The Modern Acre

Join our Closed Facebook Group HERE If you are just getting into farming or need some inspiration for thinking creatively in agriculture, this is the episode for you. Brad Squires joins us to talk about how he transitioned out of the tech industry, where he helped build an incredibly successful B2B software company, to how he is now jumping into agriculture. Although Brad is just starting out, he shares valuable insight into how he plans to maximize a relatively small farm into an Ag Experience, focusing on community involvement and agritourism. We discuss several go-to-market strategies that he is thinking through and much more. Tune in! Connect with Brad LinkedIn Connect with The Modern Acre Website| Instagram| Twitter

Join our Closed Facebook Group HERE If you’ve wanted to learn more about hydroponics and how the technology can fit into your business, this is the episode for you. We talk with Joe Swartz, Vice President of Sales with American Hydroponics, or AmHydro. He has over 30 years of hydroponics experience, originally converting his own farm to maximize the business. Joe shares important insight into what hydroponics is and what it isn’t, how it compares to organic methods, and how to discern up and coming technology. We get into how AmHydro has innovated by building a solution oriented business and focusing on the success of their customers. Tune in to learn more about building a business around the proven method that can diversify farms: hydroponics! Connect with AmHydro Website | Instagram Connect with Joe Twitter Connect with The Modern Acre Website| Instagram| Twitter

Join our Closed Facebook Group HERE In this episode, we talk to Jay Hill, who grew his family's 10 acre hobby farm into a 17,000 acre farming operation today. Jay talks about his journey from a 16-year-old who knew he wanted to build the farm to how he has scaled the farm to multiple locations with a diverse crop portfolio. Jay has successfully leveraged social media to not only build brand awareness, but also to drive sales to his business. This is a must-listen! So much good info. Connect with Jay Twitter | Instagram Connect with The Modern Acre Website| Instagram| Twitter

Join our Closed Facebook Group HERE Trent Meyer is the Executive Vice President of DOT Technology, which is reimagining the future of farming through autonomous technology. Trent shares the story of how he unknowingly ended up working for the top-secret project under the vision and leadership of DOT's founder, Norbert Beaujot. Trent discusses DOT's innovative business model that acts as base infrastructure technology to broader autonomous applications and how the team at DOT has been strategic about their marketing approach. We discuss how autonomous technology can disrupt agriculture, while leveraging increasingly available and competitively priced technology. Trent is focused on how DOT is providing value to farmers and how the "next big thing" in agriculture may not be where people expect it to come from. We are really excited for our first episode focused on the equipment aspect of agriculture - autonomous equipment no less! Connect with DOT Website | Instagram Donate to Saskatchewan Special Olympics HERE Connect with The Modern Acre Website| Instagram| Twitter

In this episode, we talk with Casey Cox, a 6th-generation farmer from Georgia (yes, 6th!).  Casey decided to come back to the family peanut, sweet corn, and timber farm after going away to college and discusses the challenges she’s faced as well as her early successes. Casey is incredibly involved in water conservation efforts and shares how she is pushing for innovation, both in the policy sector and investing in technology to improve irrigation. We also dive into her appearance on the Netflix series “Rotten” where she discussed her perspective on the peanut industry. Tune in to find out how it went! Connect with Casey Website | Instagram Connect with The Modern Acre Website| Instagram| Twitter

Charles Baron, VP of Product and Co-founder of Farmers Business Network, talks with us about the values of the company that has disrupted the ag industry with price transparency. FBN is a company based around a network of farmers that leverages data to provide valuable insight and market intelligence back to the farmers. In our words, Farmers Business Network is "robinhood" for the ag industry. Charles talks about how and why he and his co-founders were inspired to build this business based around technology and the challenges they faced right from the start. He talks about how they had to boot strap the business to build traction and how they really focused on listening to their customers to innovate their product. FBN is a true Modern Acre case study, tune in! Connect with Farmers Business Network Website | Twitter | YouTube Connect with The Modern Acre Website | Instagram | Twitter

Jack Zech, a fourth-generation farmer, talks about coming back to his family farm after several years moving up the ladder of a large clothing company. We discuss what he learned through managing retail stores and overall strategy for Uniclo and what motivated him to leave corporate America to return to his family's farm in the California delta. Jack shares how he is adjusting to the change and how he has started in filling whatever gaps the farm needs. In addition to helping with the farming operation, Jack is starting a distillery business as a sister-company of the family farm. We dive into some of the early wins and challenges he has faced with building this business. Enjoy! Connect with Jack Email Connect with The Modern Acre Website | Instagram | Twitter

Margaux Alvarez, a 5x CrossFit Games athlete, shares how she has built a successful wine business around her personal brand. We cover everything from how she grows her own grapes to the winemaking process to all of the regulatory challenges of the alcohol industry. She has scaled her business by leveraging her personal brand as a CrossFit athlete and coach, focusing on direct-to-consumer sales and marketing. She connects with others by being honest about her story, while engaging well in her community. This is a great episode that everyone can learn from, no matter the sector of agriculture. Connect with Margaux Instagram | YouTube Connect with Vine Yard Wine | CrossFit Connect with The Modern Acre Website | Instagram | Twitter

In this episode, we dive into the beverage business, SAP!, with co-founders Chas Smith and Nikita Salmon. SAP! offers sparkling water that's flavored with maple and birch sap, straight from Chas and Nikita's home state of Vermont. We discuss their upbringing in Vermont and how the maple industry has evolved. They share how they started the ag business and have scaled it through supply chain optimization, local and regional sales distribution, and marketing through social media. We could not stop asking questions and digging into how they've grown their business from nothing. Tune in! Connect with SAP! Website | Instagram

Launch Giveaway: Scope the details HERE In episode 6, we talk with Alli Cecchini, Executive Director of First Generation Farmers, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and training of the next-generation of organic farmers. Alli grew up on her family's asparagus farm and eventually came back and convinced her parents to let her use a half an acre for community farming. That half acre turned into a massive community and education program, including school field trips and agritourism. Alli has since created the Urban Edge Sustainable Farming Program, a program which provides organic farmer training to first generation farmers passionate about agriculture. Alli shares her journey, what she’s learned, and why she is passionate about creating change. Connect with FGF Website | Instagram | Facebook