Advertise on podcast: Humble Ground

Since 1919, the Sargent family has been ranching under the wide-open skies of south central Montana. Today, Wes Sargent is helping carry on that legacy as the sixth generation of his family grows up on the ranch. In this episode of Humble Ground, we sit down with Wes to talk about life on Sargent Ranch, their cow-calf operation, and the challenges of raising cattle in a landscape shared with wildlife. We also dive into how Wes and his wife, Lydia, started Cayuse Hills Outfitters, turning their passion for the outdoors into another source of income for the ranch while helping manage the wildlife that competes with cattle for grazing resources. It's a conversation about cattle, conservation, family, and finding ways to keep a ranch that's been in the family for more than 100 years going strong for the next generation. Every meal has a story. This is theirs. Watch this and more at https://www.humblegroundag.com If you are looking for a Montana Elk, Mule Deer or Antelope, visit https://www.cayusehillsoutfitters.com

At just 17 years old, Dalton lost his father unexpectedly. With a family farming operation to carry on and college just around the corner, he faced a decision that would shape the rest of his life. Some told him it might be time to walk away from farming. But Dalton never imagined doing anything else. Today, he's farming 5,500 acres in northeast Arkansas, growing rice, corn, and soybeans while navigating changing markets, new technology, and the challenges of keeping a family operation going for the next generation. We sat down with Dalton at the Fendt booth during Farm Progress Show to talk about overcoming adversity, the realities of growing rice and cotton, his longtime loyalty to RoGator sprayers, and what it takes to keep a family farm alive for another 100 years. Because sometimes farming isn't just what you do. It's who you are. For this episode and more, visit https://www.humblegroundag.com Presented in partnership with Fendt.

What really goes into raising healthy cattle—and ultimately the beef on your plate? Dr. Tim Parks, DVM, spent years working directly with producers as a private-practice veterinarian before joining Merck Animal Health. In this episode of Humble Ground, we talk about his path through veterinary medicine, what cattle health and animal welfare actually look like on farms and ranches, and some of the biggest questions consumers have about beef. We dig into vaccines, hormones, antibiotics, animal welfare, food safety and why cattle producers make the decisions they do. No sponsorship. No sales pitch. Just an open conversation with a veterinarian who has spent his career working with cattle and the people who raise them. Watch this episode and more at https://www.humblegroundag.com

Austin and Justin Petry grew up around their grandpa’s farm, but by the time they were old enough to help, Grandpa had stepped away from farming and was renting out the ground. The twin brothers went on to Kansas State, earned engineering degrees and started their careers. Then Grandpa decided they had a little too much time on their hands and told them they ought to start farming. There was just one problem: they didn’t really know how. They figured it out. Fifteen years later, Austin and Justin are both farming full time and have turned their engineering backgrounds into another business, Progressive Ag Innovation, where they manufacture roller crimpers, planter parts and equipment built from problems they’ve encountered in the field. We talk about learning to farm from scratch, leaving engineering careers behind, building an operation together as brothers, and how farming ultimately led them right back to engineering—this time on their own terms. Watch this episode and more at https://www.humblegroundag.com

Where does the grape juice in your refrigerator actually start? At Farm Progress Show, we sat down with Washington grape producer Carter Kilian to talk about what it takes to grow grapes for Welch’s. Carter takes us inside grape production in Washington—from managing the vineyard and raising a quality crop to harvest and ultimately seeing those grapes become a product recognized in households across the country. It’s another reminder that behind the brands and products we see every day are farmers, families and a whole lot of work most consumers never get to see. Recorded at Farm Progress Show with Fendt. Every meal has a story. This is Carter Kilian’s. Episodes and more https://www.humblegroundag.com Learn more about Fendt at https://www.fendt.com/us/

We caught up with Logan and Bobby Lee from the Talk Dirt Podcast at Farm Progress in Boone, Iowa, for a conversation about farming, storytelling and where agriculture is headed. We talk about farming back home in Tennessee, the growing role of social media in agriculture, how podcasts are helping connect people inside and outside the industry, and some of the dream guests we'd love to sit down with someday. We also look ahead at what's next—for farming, ag media and the stories we hope to keep telling. Recorded live at Farm Progress 2026 in Boone, Iowa. For more episodes visit https://www.humblegroundag.com

Sometimes the best podcast conversations are the ones you never planned.A few weeks after meeting Jory while filming another project in southern Iowa, we found ourselves back at his farm, sitting down to talk about a lifetime in agriculture.Jory grew up riding alongside his dad on an Allis-Chalmers, farming ground shaped by the rivers and rolling hills of southern Iowa. He came home from Iowa State in the early 1980s—just in time to experience one of the hardest periods American agriculture has ever seen.We talk about 20% operating notes, selling land to keep the farm going, raising cattle, the evolution from open-station tractors to GPS and RTK, and eventually making the difficult decision to retire from active farming.But this conversation became about much more than one farm.Jory shares why he believes agriculture has to do a better job telling its story as more generations become removed from the farm—and why remembering where we came from matters just as much as embracing where agriculture is headed.From picking corn by hand to modern precision agriculture, this is a conversation about risk, resilience, family, legacy and a lifetime spent on the land.For this episode and more, check out https://www.humblegroundag.comLearn about Boa Safra at https://boasafraag.com/tim-strathman-xe03

