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This week on The Rural Dispatch, Smoke and Aly talk trucking, cattle, and life. 

We dig into what a “slow busy season” looks like in livestock trucking, how the cattle market is shaping both hauling and beef availability, and why trucking’s connection to so many industries is both a challenge and a blessing (hello, reefer division revival!). 

If you’re curious about cattle markets, livestock hauling, or just enjoy a good trucking story, this one’s for you.

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

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On this episode, Aly is joined by Ashley Brincks, ag professional and leader specializing in cattle and conservation. In this episode, Ashley shares how her journey through both personal loss and professional opportunities has shaped her into the industry advocate she is today.

She reflects on the ways resilience and hard work have guided her path, and we talk about the intersection of conservation and cattle production, the importance of producer’s voices in the industry, and what the next generation of ag leaders can bring to the table.

Whether you’re in agriculture yourself or just curious about the stories behind the people who keep rural America strong, Ashley’s story is an inspiring reminder that resilience and courage can grow even in the hardest seasons.

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

Support the show

BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO

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This week Smoke and Aly are diving into a mix of trucking life, ag seasonality, and some good old-fashioned storytelling. We chat about whether the days of handshake deals are behind us, swap stories from Smoke’s time in the truck (including 5 Hour Energy, CB radios, CDs, and stacks of DVDs), and share some ideas for Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

We also break down why fall is the busiest season for ranchers, farmers, and truckers, plus give a little update on wedding planning. 

Thanks for tuning in and engaging with the show. It means the world! Don’t forget to leave us a review and share this episode with a friend.

Links & Mentions:

Railsback Polishing Bay

Triple H Truck Wash

Randy's Diesel

Beef Hub App (use code RURAL at checkout!)

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

Support the show

BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

Send us a text

The countdown is on: we're one month out from a wedding and life is a mix of bottle calves, bin dust, broke down trucks and last-minute details. This week is a quick update plus we're asking for your best wedding/marriage advice. Send us your tips and I'll share them on the show! 

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

Beef Hub App
Technology to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO

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Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

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This week on The Rural Dispatch, Bryan and Rochelle Heiman join Aly and Smoke to share how they came to be Heiman Farm: A Raw Milk Diary in Iowa. With five kids under eight, four (going on six) milk cows, plus pigs, chickens, and turkeys, the Heiman family is living the full farm life while serving their community with fresh raw milk through weekly drop-offs throughout west central Iowa. We talk about how Heiman Farm got its start, how it’s grown, and what’s next for this hardworking family.

Find them here: Heiman Farm on Facebook

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

Support the show

BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

Send us a text

In this episode of The Rural Dispatch, it’s just Aly + Smoke catching up on life, work, and everything in between. We kick things off the way most summer conversations in the Midwest do, talking about the weather. From there, we shift gears into family life with a recap of our annual trip to Branson, a streak of Behrens bad luck, and business lately. 

It’s a mix of cows, chaos, and family updates... just a slice of what rural life looks like for us this summer.

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

Beef Hub App
Technology to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

Send us a text

This week on The Rural Dispatch, I sit down with Maury Eickman, a 97-year-old lifelong farmer from Templeton, Iowa, to capture nearly a century of farming history and wisdom. Maury shares stories from growing up during the Great Depression, surviving the unforgettable “year from hell” in 1936, and building a life on the farm with his wife, Dottie, while raising seven children. He reflects on the 1980’s farm crisis, how rural families built wealth over time, and the dramatic changes he has witnessed in the hog industry. Maury speaks with deep respect for the role women play not only in farming and family life, but also in politics, and explains why estate planning was so important to him and Dottie. He also shares his thoughts on the challenges Iowa farmers may face in the next decade. This conversation is a rare opportunity to hear from someone whose sharp mind and generous spirit make his nearly 100 years of experience both captivating and inspiring.

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

Beef Hub App
Technology to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

Send us a text

This week I'm joined by Brandon Roering, third generation dispatcher for his family's livestock transportation business, Lambrecht Livestock Trucking, and the creator of Beef Hub — a brand-new app created specifically for the needs in the livestock transportation world. 

Join us as we dive into Brandon's journey from growing up in trucking to managing logistics and developing tech, and how he turned his real-world experience into a digital tool to make life a little easier for the ones out on the road. Beef Hub combines a load board, forum, radius tool, and map for washouts, sale barns and packing plants all in one easy-to-use platform. 

PLUS, listeners of The Rural Dispatch get a free month of Beef Hub when you use code RURAL at checkout. 

Whether you're in a truck every day, on the phones, or just like hearing stories from the people who keep the livestock world moving, this episode is for you. 

Follow Beef Hub on Facebook | Download Beef Hub on the App Store or Google Play

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

Support the show

BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

Send us a text

This week, we're joined by both the founders of Agar Transportation, Matt and Debbie Agar, and the current owners of Agar Transportation, Paul and Kindra Radloff. 

Matt shares how he got started in trucking, and Debbie brings an honest look at what it's really like being married to, and raising kids with, an over-the-road truck driver and dispatcher. We hear about their journey through the trucking industry, all the way up to passing the torch over to Paul. 

Whether you're in the trucking industry, part of a family business, or just love stories from rural America, you'll get some laughs, lessons and a real look at life from behind the wheel and holding down the fort at home. 

Tune in to Episode 13 to hear Paul's story. 

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

Beef Hub App
Technology to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

Send us a text

NEW: LEAVE US A MESSAGE

Fresh off Day 1 of the Western Video Market’s biggest sale of the year, Rick Machado joins us for a boots-on-the-ground conversation in Reno. As an auctioneer, cattleman, and part owner of WVM, Rick shares how the video sale works, what makes it unique, and other industry insights. Plus, we’re joined by a couple of drop-in guests, the Nuttall boys of Susanville, CA and Glenn Benjamin of Simla, CO, to talk about how day 1 of the sale went for them. 

This episode delivers a true behind-the-scenes look at WVM, with insights straight from the horse's mouth. 

Links:

Western Video Market

A big thank you to our sponsor, Roll On Dispatch, for supporting this episode. Their all-in-one trucking software makes managing livestock and commodity hauls easier, with tools for dispatching, invoicing, and seamless communication between the office and the road. 

Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play

Beef Hub App
Technology to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!