Farm4Profit Podcast

IntroWhat’s Working In AgThe importance of better weather data and why BAMWX has better dataBamwx.com@BAMWXCOMHow does better data leads to farmers making better decisions?The value of having access to your own meteorologist….Why?How do farmers get a hold of them and get signed up?Introduce Guest-------Loran Steinlage @FLOLOFarmersIt’s that time of year, if you haven’t been incorporating covers on your farm you are seeing the neighbors flying them on,inter-seeding, and getting their deliveries and so on. So, we wanted to talk with an expert today to try and answer some ofthe question you might have. Start with Definition: Cover Crops: Various crops grown between the harvest of row crops, like corn orsoybeans and planting of the following year’s row crop to cover the soil, reduce nitrogen loss through plantuptake and phosphorus loss through reduced erosion. Why do you think cover crops aren’t the unanimously decided practice for every farm? When considering implementing cover crops on my farm what are some of the challenges I may face? Is this something I need to plan ahead for? How much planning goes in to a successfully managed cover cropprogram?o When putting a plan together, what are somethings I would need to consider? Goals of that cover crop…. Now sell me on it, what are the benefits of implementing cover crops? So we know what the challenges are I may face and you just shared the benefits, what about putting dollars and centsto the project? Is there a positive ROI to using cover crops? Can you provide an example?  Farmers will be able to easily calculate return on investment for cover crops with a new online tool.It will help farmers decide whether or not cover crops work for their operation. Iowa State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) The tool shows farmers’ estimated annual net returns of cover crops under a variety of scenarios. The tool was created in Iowa but can be used in any U.S. state.o “Since the tool allows the user to create his or her own scenario using their own data it canbe used by any farmer in the U.S. to evaluate the net returns to cover crops in a corn-soybean rotation,” he says.  Select state, then region, then cash crop, then custom or not applied, burn down or not, expectedcrop price. – hit submit – spits out a chart to customize https://www.card.iastate.edu/conservation/economics-of-cover-crops/net-returns-calculator/ As a farmer working with cover crops, do I have to foot the entire bill to the programs? Are there ways to help withthe upfront costs? Ok, so now you’ve sold me on starting. How do I know what to choose, where to start, etc….?o Resources available?o Cover Crop Decision Treeo https://practicalfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Cover-Crop-Decision-Tree-and-Seeding-Only.pdf Anything else you think the listener should hear? What do you have to say to the person who thinks “this will never work”? We ask every guest, what do you believe or have observed is the greatest characteristic or trait of the most successfulfarmers you know? Summary Challenge Remember to submit topics and episode ideas to farm4profitllc@gmail.com Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Remind people to hit SUBSCRIBE #AndyCleanAll about Andy’s FarmAndy’s Burger TourFavorite part about farmingPeppers, Rye, Corn, Beans, Pickles(cucumbers), livestockDiversificationConnection to MikeHired Labor – ImmigrantWork-Life Balance/Cell Services SuckingHobbiesFavorite Ice Cream FlavorTop Characteristics of successful farmersIt’s CakeSimulating a hail stormFun Fact: DM Register top Liquor sold in IA – Black Velvet (2016-2019) made in Lethbridge, Alberta (Heaven Hills)DogglesStrip Cropping Corn and BeansSandwich preferenceJimmy John’s Meat, Subway Bread, Firehouse toasted, never had a jersey Mike’sHaving a bad day?  Read amazon reviews for Haribos sugar free gummy bearshttps://www.amazon.com/Haribo-SUGAR-Classic-Gummi-Bears/product-reviews/B006J1FBLMWhen Squirrels land on the ground they look like super heroes Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

IntroductionLike, rate, review, share, and subscribeAnswer questionsFarm4profitllc@gmail.com@farm4profitllcWhat’s working for Ag – listener or farmer feedback1) Pivot Bio PROVENTM is predicable – the microbes adhere and colonize on the roots and apply nitrogen every day. Synthetic nitrogen turns to gas, leaches, washes away and is not always in proximity to the roots and, therefore unavailable to the corn. Because it sticks to the roots and works every day – it is highly predicable.2) Pivot Bio PROVENTM is productive – light, sand soils and fields with sloping topography tend to lose more nitrogen. Most field have many soil zones and varying topography and therefore crop productivity varies widely across a field. Because it adheres directly to the roots – Pivot Bio PROVENTM levels out crop productivity across a range of conditions.3) It’s weather proof – rain does not wash it away as with synthetic nitrogen.4) All of these factors add up to improved ROI – and ROI is mission critical for growers.Introduce GuestAt Farm4Profit one of our favorite things to do is inspire others to achieve their goals, build their farm or business, and help you generate higher levels of profitability.  Whether you are young or old, I want to encourage you to grow or start your business and achieve your dreams. The most important thing to remember is that, no matter your age, if you are alive, you can achieve more.  Keep working towards your goals, work hard, stay hungry, and remember to be great.These episodes are all stemming from the feedback of our “how to grow your farm” show.  That is #24 if you didn’t catch it.  We have now talked about becoming a better leader #25, how to market your farm for growth #26, the right way to build your referral network in #27 and now today we will talk about how having a strong business acumen can benefit your farm and set it up for growth.Elliot Uphoff. @elliotuphoff. (Shelby County, IL)Side jobs are great with helping cash flow problems and also allow you to invest more money back into the farm.  I will continue to run side businesses until my operation is large enough that it can provide for my family but still then I’ll probably keep doing jobs that are sure moneyFor small farmers like myself diversity is key.The people you admire don't have it figured out, and that's okay.You’ll be graced with instant clarity and acute focus. We see others who look like they have it all worked out. They seem successful, they have the perfect social media posts, but in the real world, we are all just figuring it out. Well into your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s, things are still evolving and falling into place. Life is an evolution of changes; you can reinvent yourself and change your mind at any time, and it’s okay. Learning who you are is a lifelong journey and a radical adventure at that.Success Comes To Those Who WorkAlec Amundson. @alamudson  (Osage, Iowa)We joke that we have good lights on our equipment because we do most of our farming at night.Takes some planning ahead for not only inputs, but transportation and picking kids up I would say it’s generally hard to run an ag related business at the same time as farming, but things that can be done off season, ie hardware installation, soil sampling, fertility prescriptions, etc. allow you more time in the cab during the busy seasons.Every single time that you put in work, you get a proportional amount of results and successes from that work.  