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In this episode, Aly and Smoke sit down with Austin and Mady Blair, owners of ABC Beef, to talk about what it really looks like to diversify a family farming operation while raising three young kids. We dig into how they’ve used what they already knew to build multiple income streams, including their direct-to-consumer beef business. They share how the idea started, what it took to get up and running, the struggles they've faced, and where they hope to take things in the future.

Austin and Mady also walk us through their hog operation and how it has evolved over the years, including how a devastating fire in their sow unit changed the way they do things. We talk about the day-to-day of raising livestock, plus what goes into managing cattle alongside it all. We dive into their decision to put up a deep pit slatted barn for cattle, why they chose that route, and what they’ve liked about it so far. 

Throughout the conversation, they share their “why” and how important it is to bring their kids along for every part of farm life. There’s never a shortage of things to do, and they open up about their biggest weakness — wanting to do everything themselves instead of hiring help. This episode is a real, honest look at modern farm life, entrepreneurship, and building a business that supports multiple generations.

Find the ABC Beef on Instagram & Facebook

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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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In this episode of The Rural Dispatch, Smoke and Aly sit down to recap 2025 in the livestock trucking business — the good, the bad, and the ugly. From the moments that made the long days worth it to the wrecks that tested us, this conversation dives into what our year behind the scenes really looked like.

We talk about good people vs bad people we came across in the industry and how those relationships shaped our year, along with a breakdown of our best performing truck and the one that caused the most frustration. 

Along the way, we detour into travel stories and recap our favorite episodes of The Rural Dispatch in 2025. If you’re in trucking, agriculture, or running a family business, this episode is an honest look at the lessons we’re carrying into the next year.

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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

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This week we're talking about the one thing every cattle producer knows they could do better or should do better or would do better if they had the time... but most put off: record keeping. I'm joined by Oaklee Trapp, rancher, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Smarter Cattle, to break down why better data leads to better decisions in today's cattle market. 

Oaklee grew up in the beef industry, interned with Producers Livestock Marketing Association, and now works with producers marketing their cattle through Producers Livestock. That experience has pushed her to develop Smarter Cattle into what it is today - a simple tool designed to turn ranch records into real, usable information. 

We talk about why knowing your numbers matters, how emotion can get in the way of good decision making, what holds producers back from adopting new technology, and where ranch management is headed in the next decade. 

If you've ever thought "I should really figure out a better way to track that," this episode is a good place to start. 

Find Smarter Cattle online: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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

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This week Smoke and Aly sit down with Adam Prokash, a first-generation livestock producer whose path into agriculture looks nothing like the traditional one. Adam walks us through how he bought his first farm and learned to raise veal calves without the benefit of growing up in the industry, and how those early years shaped every decision that came after.

His story spans multiple chapters: the rise and fall of the veal market, the stretch of years when feeder pigs kept his operation alive, the return to Holstein calves, and the unexpected opportunity that came placing calves in Amish barns. Today, he helps oversee calf programs across Amish communities while supplying milk replacer, meds, and hands-on management.

This episode is about building relationships—the ones that open doors, the ones that keep ag businesses afloat, and the ones inside Amish communities that will change your perspective on work, contentment, and the pace of life. It's also about recognizing opportunity and trusting your instincts when it's time for a change.

If you love real stories about building something from nothing in rural America, this one’s for you.

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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

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In this episode, Aly sits down with Natallia Opalko, founder of Trucking Safety and author of Safety is the New Profit, to break down the systems and simple fixes that help small fleets improve safety, efficiency, and profitability. Natallia shares the most common compliance and safety hurdles she sees, the tools that make compliance less overwhelming, and how better processes can directly strengthen your bottom line. Whether you run one truck or one hundred, this conversation offers practical steps you can put to work right away. 

Use code RURAL15 to save 15% on Trucking Safety products

Buy Natallia's new book Safety is the New Profit | Paperback or Kindle

Follow Trucking Safety on Instagram & Facebook

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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

Send us a text

This week Aly and Smoke dive into a lesson on why winter preparation is important, a conversation about debt strategy and our mindset when financing equipment and managing growth without getting stretched too thin. We also chat about taking calculated risks in business and cattle feeding. Tune in for practical, honest insights for keeping a rural operation moving forward. 

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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

Hosts Aly and Smoke catch up on Smoke's time back behind the wheel - navigating sale barns, a few frustrations about how trucking has changed, and taking kids along for the ride. They also dig into the business side, from climbing insurance premiums and warranty headaches, to Trump's recent comments on beef prices and what they've really meant for beef producers. Back home, a leaky basement adds to the chaos. It's been one of those weeks at the Behrens homestead. If you need to feel better about the current state of your home or business, this episode should do it. 

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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.

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In this episode I'm joined by the rhinestone cowgirl herself, Olivia Harms. We chat about growing up on a 150-year-old ranch, running one today with her husband in Northern California, and chasing big dreams on the road. 

Olivia Harms has created her own “Rhinestone Cowgirl” sound, blending Texas, Bakersfield, and Nashville country. As the daughter of Western Music Hall of Fame member Joni Harms, Olivia debuted onstage at two days old. She was named in COWGIRL magazine’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2022 and won Singer of the Year during the First Annual Women of the West Gala in June of 2022. The Country Music Artists Association of Texas announced her as 2024’s Cowboy Western Artist. She grew up on her family's 150-year-old ranch in Canby, Oregon and, while maintaining a rigorous touring schedule, resides in Northern California.

You can follow Olivia on social media and stream her music everywhere you listen. She’s also featured in the first two episodes of The Road on CBS and Paramount Plus, and you can catch her performing at NFR this year on December 4th and 6th at the Westgate Hotel NFR Party.

Singer | Olivia Harms | United States

Instagram | Facebook

Hey There Cowboy - song and lyrics by Olivia Harms | Spotify

‎Olivia Harms - Apple Music

Olivia Harms - YouTube

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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 talking trucking truths — who should buy their own truck, how driver pay really works, and what happens when trucks get ordered but never used. We also touch on getting started feeding cattle. This one is a real, no-filter look at the business side of hauling livestock. 

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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’s episode is a snapshot of life right now — the kind where life and business blur together in the best and busiest ways. We’re fresh off our wedding weekend, still soaking it in, and juggling everything that comes with it, because you have to make hay while the sun shines and that means they honeymoon can wait.

Smoke and I talk through how things look when he’s on the road and the latest in the fat cattle trade and cow buying business. It’s a little bit of wedding talk, a little bit of market talk, and a whole lot of real life.

We’re also sharing what’s ahead for the podcast and opening the door for next week’s Q&A episode. So if you’ve got questions about cattle, trucking, marriage, or rural business, send them our way!

Links & Mentions:

AERIAL DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY, DRONE PICTURES, GRAPHIC DESIGN

Benz Q and Catering

PAR Repair Inc.

2025 Live Cattle Basis Chart | Producers Livestock

Women Managing the Farm

Registration is officially open for the 2026 Women Grow the Farm Conference, the premier event dedicated to inspiring, connecting and empowering women shaping every facet of agriculture. The conference will be held February 12–13, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit womengrowthefarm.com/registration to register! 

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!