Have you heard about the tractors blocking highways and driving through capitol cities in the EU? 

If you haven’t, those videos are worth a google.

This a reason, among many, you need to vote and vote smart this election year.

So why should you vote in such a way to support local farmers? Listen here to learn all about it.

Your vote impacts farmers' costs, revenue and ability to provide high quality locally-raised food at an affordable price.

This also means you need to 

1. Do research on propositions and candidates
2. Be an advocate for agriculture

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Harley Davidson by Beat Mekanik via Free Music Archive license CC BY

Garrett Interviews Dallin Miller, of Miller and Sons Construction. They discuss what it’s like to be a general contractor in rural America

They cover firing subs, your employee picks in trade labor industries, and more people problems.

The crux of the discussion is whether or not rural land/ag land should be developed into housing. Hear both sides of the argument here.

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Your grocery bill is high because, well, inflation.

But what all goes into pricing your beef? 

What does that cheap meat at the grocery store really contain?

Facebook rumors about coloring and other stuff being put into it.

Beef in general is going to be more expensive per pound than other foods because it’s protein. It has all your essential amino acids. So yes it’s going to be more expensive than your loaf of bread per oz.

Red meat is also on the up cycle right now thanks to keto, low carb and the carnivore movements. 

But in general - beef is more expensive for these reasons:

• If it’s local, you’re going to be paying to know where your meat comes from. 
• It takes more than a year to create the product
• It takes a metric crap ton of feed/land and water 
• It’s livestock - you’re always gambling on them

So is it worth it to still buy red meat and to buy it local if possible? 

Absolutely.

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If you think you (or your kid) should work on a farm for the life experience, we agree. But here are some things we look for in an applicant.

1. Work ethic 
2. Desire to have a purpose rather than just a paycheck 
3. Willingness/desire to learn 
4. Punctuality 
5. Communication 
6. No whining

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What are some ways you can entertain yourself while driving equipment? Or maybe just when you're on a road trip (use common sense and do what's legal).

1. Podcasts
2. Audiobooks talk about hoopla and Libby
3. Get a good headset and call long lost friend or your mother-in-law
4. Facebook marketplace
5. Manage your budget with every dollar or something similar 
6. Netflix
7. YouTube 
8. Praying 
9. Straightening the other person’s lines in swathing 
10. Count how many rows in you are 
11. Eating
12. Communicating with other drivers

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1. Same value system 
2. Patient/flexible schedule 
3. Good at being alone/have hobbies 
4. Persistent about quality time 
5. An understanding of the fiscal responsibility of having a farm 

Bonus 

1. They should probably at least want to have kids or pass on a farm, because that’s the whole point of building a farm for most people 
2. Skills/knowledge/networking that they can offer to the farm 
3. Doesn’t mind the smell of poo
4. Does their own laundry 

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Harley Davidson by Beat Mekanik via Free Music Archive license CC BY

T-shirt winner is: I <3 milkingshorthorns on Apple Podcasts 

send us your size and address preferably via Instagram or Facebook and we’ll get that shirt to you! 

Stewardship is a buzzword especially in the ag and farming worlds. Why? Because it’s a term that more or less encapsulates what we do.

The principles of stewardship easily apply to the vocation of farming, however they apply to any vocation.

Biblical roots of stewardship

Everything you have that is good or even neutral is from God. Anything that is not sinful is from God. This means your body, family, personality, skill set, land, animals, job, money - He is the creator of it all and the giver.

So what does that translate to in practice?

We care for our animals and plants. 

As Adam did with eve and God in the garden, you work as a team under the authority and guidance of God. 

Steward, the people in your life.

Think of the tiny stewards in your life.

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- T-shirt giveaway time! Be entered to win a “Support Your Local Farmer” comfort colors tee by doing the following. Each of these is a single entry, meaning you have many chances to win if you do all of them: 1) write a review wherever you listen to your podcast 2) screenshot this episode as you’re listening and share on Facebook or Instagram stories and tag us @darilanefarms 3) post this on Instagram or Facebook with a review and tag us @darilanefarms - Troll roasting on social media Q&A time: Who’s our favorite sibling? How can we diversify confidently? Especially when we’re scared to lose money in the process BONUS: a random and awesome diversification income idea What’s our favorite farm chore? How do you separate difference in titles of coworker and family? What’s the balance of developing ag land into housing while still maintaining rural America? What is the most valuable advice we’ve ever been given and how has it changed our life? Follow along on instagram @darilanefarms Follow on Facebook @darilanefarms Harley Davidson by Beat Mekanik via Free Music Archive license CC BY