The more work that you put in, the more success that occurs in your life, the more happy coincidences occur, and the more you realize that you achieve.You begin to create your own luckSales and Negotiation Are Important Skills To LearnSales is one of the most important, most essential skills that you will learn in your lifeIt allows you to convey not only your products, but also your ideas to others in a way that makes them enthusiastic about it too.  Learning not just to “sell,” but also to communicate with people in a way that makes them interested in an essential skill, not just in business, but also in life.“Never Split the Difference” is a book on negotiationsNegotiating is a talent that can be built up with practice.When running a business it gives you more practice to get better for the farm.Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow UpSchedule out your follow upFiguring out when you should touch base with prospects, clients, and referrals next.  This helps not only increase sales, but also develop a better relationship with my clients and vendors.Manage Your TimeJeremy Williams @Wills_Bros_Farms (Martinsville, IL)We ran our custom business until it was costing us time and efficiency on our own farm by being away spraying for someone when we need to take care of our own farmBe sure it benefits your farm moving forward and holding you back from profit on your own farm by having a side businessAnother thing that we have found essential to the success as a business owner is managing your time correctly.  It can seem tiring, confusing, and unorganized at times but you need to understand how to create a schedule Use a calendar or app for tasks, a to-do list for the morning that you write before you go to bed, and form habits that help you achieve success.Having a clear vision will help make prioritizing things easier.  Do what is most time sensitive or important first rather than the easiest task first.The biggest key to running virtually any business successfully is your ability to concentrate most of your time and effort on the activities that will bring in the most money. That means that you have to minimize the time spent on routine functions.It takes a village.Chad E West @dylangreico (Central Iowa)I think one of the most important things in running my business is doing business with people who are looking out for your success and not just trying to sell you something.  I always say I deal with people not companies. I have an agronomist that I really enjoy working with if he calls tomorrow and says he's taking a job at a different company I'm going with him no questions asked.I always say if I was already doing business with you and I took a box of seed away from you and you had done nothing wrong and your seed performed great would that be right?I find that that loyalty has really been beneficial over timeYou won’t ever be able to know it all Assemble an amazing team,Find the right partner. Fill your gapsStarting and growing a company means learning to delegate.Commit your partnership agreement to writing. Partnerships don’t always work out, so you have to have written procedures on how to run the business, how to settle disputes, and if necessary, how to handle the departure of one of the partners.If you’re a sole proprietor, the partnership issue won’t apply to you directly. But anytime you start a business, you will be involved in all kinds of loose and informal partnerships with people you need to rely on. They can be suppliers, vendors, contractors or even major clients. Choose them all wisely, understanding that a bad relationship has the potential to sabotage your business.Burned bridges stay with you for life.Luke lauritsen @lauritsen4440 (Arlington NE)Relationship ... People do business with people they trust no matter what the person is selling or service they are providing...When you work for yourself, you realize how important all relationships are. A burned bridge will stay with you forever, and you quickly learn forgiveness is the most essential tool for success. Who can you forgive today?Your beliefs aren't as important as your behavior.Your beliefs and values are important to you, but how you act and talk to others about what you believe in is more important than the actual belief. Treat others with kindness and respect no matter how different their views are. Contrast can bring clarity.However, the more you believe in yourself, the less you need others to. You don’t need to lean on others for support. When you have a dream or goal, the most important thing is that you believe in yourself. People are going to tell you it can’t be done, but when you connect with your own dreams, you will be unstoppable.OVERHEAD CAN KILL YOU.Impressive features, like premium office space, high end furniture, expensive pictures on the walls, and a streaming live quote system. All that stuff costs money, and when you start a new business, that’s something that’s in short supply.When you start a business you have to think “shoe string”, and that means finding less expensive ways to do everything. It might even mean doing without a few things. Businesses fail for a lack of positive cash flow more than anything else. The sooner your business starts generating that positive cash flow, the greater your chance of business success. You can give yourself a big, fat advantage by determining from the get go that you won’t spend money on stuff you don’t absolutely need.Continue To Explore New Ideas@Brentfwells Brent Wells. (Fonda, Iowa)I had to go work somewhere else for 5 years before I came back to the farm. Part of it was to make sure I saw what else was out there, and to gain knowledge from other businesses.I learned a great deal about managing people, assets, and cash flow. Sometimes I tell people my story and they make the comment “too bad you wasted all that time getting your MBA just to come back and farm”. I just laugh. It has helped me look at the farm as business and make the right decisions for my operation rather than doing what everyone else is doing.If you don’t keep your mind open to new ideas, your business isn’t going to be able to evolve with the market.  Your business needs to be ahead of the market, and in order to do that, you need to continue to explore new ideas, new concepts, new ways to do businessYour competition is a poor metric for success, because they are who you are competing against.  Copying won’t get you ahead.  The best it can do is tie you for first place, not advance you ahead of who was first place.Success Is Ever Evolving.  Most people want to accomplish more.  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME PAYING CUSTOMERS FirstBefore you actually start a business, you might want to test it and treat it more like a side hustle. Test it out with your network. Find out if you actually have something that people are going to pay money for on an ongoing basis.Sometimes not getting what you want is the biggest blessing of all.Austin @auswms. (SW Minnesota)Its helped diversify our risk. It increases the labor needs, but brings added revenue all year.