Off-Farm Income

INTRODUCING CONNIE ROGERS I am an agricultural advocate, and most of the students that I interview on this show are as well. And, what are we doing as advocates but providing information to people about our industry so that they can make a well-informed buying decision? Considering the amounts of misinformation about agriculture that exist, I think it is all of our responsibility to participate as advocates in one way or another. Our guest today, Connie Rogers, takes this to a whole new level. Connie and her father raise and farrow about 200 sows in Southern Georgia. Connie is intimately familiar with this business and has been showing pigs since she was in the 2nd grade. When it came time to choose a supervised agricultural experience for the FFA, raising and showing pigs was a natural fit. However, Connie recognized that there was more going on than just feeding, showing, and marketing pigs. She realized that there were people who were afraid to consume pork because they had been told that pigs were fed high levels of antibiotics, and if they were to consume pork from these pigs they would be consuming bacteria that were resistant to antibiotics. Therefore, if that same bacteria took root in their own body, it would not respond to the medicines that were available. Connie saw it as a natural fit to add an agriscience research SAE to her workload to study this claim. She decided to feed two separate batches of pigs - one with antibiotics and one without - and then measure the results. She wanted to use her finding to provide accurate information to would-be pork consumers. Connie's efforts in this project have earned her both state and national recognition. It has also propelled her into college where she is studying agricultural education. A lot of us are willing to talk about agriculture and the facts of our industry. Connie went to the length of researching to get the first-hand information that she would share. That is advocacy!

SHOW NOTES About two months ago I looked down at my phone and saw that there was a voice mail from my father in law on there. I listened to the message, and to his attempt to live in my world of technology, even though that was so foreign to him. He told me that he had just read an article about a guy from Florida that was "making a website" like me and that I should listen. He said that the show was about cattle ranching in Florida and that he had never realized that the first cattle in America were brought to Florida in 1521. He said that the show was named "Between The Beaches". I've got a small, Bluetooth speaker made by JBL called the JBL Clip that I use twice per day. In the mornings and evenings when I am doing chores I listen to podcasts on it. I clip it onto the gear shift of my Polaris Ranger, and while I am driving around the farm feeding cows and goats I can learn something. So, the night that I received this voice mail I decided to give "Between The Beaches" a try. I have been hooked on this show ever since. I like to learn, but there is so much information out there that I will never be able to take it all in or even decide what to take in, in a lifetime. Without "Between The Beaches" I would never have known or even tried to learn the cattle ranching history of Florida. There is a lot of fascinating information in this show that has kept me coming back for another episode. The host, Brad Phares, is our guest on today's show. Brad has constructed a very unique podcast in that he does two things very well. First, he educates people on the history of cattle ranching in Florida. There is 500 years' worth of it after all. Second, he talks about why cattle ranching is so important to the State Of Florida in modern times. With 1,000 people moving to Florida every day, he makes a strong case for why cattle ranching is essential. I am thrilled to bring Brad on as a guest today, and I hope you will all put him on your playlist. You will really enjoy getting to know all about cattle ranching in Florida! Follow Brad & Cow Hunters Unlimited Here: Website: http://www.cowhuntersunlimited.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowhuntersUnlimited Twitter: https://twitter.com/WBPhares Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cowhunters.unlimited/ Between The Beaches Podcast: http://www.cowhuntersunlimited.com/between-the-beaches-podcast

SHOW NOTES The Current Stage Of My Life And Business Well, here we are, just a week away from Thanksgiving with 2019 bearing down on us soon. What are your goals for the upcoming year? What stage of business development or production will you be in during 2019? Perhaps you are just starting your plan to become an entrepreneur. Or maybe you have started your business and are growing it while you continue to work at your full-time, "day job". Maybe you have even made the transition to full-time entrepreneurship and are looking for other revenue streams or are developing your farming operation. I have been through all of these stages. I want to share the stage I find myself in now. This is probably the most difficult stage to share with you. It is not because something bad has happened or because I am ashamed of where I am at. I think it has to do with my raising. Talking about this stage feels a bit like bragging. And certainly, nobody in my family has ever done anything like what I now do for a living. So, for me to talk about this stage I have to remind myself what this podcast is all about. My purpose here is to be a cheerleader for you, to be the person who keeps moving forward on this path so you can follow behind, and to be the person who takes the risks and leaps of faith to show you that it is possible. And of course, in the worst-case scenario to be the person who fails and warns you ahead of time so you don't make the same mistake that I already have. My purpose is also to be an inspiration. I know how much the people I listened to, read, and watched inspired me when I was first beginning my journey. I remember hearing about how they lived their lives, and wondering if it could ever be possible for me to live that life someday. Now I find myself doing that, and I have to force myself to think back to when I wondered if it would ever be possible so I can see the transition that has taken place. So, the stage I am entering into now is the one that I dreamed about way back in 2009 when I first really started thinking about what I wanted my life to look like. For those of you who have been listening for some time, you know that having a podcast was not part of that vision back then. The podcast is one of the pivots I made along the way. In 2009 I just had a seed of an idea. I had a vision of a better way for me to live my life. That little seed opened a pandora's box for me. I had no idea how to get to that place, but I knew I wanted to be there. This is what my life looks like today: We have a farm with loyal customers who like to brag about the beef, pork, and chevon they purchase from us. I would like to grow my farming operation, but I already have more farm than I ever imagined. Crazy time is over: I have gone through two crazy transitional periods - police work to full-time entrepreneurship & moving from the gopher business to full-time broadcasting and intellectual property sales. I have multiple revenue streams in place: The D&B Radio Show FFA Today Advertisers on Off-Farm Income Our online course - The Ag Entrepreneur Public Speaking Voice Over Work Podcast consulting and production Coaching Farming Rental Houses Teaching I have systems in place for all of these revenue sources which makes them very easy to manage and maintain. What this means for my lifestyle is that it is extremely flexible, stress-free, and less demanding than anything else I have ever done. Except for the farm, I do not have a significant hourly commitment each week to keep up with those streams of revenue. I call agriculture "the ultimate lifestyle business" and I prove it every year. By far, the farm provides me the lowest hourly wage of any of these streams of revenue. However, I am able to be on my farm 100% of the time now, and being able to do that is the reason all the other streams of revenue exist. When I look into the future, and I see the potential for growth in these revenue streams I am filled with optimism. In the area that we live, real estate values and rent prices are appreciating rapidly, which has a direct impact on the value we receive from our two rental houses. We continue to grow this show, and as a result, offer more value to our advertisers making that more and more valuable. We had a great reception for the online course at the National FFA Convention this year, and the possibilities there are endless. Production of the Bulkloads Podcast is going very well, and there is room to add more production clients. D&B Supply is doing great, and the radio show I am hosting for them is working just like I had imagined it when I first proposed the idea. My life today is all about cattle, pigs, goats, and hay. And it is almost completely on my terms. Without having a farm to inherit, we have been able to find a path to being on our farm full-time, not using debt, and being financially secure. And I have a ton of time to focus on farming! This is the life that I was dreaming about. And when this dream first pop