Garrett wraps up his conversation with his mom, Lori. They discuss all things raising kids on the farm:

• Homeschooling
• Working with her kids on the farm
• Passing the farm onto the next generation
• Dreams and future plans on the farm

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An episode on farm safety specifically regarding equipment:

- What to do when you see farm equipment in front of or behind you on the road

- Best colors to wear when you're around farming/harvest equipment

- kids and farming safety

- our best livestock safety tips

- a couple stories to bring it all together.

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Ever catch yourself day dreaming about ways to make more income from the family's farm?

Here are 11 ideas to get you started:

1. Add another breed or species 
2. Event venue 
3. Custom farming/harvesting/spraying 
4. Feed sales/hay sales
5. Custom feeding
6. Mechanical shop
7. Contracting - construction, trucking
8. Manure sales 
9. Nature school
10. Agritourism 
11. Education - AI

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Ashley sits down with the farm mom queen herself, Lori Hanson, to discuss how she came back to the family farm and what it was like raising little kids on the farm. Join us for part 1!

-

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Music: Harley Davidson by Beat Mekanik via Free Music Archive license CC BY

We cover many of the ways we communicate. Some over-communicate while others could talk more.

Garrett gives Ashley some tips on how to work with others better as fellow farmers and family members.

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We define off farm income, discuss its various values.

Garrett seems to use off farm income as another name for off-farm spouses, something the two seem to disagree upon. We also cover how much off-farm spouses should get a say in how the farm operates. Ashley concludes that it’s the same as her giving work advice to her husband for his off-farm job.

The two bring up another touchy subject, which is making sure off-farm spouses are supportive of the demands that farm life brings in exchange for its benefits.

Listen to one of the more feisty debates between brother sister farm duo with Ashley and Garrett. (As feisty as it gets when you’re not the most confrontational farm folk).

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Today we’re talking to Alyx Cory, our sister and local youth-in-ag superstar. She runs the non profit 509 Show Circuit and has experience in various areas of youth agriculture and ag ed. We cover how we can support kids with our time, money, experience and patience. Most importantly, we discuss why farmers’ involvement in youth is so important, and not as time consuming as you think. 

Invest in kids. They hold the future of your farm and ours.

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We discuss whether or not farmers should change their farming practices to meet consumer demand. This includes pesticide and herbicide use, GMOs, grass vs. grain finished, and more. 

There’s a balance to find in appeasing the customer, holding true to what you believe in as a producer, and still making a profit at the end of the day.

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Garrett interviews Andrew, a fellow generational farmer in South Dakota, engaged in a feedlot beef production and crops. This episode discusses the balance between old fashioned and modern commercial methods in the life of a farmer and what they produce. Andrew's family's succession plan varies from Garrett and Ashley's and involves more siblings, which proves complex.

Enjoy as these college roommates banter about all things farm life and family.

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Get your burning questions answered in this episode on how we have sold beef direct to consumer over the last five years. From craigslist to social media, Ashley covers what her experience has been and where she has found both success and failure in reaching local customers. This discussion centers strictly on local customers as opposed to shipping beef. We believe in supporting local families first and most so long as they're willing to support local farmers.

Like, follow and give us a review. Better yet, send this episode to your farming friends to share the love.

Connect with us:

Facebook: @darilanefarms

Instagram:

Ashley: @darilanefarms

Garrett: @hansongarrett

No. 4: Robotic Milkers - How it’s going now

We discuss how the use of robotic milkers (Lely A5’s) has changed our farm.

This includes changes in:

• production
• herd health
• labor demands
• family dynamics
• how we dream about the future of the farm

Like, follow, and give us a review. Better yet, send this episode to your farming friends to share the love.

Connect with us:

Facebook: @darilanefarms

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Ashley: @Darilanefarms

Garrett: @hansongarrett

Cover Art: Emily Bierce

Music: Harley Davidson by Beat Mekanik via Free Music Archive license CC BY

We discuss our family’s current succession plan and how it’s going.

• Sweat equity vs. buying in
• Siblings off the farm
• Diversifying to support current families
• What it’s like having these conversations

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Music: Harley Davidson by Beat Mekanik via Free Music Archive license CC BY