In this episode of the Club Cultivate Podcast, Whitney sits down with social media strategist Taylor Caruso to unpack what’s actually working in social media right now. From building content pillars and planning smarter, to using AI without losing authenticity, this conversation is a tactical and honest look at growing a business online without burning out.

If you’ve ever wondered whether social media is “worth it” for your business or how to make it feel less chaotic, this episode is for you.

Why content pillars are the foundation of a strong, sustainable social strategy

How to blend personal and business content without confusing your audience

What planning a month of content really looks like behind the scenes

How to track whether social media is actually driving sales

Where AI fits into your workflow (and where it shouldn’t)

Why “create without consuming” might be your best strategy this year

The biggest mindset shift Taylor had to make as a business owner

Taylor Caruso

Taylor is a boutique social media strategist who works with small to mid-sized businesses across industries including hospitality, fitness, weddings, and personal brands. She specializes in building personalized strategies that prioritize authentic connection while driving measurable growth.

Connect with Taylor:

Vista Social – Social media scheduling + analytics platform

ManyChat – Automation tool for tracking engagement and clicks

Hot Smart Rich Podcast – Founder-focused business podcast

The Market Podcast by Sauce Media – Social media + marketing conversations

ChatGPT – AI tool for content brainstorming, ideation, and workflow efficiency

Connect

In this episode of the Club Cultivate Podcast, Whitney Whitaker sits down with Monica Hild of Four Back Photography for a highly tactical conversation on livestock photography, specifically photographing and marketing sheep for online sales.

Monica shares how she went from a science-minded animal health background to becoming a go-to sheep photographer, and breaks down the fundamentals every breeder and photographer needs to know, from camera settings and gear to ethical editing, picture-day prep, and why good imagery directly impacts livestock sales.

Whether you’re a breeder taking your own photos or a creative looking to improve your livestock photography skills, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately.

How Monica learned livestock photography through trial, error, and real business need

Why understanding light and camera fundamentals matters more than expensive gear

When auto settings work and when you must shoot manual

Monica’s recommended camera gear for livestock photography

How to photograph sheep so they read accurately and sell honestly

What ethical editing looks like (and where the line should be drawn)

Why professional photography builds buyer trust and credibility

How breeders and photographers can better plan for picture day and sales timelines

The importance of evaluating livestock, not just taking a “pretty” photo

Monica Hild

Instagram: @fourbackphoto

Book: While You Were Out by Meg Kissinger

Follow along for weekly conversations with host, Whitney Dahmer as she visits with creatives in the agriculture and western industries!

Instagram: @clubcultivate

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s working to grow their skills in this space.

Summary

In this episode of the Club Cultivate podcast, host Whitney Whitaker welcomes Joelynn Rathmann, a seasoned livestock photographer, to share her journey and insights into the world of photography within the livestock industry. Joelynn recounts her early fascination with photography, sparked by livestock shows in her childhood, and how she navigated her career path through various internships and experiences. She discusses the evolution of livestock photography, the importance of understanding livestock anatomy, and the balance between artistic expression and client expectations. Joelynn emphasizes the significance of building trust with clients and the emotional impact of photography on both the subjects and the audience.

livestock photography, Joelynn Rathmann, Club Cultivate podcast, creative journey, photography tips, livestock shows, animal photography, career advice, photography evolution, client relationships

"You can teach anybody to take good pictures, but you cannot teach anybody how to understand livestock."

00:00 Introduction to Joelynn Rathmann

Whitney shares the exact system she uses to plan her year as a creative business owner—using a simple Google Sheets framework to turn big goals into monthly and weekly action.

In this episode, we cover:

Why goals matter (and how they help during chaotic seasons)

Starting with a 5–10 year vision and working backwards

Choosing your “Core Four” pillars for the year

The difference between income goals vs. performance goals

Building a yearly calendar so nothing gets missed

Turning the yearly plan into monthly + weekly execution

The “rocks, pebbles, sand” analogy for real prioritization

Why “non-negotiables first” is a game-changer for consistency

Want the template?

In this episode of Club Cultivate, Whitney sits down with Alyssa Walsh, founder of Sweet Briar Creative, to talk about building a creative business in the ag industry. From starting a simple college portfolio to running a full-time branding and video studio, Alyssa shares how she’s refined her services, protected her time, and built a brand that actually works for her life and her clients.

In this episode, we talk about:

How Alyssa went from AgCom student to full-time creative business owner

The evolution of Sweet Briar Creative from “try everything” to clear offers and buckets

Why she stepped away from ad design to focus on branding, brand books and video

What makes a strong brand beyond the logo—fonts, colors, tone, and consistency

Using brand pillars to show up with intention on social instead of posting just to post

Hiring support, setting boundaries, and structuring your week as a creative entrepreneur

A simple 30-day exercise for taking one small step toward a big goal every day

Connect with Alyssa

Website: sweetbriarcreative.com

Instagram: @sweetbriarcreative

Connect with Whitney / Club Cultivate

Instagram: @clubcultivate

In this episode of Club Cultivate, Whitney sits down with Tanner Kersey-Lopez, a California native and Oklahoma State University alum whose career path has taken him from the show ring to the world of agricultural public relations.

Now an Account Supervisor at Bader Rutter, Tanner shares his journey through FFA, OSU’s ag-comm program, grad school during COVID, and into the fast-moving world of agency life—where collaboration, creativity, and communication meet.

They dive into what “earned media” really means, how agency teams function behind the scenes, the balance between billable hours and creative flow, and how to build a career that aligns with both passion and purpose.

Highlights:

Why Tanner switched from animal science to ag comm—and never looked back

What agency structure really looks like (and why specialization matters)

How PR, social, and creative teams collaborate in big ag agencies

The truth about time sheets, boundaries, and self-accountability

Tips for young professionals on asking better questions, finding mentors, and taking risks

Grace, growth, and the reminder that nothing is permanent

In this week’s episode, Whitney sits down with photographer and creative, Cade Childers of C3, to talk about carving out a career in the livestock marketing world—without growing up in ag or holding an ag comm degree.

Cade shares how he went from a sports family and a biochemistry/microbiology path aimed at medical school to running C3, a creative business based in Edmond, Oklahoma, that travels the country photographing show pigs and building marketing pieces for ag operations.

They dive into the realities behind the backdrop shots: the pressure of picturing high-dollar pigs, learning Adobe as a self-taught creative, setting boundaries in a 24/7 industry, and why networking and consistency may matter more than the initials behind your name.

HIGHLIGHTS:

How Cade went from “sports kid” to first-generation showman and eventually a full-time creative in the pig world

Why he walked away from a planned career in medicine after earning degrees in biochemistry and microbiology

The pros and cons of being completely self-taught in design and photography (and his honest take on ag comm degrees)

What makes a strong baby pig or backdrop photo, and how tiny details in feet, angles, and heads change everything

The balance between free work, paid work, and knowing when it’s time to start valuing your time differently

Burnout, boundaries, and why your phone doesn’t need to be on 24/7—even in the livestock industry

How mentors and networking (from Dusty Oldenburg to Jackie Lackey) helped shape C3

Cade’s advice for young creatives trying to find their lane and build a name in a crowded space

CONNECT:

Follow C3 / Cade Childers

Follow Club Cultivate on Instagram

In this week’s episode, Whitney sits down with Lexi Marek Beeler—owner of L & B Consulting and founder of Hey Sister—to dig into the reality of social media and entrepreneurship in agriculture: choosing platforms that fit your goals, building a brand without burning out, and running a business from a rural main street.

Lexi shares how an eighth-grade smartphone and a family show-pig operation led to running social for major ag accounts, why she left salaried roles to start her own shop, and how moving home to Iowa reshaped her work, systems, and definition of success.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Personal brand foundations: what you stand for, and giving yourself permission to evolve

Platforms that matter (and why ten posts/month can beat posting daily)

Practical consistency: monthly content calendars, simple systems, and realistic goals

Stories vs. posts vs. reels: when face-on-camera wins—and when a photo is enough

Email lists for ag businesses: why you should own your audience (even with limited time)

Freelance math: “know your numbers,” land two anchor clients, then jump

Agency, in-house, or solo? Picking paths, setting boundaries, and protecting the joy

Small town ≠ small thinking: building community, collaboration, and real relationships

Whether you’re running a seed-stock page from the farm office, freelancing for ag brands, or debating a leap into solo work, this conversation is packed with practical steps—and permission to keep it simple.

CONNECT:

In this week’s episode, Whitney sits down with Dr. Ruth Inman—founder of Ruth Inman Creative Services and soon-to-be Inman Collective Marketing Group—to talk about building a modern ag marketing agency from the ground up — from strategy and brand development to the business skills creatives need to earn a seat at the table.

Ruth shares how a career spanning higher ed, extension communications, and agency leadership prepared her to launch and grow a full-service shop serving agribusiness and mission-driven organizations—and why aligning work with family priorities ultimately drove her leap into entrepreneurship.

HIGHLIGHTS:

How Ruth went from teaching ag communications at Oklahoma State to leading digital and paid media—and finally launching her own agency

The rebrand to Inman Collective Marketing Group and what’s changing as she hires and scales in 2025

Undergrad vs. master’s vs. PhD: what each truly teaches (how vs. why) and when an MBA might make more sense

Agency, in-house, or freelance? Why Ruth’s answer is “yes—do all three” to accelerate learning and leadership

Relationships and reliability in a niche industry: why trust and follow-through outrun any portfolio

Differentiating your services: knowing what you do well—and when to collaborate with specialists

Practical upskilling without grad school: curating feeds, targeted workshops, and systems that compound

Ruth’s take on risk, timing, and building a business that fits real life (kids, show pigs, and all)

Whether you’re a creative in the ag space, a small business owner, or weighing grad school vs. real-world experience, this conversation is packed with clarity, next steps, and encouragement.

CONNECT:

Follow Ruth Inman Creative: Instagram | Website 

In this week’s episode, Whitney sits down with Robyn Amthauer, owner of Stella Sutton Design, to talk about the creative side of the livestock industry — from ad design and branding to building a business rooted in agriculture and authenticity.

Robyn shares how she turned her creative curiosity into a full-time career after years in corporate marketing, and how she balances business, motherhood, and managing a successful club lamb operation with her family in Iowa.

HIGHLIGHTS:

How Robyn went from corporate marketing at Cargill to running her own design agency

The value of relationships and consistency when building a brand in agriculture

Her honest perspective on pricing, creativity, and burnout in freelance work

The tools and programs she swears by (and her thoughts on the Canva vs. Adobe debate)

How she finds inspiration, blends her family life with her career, and keeps creativity alive

Whether you’re a creative in the ag space, a small business owner, or someone looking to take the leap from corporate to entrepreneurship, this conversation is packed with wisdom and relatability.

CONNECT: