Ranching Returns Podcast

Latest Episodes:

233: Chris and Lyndsey - Solar Grazing Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode Jared Luhman speaks with Lyndsey and Chris from Shady Creek Lamb Co., who share their innovative approach to sheep farming through solar grazing. They discuss their backgrounds in agriculture, the challenges of transitioning from cattle to sheep, and the importance of water management and infrastructure in their operations. The couple emphasizes the significance of public relations in modern farming and how they have adapted to the protocols of working with solar companies. The conversation also delves into the benefits of grazing under solar panels and reflections on growth and the concept of 'enough' in farming. The discussion concludes with thoughts on land management and investment strategies.

Resources Mentioned:

Ranching Ranching Podcast

More Grass, more sheep, more profit

Real Ag Radio

Ontairo Soil Network

Ontario Grazing Network

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 info on the Ranching.FYI sell/buy simulation class check out www.ranching.fyi/sim2win

232: Keith Olsen - Low Input Crop and Cattle Farming Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

Keith is passionate about low input regenerative agriculture and is exploring both of those avenues on his own operation in SE Minnesota. We discuss how he's focusing on improving his land and pocketbook in both enterprises and much more.

Resources Mentioned:

Ranching Reboot Podcast

Ranching Returns Podcast

Stockman Grass Farmer

Tom Krawiec

Wilson Land and Cattle Youtube

Soil Works Youtube

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/

231: Sam Fryer - Ranching, Podcasting and Working! Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

Sam has an awesome story, he shares how he decided to separate himself from the family farm and go out on his own in order to preserve family relationships. We discuss the process of building his operation on his own and also discuss his thoughts on debt, leverage, land ownership and more.

Stay tuned at the end of the conversation with Sam for some bonus content with founder and CEO of Ambrook, Mackenzie Burnett!

Resources Mentioned:

Gabe Brown - Dirt to Soil

Alan Savory - Holistic Management

Charles Massey - Reed Warbler

Why - Simon Sinek

The Richest Man in Babylon

Financial Bloke Podcast - Ben Lore

A Place to Call Home - Sam Fryer

To get more info on the Ranching.FYI sell/buy simulation class check out www.ranching.fyi/sim2win

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 http://ambrook.com/ranchingreturns

230: Jacob Gilley - Enterprise Analysis, Real Estate, and More! Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Lots of good stuff in this conversation with Jacob. We discuss his path to farming, his decision to leave the off farm job, the many enterprises he has experience with and spend a while on his record keeping strategy and enterprise analysis. We then discuss his most recent venture which is a rural vacation rental property.

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/

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

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

229: Ben Minden - Training Cowboys and Buying a Business Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

Ben is founder and president of Bear Hug Cattle Company which is a non-profit that trains retiring military members on the basics required to work in the cattle industry in the west! And in the second part of the conversation we discuss Ben's experience buying a well drilling business to generate revenue rather than getting a normal job.

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/

228: Drew Bruner - Going All in on Sheep Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

Drew talks about why in this particular market he chose not to invest in stockers and switch entirely to sheep. He discusses his permanent flock as well as his stocker ewe flock experiment for this year. He shares the main challenges with sheep production and how he manages them and finds success.

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/

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

227: Matthew Menke - Risk vs. Reward, Leverage and Knowing Your Business May 26, 2025

Show notes

Matthew shares his incredible story of turning down a dream opportunity to take over a family business because he couldn't do so profitably. He shares how he grew an ag business and eventually got back into farming and ranching when he knew he could do so successfully! He shares his perspective on not doing things just for the sake of growth and why knowing your business financials is so important!

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/

226: Randal Breen - From Living in a Shed to Full Time Farmer May 19, 2025

Show notes

Randal shares his incredible story of building a farm. He now operates on over 650 acres and direct markets meat and eggs to local individuals and wholesale accounts! A story that highlights the relationship he has with his community is that when he experience complete drought and destocked almost entirely, their community continued paying CSA shares receiving only eggs until rain returned. We discuss his growth strategy, as well as multiple creative ways to buy and expand his land base! Lots to learn from Randal!

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/

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

225: Alex McKiernan - Car Wrecks Can't Stop This Family! May 12, 2025

Show notes

Alex and his wife have built a diverse farm and ranch business that started with direct to consumer vegetable production through a CSA and has grown to a large ranch that does custom grazing, goat production for weed management as well as building a brand that serves food from their farm and other local farms direct to local consumers!

Resources Mentioned:

Robinette Farms

Ranching For Profit and Executive Link

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/

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

224: Caleb Smith - Switching from Dairy to Sheep May 05, 2025

Show notes

Caleb has a unique story to getting into agriculture, he had the opportunity to take on a 40 year land lease from a non-profit and built a dairy farm from scratch. He shares that story and also how he recently switched from the dairy model to a sheep production model and why. He shares the very real challenges that shift presented and how he adapted and improved the operation to accomplish his lifestyle goals.

Resources Mentioned:

Ranching for Profit

Ranching Returns Podcast

Ranchenomics Podcast

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/

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