Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world

Recording date: September 29, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode forty-three features Jessica Breaux of Piney Woods Farm as we discuss:

You will love this inquisitive and compassionate farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Jessica:

Jessica Breaux is the Executive Director of Piney Woods Farm in LaGrange, Georgia a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational center and USDA Certified Organic and Regenerative Organic Certified® farm dedicated to soil health, community well-being, and ecological stewardship.

Jessica studied vocal performance at Florida State University and Shorter College before discovering her deeper calling in regenerative agriculture, traditional arts, and community-based learning rooted in heritage practices. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry (AGL) program and has completed advanced training through the Crescive Method, including the Advanced Training and Microscope Master Class. In recognition of her leadership in regenerative agriculture and community impact, Jessica was named the 2025 recipient of the Rodale Institute Organic Stewardship Award.

Her work blends agricultural science with traditional craft. Jessica holds numerous certifications from the John C. Campbell Folk School in spinning, weaving, knitting, soap making, natural dyeing, pottery, food preservation, and mushroom cultivation—skills she integrates into educational programming that honors both heritage knowledge and modern ecological science.

Driven by curiosity and grounded in soil biology, Piney Woods Farm explores innovative regenerative practices designed to increase biodiversity and restore living soil systems. Through education, food production, and community partnerships, Jessica’s work helps demonstrate how small farms can serve as powerful centers for environmental stewardship, health, and local resilience.

Connect with Jessica at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 22, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode forty-two features Liz Ferguson of Four Acres Living Alpacas as we discuss:

You will love this curious and collaborative farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Liz:

Liz began alpaca farming with her husband just under 11 years ago. Neither had prior experience in farming or animals. Prior to operating the farm, Liz worked as an accounting manager for a large real estate company, and her husband was in retail management. After they adopted 4 children, Liz became a stay-at-home mother. During that time, she taught herself photography, graphic design and website development.

By the time they started their farm in their 50's, Liz realized she had all the skills and knowledge to run the business independent of outside professionals. She does all of the accounting and creates the promotional materials for ads and social media for their 15-acre, 37 alpaca farm (with 7 baby alpacas coming soon. Liz also builds and maintains their website and make sure it seamlessly coordinates with everything else (accounting, inventory, POS...)

Their farm focuses on carefully breeding for high quality alpaca fiber that can be turned into soft, lightweight and durable outerwear. They use sustainable practices throughout all they do, including using the manure for their organic gardens and growing dye plants that can be used to dye their yarn.

Connect with Liz at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 22, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode forty-two features Liz Ferguson of Four Acres Living Alpacas as we discuss:

You will love this curious and collaborative farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Liz:

Liz began alpaca farming with her husband just under 11 years ago. Neither had prior experience in farming or animals. Prior to operating the farm, Liz worked as an accounting manager for a large real estate company, and her husband was in retail management. After they adopted 4 children, Liz became a stay-at-home mother. During that time, she taught herself photography, graphic design and website development.

By the time they started their farm in their 50's, Liz realized she had all the skills and knowledge to run the business independent of outside professionals. She does all of the accounting and creates the promotional materials for ads and social media for their 15-acre, 37 alpaca farm (with 7 baby alpacas coming soon. Liz also builds and maintains their website and make sure it seamlessly coordinates with everything else (accounting, inventory, POS...)

Their farm focuses on carefully breeding for high quality alpaca fiber that can be turned into soft, lightweight and durable outerwear. They use sustainable practices throughout all they do, including using the manure for their organic gardens and growing dye plants that can be used to dye their yarn.

Connect with Liz at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 21, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode forty-one features Colleen Stegenga of Embracing Change Counseling Services, LLC as we discuss:

You will love this compassionate and supportive farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Colleen:

Colleen Stegenga is no stranger to change—and she's living proof that embracing life's transitions can lead to profound purpose. While she preferred the comfort of animals over people as a child, adulthood awakened a deep love for human connection that would shape her calling.

After twenty years in business administration and trading small-town South Dakota for Sioux Falls, Colleen discovered her true passion in the most unexpected place: an elementary school office. What began as a secretary position in 2006 became a nine-year journey of profound connection with children whose basic needs often went unmet. Day after day, Colleen found herself drawn into meaningful conversations with students, witnessing their struggles and recognizing their deep need to be heard, valued, and understood. She realized that these children needed someone who would listen without judgment, help them find their voice, and remind them that they mattered.

This revelation sparked Colleen's biggest life change yet. In 2013, she enrolled in the University of South Dakota's Master of Social Work program, following her heart toward a career dedicated to healing and empowerment. Her educational journey led her to a mental health agency where she honed her counseling skills with individuals and groups, preparing for the day she would launch Embracing Change Counseling Services.

Today, Colleen brings her unique blend of business acumen, educational insight, and genuine compassion to her therapeutic practice. She specializes in helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, family dysfunction, and negative self-esteem, while her heart remains especially drawn to empowering young girls and women to discover their authentic voices and unshakeable worth.

Colleen's passion lies deeply in helping farmers and ranchers navigate the unique challenges of agricultural life—a calling that feels even more personal as she prepares to return to farm life herself this summer. She understands firsthand the distinctive stresses, seasonal pressures, and family dynamics that come with dedicating your life to feeding our communities. Her work with agricultural families is matched by her love for helping women of all ages conquer daily obstacles and learn to love themselves wholly, spanning from adolescence through middle age.

At the core of Colleen's practice is her unwavering belief that every person deserves to feel heard, valued, and empowered. She creates a warm, family-like environment where clients can explore their deepest thoughts and feelings without judgment, always reminding them that their feelings are valid and they can still go out into the world and do amazing things.

When she's not in the office, Colleen can be found exploring the great outdoors with her two beloved pups, Callie and Skye, traveling to warm, sunny destinations, and cherishing time with her husband, two daughters, son-in-law and grandson and their small herd of animals—a reminder that her childhood love for animals remains as strong as ever.

Connect with Colleen at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 21, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode forty-one features Colleen Stegenga of Embracing Change Counseling Services, LLC as we discuss:

You will love this compassionate and supportive farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Colleen:

Colleen Stegenga is no stranger to change—and she's living proof that embracing life's transitions can lead to profound purpose. While she preferred the comfort of animals over people as a child, adulthood awakened a deep love for human connection that would shape her calling.

After twenty years in business administration and trading small-town South Dakota for Sioux Falls, Colleen discovered her true passion in the most unexpected place: an elementary school office. What began as a secretary position in 2006 became a nine-year journey of profound connection with children whose basic needs often went unmet. Day after day, Colleen found herself drawn into meaningful conversations with students, witnessing their struggles and recognizing their deep need to be heard, valued, and understood. She realized that these children needed someone who would listen without judgment, help them find their voice, and remind them that they mattered.

This revelation sparked Colleen's biggest life change yet. In 2013, she enrolled in the University of South Dakota's Master of Social Work program, following her heart toward a career dedicated to healing and empowerment. Her educational journey led her to a mental health agency where she honed her counseling skills with individuals and groups, preparing for the day she would launch Embracing Change Counseling Services.

Today, Colleen brings her unique blend of business acumen, educational insight, and genuine compassion to her therapeutic practice. She specializes in helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, family dysfunction, and negative self-esteem, while her heart remains especially drawn to empowering young girls and women to discover their authentic voices and unshakeable worth.

Colleen's passion lies deeply in helping farmers and ranchers navigate the unique challenges of agricultural life—a calling that feels even more personal as she prepares to return to farm life herself this summer. She understands firsthand the distinctive stresses, seasonal pressures, and family dynamics that come with dedicating your life to feeding our communities. Her work with agricultural families is matched by her love for helping women of all ages conquer daily obstacles and learn to love themselves wholly, spanning from adolescence through middle age.

At the core of Colleen's practice is her unwavering belief that every person deserves to feel heard, valued, and empowered. She creates a warm, family-like environment where clients can explore their deepest thoughts and feelings without judgment, always reminding them that their feelings are valid and they can still go out into the world and do amazing things.

When she's not in the office, Colleen can be found exploring the great outdoors with her two beloved pups, Callie and Skye, traveling to warm, sunny destinations, and cherishing time with her husband, two daughters, son-in-law and grandson and their small herd of animals—a reminder that her childhood love for animals remains as strong as ever.

Connect with Colleen at: 

Recording date: September 8, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode forty features Nichelle Scholz of Fox Hill Llamas as we discuss:

You will love this intentional and inspirational farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Nichelle:

Fox Hill Llamas is situated in Marradong Country, south of Perth in Western Australia and offers a unique range of handmade llama products with an emphasis on reuse and recycling.

Our footprint on our land is really important to us. With everything we do, we consider our environment and the wildlife that shares our land with us. We are constantly working to increase the habitat our property offers and are seeing the immediate utilisation of the spaces we create. Our land will be here long after us and our hope is that the wildlife will always persist at Fox Hill.

