

Working Cows - Regenerative Ranching to Maximize Profitability and Soil Health
Clay Conry
What is the key to becoming a more regenerative ranch? How do we increase the effectiveness of our management of the Land, Animals, Money, and People that have been entrusted to us? The Working Cows podcast exists to glorify God by providing farmers and ranchers a platform to discuss and share best practices for increasing soil health, profitability, stockmanship and leadership ability.
Each week host, Clay Conry, will talk to leaders in the industry who have made the regenerative shift in their business so that their ranches are more profitable from an economic and ecologic perspective. They will discuss grazing, Holistic Management, herd health, low-stress stockmanship, leadership, and of course putting your cows to work for you.
Each week host, Clay Conry, will talk to leaders in the industry who have made the regenerative shift in their business so that their ranches are more profitable from an economic and ecologic perspective. They will discuss grazing, Holistic Management, herd health, low-stress stockmanship, leadership, and of course putting your cows to work for you.
Episodes
Mentioned books

5 snips
Feb 21, 2025 • 51min
Changing Our Mindset to Help Facilitate Regenerative Agriculture (WCP 411)
Luke Jones, a consultant with Understanding Ag, specializes in aiding farmers to transition to regenerative practices. He shares insights on shifting mindsets to embrace sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the vital role of healthy soil. The chat covers challenges in moving away from conventional methods, especially in traditional farming regions. Luke advocates for accountability, localized production, and collaboration among farmers to foster resilient practices. He encourages viewing failures as learning opportunities and highlights the long-term benefits for both communities and the environment.

Feb 17, 2025 • 55min
Applying the Six Principles of Soil Health in Orchards (WCP 410)
If we are going to regenerate our food system we must also work on regenerating fruit and nut crops generally grown in orchards. Much of the conventional wisdom in the orchard industry is stacked against the application of the Six Principles of Soil Health. Chuck Schembre, Soil Health Consultant with Understanding Ag, joined me to discuss some of the most fruitful strategies he has seen in applying the Six Principles of Soil Health in Orchards.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!
Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!
Sponsor:
UnderstandingAg.com
Attend a Soil Health Academy in 2025
Guest’s Previous Episode:
Ep. 321 Chuck Schembre – Regenerative Gardening

Feb 12, 2025 • 44min
Planning for Profitable Market Transaction (WCP 409)
Marketing is a big lever for the average ranch. How do we push on that lever with the right information at the right time to help us make profitable market transactions? Nelson Koehn developed his Value of Gain website to help people do just that.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!
Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!
Sponsor:
Wineglass Ranch
Ranch Right
Relevant Links:
ValueofGain.com
Companion Video

Feb 7, 2025 • 28min
Leadership According to Jesus (WCP 408)
In this episode I share a talk I gave during a breakout session at the recent South Dakota Grassland Coalition annual conference. I take a look at a few passages from the New Testament Book of Matthew and consider the implications for how we handle leadership.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!
Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!

Feb 4, 2025 • 53min
The Necessary Pieces for Leaders to Replace Themselves (WCP 407)
Good leaders direct their organizations toward success. Great leaders replace themselves with leaders better than they are. Josh Kerpan has been on a journey to replace himself. He and his team have accomplished that. Today on the Working Cows podcast we discuss the importance of Purpose, Processes, and People to escape the entrepreneurial trap.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!
Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!
Sponsor:
Ranch Right
Wineglass Ranch
Relevant Links:
KZNSolutions.ca
Kerpan Farms

Jan 27, 2025 • 50min
Managing the Unseen Before it Becomes Visible (WCP 406)
How do leaders shape the future of the resources with which they have been entrusted? What does it take to avoid catastrophe and maximize positive results? In a word, intentionality. We have to continue making small regular investments in our resources to ensure long-term success. In this episode I share a keynote I gave to the gathering at the 2024 South Dakota Grassland Coalition Annual Conference.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!
Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!
Sponsor:
Wine Glass Ranch
Remedi Animal Solutions
Relevant Links:
Ogallala Livestock
Ep. 368 Ellen Bench – Homeopathic Livestock Health
Ep. 371 Ellen Bench – Implementing Homeopathic Livestock Health

Jan 20, 2025 • 53min
How Sheep Improve Soil Health and Profitability (WCP 405)
Many places around the country talk about sheep being the mortgage lifters. South Central Kansas is no different. Ryan and Kelsey Keeling have been on a journey to transition the ranch they manage to a higher percentage of grazing days allotted to sheep. They joined me to discuss how they are sharing this journey on Kelsey’s new podcast “Feed the Sheep” as well as the advantages and challenges of this process. We also talk about some of the strategies they have been employing to maximize the unique ways sheep impact soil health.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!
Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!
Sponsor:
Grassland Management School
Ranch Right
Relevant Links:
Balanced Ruminant Grazers on YouTube

8 snips
Jan 18, 2025 • 1h 5min
Gabe Brown and Dr. Allen Williams on Fixing America’s Broken Rural Economies (WCP 404)
In part two of a discussion on where we stand in American agriculture Gabe Brown and Dr. Allen Williams joined me to discuss what we can do to revive rural America economically speaking. We discuss the role of regenerative agriculture in accomplishing this goal as well as the causes of the hollowing out of rural America.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!
Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!
Sponsor:
UnderstandingAg.com
Attend a Soil Health Academy in 2025
Related Episode:
Ep. 402 Gabe Brown and Dr. Allen Williams – Fixing America’s Broken Water Cycle

Jan 14, 2025 • 47min
Developing Easy-Keeping Cattle for Maximum Profitability (WCP 403)
Wineglass Ranch has been on a mission for many years to develop easy-keeping cattle. They have sought to do this by developing heifers that get bred year after year, developing bulls that add heterosis, and maintain a low frame score cow that can graze 365 days per year. Cow boss TJ Ellicott joined me to discuss the process of accomplishing this mission as well as how you can get these cattle into your herd.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!
Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!
Sponsor:
Ranch Right
Wineglass Ranch
Relevant Links:
Ogallala Livestock

5 snips
Jan 6, 2025 • 56min
Gabe Brown and Dr. Allen Williams on Fixing America’s Broken Water Cycle (WCP 402)
What is the State of Agriculture in 2025 in America? How do we substantively make a difference in 2025 in American Agriculture? Gabe Brown and Dr. Allen Williams join me to discuss their understanding of where we are in agriculture and how we make real progress in a regenerative direction.
Thanks to our Studio Sponsor, Understanding Ag!
Head over to UnderstandingAg.com to book your consultation today!
Sponsor:
UnderstandingAg.com
Attend a Soil Health Academy in 2025