Barn Talk

Welcome to another episode of Barn Talk! In this Hot Topics edition, Sawyer and Tork open up about what's happening in rural America and beyond.They kick things off by reflecting on an exciting month filled with outstanding guests and conversations, and they offer heartfelt thanks to listeners for making it all possible.

Today's episode covers some of the biggest issues impacting farmers and rural communities: rising farm bankruptcies, major changes in the ag markets, and mounting financial pressures faced by producers. Sawyer and Tork discuss the struggles of rural hospitals under federal budget cuts, share first-hand perspectives on input costs, and question whether the government or politicians have any real solutions for the challenges ahead.

But there’s plenty of optimism, too. The hosts explore how innovation and technology—like AI, robotics, and the upcoming public offering of SpaceX are beginning to reshape the world. They share practical advice on adapting to change, insights into market trends, and examples of the unwavering American work ethic they see all around them.

If you want to stay informed, inspired, and connected to the pulse of rural America, this episode is packed with eye-opening updates, personal reflections, and plenty of straight talk from the barn.

JOIN THE BARN TALK NEWSLETTER & GET LIVE EVENT ACCESS: We're on a mission to get 10,000 subscribers, and once we do, we're hosting a live event at the barn! Sign up to get exclusive access to tickets and details.👇🏻

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LISTEN ON:

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Follow Behind The Scenes👇🏻

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● Barn Talk TikTok ➱ https://bit.ly/3qciekS   

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● Sawyer’s X ➱ https://x.com/SawyerWhisler 

● Tork’s X ➱ https://x.com/TorkWhisler 

    

00:00 Thanking listeners for their support

08:57 Discussing Iran's deal proposal

14:27 Discussing farm credit non-performing loans

21:12 Expanding farmland and environmental impact

23:18 Comparing farming now and the 80s

30:22 Impact of hospital closures

33:11 Community fundraising for local hospital

43:18 China's economic challenges and chip development

44:17 Current geopolitical tensions and impacts

52:22 Tesla robot factory transition

59:41 Reflecting on recent Star Wars movies

01:04:49 Growth of Cursor's AI platform

01:06:09 Building rapid, efficient data centers

01:11:49 Discussing innovation and entrepreneurship

01:17:13 Learning AI with Dan Martel

01:25:18 Importance of reading and grounding

01:27:04 Balancing self-improvement and self-care

01:34:15 Embracing personal responsibility

01:38:09 Suggesting guests for Barn Talk

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⚠NO FINANCIAL ADVICE / DISCLAIMER⚠ 

The Information discussed and shared on Barn Talk is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, or success for any particular purpose.

The Information contained in or provided from or through this podcast is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice, or any other advice.

The Information on this podcast and provided from or through our content is general in nature and is not specific to you, the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this podcast without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional, professional broker or financial advisory.

Understand that you are using any and all Information available on or through this website at your own risk.

RISK STATEMENT– The trading of Bitcoins, alternative cryptocurrencies, NFTs, individual stocks, etc. has potential rewards, and it also has potential risks involved. Trading may not be suitable for all people. Anyone wishing to invest should seek his or her own independent financial or professional advice.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Barn Talk. In today's episode, our guest is John Haskell, an accomplished rancher, business owner, and expert at turning struggling ranches around. John has spent years working on ranches across the country, building up his own herd, and helping others transform their operations from losing money to becoming truly profitable. As the founder of Ranch Right LLC, John is passionate about teaching farmers and ranchers how to understand their finances, take control of their numbers, and create long-term success for their families. In this episode, we hear about John's journey from leaving home as a teenager to working with leaders in holistic management and cattle marketing. He explains why knowing your costs is the heart of a successful operation, how non-traditional thinking can give you an edge in agriculture, and what it takes to pass on more than just assets to the next generation. Packed with insight, real-world advice, and inspiring stories, this conversation with John Haskell is not to be missed.

