Land Ledger Podcast

What role does storytelling play in the future of agriculture? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney welcomes Jeff Caldwell, Vice President of Strategy and Content at Stratovation Group, for a conversation about the art and science of ag marketing. From his roots on a Kansas family farm to a career in journalism and ag tech, Jeff shares how storytelling, research, and branding can help farmers stay competitive, connect with landowners, and shape the future of the industry.

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/4ayasrsf 

What if the biggest challenge in farm marketing isn’t predicting prices, but cutting through the noise? In this episode of The Land Ledger, host Brian Kearney sits down with Cy Monley, co-founder of Quantum Hedging, to talk about his journey from Chicago’s trading pits to building a company that uses AI and machine learning to help farmers make smarter marketing decisions. Cy shares how their Managed Bushels Program aligns incentives with farmer success and provides a transparent, data-driven alternative to traditional broker models.

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/3kfzzbm2

In this episode of The Land Ledger, host Brian Kearney speaks with Cheryl Mitchell, founder of Farm Legacy Now, about the importance of legacy planning for farm families. Cheryl shares her personal background growing up on a dairy farm, her career path, and how her own family’s experiences with land transfer inspired her to create farm legacy panel discussions that bring together farmers, attorneys, bankers, insurance agents, and accountants to foster open conversations. She also explains the critical difference between succession planning and legacy planning, and highlights the emotional and relational challenges farm families face.

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/7asvddwt

What does it take to keep a family farm alive for the next generation? In this episode of The Land Ledger, sixth-generation farmer turned finance professional Landon Larkin joins Brian Kearney and Marc Hartness for a conversation about the future of family farms. From beginning as an engineering student to becoming a Farmland Stock Exchange team member, Landon’s journey sheds light on the capital challenges young farmers face today and what it takes to keep farmland in family hands.

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/y8es6btz

How do you honor a farming legacy while embracing the future? In this episode of The Land Ledger, fifth-generation farmer Quentin 'Q' Connealy shares how he's blending tradition with innovation. From wrapping combines in American flag decals to implementing cover crops after a historic flood, Q illustrates how thoughtful innovation can strengthen both farm resilience and family life.

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/bdzycxub

What does it take to turn a nickel and a truck into a food empire? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney breaks down the rise of Tyson Foods and how John and Don Tyson leveraged vertical integration, value-added products, and long-term thinking to dominate the poultry industry. With lessons for both farmers and investors, he dives into the power of smart acquisitions, people-focused leadership, and owning your value chain.

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/5n6du323

What if the key to farm profitability isn’t higher yields, but healthier soil? In this episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney sits down with regenerative agriculture leader Gabe Brown to explore how farmers can increase profitability and improve soil health without synthetic inputs or chasing high yields. Gabe shares practical insights from his own farm and clients, covering no-till transitions, crop diversity, livestock integration, and how soil health principles can be applied at any scale.

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/yc2s4xyt

How can biological nitrogen reshape the future of farming? In this episode of The Land Ledger, host Brian Kearney and Landon Larkin sit down with Allen Parrish of Pivot Bio to explore the growing role of biological nitrogen in modern agriculture. Allen shares how Pivot Bio’s technology is helping growers optimize nitrogen management—not just to boost yields, but to improve ROI, field efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/55k6tfu7

What can the century-old tractor wars teach today’s AgTech founders about innovation, strategy—and knowing when to let go of the past? In this solo episode of The Land Ledger, Brian Kearney explores the early battle for tractor dominance through insights from Tractor Wars by Neil Dahlstrom. He unpacks how Ford, John Deere, and International Harvester each took different paths in shaping ag innovation. From Henry Ford’s missteps to John Deere’s patient, long-game strategy, Brian connects these historic lessons to today’s AgTech entrepreneurs and investors.

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/4tmbv428

What happens when real estate expertise meets a mission to transform farmland ownership for the better? In this episode of The Land Ledger, host Brian Kearney is joined by Amanda Zakharov, Director of Investment at Dirt Capital Partners, a fund focused on regenerative and organic farmland investing. Amanda shares her unique journey from commercial real estate into the world of agricultural finance, blending real estate expertise with a deep commitment to ecological stewardship and farmer equity. Listen in as they explore Dirt Capital’s innovative approach to farmland ownership and access, offering 100% financing with long-term leases and fixed-price purchase options to help farmers build equity. 

Find show notes and resources here: https://tinyurl.com/3mffv597