There are so many reasons to love rural agriculture, and my husband, Ryan Knuth, is one of those reasons…well for me at least! With three decades of farming as a 34 year old, Ryan shares his memories of growing up on their family farm, how their business has evolved, and his love for small-town life. Even with change, Knuth Farms LLC continues to practice diversified agriculture with being involved in the production of swine, cattle, and row crops. They are a three-generation farm with now having Ryan, his brother Eric, and sister Amanda involved in the day-to-day of the operation. A few of my takeaways, as I continue to learn about agriculture and modern technology:

• There are many seasons to farming, in late July, Knuth's will do their second cutting of hay and maintenance on the combine, trucks, and chopper to make sure all their equipment is ready for fall. After harvest, they will haul manure, clean/fix equipment, and begin getting ready for the next year.
• "Fall is one of my favorite seasons because I like to see how the decisions were made and how they all came together." Ryan remarks on how it's exciting to measure and see the progress of the corn from year to year and field to field.
• When one initially thinks of the benefits of farming you think food. This is an important aspect, but Ryan also acknowledges how in rural areas, businesses survive off each other. When they need a project done or the gas tank filled, they support local.
• "Anything we send to the food line is antibiotic free at that time." This is one of the biggest misunderstandings when it comes to food labeling and those shopping at the grocery store.
• "It's a good way to grow up, you learn work ethic, the responsibility to keep things alive. It's just a good way to grow up." Ryan appreciates the way he has grown up and it is part of the reason we have chosen to raise our kids the same way.
• "People in small-towns help each other out. They don't even bat an eye; they just show up." Ryan recognizes the local businesses and people who continue to always be there for eachother.

Connect with Ryan on TikTok and Instagram @easterniowafarmer Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Today's episode is full of super awesome advice for Instagram and best practices with the new updates made in 2021. Instagram is full of trendy features to market your business, but with so many options between IGTV, reels, stories, hashtags and photos, it can be hard to know what's best for your audience. I'm here to share with you practical and SIMPLE social media marketing advice you can apply to your business Instagram today! Instagram Advice:

1. Hashtags. The goal of hashtags is for people to find what you have to offer and for you to find and interact with other people in your industry and get ideas. In addition, they can give you extra reach and coverage.
   • 5 minutes liking and interacting intentionally with other accounts.
   • 5 minutes looking up your location and seeing if there are any new businesses in the area you can associate and/or work with.
   • 5 minutes to engage bomb another account.
2. Spend 15 minutes a few times a week engaging with other accounts.
3. When you're going to post, share something that is valuable. Second, think of what way you're going to deliver this content. If you have limited time, I would recommend a story. If you're going to make a post, put time into your caption. If you're wanting more reach, I would recommend a video as Instagram is now favoring and rewarding videos by giving you more reach.
4. Keep it simple. Think of what you needed when you started out your business, create value for that person.

Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Today, I'm SO honored to welcome my mentor and role model (even if she doesn't know that yet), Ms. Kelly Jo Simon. Kelly is the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (or the CIA) for Western Dubuque County Community School District in Iowa. Being the Director of the CIA is no small task. For one, the size of the WDCCSD makes it the largest in the state of Iowa in terms of square miles (555 sq mi). They serve students and families from five counties for a total of over 3000 students. In addition to the logistical challenges that poses for Kelly and her colleagues, her role has her also requires her to lead educators and administrators in each of the district's eight schools in addition to the students in her charge. It is truly a feat. During her time in her role, Kelly has gone from trying to organize schools and curriculum to creating a culture of happiness, success, and opportunity. During her tenure, WDCCSD has become a sought-after district for young families, but also for people looking for a job in education. I am honored and excited to share this interview with my friend Kelly with all of you here at Small-Minded today. Key Takeaways

