someone who's willing to learn and being very open and wanting to learn, being inquisitive, being cu...

Farm Time Machine - What a Beginning Farmer and Farm Wife Wishes She Knew Sooner

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Having a spouse that you are on the same page with when it comes to growing your business makes a huge difference. If you guys are both running in ...

Resiliency: The Secret to Success in Farming and Ranching

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As I sit here on my farm on August 7, 2024, I can't help but think about the challenges we're facing in agriculture. We've been hearing a lot of tough...

From Dairy Farm Dreams to Self-Made Farmer: Derek Penrod's Journey

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Buying the farm is probably the best not only personal but financial decision. Best decision for my family. It’s really opened up a quality of li...

From the Archive: Episode 4: The Power of Courage in Farm Management Discussions with Elaine Froese

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

  “Legacy to me is the culture that you leave for your family so that the next generation has great stories to tell and is grateful for the opportu...

Balancing Off-Farm Work and Agricultural Dreams

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 “I think we have to figure out what makes sense for ourselves. And for the amount of effort that we're putting in are we going to reach our goals?...

Choosing Your Path

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 “I believe that farming and agriculture give us an incredible sense of purpose because we have a job to do and we show up to do it every day.” ...

Barn Restored into Butcher Shop Supports Growing Business Dreams

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“I think we just respect each other’s time and we know we both are trying our hardest and some days are better than others.”   Join us in this...

Lazy Genius Tips for the Farm

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Learning to recognize the season you’re in is the first half of this and learning to live in the season you’re in is the second half.”  Join...

Opening Your Mind to Food Ingredient Marketing

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“I think it’s about figuring out what you’re doing already and finding a home for what you’re already doing.”  While some of the ideas pres...

How Full Time Farming Works for Winding Creek Farms

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“You have to believe in what you’re doing and everyone involved has to believe and agree.”  Join us in this powerful episode of Farming on Purp...

Ag Entrepreneurship & Conviction in Fighting for the Family Farm with Amanda Radke

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“It’s the season of life we’re in right now and we’re making it work.”  Join us in this powerful episode of Farming on Purpose with Amanda....

Becoming an Industry with Open Doors with Macey Hurst of Lady Livestock Co

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Being authentic has really paid off for us. Not necessarily directly in our business, I don’t know that it’s affected our bottom line, maybe it...

Capturing Profit from Heifers with Direct-to-Consumer Beef with Amanda of 2383 Farms

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Anybody who is at all a part of agriculture, at all a part of direct-to-consumer knows that there is a lot of money that goes into this.”  Join ...

Income Streams, Marketing Beef, and Taking the Leap with Rancher Jess

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“I never saw this coming. I never saw the opportunity to come back full circle and continue that.”   Join us in this enjoyable episode of Farming...

Advice from a First-Generation Farmer on Surviving Trends

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“I just have a passion for putting farm-fresh products on people’s tables.”   Join us in this informative episode of Farming on Purpose with J...

Innovation in Animal Nutrition - Exploring Options in Prevention

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Sick animals cost you a lot of money so keeping them healthy is the full goal.”   Join us in this informative episode of Farming on Purpose and...

For the Kids: From City to Farm

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“We’ve just had to get our name out there and stop being afraid of saying, ‘We are first generation farmers. I know we’re new but we have some...

Why 64% of Farm Transitions are Failing

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“But if you actually want your farm to successfully transition and you care about your children and the quality of life they are going to have and t...

Getting Started with Stockdogs

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“It’s a lot easier to start a dog with a clean slate than erase a bunch of bad habits.”  Join us in this stimulating episode of Farming on Purp...

From Off-Farm Income Podcast: Episode 1912: A Million Open Doors | Lexi Wright | The Farming On Purpose Podcast

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“I wish there were more opportunities for people to see the day-to-day of it, not just the ‘you want to teach about agriculture, you must want to ...

Market Shifts in Direct-to-Consumer Marketing in the Beef Industry with Linnea Langusch

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Video is such a powerful tool when it comes to communicating about agriculture with consumers because it’s not a big Hollywood production that’...

Diversifying Your Cattle Income for Operation Growth with Neilson Beef

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Stuff that we don’t necessarily think is unique actually is unique. Our lifestyle is unique. There’s not a big percentage of us doing this in t...

A Legacy of Direct to Consumer Beef with Callison Ranch

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Sometimes when things feel like it’s the worst day, it may turn out to be one of the best experiences in your interest.”  In this episode, I h...

The Power of Small Farms and Slow Growth with Lane's End Farm Creamery

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“One of our favorite quotes of all time is, ‘The answer to America’s food problem is not one or two big answers, it’s many small answers.’ A...

From Homesteading to Backgrounding Beef and Meat Business Expansion

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“It’s not something that happens overnight, it’s a gradual transition. We started making our own bars of soap, I started making my own tallow, I...

Processing the Good and the Hard of Farm Life & Motherhood

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“What you feel like in the moments when it is a hard season is real and even in your mind you know in a few years it’s going to be easier but that...

Your Life's Bingo Card and Flower Farming with Liz Fiedler of Sunny Mary Meadow Farms

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

Strategies to Calm the Chaos and Balance "It All"

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

Building Great Relationships with Your Rural Veterinarian

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Use veterinarians for our knowledge base. We worked really hard for that degree and it matters.”    In this episode, I had the pleasure of tal...

Start Homesteading in Your Kitchen with Meghan Gates

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“The cattle industry is such a long game. You just have to plan for 10, 20 years in advance all the time.”    In this episode, I had the pleasu...

Expanding a Peach & Apple Farm in the Midwest with South Baldwin Farms

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“It’s different every day, which I love. That was one of my difficulties with an office job; it was a little bit of monotony and boredom. You’re...

