Ranching Returns Podcast

Latest Episodes:

273: Michael Mendel - Finding Success in a Diverse, Multi Family Farm Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Michael shares how his family emphasized an early transition of farm ownership to the next generation as well as discuss the many different enterprises they run and how they work together. We discuss his spring and fall cow herd, heifer development and calving enterprise, feedlot, farm and more!

Resources Mentioned:

Cattlecon

Beef SD

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

If you're interested in Farmatan to fight scours in your operation, call Paul Mitchell at 515-745-1639 or check out farmatanusa.com.

If you’re interested in both technical and financial support in improving your ranch productivity and efficiency, check out https://agspire.com/rff/

272: Kit Pharo - Kit Addresses Low Input Critics Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Kit responds to comments and questions on podcast clips. The following are just a few of the topics we discuss:

- Maternal vs. Terminal Selection

- Applying pressure in heifer development

- What is ideal cow size

- Calving season affect on lifestyle and profit

If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with your farm or ranch numbers, check out John Haskell and his team at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ranchrightllc.com/⁠⁠⁠.

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

If you’re interested in both technical and financial support in improving your ranch productivity and efficiency, check out https://agspire.com/rff/

271: Dylan Enger - Growing a Family Ranch Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Dylan shares how he and his brother came home to ranch with their uncle. They discuss adding enterprises, and maintaining full time off ranch jobs which left more money in the business for reinvestment and expansion!

If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with your farm or ranch numbers, check out John Haskell and his team at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ranchrightllc.com/⁠⁠⁠.

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

270: Tristen Miller - Building Businesses and a Farm Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

Tristen realized quickly he didn't want to work for anybody else and he along with his wife have been building their own cattle operation while also building several other businesses. He shares his story of how he got into custom spraying, trucking and starting a feed company as well as his farm growth and land ownership journey! I love when people go out and make things happen and Tristen and his wife do just that!

Resources Mentioned:

Ranching Returns Podcast

Working Cows Podcast

Pasture Profits with Stocker Cattle

PCC Newsletter

Working Ranch Radio Show

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

If you're interested in Farmatan to fight scours in your operation, call Paul Mitchell at 515-745-1639 or check out farmatanusa.com.

269: PJ Budler - What Makes a Profitable Cow Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

PJ is a cattle expert who has judged over 100 different cattle breeds in 51 countries! He has seen what well adapted, functionally efficient, fertile cattle look like around the world and we discuss that here today.

Resources Mentioned:

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with your farm or ranch numbers, check out John Haskell and his team at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ranchrightllc.com/⁠⁠⁠.

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

268: Dallas Dodson - Building a Profitable Ranch Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

An investor wanted to buy a ranch and asked Dallas to manage it. His two comments were 1) I don't lose money at anything and 2) If we can't have fun doing it, lets not even start!

Dallas shares in this episode how he took those words and built a ranch that was profitable and enjoyable!

Resources Mentioned:

Ranching for Profit School

Stockman Grass Farmer

Allan Savory and Holistic Managment

Kit Pharo

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

For more information on or to order Redmond salt or conditioner check out Redmondagriculture.com

To learn more about all the classes and services that Noble offers check out www.noble.org

267: Tristan Swartz - Doing it Wrong Dairy Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

You can find Tristan on Facebook either under Tristan Swarts or Doing it Wrong Dairy with combined over 400,000 followers! He's not afraid to do things differently. He shares his story of farming in Missouri, owning a wheat harvest crew, and moving to Wisconsin to start his own dairy!

Resources Mentioned:

Common Sense Livestock Feeding - Michael J. Mehren

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

To learn more about virtual fencing, visit https://www.nofence.com/

266: Joe Pokay and Hugh Aljoe - Cutting Inputs on 13,500 Acres Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Noble Research Institute does more than put together awesome classes on ranch finance, soil health, and grazing management. They actually own and manage 13,500 acres spread across 6 different ranches. Today Joe Pokay and Hugh Aljoe join me from Noble to discuss their experience cutting inputs from their ranch 5 years ago and diving into a low input regenerative and profit focused production model. They discuss the challenges and successes and tips for people interested in doing something similar!

Resources Mentioned:

Noble Research Institute courses

How Not to Go Broke Ranching - Walt Davis

Infinite Banking Concept

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

For more information on or to order Redmond salt or conditioner check out Redmondagriculture.com

To learn more about all the classes and services that Noble offers check out www.noble.org

265: Harry Cope - Missouri Grazing Farm Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

Harry discusses his farmily farms history, getting through the 80's farm crisis and his decision to shift from row crops to a grazing based operation. We discuss the different enterprises he runs, how he converts endophyte infected fescue to a diverse warm and cool season pasture mix, and much more!

Resources Mentioned:

How to Win Friends and Influence People

If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with your farm or ranch numbers, check out John Haskell and his team at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ranchrightllc.com/⁠⁠⁠.

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

If you're interested in Farmatan to fight scours in your operation, call Paul Mitchell at 515-745-1639 or check out farmatanusa.com.

264: Dallas Simmonds - From 40,000 Acres to 0 Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

Dallas built a large successful grain farm in Canada and grew it to over 40,000 acres. He then quit hoping that more time and freedom would help him find peace or fulfillment. It did not. He shares his story of building the farm, building a team, quitting and finding peace after giving up something he loves! Enjoy!

Resources

The Launching Pad - Steve Weatherford

Tony Robbins

Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business!

As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.

For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/

To get more information on how Ambrook can benefit your operation, check out ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected