The Heart of Rural America

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke welcomes back Chris Earl of CK6 Consulting to discuss the current state of the American beef industry. They review the past year's sales and reflect on the significant improvements in beef pricing for producers. Chris shares his insights on the economic and political factors that are shaping the industry, the importance of resilience, and the fundamental role of faith in his personal and professional life.

They also delve into their collaborative projects like Bid on Beef and the All American Angus Beef brand. Chris emphasizes the essential values of family, mentorship, and hard work, urging young cattle producers to leverage these favorable times for the industry. The episode concludes with a heartfelt reflection on the challenges and blessings of the cattle business, framed by their shared faith and commitment to service.

It’s been said that the farm and ranch is the best place to raise children. As a mom of four kids, I feel so blessed to be able to teach kids about life, faith, family, community, and being true stewards of the land, livestock, and the people around them through the avenue of raising cattle.A calling from God led Tyler and I to become licensed foster parents in 2019, and since then, we’ve had a dozen kids come and go on the ranch.

It’s been a humbling experience and a shared family mission that has taught us plenty of lessons and has helped us grow in our faith, empathy, and commitment to serve others well.On this week’s episode, I chat with fellow foster mom and Nebraska cattle rancher, Jessi Grote, to discuss her experiences as a foster mom and the new organization they have started to continue to serve families stepping into these hard spaces.

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke visits Cowgirl Confident in Afton, Oklahoma to explore key topics in agritourism and veterinary practice. Amanda interviews Arielle Honovich from Ridge Ranch, NY, about her journey into livestock breeding and agritourism near New York City. Arielle shares valuable insights on managing farm operations, handling visitors, and the importance of adapting business strategies to local opportunities.

Next, Dr. Mindy Mayfield, an Oklahoma veterinarian, discusses her seminar 'Chute-side with Dr. Mindy,' focusing on practical knowledge for new cattle producers and the unique challenges faced by female vets in rural settings. Dr. Mayfield offers an honest look into the financial pressures, emotional stress, and balancing acts required in the veterinary profession. This episode highlights the power of community, mentorship, and resilience among women in agriculture.

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke highlights Taylor Blake, a viral social media sensation and a Florida farm girl at Knuckle Bump Farms. Taylor shares her journey of merging her love for farming and social media, starting with her viral TikTok video featuring her emu, Emmanuel. She discusses the importance of authenticity, consistency, and finding unique content from everyday farm life. The conversation also emphasizes the significance of community, mentorship, and supporting fellow entrepreneurs in the agriculture industry. Taylor offers practical advice for rural entrepreneurs looking to build their brand and monetize their social media presence. This episode is full of inspiring stories and valuable insights on leveraging social media for agricultural success.

In this solo episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke dives deep into the logistics and strategies behind building a successful direct-to-consumer beef business. Sponsored by Reverse Rocking R Ranch, the episode begins with the promotion of their annual bull and female sale.

Amanda recounts the journey of launching bidonbeef.com, an auction platform for premium American Angus beef, discusses lessons learned, and highlights the significance of marketing, quality assurance, and distribution. She introduces her new 'Bulletproof Your Beef Business Academy,' offering one-on-one coaching to aid producers. Detailed insights on finance management, identifying target customers, shipping logistics, and effective marketing techniques provide valuable advice for beef entrepreneurs.

In this compelling episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke brings back guest Dave Duquette of Western Justice. Duquette discusses his latest documentary on property rights titled 'The Great Pocatello Land Grab,' which reveals the forced annexation of historic ranches in Pocatello, Idaho, and exposes corrupt developer schemes. The conversation also covers broader issues in rural America, such as the challenges of protecting family farms from urban encroachment and rights violations, the controversial federal management of wolves, and the dire situation of wild horses and burros on public lands. Duquette emphasizes the importance of awareness and collective action within the agricultural community and shares insights on how individuals can protect their lands and livelihoods.

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke discusses the impact of misapplied USDA regulations on American cattle producers with guests Robert Groom and Patrick Robinette. They delve into historical policy changes and the negative effects on the market, explaining how existing laws, if correctly enforced, could benefit U.S. cattle producers by ensuring proper labeling and fair competition. The conversation also includes insights into the American Angus Convention and a call to action for more advocacy and awareness about these issues.

Host Amanda Radke sits down with Tate Bennett, Director of Rural Policy at the America First Policy Institute, to unpack a newly announced USDA plan presented by Secretary Brooke Rollins that aims to fortify the U.S. beef supply, rebuild capacity, lower consumer costs, and keep family ranchers on the land.

They discuss why cattle producers reacted to recent pricing comments, what the plan actually proposes, and how ranchers can keep shaping policy from the ground up. Amanda also shares an encouraging win for property rights: New Jersey’s 175-year-old Henry family farm is no longer under threat of eminent domain after collaborative federal and state action.

In the second part of this special episode, Amanda Radke and her guest Chris Earl discuss crucial topics facing the American beef industry. They explore the upcoming American Angus Association's annual convention in Kansas City, touching upon the expected delegate vote and the association's new partnership with Jeff Bezos on methane and emission studies. They heavily emphasize the importance of advocacy by ranchers, staying true to traditional values, and the need for a free and fair market. Chris shares his thoughts on the flaws in current agricultural policies, the negative impact of climate change narratives, and the necessity for ranchers to have a greater say in the industry's direction. Both Amanda and Chris underscore the false narratives surrounding beef pricing and health impacts, advocating for better government policies and more active involvement from the ranching community. Finally, they share personal anecdotes and practical advice on building a successful business based on these core principles.

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke welcomes Jared Sorensen, a third-generation rancher from Nevada and the host of the Profitable AgSteward YouTube channel.

They discuss Jared's journey from taking over the family ranch to transforming it into a profitable and resilient operation through regenerative agricultural practices. Jared shares his experiences with financial struggles, the importance of faith, and the role of strong mentors.

The conversation also covers practical agricultural management tips, the significance of innovative grazing techniques, and the benefits of using the Ambrook accounting software to help ranchers manage their finances effectively. This episode provides valuable insights into modern ranching strategies while emphasizing the importance of merging traditional values with innovative practices.

In this replay episode of “The Heart Of Rural America,” Amanda Radke talks about the importance of sharing our agricultural stories and how we can impact the next generation of consumers to be empowered and informed on where their food comes from with sweet and simple stories.

As the author of eight children’s books, Amanda shares why she got started writing books; how she is debunking misconceptions about animal agriculture one story at a time; which animal rights activist groups have infiltrated schools with their own curriculum, and how Scholastic Magazine is telling a generation of kids to skip a cheeseburger to save the planet.

Amanda sits down with retired Vikings linebacker, Chad Greenway, to chat about his 11-year career in the NFL, lessons learned back at home on the family farm, and business tips for any entrepreneur or agricultural enterprise to utilize. To book Chad as a speaker, reach out to him on Instagram or Twitter @chadgreenway52For all Gray Duck products, including the newly released Spiked Nitro Cold Brew made with Caribou Coffee, visit grayduckspirits.com To learn more about Chad Greenway’s Lead The Way Foundation, check out https://www.chadgreenway.org/