• The hardest question she's ever been asked is "what is your role?"
• "What are you willing to struggle for?" She believes that this is the question we should be asking young people when helping them plan for themselves and their futures.
• She was told in high school that she wasn't college material. She said she owned responsibility for the choices she had made to get to that conversation with her guidance counselor, but that helped her forge forward to go to college.
• "Be careful labelling potential in their high school years." A student/child cannot have their potential defined in their formative years.
• "One of the best and most humbling parts of small town living is owning up to your past mistakes…Embrace it, move forward, you don't run." Just because it was your story then, doesn't mean it is your story forever. The faster you own up to it, the faster you can move on.
• "Our product is people." In order to provide the best education for all students, Kelly and the district's admin team have created a culture around The Happiness Advantage. This approach helps teachers and staff find what makes them happy and choose happy, so they can take that into their classrooms and share the same concept with their students.
• And a TON more. Make sure to listen in to the full episode for all the gold that Kelly shares about her philosophy on education and what WDCCSD is doing right to care for all the kids in their district.

Connect with Kelly! Follow all that Kelly, her colleagues, and her students are doing at www.wdbqschools.org or follow Kelly at @kellyjosimon on Twitter. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Hi, friends! Welcome back to the Small-Minded Podcast! Today I'm excited to bring to you episode 3 of my first jobs series. A few weeks ago I shared with you all of the details from one of my first job experiences at the local manufacturing plant. While working at the local manufacturing plant taught me many skills and helped with my high school spending, my university years were upon me and I needed to decide what I'd like to do with the rest of my life. Having no clue what I really wanted to do, I went to the University of Northern Iowa with an open-mind and after a year of completing my general education credits and still having no clue, I took a personality assessment. My personality assessment told me I'd align well with being a teacher, so low and behold I decided to become a middle school and high school language arts teacher! What I learned in my Teaching Career: I began my teaching career filling long-term substitute positions and then accepted a job at our local private school teaching reading, math, social studies, and religion. After a position opened up at our public school, I was hired and I taught reading/language arts for two years before I became pregnant with our third child in four years and decided to become a stay at home mom. A few things I learned and loved about teaching:

1. I lived for the lightbulb moment.
2. I loved making the content relatable and modern for the students.
3. I wanted the kids to understand learning doesn't just happen in a classroom, we are at our best when we are lifelong learners.
4. When you show up to the job, you might not have all the answers.
5. The energy and confidence I brought into the room set the tone for the kids.
6. The importance of organization and scheduling. Listen to the podcast to see how I've adjusted my strategy and became better at pivoting quickly.
7. Most importantly, it's okay to step away from things you love.

Truly, each part of work history comes together to shape who we are as a person, employee, or boss. It is up to us as small business owners to remember those early jobs we held and the people who showed us how to be a leader, both good and bad, as we build missions and teams of our own. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

What's your favorite coffee? If you answered anything other than a Bob & Lou's salted caramel cold foam cold brew then you're wrong and we can't be friends. Just kidding! But seriously, today's guest doesn't just make my favorite cup of coffee, but she has an inspiring story about starting her dream business in a vintage coffee camper. So many times along her journey it seemed like she was faced with a roadblock, like when she was denied a loan from the first bank she approached or when COVID-19 hit and the world shut down. But just as it seemed her luck would run out, the starts aligned and something big would happen for Sarah. I love that she is only 25 years old and celebrating her first anniversary in business, but that she carries herself and her brand with a maturity that is wise beyond her years. From her advice about researching your product to serving your ideal market, today's interview with Sarah Knabel of Bob & Lou's coffee is one you will NOT want to miss! Key Takeaways

• Learning about yourself, your strengths, your setbacks, and what suits and excites YOU is key in finding your business niche.
• Sometimes serendipity happens. The stars align and luck is on your side as you're getting the pieces of your business together. Run with it when opportunities present themselves!
• "Don't take 'no' as an answer."
• Silver linings: COVID-19 presented a lot of hardships and struggles in Eastern Iowa, but for Sarah it gave her the gift of time. She was able to step away from her bartending job, get clear on her vision, research and write a business plan, and get her coffee camper started.
• Family is a cornerstone of her brand and business.
• Being excited to come to work and sharing that excitement with customers is a tenant of the Bob & Lou's business.
• "There are so many amazing women entrepreneurs out there." Sarah recommends networking to help you grow your brand awareness because these women are willing to share and help you out as you get your start.
• And tons more stories and insights. Listen to the full episode for all that Sarah has to share!