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING Sierra Boggio! I speak with enough FFA students that it allows me to see trends emerge. In today's interview with Sierra Boggio, she said something that I have heard before, and it is apparent that there is another trend emerging. The FFA offers students the ability to access and learn a lot of things that students who are not in this program miss out on. One of those things is the ability to see needed services that are not being fulfilled in their local, agricultural communities. Sierra has grown up on a cattle and sheep ranch, and now she is breeding and raising goats of her own. Growing up around all of that livestock has given her a good lesson in the things that ranchers go through. Being in the FFA has exposed Sierra to different career fields in agriculture, and the one that is standing out to her is that of a large animal veterinarian. Sierra's answer to why she was interested in becoming a large animal vet was interesting. She cited her time in the FFA, and how that has helped her to recognize that there are needs for veterinarians in her agricultural community that is lacking. She talked about the experience that their current veterinarian has with goats, and stated that all of that experience has come from her herd. Between the career development events, leadership events, and emphasis on service the FFA is steering Sierra towards a career where she can serve her community by filling a much-needed role!

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING Wyatt Todd! I have interviewed hundreds of extremely successful FFA students on the Off-Farm Income Podcast. Almost all of these are students who are 17, 18, or 19 years of age who have achieved incredible things in business, livestock production, or farming. And, almost all of these kids got started and developed their passion at a very young age. Whenever I conduct these interviews I always wonder how the student has changed over time and how sophisticated and knowledgeable they were when they first began. In today's episode, I get to flip the script and speak with one of these students at the beginning of their journey. I will be speaking with Wyatt Todd. Wyatt is in the 8th Grade at St. Regis High School in St. Regis, Montana. Wyatt's school is very small. There are only 180 students total from Kindergarten to 12th Grade. So, the FFA starts early there. He began last year when he was in the 7th Grade. Being in 4H and now the FFA lit a fire in Wyatt. Just three months ago he bought his first two cow/calf pairs. The cows are already bred back, and he is planning on having calves out of them this spring. Wyatt's voice comes across as very young, but his level of knowledge and sophistication does not. He obviously has a passion for what he is doing, and you can tell by speaking with him that his supervised agricultural experience is going to grow into something really significant. Four years from now, when I interview Wyatt again, it will be obvious how much he has grown. And, we will be able to look back on this interview and see the before and after pictures of a high achieving FFA student.

SHOW NOTES I have repeatedly said that you will see business opportunities all around you once you become an entrepreneur. It is really true. Once you start a business, you don't have trouble thinking of new business ideas; you have trouble staying focused on just one. Something in our perspectives changes once we enter into the arena of entrepreneurship. There is a good chance that if you listen to the Off-Farm Income Podcast, you could be surrounded by business opportunities in your everyday life and not even realize this. Many of my listeners are parents who are taking their kids to stock shows several times per year to exhibit their animals. So, if you are spending all of your time at livestock shows thinking that you can't start a side business or even a full-time business because of this commitment, are you correct? Back in 2016, I featured an interview with Dolly Denson, "The Fit Stock Show Mom." She was a person who found herself in this position and came up with a business idea that would serve the other parents at the stock shows. In today's episode, I am proud to feature another group of people who have recognized the opportunities at stock shows and are making it happen for themselves. In today's episode, I speak with the owner/operators of "The Stock Market Boutique." I will be having the co-owners, Olivia Warren and Kyle Blaydes, on the show. Olivia's daughter, Tori Warren, will also be joining us to talk about being their primary model for the clothing they sell and her role in social media marketing. Along with a group of people, Olivia and Kyle recognized that there was a niche to be filled at stock shows, selling clothing to exhibitors that they would like to wear around the shows and in the arena. That is when this business was born. However, over time the other people involved in the business dropped off, and ultimately it became just Olivia and Kyle, with Tori playing a big supporting role. Today "The Stock Market Boutique" is traveling to different livestock shows and larger events like the National Finals Rodeo, selling their fashions and meeting people in agriculture. Tori brings the perspective of a lifelong exhibitor, Olivia has the perspective of a former 4H member and the parent of an exhibitor, and Kyle brings the perspective of a full-time farmer. This combination is working very well for them. Even though Covid, with the cancellation of so many shows, they have maintained their business. They are looking and different revenue models in addition to clothing and are poised to really grown once Covid is over. You are going to enjoy getting to know this great group of entrepreneurs. Connect with The Stock Market Boutique: Website: thestockmarketboutique.com Facebook: facebook.com/thestockmarketboutique Instagram: instagram.com/thestockmarketboutique Email: [email protected]

SHOW NOTES KEY IDEAS: However, you decided to get into business for yourself there is one constant; you must make the leap from your full-time job to your new business when the time is correct. For most of this audience is especially true because so many of us have a lot at risk. If you are in your mid to late '20s without a 401K, a family, a house, etc. then making a big leap is a lot less risky. But for the rest of us, we really need to mitigate this risk. Our guest today, Ray Miller, does not take this lightly. Even as his microbe business grows and spreads across the nation, he continues with his previous career on a less frequent note. He does not want to let his license expire, thus burning that bridge to an income if he were ever to need it. So, he is content taking it slow and making the leap when the timing is right. I normally follow Dan Miller's lead and suggest making the leap when your new enterprise is producing 50% of your full-time income as a side hustle. However, if you have the ability to do what Ray is doing, it is a great idea. That is, just shifting percentages of income generation gradually until the new enterprise takes over for the previous one. Ray followed an interesting path to his own business, much as our guest in episode #468 did by becoming a distributor of Rogue Equipment. Ray found a great product and realized that there was a need for it, but people around the country did not know about it. He made it his mission to rectify this and became a distributor. He has seen great results and cautions us that you had better believe in your product before you decide to deliver it to the rest of the nation. ADVICE FROM RAY: SLOWLY: Make your transition from your full-time job slow and gradual. Just because you have a great idea does not mean that you should slaughter the goose that is laying the golden eggs. PERSON: As much as you can, meet people in person and shake their hand. The internet and social media are great tools and need to be used, but they are not a substitute for eye contact. NEEDS: When you are trying to find a business to start, identify what it is you want that business to do for you. Then make sure whatever you pick is in line with that. BEST BUSINESS ADVICE RAY HAS RECEIVED: "If You Don't Believe In What You Are Doing, Nobody Else Is Going To" PERSONAL HABIT THAT HELPS RAY SUCCEED: PEOPLE: Ray loves to meet and get to know new people. This helps him to succeed.

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING SAVANNAH PITTMAN! Interviewing FFA students for this show is an absolute privilege. It constantly keeps me optimistic about the next generation, and I get exposed to multitudes of wonderful stories from around our nation. Today's interview is a perfect example of this. Savannah Pittman is a junior at Calloway County High School in Murray, Kentucky. Her family has been farming in Kentucky for at least four generations. And for many years all of her family has worked together in a very large, family garden. Today, Savannah and all of her cousins work together in this large, 1-acre garden and their very large greenhouse. Together they produce all the fruits and vegetables that they sell under the name, "Papa's Produce Barn". They took their business name from the legacy left by their great-grandfather, whose barn they sell out of when they are not at the local produce market in Murray on Saturday's. All the cousins have a different area of specialty in the garden. For Savannah it is tomatoes. Savannah is learning a lot about business through this experience. So much so, that she is even signing up for business classes and activities outside of the FFA. You are going to really enjoy hearing about Savannah's special family tradition, and getting to know this impressive young lady.

INTRODUCING PAIGE HAITH! At what age can you start setting big goals? I think that I have learned from almost 1,000 interviews on this show that there is no minimum or maximum age. I have spoken with business owners who set their goals when they were young children, and I have spoken to business owners who never realized they had it in them until they retired. Today's guest is one of those inspirational entrepreneurs starting at a young age. Paige Haith is a sophomore in high school. She is also the founder and owner of "Pastries By Paige". She has a line of 10 desserts that she makes, markets, and sells. Paige does all of her marketing on social media with Snap Chat and Instagram being her most widely viewed locations. She is also in the process of starting a second business. What stands out about this interview with Paige is her goals and her attitude. Starting with her attitude, she has not been in a classroom since March of 2019 when lockdowns first began. During that time she became the chaplain of her FFA chapter, but she has not really been able to do anything with the role. This is frustrating. However, Paige has not looked at this situation as a source of frustration. She has looked at it as a source of opportunity. It has been during this time that she started Pastries By Paige. Paige also has big goals, and she is already using the SMART system of goal setting. She knows how big she wants to grow her business, that she wants to have two storefronts in two different states, and by when she wants to accomplish this. These are the keys to actually accomplishing these goals. Paige is the kind of person who charges forward with an idea to see if it works. She is already having great success, and it is exciting to see where she will take it. Follow Paige on Instagram: @pastriesbypaige_

SHOW NOTES There is a debate that has been arising over the past decade or so about whether or not paying for a college education is a wise investment. This debate has continued to grow as valuable skills are being taught more and moreover the internet. As the advancement of technology moves forward at a more rapid pace, the people with the most up to date skill sets are not coming out of colleges but are coming offline. When you throw out professions that require a college degree; such as a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc. you really start to see a devaluation of a college degree. If you focus specifically on entrepreneurship type skills, the value drops even lower. Part of the reason for this is the rapid pace of increased tuition costs that have outpaced inflation for years now. Today's guest, Kyle Stockdale, is a married, 25-year-old dairy farmer from Ontario, Canada. At the beginning of our interview, Kyle told me that he had not attended college, and then he made the statement "might as well go to work and make money rather than go to school and spend money". There is financial wisdom in this statement. Of course, Kyle did not incur the expenses of college, and during the four years that he would have been making minimal income as a student, he was able to make significantly more money, giving him the opportunity to start investing and growing his net worth if he wished. That was how we started the interview. But by the end of the interview, I was recognizing something completely different about Kyle that was very compelling in light of him choosing to skip college. Kyle knows marketing, and when he starts talking about marketing and growing his business he is clearly very educated. So, without college, how did Kyle obtain all of this knowledge? Kyle is one of the millions of people who have followed a relatively simple formula. He found a niche that he was passionate about and that he could start a business within. Then he found mentors and teachers online that would help him develop the skill sets he would need to create a successful business. Kyle started a business called KYVision Sharpening & Repair in 2018. He did this because he wanted to make extra money and because nobody else in Canada was doing this. He had always sharpened his own blades and repaired his own clippers for fitting and showing dairy cattle, and he thought that he could turn this into a profitable business. So, Kyle already had one important skill set to put towards his idea. However, no matter how good you are at your core skill, your business will not flourish if nobody knows about you. So, you must market. This is where Kyle went to work finding online mentors who would help him grow, and this is how he became a marketing expert. It is clear from listening to Kyle that as passionate he is about his core business, he is equally or more passionate about marketing. I can say first hand that it is surprising what passions you expose in yourself when you start your own business. Kyle discovered something about himself by building this business, and he can now talk about marketing like the most polished of college graduates. Connect with Kyle Stockdale and KY Vision Sharpening & Clipper Repair: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KyVisionblades Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyvisionblades/ Email: [email protected]

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING CAITLIN HENNE! Caitlin first appeared on our show way back in episode #142. She has come a long way since then. Now she is studying animal science and agricultural business at Michigan State University, she is the Michigan State FFA President and she went to the White House and met the United States' President. Caitlin is still raising and selling her show quality lambs all over the country. She wants to build this business even bigger, thus her choice to study Ag Business. She has now won a proficiency award in sheep production, and she has been a regional star in agribusiness. You are going to love getting this update on Caitlin Henne!

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING DRESEN FERSCHWEILER! In six years of producing this show and conducting interviews, I have learned a lot about entrepreneurship. For example, I know that I am not a natural-born entrepreneur and the only way I ever became one was to decide that was what I wanted to do and then teach myself how to do it. Of course, there are natural-born entrepreneurs who will never be able to work for somebody else and have no concerns about failure or risk. Outside of those two categories, there are those people who find themselves entrepreneurs because some characteristic about themselves pushes them in that direction. I am calling that characteristic, whatever it is, "The Entrepreneur's Attribute". I believe that our guest today is one of those people with "the entrepreneur's attribute". Dresen Ferschweiler is somebody who learns all the details about whatever she is doing. For example, her father and grandfather farm hazelnuts in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Dresen has grown up around this industry, and she can answer every question from why can't you graze goats and sheep in the orchards, to whether or not irrigation is needed to how tariffs against China are impacting the price of hazelnuts. Dresen is still just midway through her junior year of high school, and her supervised agricultural experience is actually about livestock but she has that much knowledge about hazelnut farming. Dresen is making and selling sheep halters from her home in Gervais, Oregon. He has now sold halters to people in eleven states, and her business continues to grow. She has done little to no marketing. She haphazardly entered an entrepreneurship contest through the National FFA and ended up having her halters being featured at the National Convention, and she still has never gone to the national convention. As her reputation grew from being noticed at the national convention she eventually started an Instagram page with photos of her halters under the very practical but not flashy name, "sheep_halters". Today she is selling more than ever, has different pricing programs, and is doing custom orders. All of this started when Dresen was in the seventh grade. She was showing sheep for 4H, and she saw that somebody had a custom halter with a piece of fleece over the lamb's nose. She was interested in the halter and started looking at it more closely. She recognized that the material that had been used for the piece over the nose had some flaws. First, it would stretch out pretty quickly and stop looking and feeling good for the lamb. Second, it was of a material that would collect debris from the show arena and pen and would be next to impossible to remove. In a situation where most seventh graders would look at a product and declare, "I want that", Dresen looked at the product and said, "this won't work, and here is why. I can make it better". This characteristic of examining something and really studying it before the emotion of wanting it overtakes you is Dresen's "entrepreneurial attribute". This ability to look at something, and instead of becoming excited to determine its shortcomings and then build a better product is the way that so many entrepreneurs get started. To be honest, I wish that I had this attribute. Looking into her future, Dresen is applying this attribute to career planning already. She is interested in becoming a veterinarian, but she is already looking at the way things have traditionally been done in the goat industry and thinking that it can be done better. She is interested in getting involved in artificial insemination and embryo transfer in goat, which is a developing field. This attribute that Dresen has, in combination with her great attitude and strong work ethic has her set up for success in whatever field or business she chooses.

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING TOBY WINANS! In 1988 the Future Farmers Of America changed its name to the National FFA Organization because of Toby Winans. Toby Winans was only born 18 years ago, and 1988 is 32 years ago, so how is this possible? Well, Toby Winans is the perfect avatar for the person that the National FFA Organization was thinking of when they changed their name to reflect the growing diversity in agriculture. What the FFA recognized in 1988 was that there were a lot of students in the United States that were devoted to agriculture but who did not have the aptitude or desire to do the ground level work of farming. However, these students loved agriculture just the same and had something to contribute with their particular skill sets. The name Future Farmers Of America could have the connotation of excluding these students because they already knew that they were not future farmers. Capturing the talents and devotion of students like Toby is important. If we can, we want to keep students with talent as he has in agriculture. We need people like him to stay around. This is probably why Toby's FFA advisor refers to him as an "FFA member who 'saved the year'". Here is a note that she sent me: "Hi Matt, This afternoon I set you up with an interview with an FFA member that "saved the year". Here are a few facts that might be good for your interview with Toby. Toby Winans was a quiet freshman that has turned into a true leader for Taylorville FFA. Last year when Covid19 canceled the final 9 weeks of our school year, Toby knew that canceling our Annual FFA Banquet could not be an option. We have a large banquet every year with over 250 in attendance. (The banquet is Big Community Event). When our school shut all extra activities down due to Covid19, Toby figured out a way to have our FFA banquet by using his technology expertise and was able to follow our county guidelines. Toby Winans was a master mind of the 2020 Taylorville FFA Drive In Movie Style Banquet. Toby used his grandfather's semi van trailer for the movie screen and his other grandfather's flat bed trailer for our stage. He asked his dad and some community friends to borrow some audio video equipment and the rest is history! The 2020 Annual Taylorville FFA Banquet was the best in the history of the program because of Toby Winans! His work on the banquet was incredible and it was an amazing night that was very uplifting for our community. The 2020 banquet will be one I never forget! If you have any questions I would be glad to fill you in on this amazing kid. Thanks for your time. Sincerely, Sue Schafer Taylorville FFA Advisor" Toby loves agriculture, and it is this life that he has grown up around. However, he has natural talent and a passion for technology. So, his talents will direct him towards supporting farmers rather than being one himself. His talent was recognized early on, and he has been fixing computers, printers, and everything else technology-wise at his school since his freshman year. They even created a position for his particular talents, and he is the chapter's vice president in charge of chapter technology. Toby now has his own drone business. He is using his love of both hardware and software to help farmers be more successful. He scouts fields for his customers with his drone and the use of the "Drone Deploy" software. He sees a future for himself in agriculture with this being his role. Toby is the epitome of the student that the National FFA was thinking of when they changed their name. Amazing students like this are what drives everyone in every aspect of the FFA, and what drives me to conduct so many of these interviews every year.

SHOW NOTES There are two fundamental issues that have always plagued me when it comes to farming. First, what do we do about urban sprawl and disappearing farm ground? Second, how can a person expect to start a successful farm and be a full-time farmer with land, input, and equipment costs being so high? So, when I was contacted by The Conservation Fund asking to be on the show and talk about their answers to these questions, I jumped at the chance. The folks at The Conservation Fund are pro-agriculture, and they are particularly fond of locally produced farm goods that follow their model of sustainability. They also abhor disappearing farm ground. So, they are working to increase locally produced goods while slowing urban sprawl. Right now they are doing this in the 30 counties, metro area of Atlanta, Georgia as a pilot project. But the prospects are very good for expansion. In this episode, I speak with Stacy Funderburke, who is heading up the "Working Farms Fund" on behalf of The Conservation Fund in the Atlanta metro area. This program aims to pay farmers the actual market cost for their farms. Once purchased, they place the farms into an agricultural easement so that they will be farmed in perpetuity. And this is when the fun really starts. Once these two things have taken place they match up the particular farm with an experienced farmer, who has been leasing ground or working as an employee and is looking to start their own enterprise. Because the land has been placed in an agricultural easement the price is not driven up by demand from developers. This gives the new farmer a reasonable shot at purchasing the land. To begin the new farmer enters into a lease on the farm ground with an option to buy. The Conservation Fund helps the new farmer with obtaining resources, sharing equipment, and developing markets. In exchange, the City Of Atlanta and its surrounding metro area have another local producer who can bring locally grown food to market in that area. It is a win/win/win situation. You don't need to be from Georgia to participate in this and be selected as one of the new farmers. We will tell you all about this in today's episode. Connect with Stacy Funderburke and The Conservation Fund: Website: conservationfund.org Facebook: facebook.com/theconservationfund Instagram: instagram.com/theconservationfund Email: [email protected]