Living Your Authentic Ag Journey with Matt Brechwald of Off-Farm Income

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“I like animals and I like being a steward of animals and having a pragmatic purpose for having lots of animals.”  In this episode, I had the ple...

Finding Fulfillment on the Farm through Understanding Your Identity

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“There’s help out there. Like there’s a resource or somebody for you.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dawn Krees...

The Farm & Food System - Insurance, Regulation, and Trends toward Self Sufficiency

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I think a lot of farmers would like to not rely on the bank or the government, but unfortunately the system and the path we’re heading down today...

Growing a Heritage Sheep Operation in California

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“Probably one of the top three reasons the sheep industry is slowly dwindling is just the amount of work that goes into it is a lot, like you don’...

Ranching with an Eye on Financial Feasibility

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“Financially right now in agriculture, it’s so expensive to get going. I have no idea how first-generation people do it and I have nothing but res...

Growing a First Generation Operation with Millennial Rancher Calli Williams

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“Flexibility pays more than what you can ask for in a salary.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Calli Williams, or you may...

Looking ahead at Ag Finance with a 4th Gen Farmer and Ag Lender

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I have developed actual relationships with my customers because it is farming. It is such a small world at the end of the day and all of my custome...

Building Your Dream on God’s Time Through Daily Dedication

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I learned a lot about who I was and who I was capable of being and that was just an awesome experience.”   In this episode, I had the pleasure ...

Growing a 100 year old Meat Market in Rural Kansas

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I think that it’s important for consumers to know that when you are in a rural area you cannot receive the same products, sometimes at all.”  ...

Farming on 320 square feet with Leafy Green Farms

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“That is where when you are starting a new business, you have those challenges. You have to think around the corner. You have to think, ‘I know w...

Building Connections with Strong Ag Women with Jana Earp

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“So there’s a fine line and balance that needs to happen and I know that Texas is good about having those conversations and cattle raisers are act...

Supplementing Farm Income with That Fit Agvocate

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“It’s a balancing act of just being your authentic self and figuring that out. As humans we are always evolving, interests change, stages of life ...

Diversifying the Ranch with Jess at Perigo Hay and Cattle

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I think it’s all just a balancing act and just trying to put a pencil to it. We do a lot of penciling because we’re new at this, we’re figuri...

Our Farm Transition Story Part 1

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

 “I think there are still a lot of questions about what the future of the farm is going to look like and what we’re going to do with it. People w...

Returning to & Growing on the Ranch with Kristin Harms

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I would say the biggest thing is, you definitely have to put your ego aside and your pride and just know that you’re going to do things wrong and...

The Growing Need for Local Meat Processing with Backyard Butchery

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I had to learn everything the hard way. I was going to the library all the time when I had time to do that. I’m listening to podcasts all the tim...

Habits & Routines for Your Season With Thea Larsen of Cowgirls Over Coffee

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“Having a game plan is going to save you time and money in the long run.”  In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Thea Larsen....

How I Found Family Centered Off Farm Income

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I love the marketing work that I do. I love solving the problems I get to solve for all the different clients and all the different capacities that...

Making Rural Food Decisions - Trends, Stress, Change, Nutrition, and Dietary Guidelines with Dr. Bailee Cooper

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“Stress plays just as big of role as if I were to take every chemical out of my home because that is one more thing that I have to do, that I’m wo...

How to Make Growing Your Local Ag Business Easier with Sammy Gleason

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“You’re helping your neighbor. You’re keeping your community going and you’re helping your neighbor and that’s just awesome.” In this epis...

Looking Beyond Your Starting Point with Karoline Rose Bohannan

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“We like to consider ourselves a one-stop-shop, which I think is a phrase I probably started in agriculture marketing that a lot of places use now. ...

Farm Moms and The Comparison Game

17 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I think it’s good to review every once in a while and make sure that the daily routine that we have matches up with our priorities and how we act...

Local Food: A System, Not a Trend with Rick McNary of Shop Kansas Farms

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I think understanding how things are grown and letting the farmer tell you will calm a lot of the fears placed in people by the major corporations....

Irons in the Fire with Ranch Mom Jesse Thompson

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I still would like to share stories for rural women written by rural women because I feel like it brings people together and makes us feel like we’...

Part Time Farming Goals and Family Farm Succession with Shifting Family Dynamics

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“It’s great that we get to bring in Michael’s family’s experience and we’re taking building blocks from that family, but we’re also passin...

Shifting Perspectives with Michaela Gasseling

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“I’m a big fan of ‘and’ instead of ‘but’. So it’s ok to say that was incredibly traumatic and I’m incredibly grateful for how it all h...

Expanding Local Food Businesses and Food Education with Bruce’s Bullseye Farms

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“If we could come together, our community is not going to have to worry about what happens on the coast to not get us the food we need to sustain ou...

Alaskan Agriculture and a look at the Remote Food Supply Chain

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“The state of Alaska hasn’t been very agriculturally-minded. There’s been comments made by some legislators that in the past said that agricultu...

Bridging the Gap in Ag Culture with Megan Larson

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“We really need more people outside of the community advocating, but we also need more people to say, ‘ Hey, your job is stressful. I could not do...

Behind the Scenes of Ranch Mom Life & Ag Homeschooling with Lindsey Huseman

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“That is something that I absolutely love about where we’re living and our neighbors is just everybody helping out and you know you always have so...

Market Shifts in Direct to Consumer Marketing in the Beef Industry with Linnea Langusch

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“Video is such a powerful tool when it comes to communicating about agriculture with consumers because it’s not a big Hollywood production that’...