The Profitable Steward

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What if the key to greater profitability, healthier crops, and stronger drought resilience isn't adding more inputs—but working with nature instead of against it?

In this episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, host Jared Sorensen sits down with regenerative agriculture consultant and author Kevin Elmy, whose journey has taken him from the grain fields of Saskatchewan to farming operations in Australia, Ukraine, and beyond. Kevin shares how he transformed depleted "dirt" into thriving soil, increasing organic matter, improving water infiltration, and reducing reliance on synthetic inputs.

Listeners will discover:

🌱 The five principles of soil health that drive regenerative success
🌱 Why profitability—not yield—should be the primary measure of farm performance
🌱 How cover crops, diverse plant species, and livestock integration work together to restore ecosystems
🌱 The role of soil biology, root exudates, and microbial communities in nutrient cycling
🌱 Practical strategies for improving water infiltration, reducing compaction, and building long-term resilience
🌱 Why many of agriculture's biggest challenges—from drought to disease—share common root causes

Drawing from decades of on-farm experience and work with producers around the world, Kevin provides practical, science-backed insights that can help farmers build healthier soils, stronger businesses, and more resilient operations.

Key Takeaway: Healthy soil isn't built with a single product or silver bullet. It's created through a systems-based approach that harnesses biology, diversity, and continuous living roots to unlock the full potential of the land.

📚 Learn More from Kevin Elmy
• Not Just Dirt: Revitalizing Soils With Regenerative Agriculture Principles -
• Cover Cropping in Western Canada 

🌐 Website: Cover Crops Canada
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 WhatsApp: 1-306-621-8784

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In this continuation of Jared Sorensen's conversation with Bud and Eunice Williams, the discussion dives deeper into the principles of profitable livestock marketing and ranch management. Bud challenges conventional ranching wisdom, explaining why cattle are simply a tool for marketing feed, labor, and skill, and why profitability depends more on sound marketing decisions than on production alone.

Through practical examples and decades of experience, Bud shares insights on understanding the true value of feed, recognizing overpriced and underpriced opportunities, and making decisions that improve both profitability and long-term stewardship. Whether you're a cow-calf producer, stocker operator, or ranch manager, this episode offers timeless lessons for navigating changing markets and building a more resilient operation.

Key Takeaways

• Why marketing is often more profitable than simply adding weight to cattle.
• How to evaluate the true value of feed, labor, skill, and time.
• Understanding the difference between owning cattle and making money with cattle.
• How the "sell-buy" mindset helps identify profitable opportunities.
• Why keeping cash and feed can sometimes be a better investment than owning livestock.

Show Notes & Resources

• Learn more about Bud and Eunice Williams' teachings: https://stockmanship.com/

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How do you break free from fear, anxiety, and negative thought patterns? In this episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, Jared Sorensen sits down with coach and speaker Kirk Duncan to discuss the powerful connection between mindset, emotions, faith, and personal growth.

Kirk shares his "Red and Green" framework for recognizing emotional triggers, overcoming destructive patterns, and staying connected to inspiration during life's challenges. This conversation offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking greater peace, resilience, and purpose in uncertain times.

Key Takeaways:
• How to recognize when you're operating from fear versus faith
• The "Red and Green" mindset framework for emotional awareness
• Why negative emotional patterns can become addictive
• Practical steps to shift from reaction to intentional response
• How faith and personal responsibility work together to create lasting change

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What if the secret to healthier soil, stronger crops, and lower input costs is already living beneath your feet?

In this episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, Jared Sorensen sits down with soil biology expert Suzanne Shea to explore the incredible world of microbes and the soil food web. Suzanne shares how understanding and restoring microbial life can improve soil health, reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers, and help farmers build more profitable and resilient operations.

🔑 Key Takeaways:
• Microbes are the foundation of healthy, productive soil and play a critical role in nutrient cycling.
• Healthy soil biology can help reduce reliance on expensive fertilizers and other inputs.
• Cover crops, compost extracts, and reduced tillage are powerful tools for rebuilding soil health.
• Testing soil biology helps identify what's missing and guides effective regeneration strategies.
• Small changes toward regenerative practices can improve profitability, resilience, and long-term stewardship.

Whether you're a rancher, farmer, or land steward, this conversation offers practical insights into regenerative agriculture, compost extracts, and the biological processes that drive healthy ecosystems.

Connect with Suzanne Shea:
📧 [email protected]
📞 717-321-6514
🌱 Soil Life Stewardship

#ProfitableSteward #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilFoodWeb #Microbes #SustainableFarming #Agriculture #FarmProfitability #HealthySoil #Stewardship

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Most ranchers are working harder than ever… but still not seeing the profit they should.

In this powerful conversation with ranching expert Allan Crockett, we break down the real reasons ranches struggle financially—and what it actually takes to build a profitable, sustainable operation.

This isn’t theory. Allan shares insights from working with hundreds of ranches across North America, and what separates those who thrive from those who stay stuck.

👉 In this video, you’ll learn:

The 4 key drivers that determine ranch profitability
Why most ranchers don’t actually know if they’re profitable
The hidden danger of treating your ranch like a lifestyle instead of a business
How leadership (not luck) determines your results
Why your numbers, your systems, and your relationships all matter
Practical ways to prepare for the next market downturn

One of the biggest takeaways:
“If you're not profitable, there's something wrong—and it’s usually a people problem.”

At AgSteward, we believe you can have:
✅ Healthy land
✅ A profitable business
✅ Strong family relationships
✅ A clear legacy

But it starts with thinking differently—and leading differently.