SHOW NOTES KEY IDEAS: Entrepreneurship is the only option If you want to farm, the further away from a major city you can get the more the land prices will reflect on their production capability. But, there will be fewer jobs available to you, likely with lower salaries. How will you produce your off-farm income? 92% of farmers in the U.S. rely on it for household income, either created by themselves or their spouse. If you are going to take a full-time job, what do you do when you need time for farm management activities? calving Irrigation raking hay swathing harvest etc. If you are making a big transition from a city career to a rural & farming lifestyle you might have skills and/or education that is not applicable in your new hometown. If that is the case, can you use these skills to create your own business? Turn your previous employer into a client? Work remotely? Teach online? If you are going to keep a full-time career job in the city, what is a reasonable commute? 20 miles 40 miles 60 miles Don't look at entrepreneurship as your lifestyle choice. Look at farming as your lifestyle choice and figure out a game plan that will allow you to make that happen. In this model, the production of your off-farm income no longer defines your working life. It is now the means to allow your working life. This is why I call agriculture the "ultimate lifestyle business". Other than being an actor, artist, or musician this is the only profession where people will work a second job, just so they have a shot at doing the first. We are choosing this business of agriculture because there is such a strong, intrinsic reward for us that we are willing to make these sacrifices just for the chance to do it for a living. We are choosing this career for the lifestyle because as a brand new farmer who has to develop their operation we cannot do it for the earnings. If our career decision was solely earnings-based this would not make any sense. We could clearly make more money, in less time, with less risk and more benefits at a city job, in a subdivision house with city neighbors. CHOOSING YOUR BUSINESS When you are choosing your business try to look at things with demand in the area and nobody filling it. Or, look at a business in which you could do a better job? Or, find a business that somebody wants out of with good potential. I would refer you to episode #480 about finding a true business opportunity. Don't get hung up on the earning capability of your business idea in its first phases. One thing I can say for sure is that as you start working for yourself you will start to see opportunities and ways to generate more revenue than you were unable to see prior to beginning. In other words, after you get started you are going to find more money. YOUR ONLY OPTION How are you going to farm well enough, that you can eventually become that full-time farmer (or most time farmer) that you want to be? As you are starting out, whether it be with livestock or crops, you need every advantage you can get. That might mean a 100% calf crop. Or that might mean a couple of bushel yield bump. One thing I learned in my two years of riding around with crop advisors was that the best farmers seemed to be the ones that were out there with their herds or crops. They were able to detect subtle changes or illness early and do something about it before it hurt their bottom line. How can you do this if you are at work all day? How do you get the time to react if you discover a problem when you've driven home from a long day of work? NOT AN OBLIGATION All you have to do is go onto social media to find lots of people who will tell you not to try farming. They will say many things such as: "How do you make $1,000,000 farming? Start with $3,000,000" Or, "you can't make any money farming" Or, "the only way to make enough to survive is to become really big because of the small margins" Or, "only the big guys get enough funding from the government to make a difference" Or, "the deck is stacked against you" Or just….." don't do it" These words, unfortunately, come from people who were just like you at one point. They had a dream of farming, and for one reason or another it did not work out. There are no guarantees here, and we could all suffer the same fate and have to give up our farm someday, I included. Farming is a business, and it may not go our way. But, we don't want to end up discouraging others. I think that discouragement comes from years of struggling to work full-time and farm on the side. When you do that you can burn out, and pretty soon the dream fades away. The farm becomes just another obligation, and you then look at it only from the mathematical perspective and decide it is not worth it. I don't want any of us to lose the passion for this lifestyle because of burnout. Entrepreneurship solves so much of this for us. It allows you to manage your farm better, to give you every advantage possible. And, it helps to keep us invigorated and avoid

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING KAYLA REED! They say that fortune favors the bold, and after hearing this episode I think you will definitely agree. In today's episode, I am interviewing Kayla Reed. Kayla is a former chapter president at the Pulaski High School FFA Chapter, and she is currently a student at the University Of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Something happened in Kayla's interview that has only happened to me once before. One of her FFA advisors sent in a special note about her and her accomplishments. Here is what he said, "She is the epitome of what we would hope every FFA members would do in their SAE program! She is a self-starter that has had a goal for many years to be a FIsheries Biologist or something related to this field and is now into her first year of college in this program. What is also fantastic is that this a non-traditional area and Kayla made partnerships with our Wisconsin DNR and College research programs to get as much out of her SAE program as possible. You will be totally impressed! P.S. Kayla has also won so many accolades through FFA , conservation groups and scholarships form her SAE --that I cant even attempt to list them all! Be ready Matt to get your world Rocked!! Sincerely, Terry Erdmann" My interview with Kayla certainly lived up to what Mr. Erdmann said about her. Just one small part of her story will illustrate this. When Kayla was in the 8th Grade she learned that a fisheries biologist for the Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources (DNR) was planning to release Muskie fish into a lake that she had grown up going to. She knew that several people were against this move, and she found herself getting involved. As an 8th grader, Kayla spent two weeks researching this issue and then wrote a position paper on why the fish should not be introduced. She then went to a town hall meeting held by the fisheries biologist about this issue and presented the paper to him. Ultimately, the fish were not introduced into the lake. The biologist was so impressed with Kayla's efforts on this that he allowed her to job shadow him, and he became a mentor to her in the area of fisheries biology. This is truly a David vs. Goliath story. Here was the biologist with the state position, the degrees, the research, and the experience. And here was Kayla who had not completed 8th grade yet, had no experience, was much younger, was not an adult, and who wrote a paper on her opposition to the biologist's plan. That is the definition of courage and boldness. One of the main points we stressed in this interview with Kayla is just how being bold and courageous can open doors for you that would never expect. Most kids in Kayla's position might have feelings about the issue, but would never be so bold to take on somebody who is respected as an expert. But, she did. And by so doing, she found a friend and mentor and opportunity. Oh, and she found her passion. This is a lesson for life that everyone can emulate. Do and say what you believe and let the chips fall where they may. This is the pathway to finding your happiness.

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING MEGAN CLARK! I once heard luck defined as "when preparation meets opportunity". I love this definition of luck because so many people on the sidelines think that people who achieve could easily be replaced by any other person off of the street if they just happened to have "luck" shine on them that day. When I first started hosting a radio show and podcast for D&B Supply one of our family friends asked me about how that had occurred. Before, I could explain she said "just fell into it?" or, to paraphrase, "just got lucky?" There was a bit of luck involved in this happening. I had actually called D&B Supply to inquire about creating a podcast for them, and I was lucky in the fact that they had decided to make a radio show and were trying to figure out how to find a host. But, what my friend didn't see was that I had invested my own money in equipment for broadcasting about two years earlier. And, for the past two years, I had been hosting a growing podcast called Off-Farm Income with no pay. But during that time I had been developing my skills as an interviewer, learning to find guests, and becoming a consistent broadcaster. It was this background, combined with the fact that D&B was looking for a host that led to me being chosen for this opportunity. My interview with Megan Clark reminded me of this saying and this part of my life. No youth organization in the entire world does what the FFA does. The FFA does a great job of developing skills in students (preparation) and creating situations in which they can use those skills to accomplish great things (opportunity). This is done through the efforts of the National FFA, State FFA Organizations, State FFA Foundations, Regional FFA Associations, and individual chapters. Megan had a lot of things pulling her towards the FFA. She lives on a farm and her parents and sister were all in the FFA. But it was going to one of her sister's award banquets and seeing FFA members being rushed up onto the stage to receive awards and accolades that really lit Megan's fire. By the time Megan was in the 8th Grade, she had joined the FFA. Megan took this fire and started working hard, being very active, and achieving in her FFA chapter. A few years prior to her even being eligible to become an FFA member some innovative leaders in her region of Iowa had started a media group comprised of FFA members called Current Ag Concerns. This has now transformed into CAC Media Group. So, while Megan was growing up and waiting to become eligible to be in the FFA, people were already creating opportunities that she could later take advantage of. During Megan's sophomore year of high school, these two paths converged. Megan's passion and preparation met the opportunity created by the CAC Media Group. The National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado was coming up and the CAC was traveling there to cover the event. Somebody on the team was unable to make the trip, and they needed to find a student to fill in. Megan's FFA Coach recognized her talent and hard work based on how active Megan had been up to that point. She invited Megan to come on the trip and fill in. The trip went well, and Megan brought the same work ethic and enthusiasm that she had for the FFA to the CAC Media Group. Soon, she became a regular fill-in on the team. Then it was time to find new, full-time, team members to replace the graduating seniors, and Megan applied. She was selected. Now, she is a full-time team member, and she has traveled all over the United States covering events and conducting interviews. She has been published in major publications on the radio and on cable television networks. Megan is one of the "lucky" ones. At least in the way that I define it. She worked hard, demonstrated value and when the opportunity came, she was ready!

SHOW NOTES Today's episode is really special for two reasons. First, it has the potential to be very impactful on the FFA. Second, 80% of the world's hungry people are farmers. But, unlike U.S. farmers, they are subsistence-based and less sophisticated. But programs like Growing Hope Globally are taking farming expertise and productivity from the U.S. and exporting it to these struggling farmers. On today's episode, Alex Morse will join us to explain what Growing Hope Globally's mission is. He will talk about helping farmers in many poor countries throughout the world and how you can get involved. He will also discuss how his organization developed a curriculum for FFA students to help them contribute to worldwide agriculture through their supervised agricultural experiences. Alex specializes in helping farmers in Central America, and he has traveled to small holder's farms all throughout that region. He has even taken FFA students with him to see who they were impacting with their efforts. He has some amazing stories to share, and he describes people trying to farm in conditions that no American farmer would ever consider. SUPPORT A GROWING HOPE PROGRAM: CLICK HERE Follow Growing Hope Globally online here: Website: growinghopeglobally.org/ Facebook: facebook.com/growinghopeglobally Instagram: instagram.com/growinghopeglobally/ Twitter: twitter.com/GrowHopeGlobly

SHOW NOTES KEY IDEAS: In 2011 when we purchased our farm we had a long, long way to go. We bought 25 acres of weeds with a house on them. There were no fences, no irrigation, and the land had not been cultivated in years. I had a small, John Deer tractor with an 8' disk on the back, and I worked the ground with that. Tons of rocks came up while I disked, and they all had to be removed and deposited elsewhere. Progress was slow, and at times it seemed like this place would never resemble a farm. During all of that time on the tractor, I listened to farming podcasts. They inspired me, gave me the motivation to keep going, and helped me visualize what our place would be like someday. One of those podcasts that I listened to was hosted and produced by today's guest, Tim Young. Tim and his wife Liz were operating a farm in Georgia and selling cheese as their main product. They had a variety of livestock, and I really enjoyed hearing about their day to day farming exploits. Fast forward to today. Tim and Liz have moved on from that farm, and Tim is now trying to help other people succeed in their farming endeavors through his website and podcast, Small Farm Nation. The main thing that Tim learned about succeeding with his small farm was how to market products and sell directly to customers. In this episode, Tim and I talk about marketing your farm products, and how to develop a following that will patronize your farm business. Also, Tim discusses his Small Farm Nation Academy which he has built to help folks really perfect this process. He also has offered 20% off of the coast of the academy to anyone listening to this podcast and entering the code "matt20" at checkout. This is definitely worth checking out. CONTACT TIM YOUNG AT: Website: Small Farm Nation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timsmallfarmnation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfarmnation/