@marioncofarmer A side business is a big help on farming as it helps soften the blow when stuff goes southEverything is part of a larger plan. You quickly learn that rejection is actually protection.Running a business keeps you close to the ground and you get a firsthand feel on what is working and what isn’tNo one cares as much about your business as you do.Think of a business like a baby. Relatives will adore it. Strangers will smile at it. But no one will hover over it, protect it and deeply connect with it like its mother. Yes, owning your own business is like that. No one – not employees, partners, customers or friends – will have the same passion for your company's success as you do. Ever….Business ideas that others have done.Inventing (@farmerman_1 Quick Pins), Card Making/Crafting (@MelNelKeyes Hungary Canyon Design), Seed/Feed Dealer (@elliotuphoff), Lawncare/Landscaping.Snow Removal (@BradPeel3), Consulting/Crop Insurance, Custom Farming (@Wills_Bros_Farms), Trucking Company, Social Media Influencer, Public Speaking, Owning Rental Properties, Livestock Shearing/Showing (@Asuwms – Austin), Tiling (@Citrowske_L – Lance), Equipment Dealership (@marioncofarmer), Preceision Ag (@alamudson), Chemical/Fertilizer Sales (@Brentfwells)Side Job Ideas Others Have SharedMechanic, Tow Truck Driver, Selling Real Estate, Modeling, Tax Preparation, Writing, School bus Driver, Cleaning/Detailing, Tree Removal Service, Heavy Equipment Operator, and more!SummaryDon't judge books by their covers, especially if you think they have it all figured out.  Work hard as being the best farmer you can be and learn along the way.  Becoming a savvy negotiator will pay dividends and remember to make sure you follow-up in every situation.  The more you do, the better you will become at managing your time and you will also realize the benefits of having a strong network around you.  Take care of that network and don't be afraid to try new things.  Just because something doesn't go your way doesn't mean there isn't something to learn from the situation.ChallengeWas there anything we just talked about that you don’t think you are good at?  Start now to work on fixing that.  Read, listen, and practice until it gets better!ClosingRemember to leave us a review and share with your friends.  Send us your questions or topic ideas to farm4profitllc@gmail.com Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Jenny Sauer-Schmidgall (@TheWittyFarmer) | Twitter  https://www.thewittyfarmer.com/  https://danenbergerfamilyvineyards.com/ DFV pays tribute to Bill Sullivan, our Winemaker’s father, on every bottle. After many attempts of trying to upload the picture of him above, our computer would only return a pixelated result. However, its beauty was apparent, even if the original picture was not. This pixelated image, featured on our logo, graces every bottle and his legacy is entrenched in all we do: commitment to all that is good – being ethical, moral, and responsible to the land.Our Centennial farm, where DFV is proud to call home, was established in the mid-1800s by my great, great grandfather, James Sullivan, and his son, Jeremiah, who came over from Ireland. The original farmhouse, although completely modernized, still graces the property. The gazebo itself is housed in the grain silo, where the crops were stored. It is fitting that while some of our farm has a history going back to the 1800s, the remainder has a modern twist.I understand that we have a valuable legacy to nurture with the ability to adapt and change with the future. From my great, great grandparents who came to this area and settled this land to my, to my parents, and now my children, I cherish the generations and the land that has brought me DFV.I believe that my ancestors are looking down upon us and smiling. They may have questioned my endeavor in its beginning, but I think they are probably quite proud of us. I have approached my wines for the last 12 years as if they were pieces of art that I was creating; painting with different flavors and structures to arrive at something layered by cohesive – letting the fruit tell its story, with its tannins and acids – and using yeasts and/or barrels to complete the dream. I start every season with a vision once I taste the fruit, the stems and the tendrils. Even when I am pruning, I am chewing the cuttings and looking for clues. Often, my yeast choices change throughout the growing season, as I detect different flavors that I want to enhance or downplay.In 2011, I decided to commit to making the best wine that I could, and returned to the classroom. I  attended University of California Davis, learning viticulture and enology from some of the finest in the industry.Just like art on a canvas, wine can incite an immense amount of feelings and emotions. It is this passion, love, joy and inspiration that I try to capture with each bottle. It is my vision, this artisan, boutique winery, which I have brought to DFV. I am excited to share DESAGACÉ and AURA ARIA with others in the near future.   Lost Lake CheeseWe are a small dairy farm and cheesery just north of Jewell, Iowa. Our goal is to make award-winning artisan cheese based on regenerative, ecological farming practices. Our farm has 20 beautiful, grass-fed cows and we milk these cows and make all of their milk into cheese right on the farm. We have been selling cheese since the fall of 2016. Kevin makes the cheese and is the primary farmer and we have one part-time employee, Josh Mechaelsen. We started this farm because we'd like to see more life out in rural Iowa, this was one of the few ways we could see starting a farm from scratch, and we really love cows and cheese. Kevin started making his own cheese in 2007, we got our first cow in 2010, and we built a milking parlor and commercial cheesery in 2016.  We direct market a majority of our cheese - usually through farmers' markets in Des Moines, Ames, and Clear Lake. We ship online when it is cold out. Right now the easiest way to find our market alternatives is to head to our website. We have a cheese drop off on Saturday mornings in Des Moines and Ames and will be starting some other options when we get into Mozzarella season. We also sell at Wheatsfield in Ames and Backcountry Winery in Stratford. It's a lot for people to remember and I'll update our website to make it more clear. We do most of our communication and marketing on Facebook.   BiosWe got married in 2006 and, with a lot of help from a lot of people, worked our way towards this farm until we were approved to sell cheese in September of 2016. Many of the details can be found below. Kevin was born in Indianapolis, moved to Minneapolis when he was two, then moved to a dairy farm in central Minnesota at age seven where his family lived in a community of people living and working with mentally disabled adults. This is where he found his love for the land and for farming. He participated in 4-H, where he showed sheep and vegetables. When he was thirteen, his family moved back to the city, where he finished high school. After graduation, he went to Germany, where he did an apprenticeship in Biodynamic farming, spending one year each on three different farms. All three farms were dairy farms, ranging from eight to forty-five milking cows. All were diversified farms with dairy cows, beef cows, hogs, grain and vegetable production. Two of these farms also had on-farm dairy processing, which he helped with every day. At the culmination of his time in Germany, Kevin passed the tests necessary to become a “staatlich anerkannter Landwirt” or state certified agriculturalist. He then returned to Minnesota, where he completed a B.A. with a major in biology and met the woman who would become his wife. He worked on different farms every summer during college. While in Ithaca, New York, he worked at Cornell University as a soils research technician in a research and extension program focusing on nutrient management issues facing New York dairy farmers. After moving to Iowa, he worked for a year as a research associate with the Iowa Learning Farms, a multidisciplinary program that seeks to educate farmers and the public about conserving Iowa’s soil and water resources. He then moved to a position at Practical Farmers of Iowa as a grazing coordinator, where he worked with grazing farmers around the state of Iowa to coordinate programming, field days, pasture walks, and on-farm research projects. After  managing a 4200-head wean-to-finish hog farm for Iowa Select Farms, staying home with our two children three days a week, and planning, building, and raising capital for the farm for two years, he is now working at Lost Lake Farm full-time.Ranae grew up on a hog farm near Radcliffe, Iowa.  