JOIN THE BARN TALK NEWSLETTER & GET LIVE EVENT ACCESS: We're on a mission to get 10,000 subscribers, and once we do, we're hosting a live event at the barn! Sign up to get exclusive access to tickets and details.👇🏻

Help us get there: https://www.joinbarntalk.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ➱ https://bit.ly/3a7r3nR  

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS’LL DO FARM ➱ https://bit.ly/2X8g45c 

LISTEN ON:

SPOTIFY ➱ https://open.spotify.com/show/3icVr4KWq4eUDl7Oy60YMY 

APPLE ➱ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/barn-talk/id1574395049

Follow Behind The Scenes👇🏻

● Barn Talk Instagram ➱ https://www.instagram.com/barntalkshow 

● Barn Talk TikTok ➱ https://bit.ly/3qciekS   

● Sawyer’s Instagram  ➱ https://bit.ly/3BtX0n4   

● Tork’s Instagram ➱ https://bit.ly/3LGZJxS

● Sawyer’s X ➱ https://x.com/SawyerWhisler 

● Tork’s X ➱ https://x.com/TorkWhisler 

    

00:00 Supporting Barn Talk's growth

19:33 Economics of cattle farming

28:00 Understanding cattle cost and profit

32:27 Heifers vs. steers market strategy

43:41 Pandemic impacts on livestock sales

59:47 Partnering with a savvy accountant

01:09:45 Pride in American heritage

01:18:02 Focus on product over raw goods

01:24:42 Reorienting cattle business strategy

01:33:54 Profitable cattle farming methods

01:49:13 Regenerative movement and soil management

01:55:51 Balancing agriculture and environment

02:10:52 Understanding agricultural market demands

02:15:54 Meeting and learning from Wally

-------------------------------

⚠NO FINANCIAL ADVICE / DISCLAIMER⚠ 

The Information discussed and shared on Barn Talk is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, or success for any particular purpose.

The Information contained in or provided from or through this podcast is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice, or any other advice.

The Information on this podcast and provided from or through our content is general in nature and is not specific to you, the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this podcast without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional, professional broker or financial advisory.

Understand that you are using any and all Information available on or through this website at your own risk.

RISK STATEMENT– The trading of Bitcoins, alternative cryptocurrencies, NFTs, individual stocks, etc. has potential rewards, and it also has potential risks involved. Trading may not be suitable for all people. Anyone wishing to invest should seek his or her own independent financial or professional advice.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Barn Talk, where what happens in the barn doesn’t always stay in the barn. In this episode, Tork and Sawyer sit down with Zach Lahn, a sixth-generation Iowa farmer, entrepreneur, community advocate, and current candidate for governor. Zach shares his perspective on the challenges facing rural America, including the struggles of modern family farming, rising input costs, consolidation across agriculture, and the need for more opportunities for young and beginning farmers.

You'll hear Zach discuss his journey from rebuilding his family's homestead, to creating innovative schools, and now taking his passion for local communities and agriculture to the campaign trail. The conversation covers the importance of food sovereignty, local supply chains, land stewardship, and practical solutions to improve water quality and public health in Iowa. Zach also weighs in on hot-button issues like regenerative agriculture, corporate influence, and why investing in homegrown businesses and education is vital for the state's future.

Get ready for a wide-ranging, honest, and personal discussion about what it will take to keep Iowa’s rural communities strong and thriving for generations to come. If you enjoy the show, share it, leave a review, and join the Barn Talk newsletter for more updates and conversations from rural America.

JOIN THE BARN TALK NEWSLETTER & GET LIVE EVENT ACCESS: We're on a mission to get 10,000 subscribers, and once we do, we're hosting a live event at the barn! Sign up to get exclusive access to tickets and details.👇🏻

Help us get there: https://www.joinbarntalk.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ➱ https://bit.ly/3a7r3nR  

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS’LL DO FARM ➱ https://bit.ly/2X8g45c

LISTEN ON:

SPOTIFY ➱ https://open.spotify.com/show/3icVr4KWq4eUDl7Oy60YMY 

APPLE ➱ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/barn-talk/id1574395049

Follow Behind The Scenes👇🏻

● Barn Talk Instagram ➱ https://www.instagram.com/barntalkshow 

● Barn Talk TikTok ➱ https://bit.ly/3qciekS   

● Sawyer’s Instagram  ➱ https://bit.ly/3BtX0n4   

● Tork’s Instagram ➱ https://bit.ly/3LGZJxS

● Sawyer’s X ➱ https://x.com/SawyerWhisler 

● Tork’s X ➱ https://x.com/TorkWhisler 

    

00:00 Challenges of Simplifying Political Ideas

11:32 Discussing America's biggest issue

30:51 Challenges in crop diversification

37:37 Discussion on states' rights and policies

46:32 Expanding small dairy operations

01:01:29 Discussing farming tax credits

01:07:28 Discussing water quality upgrades

01:21:08 Attracting young people to Iowa

01:31:01 Discussing plant-based medicine benefits

01:43:06 Discussing legal battles with Bayer

01:44:50 Discussing glyphosate and health concerns

02:00:48 Setting goals for young students

02:09:26 Encouraging servant leadership in schools

02:21:29 Learning from past relationships

-------------------------------

⚠NO FINANCIAL ADVICE / DISCLAIMER⚠ 

The Information discussed and shared on Barn Talk is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, or success for any particular purpose.

The Information contained in or provided from or through this podcast is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice, or any other advice.

The Information on this podcast and provided from or through our content is general in nature and is not specific to you, the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this podcast without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional, professional broker or financial advisory.

Understand that you are using any and all Information available on or through this website at your own risk.

RISK STATEMENT– The trading of Bitcoins, alternative cryptocurrencies, NFTs, individual stocks, etc. has potential rewards, and it also has potential risks involved. Trading may not be suitable for all people. Anyone wishing to invest should seek his or her own independent financial or professional advice.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Barn Talk! In this episode, we sit down with Jesse Jordan, Vice President of Jordan Farms out of Nashville, Tennessee. Jesse gives us an inside look at the world of dark fired tobacco, grown and cured using the same tried and true methods from 200 years ago. From starting tobacco in greenhouses, nurturing it in the fields, and mastering the delicate art of curing, Jesse walks us through the hands-on journey that every plant takes. But Jesse’s story is about more than just tobacco. He’s also the owner-operator of a thriving tree service business and shares how he balances entrepreneurship, family farm tradition, and rural life all while being just a half-hour from the heart of Nashville’s country music scene. We talk about living the highs and lows of modern agriculture: the realities of equipment breakdowns, labor struggles, shifting markets, and the satisfaction that comes from a hard day’s work. There’s plenty of laughter, nostalgia, and a few great stories about hunting, barbecuing, and the classic vehicles that make farm life memorable.

Whether you’re curious about farming, love old trucks, or just want to hear what it’s like to build a business from the ground up, this is one episode you won’t want to miss!

JOIN THE BARN TALK NEWSLETTER & GET LIVE EVENT ACCESS: We're on a mission to get 10,000 subscribers, and once we do, we're hosting a live event at the barn! Sign up to get exclusive access to tickets and details.👇🏻

Help us get there: https://www.joinbarntalk.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ➱ https://bit.ly/3a7r3nR  

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS’LL DO FARM ➱ https://bit.ly/2X8g45c

LISTEN ON:

SPOTIFY ➱ https://open.spotify.com/show/3icVr4KWq4eUDl7Oy60YMY 

APPLE ➱ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/barn-talk/id1574395049

Follow Behind The Scenes👇🏻

● Barn Talk Instagram ➱ https://www.instagram.com/barntalkshow 

● Barn Talk TikTok ➱ https://bit.ly/3qciekS   

● Sawyer’s Instagram  ➱ https://bit.ly/3BtX0n4   

● Tork’s Instagram ➱ https://bit.ly/3LGZJxS

● Sawyer’s X ➱ https://x.com/SawyerWhisler 

● Tork’s X ➱ https://x.com/TorkWhisler 

    

00:00 Growing the podcast community

16:46 Starting plants in February

26:42 Controlling tobacco curing process

37:11 Preparing tobacco for grading

48:13 Early career and farming interests

57:01 Balancing farm work and tree work

01:09:04 Staying ahead in farming business

01:14:58 Starting a cigar business

01:25:03 Expanding into direct sales

01:34:56 Buying and selling Jeeps regularly

01:45:54 Starting a farming side business

01:56:13 Collecting and preparing hickory slabs

02:09:27 Jesse's social media and plans

-------------------------------

⚠NO FINANCIAL ADVICE / DISCLAIMER⚠ 

The Information discussed and shared on Barn Talk is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, or success for any particular purpose.

