Jessie Jarvis is the owner of "Of The West" a job platform for agricultural jobs and Western lifestyle careers. She is also a lifelong rancher from Southern Idaho with a deep legacy of ranching work in the Gem State.

On today's episode Jessie will discuss why she created "Of The West", and how the inspiration came to her. She will also discuss some of the challenges of looking for a job in agriculture, and why being part of the 2% of the nation involved in ag can lead to a defeated feeling before you have ever submitted a resume.

Jessie has a passion for connecting people with the right opportunity, and that definitely comes through in today's episode.

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode we are going to be talking about ag careers, starting an ag jobs website and delving into the entrepreneurial and professional employee aspects of a life in agriculture. So, for today's re-cap show I went back to one of the best profiles of an agricultural career that I ever did. Ironically, this took place on episode #002 of the show. That's right, this was the second episode I ever produced and the first interview I ever conducted!

This show features my late uncle, Allan Romander. Allan spent his entire working life in agriculture, and the bulk of his professional career as a crop advisor, then a pest control advisor and finally a certified crop advisor. He had the same position all the way through but over time the titles changed and the certifications became more challenging. Allan was the epitome of a professional and he loved agriculture. I don't think there ever was anyone better suited to advocate for this career path than Allan.

Luke Jennings is a 2023 American Star Farmer Finalist. He is also the state president for Ohio FFA, serving his second term as a state officer in the Buckeye State.

I first interviewed Luke in 2021 at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The media center for the convention is in the media offices at Lucas Oil Field where the Indianapolis Colts play, so we sat down in a room over looking the entire domed stadium, the huge FFA stage and the football field below.

Luke went up on the big stage three times that convention, including one time as a National Proficiency Finalist. I thought I was surely catching this young man at the heights of his FFA career. I didn't think this because I didn't think him capable, but he had accomplished so much already it was just a natural thought. However, in the following school year he became an Ohio State Officer, in May of 2023 he was elected for a second term - this time as state president and then in July he was selected as a finalist for American Star Farmer!

I couldn't be more proud of what this young man has done and is now doing, and it is my thrill to have him back on the show.

Well, the largest looming topic on our farm this week is remember 9/11 and trying to wrap my mind around the fact that it has been 22 years already. Autumm and I will never forget that day, and we hope you found some peace and silence on Monday to take some time to reflect in your own way.

Also on today's show:

• Oso the new livestock guardian dog
• Treating chickens for mites with permethrin
• The biography of Tom Horn

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

Callie Welty is a 2023 American Star Farmer Finalist, and after speaking with her it is not hard to understand why.

Callie has had three things ingrained into her since a young age; love of the FFA, love of Brahman cattle and love for the Texas A&M Aggies. Today, at age 19 she has become the president of the American Junior Brahmans Association, she is studying agricultural communications in College Station and the foundation of the SAE that has led her to be an American Star Finalist is her herd of Brahman cattle.

In the interview Callie talks a lot about how mentors have played an important role in her development as a student, student leader and breeder of cattle. It is a point that should be emphasized as too many people try to go it alone when there are experienced people that are more than willing to give advice and share life experiences. Callie is doing great things with the help of these mentors, and it shines through in her interview.

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The Agricultural College Episode is designed to profile agricultural trade schools, junior colleges, colleges and universities around the U.S. This episode is an effort to replicate the conversation that prospective students, parents and ag teachers might have with agricultural schools at trade show like the National FFA Convention.

The College Of The Ozarks is unlike any other college I have profiled to date. Not only do you work 15 hours per week for your tuition, but you are not allowed to pay for your tuition. Even better, the university does not allow its students to take out student loans. If you attend the College Of The Ozarks, your are literally guaranteed to graduate with $0 in student loan debt.

I discovered the College Of The Ozarks through an interview I did with Weston Whiteside (episode #1845 - 9/25/23), who is a 2023 American Star Finalist in the category of agribusiness. He is a third year student there and told me that he works in exchange for tuition when I interviewed him. On today's episode I speak with him and his agriculture professor, Tamara Holder, to get all of your questions answered.

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

Tip Of The Week

Purchase a game camera with a cell plan

Rural Crime In The U.S.

https://www.tnonline.com/20230829/fuel-stolen-from-utility-tractor-in-monroe/

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/08/28/miami-dade-man-accused-of-armed-robbery/

Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above

https://www.townandcountrytoday.com/barrhead-news/farmer-reports-hay-bale-theft-from-field-south-of-barrhead-7465435

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-66644193

https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/pregnant-cows-die-following-dog-chase-in-wales/

Africa

https://dailynigerian.com/gombe-farmers-night-vigil/

https://ke.opera.news/ke/en/society/99ff6a035ec141f604b18a8f1161e54f

Chalk One Up For The Good Guys

https://www.wyff4.com/article/men-wanted-stealing-peaches-farm-south-carolina/44955458

https://myfox8.com/news/tractor-on-the-loose-2-men-charged-with-stealing-tractor-that-has-not-been-found-in-north-carolina/

More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:

Shawn Kapanke is the Business Development Manager of Silver Spring Foods from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This company has its roots figuratively in 1929 and literally in the ground of Wisconsin where hot and delicious horseradish is being grown on 5-7 year rotation.

Today's show is a bit unconventional for an Ag Business Episode, as I am profiling a larger company. Rest assured that Silver Spring is not a prospective sponsor, and they did not pay me for this episode. However, I love horseradish and don't know anything about it, so when they reached out this was a great opportunity to learn more.

And, and this is a big AND...as I researched this company it dawned on me that almost 100 years ago this began with a need for extra revenue and the creation of a value added product. Since we advocate for value adding on the show, looking at this awesome "after picture" seems like a perfect way to demonstrate proof of this concept.

On tomorrow's Ag Business Episode we are telling the story of a company that was born during the Great Depression from a need to make extra money during slow times during the winter. The answer that the founder came up with was a value added product. Today, that original product has inspired many other products and created jobs for hundreds of people and deliciousness for millions of people's meals.

As a great "tie in" to tomorrow's show I went looking for interviews that I had done regarding value added product. I cannot think of a better "tie in" than this interview that I did with Logan Schlaugh back in 2020. The creation of a value added product is literally what saved this young man's family farming enterprise. You have all heard me talk about the pressure to not be the link in the family chain that loses the farm. Well, this is real story about coming close but then being innovative and saving it with a value added product.

Tanner Mickey is a 2023 finalist for the award of American Star Farmer! He has done this through a variety of enterprises including corn, soybean and wheat farming; raising cattle and sheep; and working in his families seed sales business.

Tanner was first a guest on the show in 2019 as he was getting ready to start his senior year of high school. We did the interview one day prior to him leaving for Scotland with his livestock judging team to compete internationally. He was also just a few months away from becoming the Illinois State Star Farmer at that point.

I am very proud of what he has already accomplished and that he has been recognized as an American Star Farmer Finalist this year. We will catch up on everything he has been doing over the past four years on this episode.