She met Kevin during college at the University of Minnesota - Morris. She spent one summer working as a veterinary assistant at a large farm in Ukraine, where she worked with dairy cattle, swine, and ostriches. She received her M.S. degree in soil science from Cornell University in 2009, where she studied nitrous oxide emissions as affected by snow cover and freeze-thaw cycles. She earned her Ph.D. in Sustainable Agriculture and Crop Production & Physiology at Iowa State University in 2014, where she studied carbon and root dynamics in prairies and corn-soybean systems. She worked as a post-doctoral research associate in the Integrated Cropping Systems Lab in the Department of Agronomy at ISU for five years. Ranae now works as an Agronomy Data Scientist for Syngenta in Slater, Iowa. Please feel free to mention Golden Harvest and/or NK as worlds greatest seeds with the world's best agronomists. :) CheeseI gave you a few different kinds - Emmentaler, Iowa Alpine, Burrnt Oak, Lost Lake Reserve Blue, and Farmstead Feta. The Feta is super salty and not for crackers, you should use it in place of salt somewhere in a salad or pasta.  If you just have time for one cheese "story" it should be the Burrnt Oak. Burrnt Oak is good on steaks and burgers because of its mushroomy flavor, but my favorite way to eat it is on salty crackers with strawberry jam and honey.  Burrnt OakBurr Oak is the state tree of Iowa. Our Burrnt Oak, an ashed Camembert, has charcoal through the middle and around the outside. The charcoal is made from a 200 year old Burr Oak tree that used to stand overlooking the Lost Lake of Lost Lake Farm. The tree blew over in a wind storm, so we turn it into charcoal, grind it to a fine dust, and put it in the cheese so people can eat this 200 year old piece of Iowa. Ashed cheeses are a traditional method from small farms. It was once common to make half of the batch, pour the curds into the molds, then cover everything with ash to protect it from the flies until the next milking and the next half of the batch could be made. The new curds would be spooned over the ash layer and the whole wheel would also be covered with ash to protect from flies while the wheels were flipped and left out to drain more whey. We make a Camembert without charcoal in the same batch and it's interesting to taste the difference as the charcoal itself is tasteless, but creates a different microbial environment that changes the flavor of the cheese. Farming PracticesThe unique things about our farming practices are that our cows don't eat any grain. We don't get super high milk yields, but we also don't have to buy any corn. We also keep the calves with their moms for up to five months and only milk once a day. This saves us labor on milking and caring for calves and we still get as much milk as one guy can make into cheese.   More farming stuff from the website:At this point, we have not applied for third-party certification from anyone. This means we are not certified organic, grass-fed, natural, or any of the other labels you may find on food. We do, however, follow our own rigorous standards in line with our goals to improve the land we are on, have healthy, happy animals, and provide pure and simple delicious cheese. We welcome any questions on our farming practices. SoilWe strive to keep all of our soil in place and to improve the health and productivity of that soil. We do that by keeping the soil covered and keeping living roots in the ground at all times. Most of our farm is covered in perennial plants in diverse stands. We manage our grazing to maintain high amounts of residual left after grazing, and allow adequate recovery time between grazings, which allows the root systems to also grow deep. We do occasionally till, in order to make a good seed bed for annual forages and to prepare for new diverse perennial seedings. We do this tillage at a time when it can be re-seeded as quickly as possible, so the soil is not bare for very long. The only external inputs are from purchased hay, straw, and cattle minerals. The manure and bedding is made into Biodynamic compost before being spread back onto the land.Grass and ForageWe do not spray pesticides, herbicides, or any other synthetic chemicals.Our pastures are in diverse grass, legume, and forb mixes. In the flat, well-drained cropland areas we seed these mixtures in with a drill, and in the hilly, treed areas it is a combination of the existing plants and some clovers that we have broadcast seeded on top of the soil. In order to maintain the quality and quantity of forage for the dairy cows, we also sometimes seed mixes of annual forages such as sorghum-sudangrass, turnips, and millet for grazing in the hot, dry summer months when the perennial grasses slow down their growth. We manage the forage stands by moving the cows to a new part of each pasture twice a day, using portable electric fencing. This way, the cows only graze each area for a short while, not overstressing the grass, leaving behind potential parasites, and always getting fresh, high-quality grass. This kind of grazing, when well-managed, also encourages diversity, healthy roots, and healthy soil.CowsWe currently milk around 20 cows and are also raising heifers, calves, and a few steers. Our cows are various breeds, including Brown Swiss, Jersey-Holstein crosses, Normande crosses, and New Zealand Frisians. Most of these cows we have raised on the farm from birth or young age. Our philosophy on animal husbandry is to manage lifestyle and nutrition of our animals such that they will be happy and healthy, and require minimal treatments or interventions. We do on rare occasions treat animals with antibiotics when it is the best choice for them to recover quickly and to reduce suffering. We do not strive for high milk production, rather for high-quality milk from healthy, happy animals. The cows are on pasture 24 hours a day when grazing is possible, and in open-air, bedded pack during the winter months when grazing is not possible. Starting in January, 2017, our animals are 100% forage-fed – meaning we do not supplement their diet with any grains or other feeds. They do get salt and minerals free-choice. They always have access to well water close by.   Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Turn Your Advisory Team into a Referral NetworkIntroductionSUBSCRIBE!!!!!! Then à Like, rate, review, shareAnswer questionsFarm4profitllc@gmail.com@farm4profitllcWhat’s working for Ag – listener or farmer feedbackTeralytic.  https://teralytic.com/Introduce Guest-------Laura Carlson @LauraFarms. @carlsonlaura64Your input is awesome!  These episodes are all stemming from the feedback of our “how to grow your farm” show.That is #24 if you didn’t catch it.We have now talked about becoming a better leader #25, how to market your farm for growth #26 and now today we will talk about building your advisory team and referral network.Ok, we’ve talked quite a bit about having an advisory team and who should be on it.  We have an early episode #3 where we talked a little bit about it, but now we introduced the idea of a referral network.  How do we actually put one of these things together??First, You need to know what your goals are.If you don’t know what you are looking to do with your farm, the direction, or end goal.Then how will the advisory team know what advice to give or what referral to send to you?This would be a good place to create a Mission, Vision, or Value statementI want my farm to financially support me and another family in 8 yearsI want to run a sustainable farm using the latest in technology to protect the soils, my animals, and give back to the local community.Second, start a list of individuals you’d like to have as an advisor to your farm.  You’ll want to start the list before asking to help visualize the strategic roles you may need. Prioritize who you’d want the mostLeave spaces open for people you don’t know yet (haven’t even met them)It may be beneficial to have a referral from another advisor to someone without any emotional tie to your farm to give advice.Think about your strengths and weaknesses.  Target the types of people that would fill your weakness gapsAgronomist, banker, lawyer, insurance, retired farmer, accountant, CEO’s, management, HR, etc….. maybe seek a doubter(not always saying yes)Thirdly, begin askingStart with your highest of prioritiesMake sure what you are asking for is clearShare your visionHow often to meetHow big of a boardTeam responsibilitiesGoals/OutcomesDoes it pay?Have a formal written request to present in print and/or e-mail to go along with a verbal request on the phone or in person.This makes it so the person you are talking to doesn’t have to write a lot of notesThey can focus on what you’re saying and reflect back on the material you left behindBe prepared to get a “no”If “no”Try and find out why they said no?Are they too busy, your mission not clear enough, conflict of interest, etc….Ask for permission to revisit your request in the futureAsk them for a referral to someone else they know that might be a good fitAsk them for referrals whether they says yes or noWhat do you do if they say yes?Have a formal agreement in place.  Request a 1 year or 2 year term/commitmentYou can always extend this and it can be compoundingPrepare a follow-up packageThank youIntroduction to other team members(bios)Give them ample notice of when the first formal meeting or request will comeLastly, Prepare and ShareMake sure your advisory team knows your mission, vision, goals, and the characteristics of the farm.When you set up for the first meeting have:An agendaProblems to adjust/solveRoad map for a productive meetingClear expectations/outcomesInstructions for food/beverageGet the materials out in advance and ask for questions/feedbackBe prepared to share financials and short fallsSuggestions for meetings:Be respectful of timeProvide meals and refreshmentsComfortable meeting conditions           Now that you have an advisory team and a network built up.  How do we turn them into referral making machines?Let them know what you are looking for.More ground, soil types, use for manure, custom work, staff etc…Be specific. When requesting a referral, be specific in regards to what kind of referral you’re seeking.  Tell your network who your target audience is. That way, you won’t waste time pursuing referrals who won’t yield you the results you want.Make referrals part of your initial conversation. When you start working with someone, ask them to agree to a simple deal. If you do a great job for them, they will tell others about it.Cash in those compliments. If someone is pleased with your work, thank them, and say something along the lines of, “It’s great to hear that you are happy with your experience. Would you happen to know of others who could benefit from our services?”Exceptional service. You won’t succeed at getting any referrals at all unless the quality of your service goes above and beyond the standard for your industry. Your farm should shine.Mutually Beneficial - focus on trying to seek referrals for things where the value is very obvious that it’s two ways.  Custom work would be a good example.  New ground is more of a one way value to the farmer, at least that’s how it’s often viewed.Develop a referral system. You get what you give. Pay it forward by providing referrals to businesses and partners yourself. People will be more inclined to give you referrals in exchange. Plus, contributing to the greater good of your community will help to bolster your reputation.Integrate your referral requests with other marketing strategies. Need some ideas? Go listen to episode #26Network, network, network! Try to make the most out of every networking opportunity. Plan what you will say in advance. Make it a goal to talk to at least three people at each event. Tell them about your business, pass out business cards.  They’ll likely share what they’ve learned with their friends. Try to make yourself as interesting and enthusiastic as possible—this is what people are drawn to! Once you network, make sure to follow up with a networking email to keep the lines of communication open.SummaryIt all starts with knowing your operation and what you want to become.  Be clear with yourself and others about the goals for your farm.  Identify the people you want on your team to fit and fill the weaknesses you have.  Having personality types different than yours is a great way to get the whole picture.  Create a strategy for asking them to join your team and be prepared to sell yourself to them.  Once you get a team together be over prepared for the first meeting and each subsequent meeting to keep the quality of talent needed on your advisory team around.ChallengeOur challenge is just for you to simply start this process if you haven’t already put a team in place.  Make that list of people you’d like to network with and get referrals from.If you have a team we challenge you to recruit another high profile-new face to your team for 2020-2021.RemindersRate, Like, Review, Share – this one especially because it’s for more than just farmersSend us your topic ideas and discussionsFarm4profitllc@gmail.com Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

111 South 11th StreetWest Des Moines, IA 50265Des Moines' Distillery — Located in Valley Junction near the Halldistillery@foundrydistillingcompany.com515.822.9296 FOUNDRY DISTILLING COMPANY WAS BUILT AROUND FOUR PILLARS:HISTORY, COMMUNITY, INNOVATION AND QUALITY.HISTORYFoundry Distilling Company was started by Scott Bush. Scott began working on Templeton Rye whiskey in his apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2002, while a student at the Sloan School of Business at MIT. Scott’s great grandfather, Frank Schroeder, was born in Templeton and was an "entrepreneur during Prohibition" who made Templeton Rye at the family farm outside of Arcadia and later Odebolt, Iowa. Scott knew of his family’s involvement in the rye trade and wanted to build a business, so he founded Templeton Rye and built it into one of the most successful brands in the new craft spirits industry. Scott sold controlling interest in Templeton Rye in 2016 and started working on Foundry Distilling Company. He chose to focus on producing and distilling authentic, high-quality spirits right here in Iowa with local input, involvement and control.Foundry Distilling is part of an