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In this thought-provoking episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, Jared sits down with Joel Hollingsworth of Smoke River Ranch to explore regenerative ranching, entrepreneurship, faith, and the future of rural America. Joel shares his remarkable journey from starting with a $1-per-year lease and a handful of cattle to building a rapidly growing regenerative ranch through an innovative herd-share model that connects families directly to food production and land stewardship.

Together, they discuss some of the biggest challenges facing agriculture today, including land access, generational succession, government regulation, profitability, rural community decline, and the opportunities and risks presented by emerging technologies. Joel offers a candid perspective on what it takes to build resilient businesses, restore local food systems, and create pathways for the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Why community—not individualism—is the key to revitalizing agriculture.
✅ How Joel's herd-share model enables families to participate directly in regenerative ranching.
✅ The barriers young farmers face when accessing land, capital, and opportunity.
✅ How ultra-high-density grazing can improve soil health, resilience, and profitability.
✅ Why stewardship, leadership, and mentorship are critical to rebuilding rural communities.
✅ The intersection of faith, entrepreneurship, and regenerative agriculture.
✅ How innovative agricultural models can challenge outdated systems and create new opportunities.

Joel is currently facing a legal battle related to his herd-share model after Oklahoma regulators launched an investigation into whether the program constitutes an unregistered security. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for herd-share programs, local food systems, and agricultural innovation across the United States.

Whether you're a farmer, rancher, entrepreneur, or someone passionate about the future of food and rural communities, this conversation offers valuable insights, practical lessons, and a hopeful vision for what's possible when stewardship and profitability work hand in hand.


Resources:
* Support Joel's fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/protecting-herdshares-local-food-rights
* Joel's article, Soil and Money: https://www.theamericantribune.news/p/soil-and-money
* Smoke River Ranch article, The American Restoration: Fixing Agriculture in America: https://www.smokeriverranch.com/the-american-restoration-fixing-agriculture-in-america
* Recommended video: https://youtu.be/V8MwWArJ1mM?si=b3ujVnhIfnisyPfq

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Are you actually making money in your cattle operation, or just hoping you are?

Join us for an interview with Bud and Eunice Williams when they visited our ranch in 2009

In this episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most misunderstood concepts in ranching: the difference between producing cattle and making profit. Through real-world examples and hard-earned lessons, this conversation unpacks why many producers lose money even in strong markets and how a shift in thinking can completely change your operation.

You’ll learn why marketing matters more than weight gain, how to identify overpriced vs. underpriced cattle, and how to use the powerful “sell-buy” approach to make smarter, more profitable decisions. This episode also explores the true value of your feed, labor, and skill, and why keeping cattle isn’t always the best move for your bottom line.

Whether you’re a cow-calf producer, stocker operator, or involved in regenerative agriculture, this episode will help you rethink how you approach livestock profitability, grazing strategy, and cattle trading.

If you want to stop guessing, avoid costly mistakes, and start operating with clarity and confidence, this is a must-listen.

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Are you actually making money in your cattle operation, or just hoping you are?

In this episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, we'll be joined by Bud Williams to dive deep into one of the most misunderstood concepts in ranching: the difference between producing cattle and making profit. Through real-world examples and hard-earned lessons, this conversation unpacks why many producers lose money even in strong markets and how a shift in thinking can completely change your operation.

You’ll learn why marketing matters more than weight gain, how to identify overpriced vs. underpriced cattle, and how to use the powerful “sell-buy” approach to make smarter, more profitable decisions. This episode also explores the true value of your feed, labor, and skill, and why keeping cattle isn’t always the best move for your bottom line.

Whether you’re a cow-calf producer, stocker operator, or involved in regenerative agriculture, this episode will help you rethink how you approach livestock profitability, grazing strategy, and cattle trading.

If you want to stop guessing, avoid costly mistakes, and start operating with clarity and confidence, this is a must-listen.

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 In this episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, Jared Sorensen is joined by Tom Curtin for a rich conversation on stockmanship, horsemanship, and the everyday principles that improve livestock handling on the ranch. Tom shares how his early ranch life in Montana, his time at the King Ranch under Buster Welch, and years spent learning from legendary horsemen shaped his understanding of how cattle and horses respond to pressure, movement, and straightness. 

This episode dives into the importance of straight lines in stockmanship, how to build a straighter and more confident horse, and why proper positioning matters when handling cattle. Tom explains how improved cattle handling, better timing, and a deeper understanding of the point of influence can lower stress, reduce sickness, and improve the overall flow of ranch work. 

They also discuss practical applications for weaning calves, working pairs, sorting cattle, moving livestock, and using dogs effectively, all through the lens of low stress handling and better stockmanship. If you want to improve your livestock handling, strengthen your horsemanship, and better understand the connection between pressure, movement, and animal behavior, this episode is full of practical wisdom you can take straight to the pasture. 

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In this episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, Jared Sorensen is joined by Kyle Lechtenberg for a thoughtful conversation about the future of the family farm, the pressures driving farm consolidation, and the financial disciplines needed to build a more profitable farm business.

Kyle shares his background growing up in a large farm family in Nebraska and explains how those early lessons in work ethic, stewardship, and continuing education shaped his work in agricultural consulting today. Together, Jared and Kyle unpack the financial realities many producers face, including family living expenses, farm profitability, banking decisions, business risk, and the importance of treating agriculture like a true business without losing the heart of it.

They also discuss how an agriculture business strategy, long-term thinking, and a willingness to adapt can help producers navigate the changes happening across rural America. From farm transition planning and legacy to the challenges of keeping younger generations engaged, this episode offers practical insight for anyone who wants to strengthen both their business and their family culture.

If you care about profitable farming, farm succession, ranch management, and protecting the values of the family farm while preparing for the future, this episode will give you a lot to think about.

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