That Farm Life

Content warning: Today’s episode discusses depression and suicide. If you or a loved one are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988. 

To anyone on the outside, the Lienemann family appeared to have everything going for them. Behind the scenes, Torri’s husband Trevor was struggling with deep depression. In November of 2018 Trevor died from suicide – leaving Torri and their four children to move ahead alone.

 In today’s episode Torri shares about her family’s struggle and gives hope to others struggling with depression. There are many treatments for depression – counseling, medication, and various therapies. 

 You are not alone. You are your operation’s greatest asset. You are worth the time to find help.

You can read more about Torri and her family’s struggle at this article by Tyler Harris, published on December 4, 2019 on the West Plains Ag News site: It’s Not Hopeless: Addressing Mental Health in Rural America.

 You can also find Torri through the Lienetics Ranch website and the Bextra Bale Feeder site.

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].

As a teenager working in his family's fields during the Farm Crisis of the 80’s, any job out of the sun with a steady paycheck sounded like a better option to Steve Watkins.

 After working in journalism, publishing, and a variety of other fields, Steve found himself back at the start. A forty day walk down the Camino de Santiago gave him time to think and pray. After returning he wrote Pilgrim Strong: Rewriting My Story on the Way of St. James. 

 Steve has also written a book about growing up on the farm and his return to rural life. That book is called The King of Highbanks Road: Rediscovering Dad, Rural America, and Learning to Love Home Again.

 Both of Steve’s books can be found on Amazon or other booksellers. 

 You can find out more about Steve, his books, and his lodges on Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee at these sites:

Steve-Watkins.com

ReelfootSportsmanLodge.com

 You can also reach Steve via email at [email protected].

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].

Today’s episode features Cass Capen-Housley, an Instructor and Event Coordinator for the Arkansas Tech Department of Agriculture and Tourism. She shares the importance of community building and service through events as well as agritourism’s role in providing an additional income stream while educating others. 

 To find out more about agritourism in Arkansas, check out the agritourism page at Arkansas.com.

 You can learn more about Arkansas Tech University and it’s degrees and programs at their website, ATU.edu.

 The website for Farm Bureau Financial Services has a helpful article titled Is Starting an Agritourism Business Right for Your Farm?

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].

As part of the Future Farmers of America curriculum students choose an SAE – or Supervised Agricultural Experience. Alaina Reeves of Rison, Arkansas chose to grow mushrooms for her SAE. With the help of her Ag teachers Alaina went from growing mushrooms to growing a business.

 Now she sells mushrooms, microgreens, and other farm products to local chefs – and she isn’t even out of high school. 

 You can learn more about Alaina’s business – Gnome Home Farms – at their website or by searching Gnome Home Farms on Facebook. 

 You can read more about Alaina’s business through articles at AgDaily and the Cleveland County Herald.   

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].

Today Archie talks with John McMinn, the Director of the Soybean and Specialty Crop Division at the Arkansas Farm Bureau. In addition to supporting and advocating for farmers, John writes for Ag Insider and co-hosts the Arkansas AgCast. Both of these productions provide information about current events, legislation, policy, and issues affecting farmers and ranchers.

You can find all edition of the Ag Insider at the Arkansas Farm Bureau website.

Epsiodes for the Arkansas AgCast can be viewed on YouTube or heard on your favorite podcast apps. 

You can contact John by email at [email protected].

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].

In today’s episode Archie visits with Susan West, an Associate Professor of Agriculture and Tourism for Arkansas Tech University. Agritourism is a growing sector and allows farmers, ranchers, and other producers to diversify their income streams. From orchards and fields where people can pick their own produce to providing a farm experience to families or students, Agritourism includes many options.

If you have questions about the hospitality industry, agritourism, or the academic programs she mentions in today’s episode, you can contact Susan at [email protected].

On April 8, 2024 the Great North American Eclipse will occur. With up to four minutes of total darkness, many people will travel to rural areas to experience this phenomenon. Susan shares how farms in the path of the eclipse can host people.

For more information on agritourism in Arkansas, visit the Agritourism page at Arkansas.com.  

More information about the upcoming eclipse can be found at these websites:

NASA’s 2024 Solar Eclipse Site

Great American Eclipse

Arkansas.com Eclipse Information Site

American Astronomical Society

Central Akansas Astronomical Society

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].

John Bruhl grew up helping on his grandparents’ farm and spent his college summers on his aunt and uncle’s cattle ranch in Texas. Now he is transitioning to full-time pecan farming. 

 John and his family know about the stresses and strains people face in agriculture. They have lost friends to suicide and have shared with their community that they will always be available to listen and support one another. 

 We are not designed to be alone. Finding a support network through church, work, or our community is essential.

“I reached out to some of my friends… and made them promise me… if you’re ever considering something like that, you have to come talk to us first. We want to be there for our friends and family because that’s just devastating.”

                                                                                    -John Bruhl

You can find the Bruhls' pecan business at www.baucumpecan.com. You can also purchase pecans and honey at that site. You can reach John at [email protected].

 John’s custom furniture business, Design Made, can be found at https://www.designmadeindustries.com.

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].

Today Archie speaks with Laura Hendrix, the Interim Associate Department Head of Family and Consumer Sciences for the Division of Agriculture here in Arkansas.

 Many of us are familiar with the ag-related services offered by your county extension offices, but that isn’t all that is available. Dr. Hendrix shares about the family and consumer science resources offered there. Topics include nutrition, food safety, health, personal well-being, stress management, personal finance, consumer economics, and more.

 In Arkansas you can locate your county’s extension office at UADA.edu. In other states, search your state name + extension office.

 Dr. Hendrix also shared about Annie’s Project. This national non-profit educates and empowers women in agriculture through a series of courses on risk-management and other topics. To find out more, enroll in courses, or sponsor this program, contact your local extension agent.  You can also go to the Annie’s Project website.

 You can contact Dr. Hendrix at [email protected].

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].

Today Archie talks with Kesha Cobb about urban farming. Kesha is the Founder and Director of The Sustainability Project, President of the National Women in Ag chapter in Arkansas, and Founder and Director of Black Women in Ag. 

 Her story of life change brought about by agriculture, prayer, and determination will inspire everyone who listens.

 You can reach Kesha at [email protected]. You can also find out about her various roles in agriculture and her businesses at these websites:

 Black Women in Ag

The Sustainability Project

National Women in Agriculture, Arkansas Chapter

 Magical Garden, Kesha’s upcoming educational coloring book, promotes equality and equity in agriculture while educating children about the benefits of urban agriculture. We’ll post an update when it is available.

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].

When asked about his life, Marcus Creasy states, “When I say I have my finger in many pies – that’s probably an understatement somedays.”

Marcus stays busy with his family’s commercial cattle operation, his insurance business, computer consulting, serving as the Chairman of the Livestock and Poultry Commission in Arkansas, and involvement in all levels of the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. 

However, Marcus says, “First and foremost, church and Jesus Christ are important to me.” 

 His faith in God and love for his family take priority in his life, enabling him to keep those pie plates balanced. 

 You can find out more about Marcus Creasy’s insurance agency by emailing him at Marcus@Adams_Creasy.com or searching Adams & Creasy Insurance Agency, Inc. on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at [email protected]!

That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net.

Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email [email protected].