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TBF 100 :: Kickstarter, John Suscovich, and Lot’s of Hard Lessons Learned!

by on January 27, 2015

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“The Beginning Farmer Video” Kickstarter Campaign

TBFVIDEOHEADERWe’ve done it! We’ve made it to Episode 100 of “The Beginning Farmer Show”! And yes, I do mean we because there is no way I wouldn’t have made it this far without the encouragement of everyone who has listened, taught me, asked questions, and contributed to “The Beginning Farmer Show” community. Making it to episode 100 is a cause for celebration though, and I wanted to make this episode extra special. Of course there is the fact that the Kickstarter Campaign launches today, but on top of that I have an extra special (and longer) episode.

Over the past 99 episodes it became evident that one of the more popular aspects of the show were the hard lessons learned that I share. With that in mind I wanted to dedicate this episode to hard lessons learned. I didn’t want to stop with just mine though, so I invited my great farming friend John Suscovich, of “The Growing Farms Podcast”, to come on and share some of his hardest lessons learned. Over the course of nearly an hour John and I went back and forth sharing what some of our most difficult lessons have been and what we have learned from them. No matter where you are on your farming journey I know you’ll find something in this chat that will save you a “hard lesson” in the future!

But wait, there’s more … Not only did John take time out of his busy farming schedule to chat with me, but he also threw out an offer for all of “The Beginning Farmer Show” listeners that is both humbling and awesome! From now until February 12th at noon you can get nearly 50% off of John’s eBook, “Stress Free Chicken Tractor Plans” just by using the code “kickstart” when you check out. That is a great deal, but equally as cool is that John will also be backing “The Beginning Farmer Video” Kickstarter Campaign with the proceeds from the sales. Not only can you choose to support the campaign and receive some cool rewards, but for the next two weeks you can also get a cool eBook and support the campaign at the same time!

If you had to narrow down your top three farming hard lessons learned what would they be? Share yours in the comments below!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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TBF 099 :: The Kickstarter Video Project, It’s Fixed, and a Hard Lesson Learned

by on January 21, 2015

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tbfshowvideoIt is pretty awesome to think that we’ve (you the listeners along with me) made it all the way from episode 1 of The Beginning Farmer Show up to episode 99 this week! In fact if you are really interested in digging deep you can find an episode 0, but I’m not going to give you the link because it’s pretty bad. But, what I’m most excited about is heading into the next chapter of The Beginning Farmer Show heading into 2015. I’m excited to begin writing more blog posts, bringing more intelligence to the show in the form of listeners with farming/business knowledge to share, and of course the biggest news … The Beginning Farmer Video Project Kickstarter Campaign!

You’ve heard me talking about it a lot over the past few months, but I’m finally ready to roll out the campaign, and if it is successful to begin producing Beginning Farmer Videos. I’ve been blessed to have a lot of help along my farming journey and I want to share what I’ve learned along the way as well as those hard lessons learned that I wish I could have avoided. There will be more details in Episode 100 of The Beginning Farmer Show, so stay tuned …

What do you think The Beginning Farmer Show should cover in 2015? I’d love to hear your thoughts, or better yet … hear you on the show raising the intelligence level!

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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TBF 098 :: New Farm Goals, Broken Equipment, and a Hard Lesson Learned

by on January 14, 2015

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ingearFor the past six years my plans for farm growth could best be described as, “Whatever hits Ethan’s mind we do”! There is a major problem with that though as I have talked about in past episodes about my business plan (like this one and this one), and even though I’ve said it before … this year needs to be the year of progress on our farm. I’ve had a lot of fun learning, growing, and experimenting on the farm and now it is time to get to business. I’m not sure if that means our farm will grow a lot this year or if it means we will scale things back at the end of 2015, but I do know that we need to get moving. With that in mind I wanted to share some of my goals and vision for this coming year. Some of the things I want to share are 100% going to happen (the pig woodlot fences being expanded) and other things are pie in the sky sort of ideas (expanding to a new niche or product). Then there are the types of things that I really want to do, but I’m not yet sure how they are going to flesh out. On the top of that list is on farm classes and I’m willing to take ideas, suggestions, and thoughts on that one!

What do you have on your list for the coming year? What do you think … should I expand the sheep … are the on-farm classes in the future of The Beginning Farmer Show and Crooked Gap Farm? Join the discussion below!

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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TBF 097 :: Listener Questions, Winter Storm Preperation, and a Hard Lesson Learned

by on January 6, 2015

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The Typical Farm DayIf there is one thing that I’ve learned along the trail of my beginning farmer journey it is that I really don’t know much when it comes to farmer. That was reinforced as I began recording today’s episode and attempting to answer some listener questions! The good news though is that I’m not in this journey alone, so it is okay for me to say, “I don’t know” from time to time and the turn to others that have more experience or at least more varied experiences than I do. In part that is why I shared the questions on today’s episode … because I didn’t know the answer, but I’m sure someone listening will have some thoughts and I can’t wait to here them!