The Information contained in or provided from or through this podcast is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice, or any other advice.

The Information on this podcast and provided from or through our content is general in nature and is not specific to you, the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this podcast without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional, professional broker or financial advisory.

Understand that you are using any and all Information available on or through this website at your own risk.

RISK STATEMENT– The trading of Bitcoins, alternative cryptocurrencies, NFTs, individual stocks, etc. has potential rewards, and it also has potential risks involved. Trading may not be suitable for all people. Anyone wishing to invest should seek his or her own independent financial or professional advice.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Barn Talk! In today’s episode, you'll get a front-row seat for a deep, honest conversation with Luke Schultz, a fifth-generation cattleman from the heart of Kansas and a seasoned ag lender at Conterra Ag. Known as the “Force of Nature,” Speaker A shares how his upbringing in the Flint Hills shaped his approach to both ranching and banking. Speaker B and Speaker C dig into everything from the evolving world of agricultural lending, to multi-generational farm transitions, to the state of the cattle market and creative ways producers are adapting in uncertain times.

From stories of Mormons feeding gum to hard truths about land consolidation, succession planning, interest rates, and capitalizing on long bull runs in livestock, there’s wisdom for every listener, young or old, in or out of agriculture. Plus, you’ll hear candid thoughts on trades vs. college, the unintended effects of pop culture on rural life, and what it really takes for a farm family to thrive across generations.

If you’re interested in the real stories, challenges, and innovations happening on America’s farms and ranches and want to hear it from folks who truly walk the walk this episode is for you. Pull up a seat and join the conversation!

JOIN THE BARN TALK NEWSLETTER & GET LIVE EVENT ACCESS: We're on a mission to get 10,000 subscribers, and once we do, we're hosting a live event at the barn! Sign up to get exclusive access to tickets and details.👇🏻

Help us get there: https://www.joinbarntalk.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ➱ https://bit.ly/3a7r3nR  

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS’LL DO FARM ➱ https://bit.ly/2X8g45c 

LISTEN ON:

SPOTIFY ➱ https://open.spotify.com/show/3icVr4KWq4eUDl7Oy60YMY 

APPLE ➱ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/barn-talk/id1574395049

Follow Behind The Scenes👇🏻

● Barn Talk Instagram ➱ https://www.instagram.com/barntalkshow 

● Barn Talk TikTok ➱ https://bit.ly/3qciekS   

● Sawyer’s Instagram  ➱ https://bit.ly/3BtX0n4   

● Tork’s Instagram ➱ https://bit.ly/3LGZJxS

● Sawyer’s X ➱ https://x.com/SawyerWhisler 

● Tork’s X ➱ https://x.com/TorkWhisler 

    

00:00 Promoting the Barn Talk newsletter

05:36 Banks exiting agricultural loans

12:15 Discovering a career in ag finance

19:09 Consumer demand for premium cattle

24:18 Cow-calf production cost dynamics

31:16 Conservative lending practices

34:58 Reflecting on modern farming comforts

43:07 Discussing Fed leadership stance

45:26 Understanding production and financials

51:58 Impact of Yellowstone on cowboy brands

57:27 Challenges in cooperative farming

01:01:31 Helping businesses avoid foreclosure

01:07:12 Parenting and career advice

01:12:52 Importance of family support

-------------------------------

⚠NO FINANCIAL ADVICE / DISCLAIMER⚠ 

The Information discussed and shared on Barn Talk is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, or success for any particular purpose.

The Information contained in or provided from or through this podcast is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice, or any other advice.

The Information on this podcast and provided from or through our content is general in nature and is not specific to you, the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this podcast without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional, professional broker or financial advisory.

Understand that you are using any and all Information available on or through this website at your own risk.

RISK STATEMENT– The trading of Bitcoins, alternative cryptocurrencies, NFTs, individual stocks, etc. has potential rewards, and it also has potential risks involved. Trading may not be suitable for all people. Anyone wishing to invest should seek his or her own independent financial or professional advice.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices