In this episode of Grow Getters, host Davis Michelson sits down with Maren Beard of Luna Valley Farm in Decorah, Iowa. Maren and her husband, Tom, raise cows, pigs, and sheep using regenerative farming practices—but they’re best known for their incredible wood-fired pizza, made with ingredients from their farm and other local producers. Maren shares how their farm-to-table pizza nights have become a beloved community tradition, earning recognition from Better Homes and Gardens, The New York Times, AARP Magazine, and Cosmopolitan.

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Chris Riggers came back to the family farm when his uncle retired. But then his dad, Nate, had a serious health issue, pushing Chris into the leadership role sooner than expected. Not only did he take the reins of the fifth-generation Idaho farm, he led the effort to establish Cold Stream Malt & Grain Company, which sells grains directly to breweries and distilleries in the Pacific Northwest. True grow getters, Chris and Nate join Davis on this episode to tell their powerful story.

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Out on the windswept prairie of North Dakota, the Doan family has been raising cattle since 1882. When fifth-generation brothers Jeremy, Jay and Jayce returned to Black Leg Ranch after college, they brought some new business ideas with them. Beyond raising Black Angus cows and bison on the 20,000-acre property, they’ve added a large event space, a micro-brewery, lodges for overnight guests, a hunting outfitter business and a direct-to-consumer meat enterprise. Jeremy and Jay Doan join Davis on this episode of Grow Getters to tell their tale.

Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers are plugging into their passions to diversify their operations and add new sources of revenue. These resourceful “grow getters” are redefining what it means to be a farmer and are here to inspire and guide anyone with a dream of their own. Mixing fascinating stories with lots of humor and even some music from host Davis Michaelsen, Grow Getters is truly an original in the world of Ag media.

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Where others see stumbling blocks, Kentucky farmer Joe Nichols sees building blocks. That’s how he’s built such a successful and diversified business. And he built it from scratch, starting as a teenager. Today, Seven Springs Farms spans 25,000 acres of row crops and more than 10,000 head of cattle. As a true grow getter, he also has developed side businesses such as manufacturing erosion-control blankets and selling crushed rock. He’s come a long way from the kid who stayed behind when his family sold their farm and moved away back in the 1980s. Enjoy his amazing story.

Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers are plugging into their passions to diversify their operations and add new sources of revenue. These resourceful “grow getters” are redefining what it means to be a farmer and are here to inspire and guide anyone with a dream of their own. Mixing fascinating stories with lots of humor and even some music from host Davis Michaelsen, Grow Getters is truly an original in the world of Ag media.

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When Bri Stagge came home to Greensburg, Indiana, after college to help out on the fourth-generation family farm a few years ago, she didn’t plan on starting a side business or on meeting Dustin Osborne, who is now her husband. But she did both. Bri and Dustin join Davis on this episode of Grow Getters to talk about how they started their own company — Osborne Ag Services — to help diversify the farm operation. Their company offers drone and light excavation services as well as grain bin management using robot technology.

Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers are plugging into their passions to diversify their operations and add new sources of revenue. These resourceful “grow getters” are redefining what it means to be a farmer and are here to inspire and guide anyone with a dream of their own. Mixing fascinating stories with lots of humor and even some music from host Davis Michaelsen, Grow Getters is truly an original in the world of Ag media.

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As teenagers, Dave and Jean Gottenborg dreamed of owning a cattle ranch. After decades of delay, they finally achieved their dream. They now raise cattle and sell award-winning beef and hay at Eagle Rock Ranch, perched 9,000 feet above sea level in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Dave and his daughter, Erin, join Davis on this episode of Grow Getters to tell their amazing story.

Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers are plugging into their passions to diversify their operations and add new sources of revenue. These resourceful “grow getters” are redefining what it means to be a farmer and are here to inspire and guide anyone with a dream of their own. Mixing fascinating stories with lots of humor and even some music from host Davis Michaelsen, Grow Getters is truly an original in the world of Ag media.

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Iowa ag producer Kelly Garrett stays very busy growing corn and raising cattle, but his entrepreneurial spirit drives him to start side businesses to extend an impressive, vertically integrated operation. From trucking companies to digital advisory platforms, a direct-to-consumer beef business to a gas station/restaurant, he’s always hustling. On this episode of Grow Getters, he explains how — and why — he does it.

Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers are plugging into their passions to diversify their operations and add new sources of revenue. These resourceful “grow getters” are redefining what it means to be a farmer and are here to inspire and guide anyone with a dream of their own. Mixing fascinating stories with lots of humor and even some music from host Davis Michaelsen, Grow Getters is truly an original in the world of Ag media.

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Well-known ag influencer Tara Vander Dussen (aka the New Mexico Milkmaid) joins Davis on this episode of Grow Getters to tell how she went from being a reluctant dairy farmer to a vital voice for the industry. She’s a busy mom, wife, environmental consultant, podcast host and public speaker, but she’s probably best known for her social media presence, which has drawn a great many followers. A quintessential grow getter, Tara explains how she juggles so much so successfully.

Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers are plugging into their passions to diversify their operations and add new sources of revenue. These resourceful “grow getters” are redefining what it means to be a farmer and are here to inspire and guide anyone with a dream of their own. Mixing fascinating stories with lots of humor and even some music from host Davis Michaelsen, Grow Getters is truly an original in the world of Ag media. Visit Tara’s website: https://taravanderdussen.com

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When the goat dairy she was running wasn’t quite paying the bills, Penny Bowers-Schebel started a side business — Formality Bridal. Located in a tiny rural Ohio town, the shop has an ingenious business model, buying never-worn, sample bridal gowns from high-end boutiques and selling them for less than a thousand dollars. The idea worked and she now owns two profitable stores. The daily transition from milking a herd of American Alpine goats to hosting brides became a busy but wonderful life.

Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers are plugging into their passions to diversify their operations and add a new source of revenue. These resourceful “grow getters” are redefining what it means to be a farmer and are here to inspire and guide anyone with a dream of their own. Mixing fascinating stories with lots of humor and even some music from host Davis Michaelsen, Grow Getters is truly an original in the world of Ag media.

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To kick off National Pork Month (AKA “Porktober”), Unscripted hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths welcome PORK magazine’s editor Jennifer Shike to the podcast. She provides plenty of insider insights on the state of the pork industry, from biosecurity to challenging markets to the impact of Hurricane Helene on North Carolina producers. Jennifer also reveals that she’ll soon fill a host’s chair herself on The PORK Podcast, which debuts this month.

 Unscripted is a show where scripts take a back seat. Hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths put down the teleprompters and let the conversations flow naturally. Each week, they bring in fellow Farm Journal hosts and editors and friends to share behind-the-scenes insights on the stories we've covered, giving you a chance to meet the personalities behind the personalities.

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