SHOW NOTES Introducing Cole Searle! I interview a lot of young men and women on this show who are devoted to agriculture. These days you hear so much about kids not wanting to take over farms or continue that lifestyle that when a student who is passionate about agriculture comes on the show you wonder what their parents did to help them love this life? Of course, on this show, I reach out to many of the highest achievers in the FFA. Therefore, they are a self-selecting group. Students who love farming and agriculture and are passionate about what they are doing, naturally find their way to the top levels of the FFA. And, so I spend a lot of time talking to students who love this life and want to stay part of it. Even though that is the case, I always wonder what was it that sparked the passion in these students, and how could we spread it to even more youth in the U.S. It is probably a percentage thing, and even though it seems to me that all of them are this passionate, I am speaking to a very small percentage. In today's interview, I get to speak with Cole Searle. Cole is the 2020 Idaho State Star Farmer, an Idaho State Star winner, and was a National Proficiency finalist this year. In his short-term vision, he is looking at an American Degree as well as becoming the National Star Farmer. In his long-term vision, he is looking at a career in agriculture, especially working with cattle and horses. Cole is another one of these students where I wonder what did his parents do, or what event took place in his life that made him fall in love with farming. And, how do we spread that around? Cole has grown up around farming with his father managing several farms from Washington State all the way over to Ashton, Idaho where they have been for the past ten years. I know a little bit about where Cole lives and farms. I used to drive through Ashton several times per year on my way to and from college in Bozeman, Montana. And for the past five years, my daughter and I have taken a father/daughter trip every October and gone through Ashton on our way to Yellowstone National Park. In Cole's case, I think I can solve a little bit of the mystery of what his parents did to inspire him to be so passionate about farming. The answer is, they moved to Ashton. I can visualize Cole out on the farm on a crisp, June morning, driving a tractor or irrigating. And as the sun is coming up, there is something casting a long shadow over him. That something is the peaks of the Grand Tetons. Ashton sits in a fertile valley, to the west of the Grand Tetons and the Wyoming/Idaho border. When you drive through Ashton you cannot help but pull over and take in the majesty of these unbelievable mountains. These are the most identifiable peaks in the Rockies, and they are right outside Cole's back door. I can absolutely see where Cole is coming from. Growing up in a peaceful valley, working outside, and staring at his mountain range on a daily basis is definitely a recipe for contentment and passion!

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING EMMA VICTERY! Having a business model on your farm that is sustainable is challenging. Of course, if you are commodity-based there are so many factors that are outside of the control that you've got to get bigger and push harder. If you are smaller you are almost forced into being niche so that you can increase the size of your profit margins. And then of course, if you only offer one product you can get into really hot water if the price or demand for that product falls. In a perfect world, we would all know what type of farm business we were going to be involved in, in the future, and we could plan out our skill sets accordingly. Of course, there is no such thing as that perfect world. However, the FFA offers a future farmer the best chance of coming as close to this perfect world as anything that I know. This is illustrated very well by today's guest, Emma Victery. Emma has grown up on her family's farm in Oklahoma. She is hoping to take it over at some point in the future. She and her father have been looking at different products they could sell, different markets they could be in, and different ways to grow the business so that it will last for Emma and for future generations. Just recently they began marketing bulls as a compliment to their commercial herd. Looking into the future, Emma sees the sale of embryos and using embryo transfers on their farm as a way to offer other products and to really speed up the rate at which they improve their genetics. Right now, Emma is a senior in high school. But that does not stop her from looking into the future and trying to figure out how she is going to make all of this happen. Emma will start college at Oklahoma State University in the fall of 2021. She is planning on double majoring in animal science and agricultural communications. She wants to go to veterinary school, become a veterinarian, and specialize in reproduction so that she can use those skills for embryo transfers on their farm. This would also give her a great form of off-farm income. Right now she is taking over the marketing responsibilities on their farm, and she plans on using her studies in agricultural communications to strengthen her abilities in this part of the business. All of her efforts have led Emma to be the 2020 National Proficiency Winner in Beef Production Placement. She is looking at applying for several more proficiency awards going forward, and feels like her journey in the FFA has just begun. She has also been accepted to the honors college at Oklahoma State already due to her academic performance. Emma is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the cattle industry, and it is going to be fun to watch!

SHOW NOTES Jason Tatge describes the device that he has created as the "Fitbit for farm equipment". I don't think there could be any more apt description. Jason is the creator of Farmobile which is a device and data capture system that solves many problems that people practicing precision farming in the past faced, such as how to get the data out of their tractor and how to make it all work together so it becomes information. Through the solving of these problems and the creation of this new interface, Jason has unearthed a revenue source for farmers that nobody ever knew existed - data. With Farmobile, farmers are now able to collect data in real-time that they can combine with weather conditions, planting dates, etc. to make crucial decisions in the field. This information has value to other professionals in the farming world as well, and Jason believes there is a market for it. What Jason has done has created a way for farmers to sell another product that they were already harvesting but did not know there was a value for. I wanted to bring you this episode because we are always looking for ways that farmers can enhance their revenues to make their business more sustainable. CONTACT INFORMATION AND LINKS: Website: LINK Facebook: LINK Twitter: LINK Linkedin: LINK

INTRODUCING ELYCE BURZALAFF! Cleary my favorite aspect of the FFA is that it exposes students to entrepreneurship. I have a lot of favorite aspects, but it was entrepreneurship that introduced me to the FFA, and that is the aspect that I have been profiling for six years now. I like this aspect so much because a lot of students may have never been exposed to the concept of working for themselves. If they are like me, they knew entrepreneurs and understood that some people were self-employed, but nobody ever told them that was an option for them. With that being the case, there are lots of potential entrepreneurs sitting in classrooms across America that will never try out that path because they are unaware of it as a viable option for them. Today's episode highlights how the FFA can put another tool, the tool of entrepreneurship, in a student's arsenal. Elyce Burzlaff is mid-way through her sophomore year of high school. Last May a guest speaker came to her school and spoke with the FFA students. During that discussion, Elyce and her classmates were challenged to come up with an entrepreneurial idea. This led Elyce down a path of thinking of ways she could create revenue and determining what resources were at her disposal. Then she remembered that her mom had some equipment that could be used for making shirts. "Elyce B's Tees" was born at that moment. Elyce started creating shirts and selling them at her local farmer's market. She started seeing good results and kept doing this until the market closed for the season. When the market closed she started developing her Facebook Page, Instagram Page, and her own website, elycebstees.com. Elyce is certainly on the way with her business now and is learning all about entrepreneurship. She has another two and a half years in high school to hone her craft and learn about business, and we will see where this takes her!

The FFA Creed talks about a faith born of deeds. This amazing organization has found a way to coordinate thousands of chapters and hundreds of thousands of members throughout the United States into a cohesive unit that operates the same way, in the furtherance of agriculture. One of the key aspects of what is done in the FFA is service to one's community. Over the past six years of interviews, I have been lucky enough to profile multiple examples of service through the FFA. Today's episode is another excellent example of that principle of service. Jaidyen Wommack and Caitlyn Gloe respectively are the president and vice-president of their FFA chapter at Louisiana High School in Louisiana, Missouri. This past fall they led an effort to help feed those in need, in their community. There is always a need, in every community, for help in one form or another. Of course, this year, in the midst of Covid 19 that has been exacerbated. With the encouragement of their FFA advisor, Jaidyen and Caitlyn applied for and received a $300 grant to help their community this fall. With the money they received, they and the rest of their chapter voted to purchase produce to donate to the local food bank. But they did not stop there. Then they started a canned food drive to acquire even more food for their community, and they even brought their newly formed middle school chapter into the competition. Ultimately, through Jaidyen and Caitlyn's leadership, the Louisiana High School FFA Chapter was able to donate a significant amount of food to their local food bank and make a difference in their community during the holidays. Both of them join me on the show today to tell the story of how this came about, and how they executed their plan. SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Agriculture Education & Agricultural Communications HIGH SCHOOL: Louisiana High School in Louisiana, Missouri MASCOT: Bulldogs FFA ADVISOR: Lindsey O'Hara CONTACT INFORMATION FOR JAIDYEN WOMMACK &CAITLYN GLOE: Click on the picture below to be taken to the Louisiana High School Website: FFA Advisor's Email Address: [email protected] Louisiana High School Telephone Number: 573-754-4261

Merry Christmas to all of you! Thank you so much for making it possible for me to do this for the past three years (already)! I have a favorite memory of my time growing up in Valley Home, California that happened 40 years ago on Christmas Eve. I wanted to share this with you for my Christmas episode this year. I could try and type out this story here for you to read, but I'm going to make you listen to it. I grew up in a very special place; a town that was dying out. We were there in what really were its last, best years and I've got a lot of fond memories from my childhood. This story is just one of them. Here are some photographs to help show you what I am talking about when I describe Valley Home and the alley where this took place. This is what Wikipedia says about Valley Home today and the triangular shape of the town: Here is a satellite image of Valley Home. I lived in the bottom right of the triangle: [caption id="attachment_4289" align="alignnone" width="510"] The purple pin is where the Valley Home Store is located.[/caption] Here is a close up of where my house and the Rinna's are located: [caption id="attachment_4290" align="alignnone" width="510"] Karen's house in the center and mine is the brown, "L" shaped roof. The "incident" took place in the alley between our houses.[/caption] This is the front of my home, the window I was pressed against and the door that Santa left out of: [caption id="attachment_4285" align="alignnone" width="508"] The kitchen door of the house I grew up in.[/caption] Here is the fence that caused all the trouble: [caption id="attachment_4287" align="alignnone" width="510"] The short fence that caused all the problems....the shop was not there then.[/caption] A couple of photographs of the Valley Home Store: [caption id="attachment_4281" align="alignnone" width="510"] The Valley Home Store today.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4282" align="alignnone" width="510"] The gas pumps are gone and the post office is not longer being used.[/caption] Merry Christmas everyone!

I am a huge fan of two things relevant to agriculture: value-added products and wool. And, that is why I was so excited for this interview, it combines both. Kyra Uphoff has been working with "fiber arts" since she first started 4H, years ago. She concentrated on two things through 4H - public speaking and fiber arts. During this time she began learning to make felt, combine felt with silk, and create products and art projects with this skill. She also honed her public speaking abilities and developed a passion for talking with people. When it was time for high school Kyra joined the FFA because it would continue to give her the opportunity to speak publicly. She has been pursuing this for the entire four years of high school so far. For her supervised agricultural experience, she has continued to refine her craft with fiber arts. Today she has her own business, "KS Uphoff Fiber Arts". She makes felt and silk into products like scarves and she also uses these raw materials to make art. Kyra likes to take pictures with felt, and she also makes "3D Creatures". She clearly has a passion for working with these materials and an artistic eye for creation. She has been showing her products at craft shows, selling products, and developing her reputation. Now that Covid has hit she is developing a website and social media presence to help her do the same. As a funny side note, both of her parents are huge fans of Kansas State University. So both Kyra and her brother have the initials "KSU". Luckily for her parents, their last name started with a "U". It made it easy to pay homage to their university that way!

The FFA is all about opportunity. From learning about different careers, learning vocational skills, public speaking to doing research the FFA offers abundant opportunities. At what point do these opportunities end? Is it during your senior year of high school, just after graduation, or sometime during your freshman year of college? In today's episode, we will be speaking with a student who is mid-way through his first year of college and is just seeing all the different FFA opportunities open up in front of him. Creed Ammons is the 2020 National Proficiency winner in agricultural processing. In addition to that, he is serving as the state president for the State Of West Virginia and studying agricultural education at West Virginia University. Even though Creed is already in college, his opportunities in the FFA are just getting started. He still has the chance to become a national officer as well as an American Star winner, and he will be receiving his American Degree in the future. Creed is studying agricultural education and is looking at becoming an ag teacher like his parents, but he is also keeping the possibility open of working in agricultural policy either at the state or national level. I was very excited to learn during this interview that Creed had received a $1,000 scholarship from our great sponsor, Lacrosse Footwear, last spring. The serendipity of having him on the show and him winning a scholarship from those great folks is almost too much to believe! Interviews like Creed's are very exciting to record because you can see all the possibilities for his future laid out in front of him. How To Contact Ammons' Farm Fresh Turkeys: Facebook: LINK Phone: (304) 771-9022 Email: [email protected]

The Rural Crime Edition of the Off-Farm Income Podcast gives crime prevention tips on rural crime and updates you with the latest rural crime stories from the U.S. as well as the U.K., Canada and Australia.

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 in 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 fewer 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 by 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

SHOW NOTES Today's episode is very exciting. I am interviewing Michael Bair, the 2020 National Proficiency Winner in poultry production. Michael is also the 2020 state proficiency winner from Ohio in this very same category. Michael's awards and recognition are exciting enough, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Michael lives and works on his family's organic dairy that has been in existence for generations. They switched to organic production for better prices some years ago, but that has not made them immune from the ups and downs of milk and input prices. When Michael began in the FFA and needed a project for his supervised agricultural experience he decided to try something that was unique to him. So, he started raising and marketing pastured poultry. Over the years this business has really grown into a substantial revenue source for him and his family's farm. Michael plans on returning to and taking over the family farm in the future, and like any wise business person, he is looking for additional revenue sources to hedge against low commodity prices. Michael believes that he has discovered this in the form of pastured poultry. He plans to continue to raise and direct market pastured poultry in the future when he is managing the farm. Michael is currently studying entrepreneurship at Edison State Community College. When I asked him how he had chosen this major I saw where his wisdom came from. Michael said that his parents wanted him to go to college to learn about business. They know that he has a lot of knowledge about cattle and farming already, but the business of organic dairy farming is complex, so they want him to be prepared on that end as well.