This isn’t your average farmer’s market vendor. She’s a mom, a wife, and a Kentucky rancher who’s built an entire life—and business—around healing, hope, and homemade bread. In this episode, she sits down with host Holly Haralson to share the long road to D2 Meats, the infertility battle that changed her perspective, and how she turned her lowest valley into a mountaintop moment.

You’ll hear:

• The truth about living with MTHFR—and how it reshaped her health and mindset
• How infertility led Danielle to pursue a completely new way of eating, living, and raising her kids
• Why she believes the local food movement and regenerative ag are more than trends
• The real story behind D2 Meats’ success—and why it took leaning into personal values, not just profit margins

Whether you’re deep in a health journey, navigating parenthood, or trying to build a business that actually aligns with your life, this episode will leave you seen, inspired, and maybe craving some freshly milled bread.

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Danielle:

• @haydanib on Instagram
• D2 Meats 
• Hayden Farms on Facebook

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

Empire Financial Services

Cattle prices are at historic highs. You have 500 head on the books, debt to settle, and a market that feels too good to be true. Should you sell? Sit tight? Or find a creative exit strategy? In this episode, Jonathon Haralson walks through the real math, real risks, and real opportunities ranchers are facing in 2025. If you're even thinking about getting out, you'll want to hear this first.

In this Episode, We Covered:

• The $5,000 cow math and capital gains implications
• What 2015 taught us—and what to remember now
• Creative transition strategies for retiring ranchers
• How younger producers can step in without being "given" the farm
• The danger of wasteful spending during boom years
• How LRP, hedging, and smart marketing protect the bottom line

If you're weighing your next move in the cattle business, reach out to Empire Ag. We help producers like you find smart, sustainable ways to step forward—whether that means staying in, handing off, or stepping away.

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

Empire Financial Services

In this episode, Jonathon sits down with legendary cowboy cook, storyteller, and TV host Kent Rollins. From feeding cowboys under the stars to starring in his new show Cast Iron Cowboy on Outdoor Channel, Kent shares what it means to preserve the cowboy lifestyle while staying relevant in a modern world. They talk about his beginnings in Oklahoma, the spirit of chuck wagon cooking, and the heart it takes to build something that lasts. This one’s packed with grit, heart, and a whole lot of cowboy wisdom.

What You'll Hear:

• How Kent’s roots shaped his path in cowboy cooking
• The backstory behind Cast Iron Cowboy
• Why he believes humor, hospitality, and hard work still matter
• Stories from the road (and the ranch)
• What it takes to make a living cooking with fire in a digital age

Follow Kent:

Instagram: @cowboykentrollins

YouTube: Cowboy Kent Rollins

TikTok: @cowboykentofficial

Watch Cast Iron Cowboy on Outdoor Channel

Premieres September 29, 2025, at 9:30 p.m. ET during the "Taste of the Wild" block

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

Empire Financial Services

In this no-guest episode, Jonathon and Holly discuss what they’re seeing firsthand on farms and ranches across the country. They cover a real-world succession planning project in South Carolina, a new mastermind member from Idaho, and how EA Capital is giving producers new financial options in a shaky banking environment. This is a transparent look at how ag families are navigating hard transitions, making bold moves, and finally getting the support they’ve needed for years.

In this episode, we cover:

• What succession planning actually looks like in ag families
• Why relationship-first lending is making a difference
• A new member’s journey from burnout to breakthrough
• How EA Capital is helping farmers stay on their land
• The pressure wives face when returning to the farm
• Why Empire Ag’s mastermind isn’t one-size-fits-all

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

Empire Financial Services

In this episode of Your Ag Empire, Jonathon sits down with Kim Rounds of Five Rivers Cattle Feeding to talk about the real state of feedyards, the talent drought in agriculture, and why ag storytelling needs a hard reset. From carcass data to hiring red flags, this one pulls no punches.

What do nearly a million head of cattle, an underpaid workforce, and your dusty job listing have in common? Kim Rounds has thoughts. She’s the digital voice behind the largest cattle feeding company in the world—and she’s tired of watching agriculture miss the mark.

In this episode, Jonathon and Kim go deep on:

• What people get wrong about feedyards—and what they need to understand
• How carcass data can change your operation
• Why retained ownership is more accessible than you think
• The hard truths about hiring in ag (and why your job listing might be the problem)
• Why it’s time to stop gatekeeping this industry
• How to deal with internet trolls and misinformation without burning out
• What makes ag content connect (hint: it’s not methane stats)

This isn’t a feel-good fluff piece about agriculture. It’s the kind of conversation that pushes producers, marketers, and managers to get serious about their business, their brand, and their people.

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Kim: TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram (@__k__d__r__ ) and kimrounds.com

Connect with Five Rivers: @5rcattle | fiveriverscattle.com

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

Empire Financial Services

On this episode of Your Ag Empire, we’re sitting down with Kiah Twisselman Burchett—also known as Coach Kiah. From the cattle ranch to the national stage, Kiah has built a platform that reminds us joy isn’t just something we stumble into—it’s something we fight for.