Connect with Nichelle at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 8, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode forty features Nichelle Scholz of Fox Hill Llamas as we discuss:

You will love this intentional and inspirational farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Nichelle:

Fox Hill Llamas is situated in Marradong Country, south of Perth in Western Australia and offers a unique range of handmade llama products with an emphasis on reuse and recycling.

Our footprint on our land is really important to us. With everything we do, we consider our environment and the wildlife that shares our land with us. We are constantly working to increase the habitat our property offers and are seeing the immediate utilisation of the spaces we create. Our land will be here long after us and our hope is that the wildlife will always persist at Fox Hill.

Connect with Nichelle at: 

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 17, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! In episode thirty-nine, host K Castrataro indulges in a heart-to-heart chat with YOU, her farm family, about:

These straight-from-the-heart solo episodes give you an opportunity to hear K’s thoughts on the biggest issues you face as farmers and as people.

Let us know what you think of this new one-monthly format in the comments below.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a farmer (or farmer fan) that you know.

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you looking for a more purposeful farm life rich in time, energy, and abundance? Here are some steps you can take today…it’s your time to grow!

About K:

Kristen “K” Castrataro is a farm life advisor with nearly five decades’ experience in livestock, fruit, and vegetable production, harvesting, and marketing, including agritourism. (At six months old, she was in a play pen in the cornfield. At six years old, she was running the farm stand!)

In addition to her practical background as a producer, she served as the Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent for the University of Rhode Island, providing whole-farm consulting services for the state’s commercial land agriculture producers.

K’s formal training in education, therapeutic writing, and mediation combined with a decade of work in child protection and mental health and psychosocial support allow her to go beyond farm business planning to addressing the whole farmer’s unique needs at individual, family, and community levels.

K specializes in:

Driving her work is K’s deeply held belief that the people who feed our bodies and souls should not feel as if they are starving themselves.

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 17, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! In episode thirty-nine, host K Castrataro indulges in a heart-to-heart chat with YOU, her farm family, about:

These straight-from-the-heart solo episodes give you an opportunity to hear K’s thoughts on the biggest issues you face as farmers and as people.

Let us know what you think of this new one-monthly format in the comments below.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a farmer (or farmer fan) that you know.

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you looking for a more purposeful farm life rich in time, energy, and abundance? Here are some steps you can take today…it’s your time to grow!

About K:

Kristen “K” Castrataro is a farm life advisor with nearly five decades’ experience in livestock, fruit, and vegetable production, harvesting, and marketing, including agritourism. (At six months old, she was in a play pen in the cornfield. At six years old, she was running the farm stand!)

In addition to her practical background as a producer, she served as the Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent for the University of Rhode Island, providing whole-farm consulting services for the state’s commercial land agriculture producers.

K’s formal training in education, therapeutic writing, and mediation combined with a decade of work in child protection and mental health and psychosocial support allow her to go beyond farm business planning to addressing the whole farmer’s unique needs at individual, family, and community levels.

K specializes in:

Driving her work is K’s deeply held belief that the people who feed our bodies and souls should not feel as if they are starving themselves.

Connect with K at: 

Recording date: September 8, 2026

Welcome to the second season of Food, Flowers, & Fun: Visits with farm women from around the world! Episode thirty-eight features Diane McKenzie of McKenzie Hereford Farms Ltd. as we discuss:

You will love this inspiring and investigative farmer!

#IYWF2026

A GIFT FOR LISTENERS:

Are you a farmer looking for an opportunity to connect with other farmers just like you? Join Midweek Refuel, where we focus on increasing the time, energy, and abundance in your purposeful farm life. Try us today.

Use code PODCAST to receive a 10% discount: https://www.penlightfarmers.com/service-page/midweek-refuel?referral=service_list_widget

About Diane:

Diane McKenzie is a family farmer from Southern Aberta. She brings an insider view to her studies about how women participate in the intergenerational transfer of family farms. As she pursues her doctoral degree at the University of Regina, she is exploring how the historical reproduction of gender norms impede and/or facilitate women’s participation in the intergenerational transfer of the family farm.

Diane takes a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding how women participate in the agriculture industry, drawing on Psychology, History, Sociology, and Women and Gender Studies. Her aim is to further understand women’s contributions to the agriculture industry and bring those conversations to the agriculture community.

Connect with Diane at: 

Connect with K at: