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What’s for lunch in the field? During harvest, keeping everyone fed while juggling a million other things can be a job all on its own. Jena and Mary Pat chat about their field meal routines, prepping hot lunches, and the tools that make feeding their farmers a little easier—including a Milwaukee lunch warmer that’s become a harvest favorite. They also share the reality of a challenging harvest, disappointing yields, and supporting your farmer when the season isn’t going as planned. Plus, they talk about homeschool co-ops, grocery delivery, and finding ways to take a few things off your plate when life gets busy. In this episode: Feeding the crew during the busy harvest seasonPrepping and packing hot meals for the fieldThe Milwaukee lunch warmer: how it works and why they love itField meal inspiration from The Seed Life CookbookSupporting your farmer through a difficult harvestGrocery delivery and other ways to lighten your workloadFinding a rhythm when your plate is already fullLINKS:  Seed Life CookBooks! Use code JENA for discount.   New episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

Have you ever felt like you don’t quite belong on your own farm, or wondered if what you do really matters? This week, Jena and Mary Pat answer listener questions about imposter syndrome, finding your role in a family farming operation, and giving yourself credit for the work that happens behind the scenes. They also talk about the transition into marriage and farm life, especially when you’re joining your spouse’s family farm. From communication and changing expectations to building trust and giving yourself grace, they share what they’ve learned along the way—and why you don’t have to have it all figured out right away. In this episode: Feeling like an imposter on your own farmWhy not all valuable farm work shows up on a balance sheetGiving yourself credit for the work you do behind the scenesNavigating the first year of marriage and changes in family lifeCommunicating with your spouse about your needs and expectationsBuilding trust with your spouse’s familyGiving yourself grace as your role changesChoosing to grow through life’s inevitable changesNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

Harvest is not going the way Jena and Mary Pat hoped this year. With weeks of rain, delayed harvest, crop disease, and plenty of uncertainty, they’re learning firsthand that sometimes the things you work hardest for are completely outside your control. They talk about the pressure to have a record year, dealing with tar spot, and the reminder that not every year will be a record year—and that’s okay. Jena also shares about some of the difficult things happening behind the scenes in her family’s life and how faith, prayer, community, and past trials are helping them navigate this season. In this episode: A delayed and difficult harvestExcessive rain and crop diseaseLearning to hold things with an open handWhy not every year can be a record yearFinding hope in hard seasonsPrayer, faith, and leaning on your peopleCreating small, intentional spiritual habitsGiving ourselves and others graceNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

What does it look like to build a future on the family farm? This week, Jena and Mary Pat are joined by Hannah Borg, a sixth-generation Nebraska farmer who found her own path home through an unexpected opportunity: raising chickens for Costco. Hannah shares how her family diversified their farm to create opportunities for the next generation, what it’s like raising 65,000 chickens, and how the chicken operation fits alongside their crops and cattle. They also talk about the importance of manure management and soil health, entrepreneurship, working with family, and the value of finding your own place within a family operation. Plus, Hannah shares her passion for farm photography and documenting the everyday moments that become family history, along with a personal health journey that led her to explore tongue and lip ties, breathing, and sleep. In this episode: Creating opportunities for the next generation on the family farmHannah’s family’s diversified chicken, cattle, and crop operationRaising chickens for CostcoThe chicken supply chain from farm to processingBiosecurity and the challenges of avian influenzaUsing livestock manure and chicken litter to build soil healthEntrepreneurship and the UNL Engler Entrepreneurship ProgramFinding your own path and purpose on the farmWorking with parents and siblingsFarm photography and “finding the magic in the mundane”Documenting family, farm, and agricultural historyHannah’s personal health and wellness journeyThe legacy of a multi-generation family farmNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

What happens when you’re new to farm life, working a job, raising kids, and trying to keep up with the demands of harvest? Jena and Mary Pat have been there—and in this episode, they’re sharing what they’ve learned along the way. They talk about over-communicating with your spouse and family, setting expectations before harvest, recognizing burnout, making room for rest, and asking for help when you need it. They also get real about motherhood, bringing a new baby into farm life, protecting time for yourself, and why taking a true day of rest can make busy seasons more sustainable. Plus, Jena shares an update on her home build and the mold issues they’ve encountered, and the two friends talk about finding support through hard seasons, taking care of your mental health, and praying with your spouse. In this episode: Advice for new farm wives and farm momsCommunicating and setting expectations before harvestBalancing an off-farm job with farm lifeRecognizing burnout and knowing when to ask for helpBringing a new baby into the farm lifestyleMaking time for yourself and protecting your restThe importance of a true day of rest during harvestJena’s home build and mold challengesFinding professional and community supportPrayer, faith, and getting through hard seasons togetherNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

Harvest has officially started for some farmers, and Jena and Mary Pat are talking about what that means—from getting equipment ready to having serious conversations with their kids about farm safety. They also recap their time at the Farm Progress Show, including a family rail bike adventure, Seed Life, Red Ants Pants, Case IH equipment, unpredictable weather, and plenty of farm-show fun. Plus, they talk about bringing kids to farm shows, making time for family, and learning to slow down and enjoy the experience—even when things don't go exactly as planned. In this episode: Harvest is starting earlier than expectedFarm safety and keeping kids safe during harvestFamily adventures at Farm Progress ShowRail biking with the kidsSeed Life and Red Ants PantsCase IH’s 2026 America 250 displayFarm show weather dramaBringing kids to farm showsGetting ready for the rhythm of harvestNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

Harvest is right around the corner, but before the combines roll, Jena and Mary Pat are squeezing in a little fun, faith, and family time. This week, they recap Becknology Days and Farm Wives Club, talk about independent agricultural research and Beck’s incredible Root Reveal greenhouses, and share some of the women who inspired them along the way. They also get personal about adult baptism, motherhood, mom guilt, and learning to make time for yourself—even when it feels like there’s always something else that needs to be done. Plus: House of Colour, women’s workwear from Red Ants Pants, a 20-mile run, and getting ready for Farm Progress! In this episode: Jena’s adult baptism and growing deeper in faithBecknology Days & Beck’s Practical Farm ResearchRoot Reveal technology and hybrid selectionFarm Wives Club and inspiring women in agricultureHouse of Colour and finding colors that work for youMom guilt and making time for yourselfRed Ants Pants women’s workwearGetting ready for harvest and Farm ProgressNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

What happens when a challenging crop year has you questioning every decision you made? In this episode of Beyond the Crops, Jena and Mary Pat welcome back Faith Pearson, agronomist, seed business owner, farm wife, and self-proclaimed “crunchy agronomist,” for a conversation that goes way beyond what’s happening in the field. The challenge this year has been a corn disease called Tar Spot. Faith breaks down what tar spot is, the weather conditions that can contribute to its spread, and the reality that sometimes farmers can make the best decisions they can with the information they have—and Mother Nature still has the final say. The conversation quickly becomes about something bigger: the pressure farmers put on themselves. Jena shares how much Levi has been beating himself up over the tar spot situation, and the three women talk about the importance of checking in on the farmers in your life, learning from difficult seasons, and remembering that a crop that doesn't meet your expectations isn't necessarily a failure. From there, they dive into the very different roles women can have in agriculture. Whether you're working directly in the field, running a business, marketing grain, raising kids, managing the home, supporting the farm behind the scenes, or doing some combination of all of it—there is no one “right” way to be a farm wife or a woman in agriculture. And, as always, there's a little encouragement woven throughout: you don't have to have everything figured out. Your role can change. Your passions can change. And you can grow through those changes instead of fighting them. In this episode: What tar spot is and how it affects cornWhy weather and leaf wetness matter when it comes to diseaseHybrid selection and fungicide managementWhat this year's unusual weather has meant for cropsLearning from difficult farming seasons instead of beating yourself upThe importance of checking in on the farmers in your lifeWhy you can't have a record-breaking crop every yearThe many different roles women play in agricultureThe value of the work that happens behind the scenesMarketing grain with a different perspectiveFinding your own place in agricultureFollowing what fuels your passionEmbracing change through the different seasons of lifeConnect with Faith: 🎙️ Rhizometrics — available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📧 [email protected] 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

What started as a way to blow off some steam turned into half-marathons, early morning runs, sore muscles, and a whole lot of lessons about doing hard things. In this episode, Jena and Mary Pat talk about how running has challenged what they thought their bodies were capable of and what it has taught them about discipline, resilience, comparison, and making time for themselves in the middle of busy seasons of life. They talk about starting from very different places, learning to embrace slow runs and recovery, fueling for longer distances, avoiding injury, and realizing that you don't have to be an athlete to become a runner. They also get very honest about the less glamorous side of running… including nervous bathroom emergencies, cornfields, and the surprising freedom of ditching your underwear.  Most importantly, they talk about how building physical resilience can help us carry the other hard things life throws at us and why sometimes the biggest victory is simply proving to yourself that you can do something you once thought was impossible. In this episode:  How Jena and Mary Pat accidentally became runners  Why you don't have to be an athlete to start running  Learning to slow down and embrace easy runs  Fueling, hydration, and what they wish they'd known sooner  Injuries, recovery, and the importance of not rushing the process  The mental game of running and pushing past what your brain tells you  Comparison and learning to run your own race  Finding time to run as a mom  The very real (and very funny) bathroom side of running  Building resilience through physical challenges  Learning that you're capable of more than you think  Keeping fitness in perspective and remembering what matters most🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

Traveling with kids can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to keep everyone fed, entertained, and happy without relying entirely on screens or fast food. In this episode of Beyond the Crops, Jena and Mary Pat are talking about their best healthy travel and road trip hacks for families. They share tips for packing food through airport security, traveling with kids, keeping road-trip meals simple, and finding ways to entertain kids without handing them an iPad for the entire trip. They also chat about 75 Hard, healthy eating, protein goals, canning salsa, farm life, and the realities of keeping up with healthy habits during a busy summer. Whether you're heading out for a family road trip, flying with kids, or just looking for easier ways to keep your family fed while traveling, this episode is full of practical ideas you can actually use. In this episode:  Healthy foods and snacks to pack when flying  TSA rules for traveling with food, ice packs, and breast milk  Easy road trip meals for families  Road trip organization and reducing car messes  Screen-free travel activities for kids  Travel scavenger hunts, books, podcasts, and Yoto players  How to keep kids entertained without constant screen time  75 Hard and creating healthier habits  Canning salsa and preparing for harvest season🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

In this episode of Beyond the Crops, Jena and Mary Pat catch up on the realities of late summer farm life, about starting a new homeschool year, choosing curriculum, creating routines, and finding flexibility when farm life, harvest, and family responsibilities don’t always go according to plan. Jena also shares an update on their tiny house project and the challenges of figuring out housing and homeschooling while preparing for harvest and a new baby. The conversation also covers drought, wildfires, farm stress, and the impact of weather on farmers and ranchers, along with a recent family trip to Idaho, hot springs, and making the most of time together before harvest. Plus, they dive into homesteading and food preservation, including canning salsa, marinara, tomato juice, applesauce, pickle relish, and beef. And finally, Mary Pat opens up about struggling with her mental health and ongoing dizziness, finding a new hobby in crochet, and the importance of giving ourselves grace when life feels overwhelming. In this episode: Homeschooling and choosing curriculumCreating routines around farm life and harvestBuilding a tiny house on the farmPregnancy, health, and family transitionsDrought, wildfires, and farming challengesFamily travel and making time for funCanning, gardening, and preserving foodSalsa, marinara, tomato juice, and canned beefFinding hobbies and coping with difficult seasonsMental health and giving yourself graceEncouragement for farm moms heading into a busy season🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

This week we're diving into a trend that's been making the rounds online: What's actually worth spending your money on... and what's absolutely not? From Owala water bottles and running gear to health insurance, cleaning ladies, coffee, kids' toys, and seasonal décor, we're sharing our completely unfiltered opinions.  We also announce our latest giveaway winner, chat about oral health, pregnancy, marathon training, functional medicine, family vacations, and why sometimes spending more upfront actually saves money—and stress—in the long run. Whether you agree with us or think we're completely wrong, we'd love to hear what makes your "worth it" and "not worth it" lists. In this episode: Announcing our Beyond the Crops giveaway winner 🎉Why we both love our Owala water bottlesThings we believe are absolutely worth the investmentThe purchases we regret (or would never buy again)Functional healthcare vs. traditional healthcare costsRunning gear, shoes, and marathon training updatesWhy experiences often matter more than thingsCleaning ladies, decluttering, and simplifying lifeKitchen gadgets, baby gadgets, and household clutterCoffee, protein, smoothies, and investing in quality ingredientsOral health, flossing, and small habits that make a big differenceOur thoughts on kids' toys, seasonal décor, and trendy purchasesIf you enjoyed this episode, we'd love if you left us a review! Every review helps more farm families discover the show, and we're planning to make our listener giveaways a regular thing. Thanks for spending part of your week with us—we're so grateful you're here! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

What’s your current Roman Empire—the thing you can't stop thinking about? This week, Jena and Mary Pat catch up on everything currently taking over their minds. Jena shares an update on their family's mold journey, designing a temporary 1,200-square-foot home, and what she's learning about building a healthier house. Mary Pat opens up about coming off hormonal birth control and her growing fascination with women's health and hormone balance. They also chat about drought conditions, gardens that don't quite go as planned, homeschooling in a tiny space, and finding peace in seasons that feel anything but simple. In This Episode  Crop and weather updates from Nebraska and Minnesota  Building a temporary home after mold damage  Letting go of belongings and starting fresh  Healthy home building tips and lessons learned  Solar power, HVAC systems, and moisture prevention  Hormone health and life after birth control  Supporting your body through your monthly cycle  Gardens, motherhood, and embracing imperfect seasonsKey Takeaways  Sometimes the hardest seasons become the ones that shape us the most.  Building a healthy home is about thoughtful decisions, not perfection.  Our bodies are designed to work together, and supporting overall health often matters more than chasing individual symptoms.  Motherhood often means choosing progress over perfection.  God can still use your story while you're living through it—not just after you've overcome it. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

In this episode of Beyond the Crops, we're sharing everything that's been happening behind the scenes. From county fair adventures and first-year 4-H lessons to pregnancy updates and navigating one of the biggest challenges our family has ever faced, this conversation feels like catching up with friends on the front porch. Jena shares how her sons confidence is growing through 4-H, why county fairs teach so much more than showing animals, and where things currently stand with their family's unexpected home situation. We also talk about building a temporary home, learning to let go of possessions, and the ways God continues to teach us about contentment in difficult seasons. Plus, we debate one very important question: Should you find out your baby's gender before birth—or wait for the surprise? If you've ever felt like life took a turn you didn't expect, this episode is a reminder that even in uncertain seasons, God is still writing the story. In this episode, we discuss:  Summer updates from the farm  Jena's first "real" year as a 4-H mom  Lessons learned from county fair week  Bucket calves, showmanship, and raising farm kids  Pregnancy updates and whether to find out baby's gender  An update on Jena's home and building plans  Learning contentment through unexpected loss  Why slowing down before making big decisions matters  Trusting God through uncertainty  Finding hope while you're still in the middle of the story Whether you're hauling kids to the county fair, checking cattle, or enjoying a quiet drive down a gravel road, we're so glad you're here. If today's conversation encouraged you, we'd love for you to leave a review and share this episode with another farm wife who could use a little encouragement. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this honest and relatable episode, Jena and Mary Pat take a walk down memory lane as they reflect on all the things they swore they'd never do as moms... only to find themselves doing exactly that. From homeschooling and reading every food label to becoming stay-at-home moms after planning ambitious careers, this conversation is full of laughter, humility, and reminders that motherhood has a way of changing us in the very best ways. They also reflect on the sacrifices their own parents made, the wisdom they now understand as adults, and how becoming mothers has given them a whole new appreciation for family, faith, and raising the next generation. If you've ever caught yourself saying, "I sound just like my mom," this episode is for you. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ The biggest "I'll never..." moments that motherhood completely changed ✅ Why both Jena and Mary Pat took unexpected paths into homeschooling ✅ How becoming parents changed their views on health, food, and raising children ✅ Career dreams vs. the reality of motherhood ✅ Learning to appreciate the sacrifices our own parents made ✅ Funny moments when they realized they had become their mothers ✅ Parenting firstborns versus younger siblings ✅ The importance of giving yourself grace as a mom ✅ What they would tell their younger, pre-mom selves today 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Motherhood has a way of reshaping your priorities in ways you never expect. ✨ Never say never—life has a funny way of changing your perspective. ✨ You don't fully understand your parents' sacrifices until you become one yourself. ✨ Every family looks different, and there isn't one "right" way to raise children. ✨ Motherhood is both deeply refining and incredibly rewarding. ✨ Grace—for yourself, your kids, and your journey—is one of the greatest gifts you can give. ✨ Sometimes the life you never planned becomes the one you wouldn't trade for anything. Whether you're raising toddlers, teenagers, or somewhere in between, we hope this episode reminds you that you're not alone. Motherhood is messy, beautiful, humbling, and constantly teaching us lessons we never saw coming. We'd love to hear what you once swore you'd never do... only to find yourself doing today! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Come share your own "I said I'd never..." moments with us! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!