She shares her journey from rural California to Kentucky, navigating body image, health, and personal growth every step of the way. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your own skin or discouraged by the journey, this one’s for you.

We get into:

• The real work of body confidence
• Why joy takes practice
• How growing up in ag shaped her mindset
• Showing up imperfectly (and why that’s enough)

Kiah’s honesty, humor, and heart make this a must-listen—especially if you're ready to trade self-judgment for self-compassion.

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Coach Kiah:

• Follow on: coachkiah.com

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

Empire Financial Services

Most farmers and ranchers know the feeling—you walk into the bank with everything you’ve built and still get treated like a liability. In this episode, Jonathon Haralson shares the story behind EA Capital: a lending model built for the real world of agriculture.

He talks about what it’s like to create a financial system that respects the people who feed this country. From busted bank relationships to why Empire Ag only lends to clients we already serve, this episode breaks down the how, why, and what’s next for EA Capital.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why ag lending is broken—and how we’re fixing it
• Real-world examples of EA Capital in action
• The difference between cash poor and creditworthy
• What producers should know about Fund 1 and what’s ahead

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website

Resources & Links:

• EA Capital
• Book a Discovery Call
• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

No fluff. No gimmicks. Just serious strategy for serious ag leaders. We dive into the Empire Ag Elite Mastermind Program—a high-level coaching community for farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness pros who are ready to scale. Click below for details.

Elite Mastermind

This time, it’s Brooke and Carman behind the mic. They’ve helped shape the look, voice, and digital footprint of Empire Ag—and today, they’re walking you through the why behind it all. This episode covers where they believe ag brands should be spending their time online, how to think about content when you’re doing it all yourself, and what makes a brand worth following in 2025. You’ll hear honest thoughts on TikTok shop, LinkedIn’s quiet power, and what happens when a two-person team decides to build something real—and consistent.

If you’ve ever felt behind on content or unsure what’s worth your time online, you’re not alone. And this one’s for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Where to show up if you’re not selling DTC
• Why websites still matter (especially when the algorithm doesn’t)
• The Empire Ag origin story (yes, Brooke’s been here since the start)
• What it looks like to build community with your clients
• Social media mistakes we’ve learned from—and what we do instead
• Why showing up as yourself is always the best strategy

Want to connect?

Find us at Empire Ag on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. DM us your questions, your wins, and what you’re building. We see it all.

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website 

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

Empire Financial Services

Most folks don’t think about trucking when they picture agriculture, but it’s the backbone that keeps the whole system moving. In this episode, Jonathon talks with Jared Flinn, co-founder of BulkLoads.com, about how his platform has reshaped bulk freight and why small trucking outfits are essential to agriculture’s future.

Jared shares how growing up on a Missouri farm and working in grain logistics led him to launch BulkLoads in a basement, and how it’s evolved into a suite of companies—from factoring to compliance to insurance. He also breaks down the hidden challenges of bulk freight, the razor-thin margins owner-operators face, and why he believes the trucking industry is ripe for innovation.

In this episode, we cover:

• The early days of BulkLoads.com and how Jared spotted a gap in the market
• Why technology and storytelling are critical to building trust in trucking
• The cost-cutting strategies that help small fleets stay profitable
• How better data and transparency can improve life for drivers and shippers alike
• What Jared sees as the next frontier in ag transportation

Share this episode with someone who hauls the weight of their business down America’s roads. Hit follow so you never miss a story from Your Ag Empire.

Connect with Jared:

• Follow on LinkedIn
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Check out his website

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website

Resources & Links:

• Smart Freight Funding
• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker

Mentioned in this episode:

Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more.

Empire Financial Services

Today on Your Ag Empire, Jonathon sits down with Sharon Beach—a Texas rancher who built her reputation one handshake at a time. Sharon spent 25 years at Merck, then pivoted into private equity where she helped raise $165 million. Now she’s leading EA Capital, connecting investors to agriculture-backed lending without the corporate fluff.

If you’ve ever wondered how to bet on yourself (and back it up), or you’re curious what it looks like to blend ranch values with Wall Street returns, you’ll want to hear this one.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why trust beats fancy credentials every time
• What Sharon learned moving from the pasture to the private markets
• The difference between looking rich and being wealthy
• How agriculture shaped her approach to deals—and life
• Why she believes direct lending is about to change ag finance for good

If Sharon’s story got you thinking about your next move, send this episode to someone else building their own operation. And tap follow so you catch the next conversation.

Connect with Sharon:

• Learn more about EA Capital
• Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn

Connect with Your Ag Empire:

• Follow on Instagram @youragempire
• Follow on Facebook
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on LinkedIn
• Follow on TikTok
• Check out our website

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Empire Ag
• Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
• Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
• Join The Dirt email subscription 
• Book Jonathon as your next speaker