So, if you have any thoughts on …

  1. Fencing for pigs in the woodlot (I’m a firm believer in electric fence and shared some of my more in depth thoughts in Episode 56).
  2. How to improve the pasture after you move pigs off (Honestly this is not something I’ve done yet, but wanted to experiment this year. If you have any suggestions let us know … in Episode 37 I shared some research I did on this topic).
  3. What the typical day looks like for a beginning farmer with an in-town job (I’m confident of this … it is anything but typical. But, what do you do in that situation to accomplish as much as possible).
  4. The best “must have” farm outerwear choices for women (My advice … layers … lots of layers, and make sure you keep your fingers and head warm).

What do you think? Any tips, tricks, or suggestions … let us know in the comments below!

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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TBF 096 :: Teresa Opheim of Practical Farmers of Iowa, Farm News, and a Hard Lesson Learned

by on December 30, 2014

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teresainterviewDid you know that well over 50% of Iowa farmland is owned by people over the age of 65? That means that in the coming years there will be a lot of farm land changing hands in one form or another. In some instances it may just transition to a son or daughter that continues the farm, in other cases it may be inherited by the next generation and the rented out to the highest bidder, and if you are a beginning farmer (or hope to be one soon) there may even be a possibility for you to build a relationship with a farmer. One thing is for sure though, and that is that many of these farmers over the age of 65 do not have a farm succession plan spelled out yet. That is one of the many things that I learned from my chat with Teresa Opheim, the Executive Director of Practical Farmers of Iowa, and why I am so excited to share this interview with you on this episode. Teresa and I talk about the mission and goals of PFI, the importance they place on farmer led research, and she even has some great encouragement for beginning farmers!

Are you a member of Practical Farmers of Iowa (come and see me at the conference if you are)? Have you thought about becoming a member? What organizations are you a part of, and how do they help make your farm a “practical farm”?

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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TBF 095 :: Christmas on the Farm, Christmas Hams, and a Hard Lesson Learned

by on December 24, 2014

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beginningfarmerchristmasI love all seasons on the farm, but there is just something special about winter on the farm that really makes me thankful. In my mind it begins at Thanksgiving as we enjoy the bounty of the growing year, continues through the Christmas season, and then all the way to January and February as the kids (and parents) enjoy the fun that winter on the farm offers. Christmas on the farm is also the perfect time for telling stories and I love a good story … especially when it is a farm story! Some stories make you thankful for what you have, other stories help remind you of what is truly important, and there are even stories that are just fun memories of times gone by. On today’s episode I want to share three such stories. One comes from “Successful Farming” Magazine, another comes from the story of an Iowa farmer, and the last comes from my own childhood farm memory.

Do you have Christmas or winter memories from the farm? Stories that you love to share? I would love to hear your stories so don’t be afraid to share!

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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TBF 094 :: Can I Break Even, The Grinder Mixer Grinds, and a Hard Lesson Learned

by on December 16, 2014

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breakevenheader.jpgOf all the farming related questions I receive I would say that the majority of them have to do with money. Questions like: Can I make a full-time living? How much will insurance cost? What is the profit margin per hog? Can I at least break even? All of those are great questions, but like many things in life the answer isn’t always a yes or no, but rather it is usually “it depends”. That was also the answer I had to give for a couple questions that I received over the past week. It’s not that I didn’t have thoughts on the subject, but sometimes a simple question like, “can I at least break even” just leads to so many more questions. Questions like: What price will you have to charge to break even? Do you have interested customers? How much marketing are you able to do? What about input costs (feed, pigs, water, structure, etc.)? All of those questions and their answers will make it possible to answer the, “can I break even” question.

Very rarely though do I lack an opinion on a farming subject, especially when that subject is pigs! That is why on today’s episode I attempt to answer Doug’s question about whether or not he could break even raising 3 to 6 American Guinea Hogs (or any pig for that matter) on his three acre property. The easy answer is yes. I mean if you have people willing to pay enough you can break even no matter what, but of course that is where the variables come into play. Once you take all of those into account I think the answer still may be yes, if you can come up with reasonable answers for questions about feed, purchasing feeder pigs, marketing, and so much more.

What do you think? What does it take to raise 3 to 6 pigs and break even or make a profit? Are you doing it now, or are you hoping/planning to do it in the future? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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TBF 093 :: The Farmer Christmas List, Overwhelmed, and a Hard Lesson Learned

by on December 9, 2014

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farmersgiftguide.jpgThis past week has been a bit overwhelming on the farm and in our world of farm business planning. When things get that way it is always nice to do something a little more lighthearted and fun, which is exactly why I have put together my Second Annual Beginning Farmer Christmas List! Farmers can be hard to shop for because usually if there is something they need it is needed at that moment and can’t wait for the nearest birthday or holiday, but it is still nice to have something for them to open up if you have a farmer or future farmer on your shopping list. On today’s episode (and listed below) you’ll find ten things that I think make great gifts because I use them on my farm, or they are so awesome that I actually have them on my wish list. There are things for reading, things for working, things for making that work easier, and of course even a bonus item that will help you clean up at the end of the day …

The Beginning Farmer & Future Farmer Christmas List

  1. Carhartt Double Front Logger Jeans
  2. GreenBest Expandable Garden Hose
  3. Chainsaw Helmet System
  4. The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry
  5. Gaining Ground by Forrest Pritchard
  6. Kinco Pigskin Leather Gloves and the Six Pack of Gloves
  7. Fence Staple Driver and the Fancy Fence Staple Driver
  8. Acres USA Subscription
  9. Cordless Impact Wrench
  10. Knipex High Leverage Combination Pliers
  11. FarmCrafted Soap made by The Beginning Farmer’s Wife

What is on your farming Christmas list or what would you suggest for other farmers? Check out what was on my Christmas list last year!

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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TBF 092 :: My Farm Business Plan Update, News From the Farm, and a Hard Lesson Learned

by on December 3, 2014

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Farm Business PlanIf you ask anyone that has know me for even the shortest amount of time they would probably tell you that I am a “fly by the seat of my pants” kind of guy. I like to come up with an idea and then just start doing it without putting a lot of thought into how it will get done, or rather more accurately what it will take to get it done. For example there have been more than three or four times when I have brought livestock home to the farm because I really wanted them or because they were a “really good” deal with no plan on where to house them or what will keep them from deciding to hang-out in the neighbors cornfield.

The same can be said for my “business planning” up until this point. Unfortunately I haven’t been too concerned with the business of the farm over these past six years and I’m starting to understand that it probably has hurt my decision making along the way. It’s not that I haven’t been thinking of the dollars and cents, but rather that I didn’t dig down deep into what those numbers were saying and how that impacted various things on the farm. All of that is changing though because I am about 1/3 of the way through my business plan workbook and I’ve been doing a lot of writing, answering questions, and assessing the farm, labor, enterprises, values, and marketing. My business planning isn’t exactly flying, but I am finally making some steady progress and along with that progress I’m beginning to recognize a few things that have me thinking …

My Business Plan Insights So Far …

  • There is room for growth in my markets … especially when it comes to hogs.
  • The Meat CSA and our Whole/Half Hog sales need to receive more of my focus
  • I really need to hone in on our shared values for the farm and make some cut-backs in other areas.
  • Pigs truly are the centerpiece of our farm … by a large margin.
  • Not every enterprise on the farm is a good idea judged purely by the numbers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an important place on the farm

Have you ever made a business plan? If so, what surprising things did you find? What should I be looking for as I do all of this evaluation and planning?

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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TBF 091 :: The Thankful Farmer, Happy Farm Updates, and a Hard Lesson Learned

by on November 25, 2014

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trenchingFor a whole host of reasons I absolutely love the Thanksgiving holiday! I love it because of the history, the season that it comes in, the focus on family around a table, and of course because of the fact that it often points people to remember an idea that we don’t think of often enough … Thankfulness! As I look back on this year of farming (and the past six years since we began) I realize that I have very much to be thankful for on the farm. And it is not just the good moments, because there are often reasons to be thankful even in the midst of difficulty. Below you will find a short list of the things that I am thankful for as a beginning farmer. Of course this is not the complete list, but rather those things that are most closely related to our farming journey …

  • I am thankful for all of the difficult tasks, moments, hours, days, and weeks on the farm.
  • I am thankful for the family, friends, and neighbors who have helped me along the way.
  • I am thankful for my wonderful wife and children.
  • I am thankful for the opportunity to work outside no matter what the weather is.
  • I am thankful for the fact that the livestock help keep me humble.
  • I am thankful for the countless farm friends that help keep the farm running by supporting us.
  • I am thankful for the farmers that came before me.
  • I am thankful for the sunsets, the cool breeze, the softly falling snow, the spring rains, and the beautiful stars at night.
  • I am thankful that I am a farmer.

What are you thankful for this year? No matter where you are on your farming journey I would love to hear what you are thankful for and what sticks out in your mind!

Check out The Beginning Farmer Show on Facebook!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.

If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!

I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …

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