exciting project at The Foundry building, which was constructed in 1899 and was known as the Rock Island Railroad car barn because it was originally built to repair rails cars. Other tenants at The Foundry include The Hall, a European-style beer hall, and The Kitchen, a nonprofit commissary that will provide kitchen space for food truck owners.COMMUNITYWe are located is the Valley Junction area of West Des Moines, which was founded in 1846 by a man named James Jordan whose home became a stop on the "Underground Railroad." Above ground, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad had a significant presence here as well. Today, the Valley Junction community is a thriving group of artisan shops, restaurants and galleries located along historic 5th Street in West Des Moines. We feature many events throughout the year and a popular Thursday evening farmer's market in the Summer.INNOVATIONWe designed Foundry Distilling Company with the flexibility to create virtually any spirit, in large or small amounts. We have our core Foundry Collection, our Heritage Collection and many other unique specialty products. We also offer spirit enthusiasts the unique opportunity to produce completely customizable private barrels of whiskey. Finally, we are collaborating with many distillers and brewers around the state and country to produce unique collaborative offerings. If you have an idea or are interested in collaborating with us, please email distillery@foundrydistillingcompany.com.QUALITYThe Foundry Distilling team has been active in the spirits industry since the early days of the craft spirits movement. We have talked, worked, consulted, advised, brainstormed and/or collaborated with hundreds of people and have tried to listen and learn from these experiences. We feel that our team, equipment, processes, partners and consultants are some of the very best in the industry and that our products reflect that experience and collaboration.We also understand the importance of transparency with spirits production. We strive to be an industry leader in this important area, including videos showing details of production for all of our products.  Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Not Your Father’s Marketing PlanIntroductionLike, rate, review, shareAnswer questionsFarm4profitllc@gmail.com@farm4profitllcWhat’s working for Ag – listener or farmer feedback (What’s working for the Boxler’s)Dairy awareness month - flippy cupIntroduce Guest-------Nikki Boxler @NikkiBoxler Intro details……We shared a lot of examples from fellow listeners during our episode about how famers had successfully grown their operations.  We then focused next on the leadership necessary to make your farm successful and now YOU have asked us to focus on marketing your farm.  We aren’t going to talk about marketing your crops, produce, products, or livestock.  This episode will talk about gaining exposure, creating a clear message, and setting yourself up for future benefits.We see this going two directions.  Marketing your farm for growth.  Meaning creating brand exposure and a clear message of the desire to grow your herds, flocks, land base, or customers.Marketing your farm for endorsements.  Think about professional athletes with shoe deals or other farmers who have been paving the way such as Sharkfarmer, Millennial Farmer, Harmless Farmer, and our guest today Nikki Boxler….putting yourself in a position to receive something of value in exchange for advertising, endorsing, or reviewing.1st - Marketing your farm for growthSome of these may cross over between the two.  How does marketing work in the corporate world?Businesses focus on how to get, keep, and grow with customersMarketing = building relationships, adding value, leveraging existing connectionsAdvertising = conveying a clear messagePeople buy from people the know, like, and trustFirst, you must know who your target market is.  Selling meat directly to consumerProviding technologically advanced servicesCustom farming tasksSeed, Chem, Fert, PrescriptionsSecond, what is your message going to be?  How will you separate yourself from others?ExperienceGreat peopleQuality vs Quantity of ProductCadillac vs WalmartThirdly, how will you get this message to your target market?Hand to Hand CombatClothingVolunteeringSocial MediaPaidOrganic Real-RAWWhere?Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, SnapChat, YouTube – maybe use hootsuite and others? PrintBusiness Cards, Mailers, Publications, Flyers, Billboard, WebsiteOther MediaRadio, TV, YouTube Channel and Pre-Roll, Podcast, Scroll Ads, Websites, Text ads, Emails, Newsletters(INSERT) Quick Summary of the Marketing for growth section2nd - Marketing your farm for endorsementsIf you think about the people with the most endorsements, what do they all have in common?   -   They were top of their field.  Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, David Beckham, Michael Phelps as athletes…. Beyoncé, Jennifer Garner, Taylor Swift, Nelly, Robert Downey Jr. Ashton Kutcher etc…etc….What about you?  Do you necessarily have to be a celebrity or the best in your field to get an endorsement?According to Bandzoogle.com   (Totally legit) Here are a couple suggestions1. Build a Strong Social Media PresenceIt’s hard to get an endorsement of the company you love if they don’t know who you are. Don’t forget to share occasional facets of your personality that truly make you who you are.2. Be Open to a Variety of PossibilitiesMaybe you’re a lifelong fan of a company or product. There is an amazing amount of boutique companies today that are easy to connect with via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and more.3. Always Carry a Business Card & Make Yourself AvailableHave them with you when you go to shows around the area and make connections with other professionals in the industry. There is something to be said for arriving early, talking to folks, being courteous, and sticking around to talk about their own experiences.4. Attend events/shows/social gatherings with the Intention to Make New Friends/ConnectionsThe most important point I can recommend to you in your career, it’s also an opportunity to connect with the companies you adore and find out what they are planning on releasing for the upcoming year.Importantly, you need to make sure you approach companies with the intention to make friends & connections, as you can probably imagine that they are inundated with requests for free gear. 5. Remember An Endorsement Doesn’t Mean Free GearThe idea that an endorsement automatically meant free gear is common. However, with most companies these days operating on budgets and looking for the very best talent available, most actual endorsements just mean that they can offer you special pricing.While free gear isn’t uncommon, it’s better to approach a company without the idea of “getting free gear” in mind. Because ultimately, the goal is to support a company you love and have them support you in your journey!What are examples of those gone before us?Zach Johnson, Millennial Farmer, is used to talking into a camera held in one hand as the other helps direct his nearly 400,000 YouTube subscribers around the farm.  Millennial Farmer from Minnesota documents his everyday on the farm.  Johnson signed up his YouTube channel for a Google AdSense account, which matches ads to a user’s site based on their content and visitors. “I think people were excited to see the combines and see what we were doing as we got close to harvest,” Johnson says. “Big machines always bring views.”The MN Millennial Farmer brand now includesYouTube videos, public speaking engagements, farm tours, merchandise and the recent debut of the “Off The Husk” podcast, backed by Farmers Business Network, his biggest sponsor to date.The majority of brand money comes from two main sources on YouTube: ads and sponsors. Advertisements are a part of Google AdSense and can appear before, after or in the middle of a video. Sponsorships or brand deals include paid product endorsements that appear within a video’s content.Joe Gagliese is the co-founder of Viral Nation, a global influencer marketing and talent agency. He tells CNBC Make It that YouTubers are typically the highest earners of all social media channel influencers, followed closely by Instagram influencers.Rob Sharkey – SharkFarmer Podcast, Radio, and TV of RFDTV, Co-Founder of FRANRob took the approach of telling the stories of other farmers on his podcast and has used the skills he’s learned to become a good at telling stories, connecting audiences, and conducting effective interviews.   He then transferred the same messages to multiple platforms to include:Podcasting, Radio, TV, YouTube, Merchandise and Public Speaking.Rocky Ormiston @rockorminston2 planted his fields with different hybrids in the design of his farm name, a company logos, etc….Nikki Boxler – what has Nikki done?!What about from the companies themselves?  What are they looking for?  We connected with a few marketing representatives in our network and asked them these questionsWhat characteristics would your company prefer a farmer to possess before considering them in an advertising campaign, endorsement plan, or for product display/use & review?Authentic customer who is well respected in their local area and region, is seen as an innovator, influencer and is well connected with his/her peers and community regardless of the size of operation Trustworthy, brand loyal, have a legacy and tradition of connection to agricultural production, lawn and turf, landscaping, construction/forestry, local farmers markets/produce, livestock production Use our products, goods, services and promote the use of it within his/her local area as part of their brand and operation. What size audience does your company look for when considering a marketing decision that would involve a farmer on social media?The size of the audience is not as critical as the targeted audience, regional/geographical target and segment that the product, goods or service is specifically designed for or intended to reach. Within your company’s marketing plan, what is the most common form of influencer?  Celebrity, working AG professional, hired actor?The authentic real deal ag professionalsReal boots on the ground and in the soil operations have the most impact.If a farmer has interest in becoming a spokesperson, social media influence, or product reviewer for your company; what is the best approach for them to begin the process of securing a deal?We use customer testimonials in a many of our current or new product launches and promotions and we don’t hire them, it’s a partnership, it is genuine testimonials from usage of the products, goods or services within their own operations and their own claims and experiences that other colleagues can relate to. You don’t have to swing for the fences.Georges Niang Former Iowa State Basketball player and now in the NBA.   He isn’t getting large sneaker deals, but made enough of an impact in central Iowa to be able to do local car dealer commercials, clothing commercials, etc….You just being youAlign with a cause?What is your passion?Find what makes you uniqueOver all summary…..ChallengeStep out of your comfort zone.  Sometimes just asking is the biggest hurdle and can bring the biggest value.  Just because you get told no doesn’t mean you failed.  Look at the reasons why, ask them to explain why it wasn’t a yes, then learn and do better the next time.  Focus on yourself, learn what makes you awesome and run with that.  Much easier to be you for the rest of your life than to live a charade.ClosingIf you have episode suggestions, questions, or want help with marketing your farm reach out to us.@farm4profitllc     farm4profitllc@gmail.comWe can get you in contact with Nikki if you’d like to learn more! Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Adam Kleiss@moo4isuwww.firetrucker.com   @FireTruckerBrewDay DreamHEIFER WEIZENOur South German Hefeweizen pours golden straw coloredand the thick white head releases clove and banana aromasand a subtle fruitiness. This deliciously well-balanced wheat alesips with a hint of malt and prominent _avors of spice, bananaand clove.BURNOUT BROWNOur brown ale will get you ready to roll! Itʼs dry, smoothand easy to drink. Clean on the palate yet filled with maltand caramel flavors that are balanced with hops. Itʼs nottoo bitter making it very approachable for everyone.Cloud CityBlasters ready! Prepare to protect your Cloud City NEIPA � that bounty hunter wants some for his ransom ride back to Tatooine. Cloud City is a juicy, hazy New England IPA with a trilogy of pineapple, tropical fruits and citrus notes. The unifying force of Citra, El Dorado and experimental hops delivers the fruitiness in the aroma and taste while adding a cloudy golden haze. Smooth with a hint of bitterness on the back end. Quick, hide, here comes Vader!We are located in Ankeny, Iowa in the old firestation, hence our name. We have been in business for 6years as of July 4th.Due to COVID-19 we are only doing TOGO sales in the beer garden Thurs-Sun 2-7pm. Be on the lookoutfor our reopening plans through our social platforms.Is there a community impact or philanthropic portion of the brewery you’d like us to talk about?BEER IS ART! This has always been our philosophy in the beer industry. The art of craft beer begins witha spirit of innovation, a sense of community and the desire to improve life. We enjoy creating andsharing craft beer because it brings people together. By appreciating the simple, yet finer things, ourquality of life improves. Also beer is awesome!Where can our listeners find your beers?Iowa is the only place our beers are currently distributed. You can find us at Hy-Vees, Price Choppers,Fareways, Caseys, convenience stores, and restaurants/bars . Check out our website under WTF?(Where's the FIretrucker) enter your zip code and find the closest location to you, we distributethroughout the state! Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is your farm ready to be ran like a college sports team?IntroductionAnswer questionsListener Question: Sometimes I feel like my employees have no passion, attention to detail, or motivation to do the job right.  I then have to do it myself for fix it.  Have you heard from your guests’ ways that they are dealing with this?Reminder that you can submit your questions to farm4profitllc@gmail.com or on all social media channels.  Please like, rate, review, and leave your comments on this episode as well!Jamie Pollard InterviewJamie Pollard is in his 15th year as the Director of Athletics at Iowa State and his vision for success and energy to execute that plan continues to have major impacts on campus, in the Big 12 and nationally. The 2018-19 Cyclones recorded the Big 12’s second-best student-athlete graduation rate (88%), won three Big 12 championships and registered its best-ever finish in the league all-sports rankings (third), and saw 13 programs reach post-season play.Pollard was recognized as 2019 Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDAJamie and his wife, Ellen, have four children: Thomas, Annie, Maggie and James. Thomas was 2017 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in cross country at Iowa State and Maggie competes collegiately in track for at Nebraska. A question for you as the listener to be thinking about…..Is it time to create roles, empower others, and win a championship?How much more fun could your “job” be if you thought of it this way?!Iowa State University is having success is many sports.  To start off - What do you feel have been the key decisions made that have led to the success of the programs at to University?Co-Host: Follow up with comparing the answers to how a farmer could incorporate those.Nothing against other sports but for the conversation today let’s focus on a well-run football team.  Could you explain the different roles within a college football program that help it to function as whole? (Co-Hosts will help relate roles to farming)Head CoachBoss, Motivator, Lead Strategy, Director, Goal Creator, Burden-carrierFarm/Business OwnerDirector of Football OperationsDay to day direction, interpreter, communicator, HR, prioritiesOwner, Farm/Business Manager, 2nd GenerationPositions CoachesSpecialized, drivers, give & takeLivestock, Row Crop, Custom Work, DivisionsScouting/RecruitingResearch, testing, trials, metrics, salesEmployees with agronomy, IT, Prescriptions, Mechanical skillsStrength & Conditioning/NutritionHealth, wellness, energy, plansSpousal support, team member with a passion, stay healthyPublic Relations/MarketingCommunication, sales, branding, specialists, visual directionWho is in charge of sales on your farm?  Who recruits more acres or more business? How about person in charge of donations? Funeral Flowers? Etc…Administrative/Graduate AssistanceGlue, organization, details, catching mistakes, sacrificingDelegation, book work, accountant, advisory teamPlayers – Listener Question is about keeping good help around and motivated.Buy in, hard work, respect, motivatedHow do you keep the good ones around? How can we create culture and buy in so staff never leaves?Listening to your descriptions of the staff you have, shows in order to achieve the end goal it takes the whole team.  The AD or Head Coach can’t do it all on their own, so how did you become effective with delegation?One of the ways to gain trust is by giving it through responsibilityOne way to make a business more profitable or to run a productive team is to not waste time and resources.  What are somethings you have discovered that are important to gaining efficiency or becoming the most efficient?The listener question we started with had concerns about employees not caring or not giving it their all.  How do we motivate our team to give their all and put in their best efforts?Unemployment has been at historical lows prior to the COVID19 outbreak.  With potential talent available in the market place now, what does it take recruit high caliber talent? What are some tips that might help farmers land and keep quality help?Here at Farm4Profit we try to help our listeners and attendees strive to be the best operations they can be.  What are the most common difference between winning programs and those that aren’t?We have shared a few leadership tips in past episodes but would like to learn from your experience a well.  What are somethings you’ve learned throughout your time in a leadership role?  Experiences that you have gained the most value from…..What would you say to the listener that has doubts in the ability to run and/or grow their farm to be successful?Any last comments or words of advice you’d like to share with our listeners?End Pollard Interview: Thank Jamie for his time and conversation – hit the biggest point that he shared for our listeners and dismiss him.SummarizeChallengeNext time we get to watch football try to watch it differently, not in the “normal” way.Most people watch their favorite players or follow the ball as it moves across the field. But try to be more interested in the sidelines...Specifically, on the Coach.THAT’s who is really determining the success of the players, the team, and the match.Think about it…You’ve got your players on the field who are doing the labor-intensive work: running, passing, kicking, pushing their bodies to the absolute limits. And that’s all very important because the team couldn’t win without that physical work.But is it the most important work? What a good team needs more than anything is a Coach guiding everyone to success. They need someone looking down from a higher vantage point and making a plan that’s bigger than one play, one match, one season. And it’s impossible to do that job as a player on the field. It’s easy to understand this logic when it applies to football, right?Who’s setting goals for the farm and making action plans to achieve them?Who’s finding new ways to save money? Who’s looking at future income and expenses and managing cash flow? Who’s coaching your farmhand or workers and making sure everyone’s working towards the same goal?Just imagine everything your farm could achieve in the next year if you had someone thinking about those questions…How much more money you would make (and save)…How much faster you would reach your goals…How much stronger your farm would be...If you’re starting to understand how important it is for your farm to have someone looking at the big picture, I’ve got good news. It’s easier than you think for YOU to step into the role of Coach, of Business Owner. You don’t have to do it alone, rely on your network and advisory team to get you to that championship!ClosingThank them for listening.Encourage them to share the podcast and leave comments about interviews like these! Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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https://loupriverdistilling.net/Eric and Maria Montemagni began the journey of creating Loup River Distilling in 2016. Eric has always been interested in distillation as he dabbled in it with his college roommates. He was looking for an opportunity to add value to his corn crop and decided what better way to promote Nebraska corn farmers than turning that corn into whiskey!The name Loup River Distilling was selected to represent the area we call home. We strive to produce quality corn-based spirits from our farm, emphasizing the “grain to glass” motto.The Montemagni Family has a row crop operation in Howard and Greeley counties. Eric has been farming all his life and is a third-generation farmer. He has a B.S. degree in agronomy from Cal Poly and has spent considerable time researching the craft distilling industry. He attends conferences and workshops throughout the country and is a member of the American Distilling Institute and American Craft Spirits Association. He is a Master Level II certified distiller.Eric and Maria have been married more than 20 years. Maria has her master’s degree in Nutrition and has spent her career in the education field. Customer service is her area of expertise from her time overseeing a student-run restaurant. She has worked with the Disney Institute of Business Excellence and Quality Service. She is a nationally certified Servsafe (food safety) Manager. Eric and Maria have two children, Elena and Ryan.Our goal is to utilize local products in making high quality spirits. We hope our customers will enjoy fine crafted cocktails in the relaxing atmosphere of our tasting room, and share our products at home with your family and friends.  Want Farm4Profit Merch?  Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.