Humble Ground

Rick Strathman of Strathman Farms joins us to share a powerful story of family, farming, and resilience. Raised around a dairy operation, Rick began farming in the 1980s—a time when agriculture was anything but easy. Alongside his brother Roger and now three of their sons, the Strathmans have built a diversified operation in Kansas rooted in grit, faith, and a deep love for the land. For more episodes, visit https://www.humblegroundag.com

What started on a Kansas half section turned into a lifeline for farmers across the country. In this episode, we sit down with Elmer Haug, the man behind Elmer’s Repair—a shop that’s been keeping older tractors running strong since 1974. With over 1,700 Case and IH tractors dismantled and tens of thousands of parts shipped across the U.S. and beyond, Elmer’s team has built a legacy on grit, know-how, and a deep respect for the people who work the land.Now, the next generation of the Haug family is stepping in, carrying forward the mission to keep farmers and ranchers moving when buying new just isn’t in the cards. With over 100,000 new, used, and re-manufactured parts on the shelves—or just a day away—Elmer’s Repair isn’t just rebuilding tractors, they’re rebuilding possibilities for rural America.For more episodes visit https://www.humblegroundag.comCheck out Elmer's Repair at https://www.elmersrepair.com

Beck's began as a small family farm in 1937, rooted in the heart of Indiana with a simple yet powerful purpose: to help farmers succeed. What started with Lawrence Beck planting hybrid seed corn on just a few acres has grown into the largest family-owned retail seed company and third-largest seed brand in the United States. Through decades of faith, hard work, and unwavering commitment, Beck's now serves farmers across the country.For more episodes https://www.humblegroundag.com/watchTo learn more on Beck's https://www.beckshybrids.com/

For over 100 years, the Didier family has worked the same Oklahoma soil—enduring dust storms, war, heartbreak, and hardship—transforming 160 acres into over 2,000 acres of sustainable pasture and legacy.

Today, Chris and Grant Didier carry on the legacy of their father, Jimmy, and their great-grandfather, Pierre, running a fully modern cow-calf operation built on ethical practices, cutting-edge technology, and timeless family values. Alongside their mother, Kay—better known online as the beloved “Granny Bibbins”—and the youngest generation, including social media sensation Gatlin, the Didiers are blending tradition with innovation to bring premium, pasture-raised beef straight to the tables of everyday Americans.

For more episodes, visit https://www.humblegroundag.com

Follow along with Gatlin & Granny at https://didierranch.com/

In this episode, we sit down with Derek Thompson, one of the founders of NextGen Cattle Co., to hear the story of how he, his brother, and his cousin turned a shared vision into a vertically integrated beef business with impact. Raised on values like trust, integrity, and passion for the land, the trio set out to create a seedstock operation built specifically for the commercial cattleman. Today, NextGen spans the entire beef industry—from NextGen Ranch, to Riverbend, to Allen—offering not just elite cattle genetics, but real-world data and personalized consulting to help ranchers thrive. Hear how it all started, the lessons learned along the way, and how NextGen is shaping the future of the cattle industry—one relationship at a time.Watch more episodes at https://www.humblegroundag.com

Learn more about NextGen at https://www.nextgencattle.com

Jay Rezac and his family run Rezac Land & Livestock in rural Kansas, a diversified operation that includes hogs, cattle, crops, and part ownership in a sale barn. Growing up in the family business alongside his dad and grandad, Jay learned the value of hard work and developed a deep love for the ag industry—lessons that have carried over to his own kids and, hopefully, to his grandkids. Today, Jay and his brother work alongside the next generations, building a strong agricultural legacy that they hope will continue for years to come.

For more episodes visit https://www.humblegroundag.com/watch

In this episode, we dive into the transformation of Wilroads Feed Yard outside of Dodge City, Kansas and its journey under the ownership of Keith and Tessa Bowman. After purchasing the facility in 2019, the Bowmans expanded operations, upgrading the feedmill with automated flakers, increased storage, and computerized feed batching. Learn about the strategic improvements aimed at maximizing cattle performance, optimizing grid value, and boosting profitability. With plans to expand to 46,000-head capacity, we explore the Bowmans’ vision for the future and their commitment to providing top-tier service to their customers. Join us for insights into one of the most innovative feedyards in the industry.

Check out our other episodes at https://www.humblegroundag.com/watch

Learn more about Wilroads at https://wilroadsfeedyard.com

In 1972, John and Janie Kramer set out to build more than just a business—they built a legacy. What started as a vision to create opportunities for future generations has grown into J-Six Enterprises, one of the largest family-owned agricultural businesses in America. With over 600+ employees spanning farms, livestock operations, trucking, and milling across Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska, J-Six continues to thrive. In this episode, we sit down with co-owner Troy Kramer to hear the story behind J-Six Enterprises and its lasting impact on agriculture.

Learn more about J-Six at https://www.jsixenterprises.com

EDIT - I mistakenly said Troy was a Founder in the intro, John and Janie were the founders, Troy is one of the current Partners/Co-Owners of J-Six Enterprises.

Watch our content at https://www.humblegroundag.com

Dave Dreiling has been an entrepreneur since day one, always driven to build and grow businesses. From clothing and restaurants to the pet industry, he’s found success in multiple ventures. But after experiencing Wagyu beef for the first time, he set his sights on ranching.

Fast forward a few years, and Dave, along with his team at Booth Creek Wagyu, has built a fully integrated Wagyu operation and a powerhouse brand—with no plans of slowing down.To learn more visit https://boothcreekwagyu.com/.For more Humble Ground content visit https://www.humblegroundag.com

While stationed on a Navy ship off the coast of Vietnam, Craig Polson made a life-changing decision—he bought his first farm. After serving his country in the Navy, he continued his service in a different way, dedicating his life to farming. Through years of hard work and perseverance, he built a successful family farming operation, turning his vision into a lasting legacy.