Brew up some love for Bob & Lou's! Want more of Sarah and my favorite coffee place in the world? You can find her @bobandlous on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.bobandlous.com to browse the menu, check the camper calendar, or order some of her adorable merch! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook

In different seasons of life, summer has meant many things, but it always brings me back to simplicity, enjoying the outdoors, and long sunny days. In this holiday season of 2021, I'm taking it back and sharing all of the small-town traditions from my childhood. Canoe trips, old navy flip flops, and babysitting jobs. Summer brings back so many memories and now as an adult, it's amazing to see some of those same memories hold true with my kids. Many of these traditions happen because of the way our small town continues to come together to celebrate. Because of small business support, we're able to celebrate Independence Day with inflatables, sugary lemonade, fireworks, games, and more! I hope you take time this summer and holiday season to enjoy the moments and memories to appreciate the smaller things. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Today, I introduce to you the newest member of the MKM team, Megan Knapp. Megan grew up in the city, moved to a small town, and now serves small town businesses as a virtual assistant! Covid-19 hit, schools shut down, and Megan began questioning whether teaching was the right career for her as she balanced being a mother and wife. After reaching out to Molly and seeing if there were any work from home opportunities, Megan jumped on as a virtual assistant for the MKM Team. In today's episode you'll get to listen to Megan's virtual assistant roles and how her services can better help your business! Key Takeaways

• What is it a virtual assistant does? A virtual assistant can be many things, but the biggest thing is they are remote and can help with a variety of tasks from e-mail marketing, organization needs, social media and more.
• There are a variety of packages Megan offers. If you only need help with e-mail marketing she can help with that on an hourly basis, or if you need help with a lot of aspects of your business she can create a custom package fit to you.
• A discovery call is one way Megan connects with businesses to get to know their needs and how she can support them.
• Megan takes a lot of pride in the small town community and atmosphere. The support, connections, and trust is something she forever wants to be part of.
• A few important skills Megan has transferred from teaching to her virtual assistant position are: organization, time management, online work, and interpersonal relationships.
• "Anything you find yourself doing for your business that doesn't light you up, a VA can definitely come in and support."

Connect with Megan! Want Megan part of your business? E-mail [email protected] to connect and see where she can help your business expand! Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Hey business owner! Do you use Facebook for your business? Have you seen the big changes made in 2021 for your business page? Today, at Small-Minded, I'm walking you through the changes, struggles, and positives of the new Facebook layout for your small-town business! Facebook Changes and Features:

1. New layout. You now have to transition from your personal account to your business page. This is a major advantage because you no longer have the confusion of which account is being used for likes, comments, etc. Also, it will only show information from brands and businesses you want to connect with on behalf of your business.
2. Glitches. I'm an avid user of Creator Studio for planning out posts. However, I have been running into some problems when posting. Keep in mind anytime there is a new rollout there are going to be things that don't work, often times I wait a day and the problem is fixed. You can always submit a claim to Facebook for constructive points.
3. Lower reach. I'm not sure if it's algorithm, content, or the season but what I'm doing is taking new risks. Now is a time to stretch and try new things.
4. Facebook groups. I have joined groups that are specific to my client's industry. These groups allow you to ask questions, gives you a little extra attention, and drives extra traffic to the Facebook page.
5. Ads. I have set-up ad campaigns to help increase engagement.
   1. Take pictures of your town and share them out.
   2. Share stories.
   3. Talk about who you help.
   4. Show up and share your face!
6. If you want to to return to your roots and grow organic traffic:

