Six Small Fixes That Make a Big Business Impact (Yes, Right Now)In today’s episode, we’re hitting pause on the big ideas and zooming in on six very doable things you can take action on this week to clean up your business presence and boost your customer experience—especially if you’re selling through social media. Jessica and Kendall are in full-on checklist mode (don’t worry, it’s in the show notes) and delivering that honest, slightly salty, always encouraging energy we all need mid-year.What we dive into:The power of being findable: Jessica shares her late-night rage-clicking rabbit hole trying to locate a dreamy-sounding flower farm (spoiler: it was in the wrong state). We talk about how missing location info in your bio could be costing you sales—and how to fix it in five minutes.Simplify the buying process: If your followers can’t figure out how or where to buy from you in under three clicks, they’re out. We talk direct links, pinned posts, smart homepage design, and real talk about reading comprehension and attention spans in 2025.Do a content cleanup: Outdated dates, dead links, last year’s info—oh my. We’ve all been there. We walk through how to quickly audit your website and socials so you’re not accidentally sending customers to 2023.Face your numbers: Kendall gets real about what it took to stop avoiding her financial data—and how understanding her metrics saved her business. If you’ve been dodging spreadsheets or feeling embarrassed about not “getting” your numbers, this one’s for you.Audit your time: Whether you’re a Kendall-style calendar spreadsheet-er or more of a “that event was a waste” gut-checker like Jessica, we talk about how to find what’s draining your time without delivering results.Promote. Your. Stuff.: When’s the last time you talked about your actual product on social media? If your feed is all cute kids and summer fun, it might be time to bring your business front and center again—especially before those fall markets roll around.We hope you take this list, carve out an hour, and knock out these six mini audits in your business. You’ll be amazed what a difference these small fixes can make—especially when they’re done before the holiday hustle kicks in.Connect with Kendall:Follow on Instagram @marketingforfarmers and @centralparkfarmsCheck out her websiteConnect with Jessica:Follow on Instagram @moosevalleyranch Check out her websiteEpisode Links:Owning Your Online PresenceJoin the Workshop Waitlist
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42:31
Numbers Are In: Moose Valley Ranch Part 2
From a 4-Hour Field Pop-Up to a $2M Economic Powerhouse: Jess’s Business JourneyEver wonder how a failed pumpkin patch and some wedding gigs turned into one of the most impactful rural events in the region? In today’s episode, we (finally!) stick to the script and dive into Jess’s business story—how Gather was born, how Market in the Mountains exploded, and how this whole thing somehow started with a cold chicken lunch and a DM.We talk about what it really means to build community from scratch when you live way out of town. Jess shares the “aha moment” that made her realize rural women needed more than a Facebook group, they needed a room, a seat, and a steak knife that didn’t snap. And you’ll hear the backstory on how a few flower centerpieces, a busted name tag system, and a spark of rebellion against crappy hotel banquet rooms led to a full-blown rural movement.You’ll hear us unpack:The not-so-glamorous start of Gather and the surprising inspiration behind itHow dressing up to connect turned into a six-figure market with over 3,500 attendeesWhy listening to your community beats any fancy business planThe real economic impact of Market in the Mountains (spoiler: $2 million!)What it means to be seen—by your dad, your neighbors, and your local FFA teensWe hope this episode inspires you to trust your gut, even if it starts with a four-hour field idea that nobody thinks will work. Because you might just be the one to put your small town on the map.👉 Make sure to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode! And if this one hit home, we’d love for you to leave a review—it means the world to us.Connect with GUEST:Guest linksConnect with Kendall:Follow on Instagram @marketingforfarmers and @centralparkfarmsCheck out her websiteConnect with Jessica:Follow on Instagram @moosevalleyranch Check out her websiteResources & Links:Market In The Mountain Tickets
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47:36
Telling Your Story Even When It Isn't Pretty
In today’s episode, we flip the script a bit, Kendall takes the mic as interviewer and Jess shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of Moose Valley Ranch. From law enforcement in Montana to hosting thousands of shoppers in a hayfield-turned-market, this one’s a ride.And spoiler: it’s not all Instagram-perfect market days. We dive into the reality of what it’s like to run a business on family land when not everyone in the family is on board.What we get into:Jess’s unexpected journey from highway patrol to founder of Moose Valley RanchThe heartbreak and grit of building a business where you weren’t always seen as part of the planHonest talk about family dynamics, sibling tension, and what succession planning actually looks like in real lifeWhy agritourism can be a game-changer but also bring its own kind of heatWe talk about the mental load of building a dream that doesn’t just rely on hard work, but also on family dynamics and generational land. If you’ve ever felt like the “outsider” in your own family’s operation or like your ideas get treated more like hobbies than businesses, this one will hit close to home.We hope you walk away from this episode feeling less alone, and more empowered to carve your own path (even if it’s through the thorn bushes on the back corner of the family ranch).Make sure to hit follow so you never miss an episode, and if Jess’s story resonated with you, send her a message or leave us a review. We love hearing from you.! Connect with Kendall:Follow on Instagram @marketingforfarmers and @centralparkfarmsCheck out her websiteConnect with Jessica:Follow on Instagram @moosevalleyranch Check out her website Resources & Links:Market In The Mountains TicketsThe Stepmom, The Sibling, and The Succession Plan
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49:32
Boxes to Barn Doors: Is Local In?
In today’s episode, Kendall and Jessica are peeling back the layers on a trend we’re seeing everywhere—and feeling in our own businesses too: local is back, baby. From conversations in the DMs to storefronts popping up in tiny towns, it seems like more and more rural women are asking the same thing: do I even want to ship anymore?We dive deep into the nitty-gritty of what it actually costs to run a delivery model—from shipping meat across provinces to packing gelato for cross-country trips. Kendall shares the real math behind their farm’s margins (spoiler: growth doesn’t always mean profit), and Jessica reflects on the emotional weight of pivoting when things just don’t align anymore. Whether you’re wondering if it’s time to raise your prices, shut down shipping, or open a farm store, this one’s for you.You’ll hear us unpack:Why convenience doesn’t always pay off (for the business owner)The emotional and financial weight of changing business modelsHow pricing creep and unexamined expenses can slowly drain profitThe myth of “just open an Instagram and sell meat boxes”And why there’s no shame in going hyper localWe hope you take this conversation as permission to rethink what success looks like—for your business, your family, and your actual life. If it doesn’t feel good anymore, maybe it’s time to shift. That’s not failure. That’s wisdom.Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode of real talk like this!Connect with Kendall:Follow on Instagram @marketingforfarmers and @centralparkfarmsCheck out her websiteConnect with Jessica:Follow on Instagram @moosevalleyranch Check out her website
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Catching Up With Our Kids
This week on The Workhorse Podcast, we’re handing the mic to the next generation—literally! Jessica and Kendall are joined by Jagger, Kendall’s (almost) 18-year-old stepson, for a heartfelt and hilarious look at what it’s really like growing up on a working farm.From his earliest memories helping build the Central Park Farms sign, to his first job cleaning farrowing pens, Jagger shares what he’s learned, what he loves, and what he’d do differently if he were in charge tomorrow. We talk nap schedules, excavator dreams, tractor crashes, and launching his own business.Whether you’re a farm mama wondering what legacy your kids are absorbing or you're dreaming of starting your own family business, this episode will give you the laughs, insight, and inspiration you didn’t know you needed.To round it out, Jessica’s own two boys hop on the mic to share what farm life means to them—freedom, egg stands, and a future full of silver coins and pickles.Key Takeaways:What it’s really like growing up with entrepreneurial farm momsJagger’s journey from pig pen duty to running weekend farm opsBehind the scenes of launching his own brand: Jagger’s JerkyBalancing teen life, school, and butcher shop responsibilitiesThe generational pride and weight of keeping the legacy aliveBonus: A peek into the Garza kids’ egg stand and pickle business dreamsMake sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Connect with Kendall:Follow on Instagram @marketingforfarmers and @centralparkfarmsCheck out her websiteConnect with Jessica:Follow on Instagram @moosevalleyranch Check out her website
Welcome to The Workhorse Podcast, where we dig deep into the grit, passion, and strategy behind building a successful rural business. Hosted by Kendall Ballantine of Central Park Farms and Jessica Garza of Moose Valley Ranch, this podcast is for hardworking female farmers and rural entrepreneurs who are ready to turn their dreams into thriving businesses.
From marketing your business online and direct-to-consumer strategies to balancing farm family life and business growth, we’re here to give you practical tools, candid insights, and a healthy dose of community support. This is for the doers, the women who scale their business during the long trips to town, the workhorses.
If you’re looking to dive even deeper into our community, check out The Workhorse Collective, a growing group of rural women entrepreneurs.
https://www.marketingforfarmers.co/business-coaching-for-farmers
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