What does it take to raise and market roughly 425,000 pigs every year? On this episode of Humble Ground, we sit down with the team behind the Swine Division at J-Six Enterprises to hear how the operation got its start, how it has grown, and what it takes to produce hundreds of millions of pounds of finished pork. We talk about the people, facilities, logistics and decision-making behind an operation of this scale — along with the challenges of raising livestock, managing growth and getting that much pork to market.It’s a look behind the scenes at a Kansas agricultural operation helping feed people across the country. This is the J-Six Enterprises Swine Division story. Episode and more at https://www.humblegroundag.com

Josh grew up on a family dairy in northeast Kansas, started milking cows in fifth grade, and eventually left home to manage thousands of cows in western Kansas.But when it came time to decide what was next, family pulled him home.We talk about why he came back to keep the family dairy going, what it takes to milk 300+ cows three times a day, raising kids on the farm, the future of dairy and why the next generation has to *want* to come back — not feel like they have to.And somehow along the way, a pheasant hunting hobby turned into raising nearly 14,000 birds a year.This one has a little bit of everything — dairy, family, hard work, plenty of laughs and a reminder of why some people choose to come home.Watch this episode and more at https://www.humblegroundag.com

What started as a small woodshop in a hog barn on a rural Kansas farm has grown into a company producing roughly 2,000 cabinets and 300 house doors every day. In this episode of Humble Ground, we sit down with Jim Koch, founder of Koch & Company, to hear how it all started. Jim shares how growing up and working on the farm shaped his work ethic, the early days of building a business with what he had, and how those same values helped turn a small-town operation into the company it is today. It’s a story about hard work, taking chances, staying grounded and building something that lasts. Watch this episode and more at https://www.humblegroundag.com

Nearly two years after joining us for the very first episode of Humble Ground, Andy Evans of Rocking E Cattle is back in the studio. Just days before we sat down, Andy experienced one of the hardest weeks a cattle producer can face, losing cattle during the extreme late-July heat and humidity that swept across Kansas. It's a reminder that agriculture can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be unforgiving. In this conversation, we talk about life in the feedlot during the summer, the realities of managing cattle through intense weather, where the cattle market stands today, and what Andy sees for the future of the industry. As always, it's an honest conversation from someone living it every day. Watch more at https://www.humblegroundag.com Save $10 on a $100 order with Valley Vet using code HUMBLE at checkout. https://www.valleyvet.com

Logan Hanks is a Tennessee row crop farmer and co-host of the Talk Dirt to Me podcast. In this conversation, we go well beyond farming. We talk about the risks farmers take every single season, the lessons that come from failure, and why Logan says farmers don't need to go to Las Vegas to gamble—we're already gambling every day with weather, markets, equipment, and the unknown. We also dive into social media, building an audience, the opportunities it creates, and the challenges that come with living part of your life online. It's an honest conversation about agriculture, family, business, and staying grounded while the world is watching. If you've ever wondered what it's really like to make a living from the land—or what happens behind the scenes of one of agriculture's most popular podcasts—this episode is for you. More episodes at https://www.humblegroundag.com Learn more about Talk Dirt to Me at https://www.talkdirtpodcast.com

What does it take to keep a diversified Idaho farming operation moving? In this episode of Humble Ground, powered by Fendt, we sit down with Blake from Matthews Land & Cattle to talk about the crops that help feed America, from potatoes and sugar beets to the day-to-day decisions that keep the farm running. Blake shares what it's like managing a modern operation, the challenges and opportunities that come with specialty crops, and how Fendt equipment has become an important part of improving efficiency across the farm. It's a conversation about innovation, stewardship, and the people behind one of Idaho's iconic agricultural industries. Whether you're involved in agriculture or simply curious where your food comes from, this episode offers an honest look at the work happening long before those potatoes make it to your dinner table. Powered by Fendt. More episodes at https://www.humblegroundag.com

In this episode of Humble Ground, Andy Bloom shares what it's like to be part of a farming family where multiple generations work side by side. While each family member operates their own business, they're always ready to lend a hand when it's needed—whether that's Grandpa, Dad, uncles, cousins, or the next generation coming up behind them. Andy reflects on the lessons learned from working alongside family, the importance of showing up for one another, and why strong relationships are often the greatest asset a farm can have. He also shares his hopes for the future, including the dream that his children might one day return to agriculture and carry on the values and traditions that have shaped their family for generations. A conversation about family, legacy, and the people who make agriculture more than just a way of life. View more at https://www.humblegroundag.com

David Steinlage wears two hats—Kansas farmer and engineer at John Deere. But this conversation isn't about machinery or technology. It's about faith, family, and the moments in life that redefine what truly matters. David shares the heartbreaking loss of his daughter, the lessons that followed, and how that experience changed his perspective on success, work, and the importance of being present for the people we love. We also discuss farming, raising a family, balancing careers, and finding purpose through both life's victories and its hardships. This is an honest conversation about resilience, gratitude, and keeping your priorities aligned when life doesn't go according to plan. Humble Ground Podcast — Real stories from the people who feed, build, and strengthen rural America.