Step by Step Video from Molly! New Facebook Page Layout Walkthrough - Watch Video Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

Hi friends, I believe so much of who we are as adults is molded by our experiences in our youth, particularly today's topic of first jobs. I'm excited to bring to you episode 2 of my first jobs series. A couple of months ago I shared with you all the details from my very first job experience, waitressing. While waitressing taught me many applicable skills needed for the industry like customer service, punctuality, and time management, I was needing a little extra spending cash now that I had a car and I was hanging out with my friends more. I took a second job at one of our manufacturing facilities doing office work. I took away so much from working at this facility like being relatable, keeping my workspace clean, and all the soft skills. Job at the Local Manufacturing Facility Working for the local manufacturing plant brought many new realizations. I could set my own hours and I was now making minimum wage! What I thought was only going to be a job for the school year, turned into summers, holidays, and different positions around the business. A few things I learned from working for the manufacturing company:

1. People make the place that you work. If you have people who care about the people they work alongside it makes a huge difference.
2. Own your mistakes.
3. Take initiative and be creative and innovative no matter what industry you're in.
4. Take the job and do your best.

HOW DO I USE THESE SKILLS TODAY While I couldn't know at the time how these jobs as a youth would manifest in an entrepreneurial endeavor, so much of what I do today was learned by doing a job I didn't love but was vital to get to where I wanted to go. Truly, each part of work history comes together to shape who we are as a teammate, employee, or boss today. And it is up to us as small business owners to remember those early jobs we held and the people who showed us how to be a leader, both good and bad, as we build missions and teams of our own. Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.

IT'S MAILBAG TIME! Fresh this week is an episode answering all of your questions! On Instagram, followers submitted the musings on their hearts and minds, and we dive into each with short segments in Episode 40 of Small-Minded. Today's episode is all your small-business questions about donations, Mastermind groups, ambitions and engagement! If you'd like Molly to answer one of your burning questions about small towns or small business, send us a message on one of the social platforms linked below! We may just use it in a future mailbag episode! Hot links mentioned in the episode:

• How to handle small town business donations
• • Get clear with yourself on what you're willing to do.
  • Ask yourself, is it an event/organization I value and love?
  • Don't be afraid to kindly and clearly tell other sponsorship request it doesn't fit in your business right now
• Rural Women Owned Facebook Groups and Masterminds
• • I recommend joining a group where you have to put a little skin in the game
  • When I pay for a Mastermind, I know I'm going to value my belonging and make time for that partnership
  • Start by looking at some rural groups you can belong to.
  • A few groups I suggest:
  • • Rural Revival Co
    • Rural Ideas Network
    • 5 MARYS
    • Empower Her Co
• How to stay focused on your own goals without being tempted by other ambitions
• • Outline your goals on paper so you can see how far you've come
  • You need to have times where you center yourself, get clear on if it is serving you, and then write down your goals
• Tips for growing business Instagram engagement
• • Check-in on stories with behind the scenes of your day to day
  • Spend time in your DMs
  • Use Instagram Reels
  • • MKM Reels Training Group
  • Be engaging yourself
  • Instagram Episodes of the podcast:
  • • https://mollyknuthmedia.com/2021/03/23/15-minutes-to-better-social-media/
    • https://mollyknuthmedia.com/2021/02/23/reels-stories-igtv-oh-my/
    • https://mollyknuthmedia.com/2020/11/10/3-ways-to-improve-your-social-media-marketing-today/
• How to price your services
• • To begin I started creating packages with the base of $15 an hour
  • After the first year, reevaluate the prices
  • Let the businesses know you value them and appreciate their business
  • Look at what other businesses in the area are charging
  • Take a deep look on if your prices are serving you and your needs

Follow for More Follow Small-Minded on Instagram and Facebook Follow Molly Knuth Media on Instagram and Facebook For more about our Instagram workshops this month at MKM visit mollyknuthmedia.com/shop.