Off-farm Income

(function(t,e,s,o){var n,c,l;t.SMCX=t.SMCX||[],e.getElementById(o)||(n=e.getElementsByTagName(s),c=n[n.length-1],l=e.createElement(s),l.type="text/javascript",l.async=!0,l.id=o,l.src="https://widget.surveymonkey.com/collect/website/js/tRaiETqnLgj758hTBazgd9drLJnboGjIT22BjcFIstsIWlxPDKvTp9FSNMbyGKlQ.js",c.parentNode.insertBefore(l,c))})(window,document,"script","smcx-sdk"); Sign Up To Receive Our FFA Stories Newsletter! Email address: SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING BRIANNA YOUNG!  When you live in the West and in a rural, farming community you have a lot of distance to cover between towns.  And, if you are young and passionate about agriculture, this can result in you putting in a lot of road miles to take advantage of opportunities. Our guest today, Brianna Young, does exactly this.  Brianna has an amazing story of lambing out sheep for a farmer, three hours north of her home near the Mexico border in Phoenix, Arizona.  She also has an amazing story of a one hour, one way commute to be able to work in a veterin

(function(t,e,s,o){var n,c,l;t.SMCX=t.SMCX||[],e.getElementById(o)||(n=e.getElementsByTagName(s),c=n[n.length-1],l=e.createElement(s),l.type="text/javascript",l.async=!0,l.id=o,l.src="https://widget.surveymonkey.com/collect/website/js/tRaiETqnLgj758hTBazgd9drLJnboGjIT22BjcFIstsIWlxPDKvTp9FSNMbyGKlQ.js",c.parentNode.insertBefore(l,c))})(window,document,"script","smcx-sdk"); SHOW NOTES Sign Up To Receive Our FFA Stories Newsletter! Email address: In today's Tuesday episode I want to touch on prioritizing your dream of farming or an agricultural lifestyle.  Over spending may feel good in the moment but will eventually rob you of your dream.  We will explore the concepts of materialism and consumerism and discuss why consumerism is a whole lot worse! Where Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald Can Be Heard:   Member Of The National Association Of Farm Broadcasters

(function(t,e,s,o){var n,c,l;t.SMCX=t.SMCX||[],e.getElementById(o)||(n=e.getElementsByTagName(s),c=n[n.length-1],l=e.createElement(s),l.type="text/javascript",l.async=!0,l.id=o,l.src="https://widget.surveymonkey.com/collect/website/js/tRaiETqnLgj758hTBazgd9drLJnboGjIT22BjcFIstsIWlxPDKvTp9FSNMbyGKlQ.js",c.parentNode.insertBefore(l,c))})(window,document,"script","smcx-sdk"); Sign Up To Receive Our FFA Stories Newsletter! Email address: SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING IZABELLA TUCKER!  One of the best tools I have run across during my experience profiling FFA students is the SAE grant.  What a great opportunity for students to start a business of their own.  In the not too distant future we are going to hearing from adults who have very successful businesses, and they are going to be able to trace it all the way back to their first SAE grant. Today's guest, Izabella Tucker, is well on her way to being this future student and it all started with an SAE grant.  Just starting her sophomore year of high school, Izabell

(function(t,e,s,o){var n,c,l;t.SMCX=t.SMCX||[],e.getElementById(o)||(n=e.getElementsByTagName(s),c=n[n.length-1],l=e.createElement(s),l.type="text/javascript",l.async=!0,l.id=o,l.src="https://widget.surveymonkey.com/collect/website/js/tRaiETqnLgj758hTBazgd9drLJnboGjIT22BjcFIstsIWlxPDKvTp9FSNMbyGKlQ.js",c.parentNode.insertBefore(l,c))})(window,document,"script","smcx-sdk");SHOW NOTES Links To This Week's Stories: Tip Of The Week This product has a multitude of uses in addition to security on your farm.  I highly recommend this: Guardline Wireless Driveway Alarm w/Four Sensors Kit Outdoor Weather Resistant Motion Sensor/Detector- Best DIY Security Alert System- Protect Home, Perimeter, Yard, Garage, Gate, Pool Where The 2nd Amendment Does Not Exist https://www.farminguk.com/news/thieves-steal-specialist-farm-equipment-worth-9-000_56500.html https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/law-change-needed-to-tackle-rural-crime-nfu-says/ Rural Crime In The U.S. https://oilcity.news/associated-press/2020/09/09/wi

(function(t,e,s,o){var n,c,l;t.SMCX=t.SMCX||[],e.getElementById(o)||(n=e.getElementsByTagName(s),c=n[n.length-1],l=e.createElement(s),l.type="text/javascript",l.async=!0,l.id=o,l.src="https://widget.surveymonkey.com/collect/website/js/tRaiETqnLgj758hTBazgd9drLJnboGjIT22BjcFIstsIWlxPDKvTp9FSNMbyGKlQ.js",c.parentNode.insertBefore(l,c))})(window,document,"script","smcx-sdk");SHOW NOTES This is a special episode dealing with the wildfires raging throughout the West.  A lot of farmers and ranchers have lost all of their forage and winter hay and need help.  There are 4H and FFA students who are trying to sell their fair projects this week in the midst of their communities going up in smoke as well. Please listen to the episode for all the details and the interviews with folks who are on the front lines of trying to help those with livestock.  And, if you can, make a donation to help out these farmers and ranchers. I will put the links below for where you can get in contact. Informational Links: Okanogan County Fa

(function(t,e,s,o){var n,c,l;t.SMCX=t.SMCX||[],e.getElementById(o)||(n=e.getElementsByTagName(s),c=n[n.length-1],l=e.createElement(s),l.type="text/javascript",l.async=!0,l.id=o,l.src="https://widget.surveymonkey.com/collect/website/js/tRaiETqnLgj758hTBazgd9drLJnboGjIT22BjcFIstsIWlxPDKvTp9FSNMbyGKlQ.js",c.parentNode.insertBefore(l,c))})(window,document,"script","smcx-sdk");SHOW NOTES Introducing Beau Jeffers!  Beau Jeffers has a great supervised agricultural experience.  I discovered Beau in an online article about his project when he was awarded a grant from the North Dakota FFA Foundation.  Beau now makes custom pens and pencils.  These are high end writing instruments which he sells direct to customers.  He markets his products for a premium at craft shows and directly to customers.  Beau is re-defining the term "write to the bank."   I hope you enjoy the interview. SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Beau's Wood Turning - Custom Pens and Pencils HIGH SCHOOL: Bowman County High School, Bowman, North Dak

(function(t,e,s,o){var n,c,l;t.SMCX=t.SMCX||[],e.getElementById(o)||(n=e.getElementsByTagName(s),c=n[n.length-1],l=e.createElement(s),l.type="text/javascript",l.async=!0,l.id=o,l.src="https://widget.surveymonkey.com/collect/website/js/tRaiETqnLgj758hTBazgd9drLJnboGjIT22BjcFIstsIWlxPDKvTp9FSNMbyGKlQ.js",c.parentNode.insertBefore(l,c))})(window,document,"script","smcx-sdk"); SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING ETHAN REID! What comes natural to you?  Whatever that is, could that turn into a business?  Could that sustain and support you for the rest of your life? In today's episode I get to interview and amazing FFA student.  Ethan Reid is a young man who began his own company building, designing and installing custom cabinets in people's home during his junior year of high school. You are going to be amazed to hear how Ethan got his start in this business, and what he was doing as a hobby when he was in elementary school.  After you hear all of that, it will be no mystery as to why he was selected as a state finalist for A

Sign Up To Receive Our FFA Stories Newsletter! Email address: Today's episode was released late because we were out celebrating Labor Day all weekend and I had to record it today.  We are going to cover how the exodus from California is forever changing the West.  Also, my dog has been attacking our chickens and I need to know how to make it stop.  Last, growing season is winding down, and the impending shut off of irrigation water marks the beginning of Fall for me. Where Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald Can Be Heard:   Member Of The National Association Of Farm Broadcasters

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING AASHIKA UPPALA! I am consistently inspired by the FFA students that I am able to interview on the Off-Farm Income Podcast.  There is one type of student who always brings a little extra charge to the show.  That is anytime that I interview a student who did not grow up in agriculture or farming, but they have been exposed to agriculture through the FFA and are very passionate about it. My guest in today's episode is Aashika Uppala.  She sits right at the top of the charts for students who I have interviewed who have an unmatched passion about working in agriculture and what kind of impact they can have in this industry. Aashika is blessed with a mathematical mind, and she loves big tractors.  So much show that she goes to the National Farm Machinery Show every year in Louisville, Kentucky.  She is a huge fan of John Deere Tractors, and she has her goals set on an agricultural engineering degree so that she can help to innovate and design the next generation of farming equipment. Aash

SHOW NOTES Links To This Week's Stories: Tip Of The Week https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/prevent-and-survive-home-invasion/ https://www.securityinformed.com/news/mul-t-lock-ecliq-locking-solutions-security-rural-property-thefts-co-1110-ga-co-6308-ga-npr.1599115389.html Rural Crime In The U.S. https://kticradio.com/agricultural/stolen-cattle-out-of-kansas-may-have-made-their-way-into-nebraska/ https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/Operation-Identification-unveiled-by-Webb-15527493.php https://www.ksstradio.com/2020/08/2000-reward-offered-for-information-on-cattle-saddle-thefts-in-ne-texas/ Where The 2nd Amendment Does Not Exist https://www.brandonsun.com/local/task-force-welcomes-rural-crime-survey-572303062.html https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/6907293/criminals-stealing-more-livestock-and-they-have-some-new-tricks/?cs=4698 Chalk One Up For The Good Guys https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/man-charged-for-dwi-on-stolen-tractor/article_f679a0e8-ec69-11ea-9a14-eb

SHOW NOTES Everyone who loves the agricultural lifestyle and is looking for a way to farm, either on the side or full-time, understands the obstacles to entry and the struggles to succeed.  The differences in the ways that people are going about this, the sizes of farms and the levels of experience could not be more varied.  So, it is hard to really describe one type of farmer that really represents everyone who loves this life. In today's episode I am going to interview a farmer who I believe comes as close as you can get to the avatar of the American farmer.  I am going to be speaking with Caitlyn Henderson.  Caitlyn and her husband, Jake, are farming row crops and raising cattle in South Central Kansas. Caitlyn had never farmed until she married Jake, but she grew up in Anthony, Kansas which is an agriculturally based town, and she was in the FFA.  Jake's parents were divorced, and Jake lived with his mother, about an hour away from Anthony.  Jake's family farm was in Anthony, and his father lived th

SHOW NOTES In this week's bonus episode we re-visit a very interesting niche business - oiling saddles.  Going back to episode #103 I speak with Josh Waltman about his saddle oiling business.  What a great way to make money in your spare time in the evenings if you need the side income.  I hope this is the answer for you! KEY IDEAS: ADVICE FROM JOSH WALTMAN: Work Hard: Josh has proven to himself that hard work pays off No Procrastination: Josh learned the hard way that putting something off, just because a customer was not specific about a time frame, can do bad things to your reputation. Do Your Best Work - Every Time: Each time you do a job, it should be better than the last one. BEST BUSINESS ADVICE THAT JOSH WALTMAN HAS RECEIVED: When The Going Gets Tough.....You all know the saying.  Josh lives it.  As soon as a job starts feeling overwhelming or mundane, he works even harder. PERSONAL HABIT THAT ADS TO JOSH WALTMAN'S SUCCESS: Put First Things First - put your head down and get the job done. JOSH WALTMA

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING CALEB PEPER! When I was in college I wrote a fan letter to a weather forecaster at The Weather Channel named Jill Brown.  She wrote me back and sent me a calendar with a picture of a different tornado for each month of the year.  I flipped through those photos many times, and I learned a lot of town names in The Plains that I had never known before.  One of the towns that was unfortunate enough to make that calendar was Adair, Oklahoma. All I ever knew of Adair, Oklahoma until the Off-Farm Income Podcast came around was that they had a large tornado take place there.  I am happy to say that today I know a lot more, and it is much more positive. In today's episode I am speaking my third guest from Adair High School, Caleb Peper.  This was a fantastic interview, and Caleb was an absolute pleasure to speak with.  Caleb and his family are in the hay business, and they raise cattle as well.  Caleb told me that each summer they will put up 3,000 round bales and 5,000 small bales of hay for

Sign Up To Receive Our FFA Stories Newsletter! Email address: I have never considered myself a people person.  As a matter of fact, I look at myself as an introvert.  However, I can't ignore the irony of the fact that I talk to thousands of people for a living while considering myself an introvert. Today I want to cover this and the silver linings of a massive influx of people into our valley and rising property values.  And, I will answer the question of, "if I could do nothing but farm, would I"? Where Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald Can Be Heard:   Member Of The National Association Of Farm Broadcasters

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING AUSTIN ROSE! An officer position in the FFA that I have been running into lately is that of chaplain.  In all of my FFA interviews, this is a position that I have run into possibly five times.  I am always fascinated when I hear of a student serving as their chapter's chaplain.  In today's world there is so much sensitivity about religion and the separation of church and state that I can't imagine there being a pre-existing position of chaplain that has to be filled every year.  Rather, it seems to me that when a student comes along with a strong belief system and wants to serve in this way, the position is probably opened up.  Either way, it takes courage by the FFA chapters that have this position, and I commend them. Our guest today, Austin Rose, served in that exact capacity.  He was the chaplain for the Southern High School FFA chapter in Racine, Ohio.  To him, it just came naturally as he has been a person of faith for his entire life.  When Austin describes what he did in this p

SHOW NOTES This week's rural crime bonus episode is a lot different than normal.  I spent an hour responding to the reactions to the Jacob Blake shooting that I have been seeing.  It is clear that emotion and political self-interest appear to be ruling the day when there are complex police shootings these days. There need to be voices talking about the facts of the case, the way that police work gets done and with no motives that cause them to skew the truth.  In today's episode I try to be that voice for you.   Where Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald Can Be Heard:   Member Of The National Association Of Farm Broadcasters

SHOW NOTES Our guest today is an amazing young woman.  Stephanie Nash grew up in the Central Valley of California on a dairy farm.  She always had music in her heart and was singing and writing songs from a young age.  When it came time for college she headed to Fresno State University to study agriculture and carry on her families traditions in ag. California has become increasingly unfriendly to dairy farmers through regulation, taxes and many other factors.  So, when Stephanie was 20 years old, her parents sold the dairy farm and moved the operation to Tennessee.  Tennessee is not a traditional dairy state, but they found a niche there and went for it. Stephanie relocated to Tennessee with them and finished college there.  During this time she rediscovered her love and passion for singing and started pursuing it as a professional career.  She is really going for it, and today you can find her on Spotify and on Youtube singing her songs and some other ones as well.  Her newest single is coming out la

SHOW NOTES   On today's bonus episode we revisit the business of mobile butchering.  There is a lot of potential in this business, and our guest was the perfect person to talk about it.  All of the show notes from the original episode, episode 109, are below for your reference. KEY IDEAS: ADVICE FROM BLAKE BROWN: LONG HOURS: Be prepared to work long hours in the fall.  From September to January is when you are going to make all of your money.  So, you will need to work long hours to service as many customers as possible. BUY A TRAILER: If you have the option, buy a mobile butcher trailer rather than a truck with the box attached.  If you buy the truck with the box attached your entire business is dependent on that truck and engine.  If you have the trailer then any truck can pull it. SAVE YOUR MONEY: You are going to be very busy in the fall and rake in the money.  But then it will dry up in the spring and summer, so save enough money to get you through the lean months. BEST BUSINESS ADVICE THAT BLAKE BROWN

SHOW NOTES INTRODUCING ETHAN MULLEN! There are so many aspects about the FFA as well as the students that the FFA attracts that listing them all is impracticable.  Of all of those attributes the one that stands out so often is service.  So many of the FFA students that I interview want to serve and find a way to start providing service through their FFA chapters. Today's guest, Ethan Mullen, is a great example of this.  Ethan knows that he wants to serve, and he has already been serving his community through his participation in his FFA chapter.  Ethan has a beef production supervised agricultural experience, and he is also on the officer team as the treasurer.  When he is not working on school projects, he is working for his family like when we conducted this interview from the cab of a skid steer. Ethan is just beginning his senior year of high school, and with one year to go in high school he has his eyes fixed on a higher level of service.  Ethan knows that he wants to join the United States military.

Sign Up To Receive Our FFA Stories Newsletter! Email address: Well, even though I love it, raising livestock can be frustrating!  This time of year our younger goats start getting their heads caught in the fence, and one or two times per day I am getting them unstuck.  And every time they act like I am trying to kill them when I walk up or start maneuvering their horns out of the fence.  And as soon as they are free they run off as fast as they can. This happened last night at 2am.  I almost never have to do this in the middle of the night, but this year we have a very "special" goat that seems to get trapped every hour on the hour.  Last night she did it right next to our bedroom window.  So, I was out there at 2am getting her unstuck as she screamed.  Just part of the lifestyle I guess! Our valley is currently filled with smoke because of the fires in California.  In today's episode we will cover that and what is going on in California.  Also, I will talk about a tradition in my family that marks the