Episodes

223
April 27, 2025

223: Hayden Heigele - Changing Genetics, Calving Window, and More

Hayden felt some resistance when wanting to experiment with new farming and ranching practices on his family farm. Rather than give up, he has been growing an operation of his own on the side of working for the family business and is experimenting with low input ranching. Resources Mentioned: Greg Judy Dave Ramsey Will Harris Understanding Ag Ranching Returns Podcast Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching bu...
222
April 20, 2025

222: Doug Badcock - Building an Adapted Cow on a Zambian Ranch

Doug is building a ranch in Zambia and trying to develop a cow herd adapted to his harsh climate! He shares all the traditional paradigms he's pushing back against and where he's finding success. He also shares the story of how and why he left the family farm to build this on his own. Resources Mentioned: Man, Cattle, Veld - Johann Zietsmann Dirt to Soil - Gabe Brown Fertility Farming - Newman Turner Louis Brownfield Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to ...
221
April 13, 2025

221: Ryan Cone - Building a Business in Order to Buy a Ranch

I absolutely love Ryan's story of finding a creative way to building a large and successful ranch from nothing! He shares his story of buying and improving a medical sales business that was weeks away from being shut down and turning it around and ultimately selling that to buy and grow a 1000+ cow ranch on his own! He's confident that it's still possible to get into ranching today with hard work and sacrifice! Resources Mentioned: NRCS UNL Extension If you are looking to add somebody to you...
218
April 6, 2025

220: Neil Peterson - Integrating Cows on Cropland in Iowa

After doing missions work overseas Neil moved back to the family farm in Iowa. He is working to build a diversified and profitable farm that integrates cattle on land that most wouldn't consider for anything but crops. We discuss how he does that as well as his marketing business that is not in a highly populated area of the state! Resources Mentioned: Bible Wendell Berry Dirt to Soil - Gabe Brown Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and prof...
219
March 30, 2025

219: Craig Ference - Thousands of Cows Grazing Corn!

I really enjoyed discussing Craigs operation and perspectives o things from diversification vs. specialization on a large farm and ranch, to land ownership and more. We also discuss his unique cow program which involves grazing thousands of cows on thousands of acres of corn every year! Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business! As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram a...
218
March 23, 2025

218: George Walker - From Direct Marketing to Sell/Buy Marketing

George shares his story of starting his own farm when there wasn't room on the family farm. He also discusses why he moved from a direct marketing model to sell/ buy marketing and how that has improved his business and lifestyle and why he's so excited to continue. Resources Mentioned: Ranching for Profit Sell/buy marketing schools If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with your farm or ranch numbers, check out John Haskell and his team at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ranchrightllc.com/⁠...
217
March 16, 2025

217: Doug Marburger - Developing Bulls in Texas

Doug is the developer of all the bulls being sold at the PCC sale in Texas coming up on April 1. He shares his story of not being raised on a ranch and after years of working on other ranches having the opportunity to lease his own land and start his own business! I love his story of faith in God and how God provides and ultimately resulted in Doug accomplishing his dream of working for himself! Stockman Grass Farmer Pharo Cattle Company Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info...
216
March 9, 2025

216: Laura Burandt - Stocker Cows

Laura has been a popular past guest back on episodes 122 and 126. Today she comes on again to discuss their stocker cow enterprise. She discusses what it is, the advantages and challenges and why they choose to have that in addition to a native herd. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business! As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com...
215
March 3, 2025

215: Casey Toews - Adapting Enterprises as Market Demands

Casey and his family at Fishburn Ranch took what was considered very poor land and have turned it around through management. The number of creative ways they are finding success in their operation is incredible. They import cattle and feed and custom bale graze during the winter, they flex enterprises as the market calls for it from cows, to stockers or others. They are building a direct marketing business and have recently gotten into sheep because of the strong economics. We all could learn fr...
214
Feb. 24, 2025

214: Steve Schweitzer - Sharing his Ranching Journey

I have known Steve for years but this is the first time hearing his story of shifting his ranching focus from a high production, high input ranching to a more enjoyable and profitable ranch system. Resources Mentioned: PCC Updates and Newsletters For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/ Wonder where you can buy Sea-90 mineral? You can now pick it up at your local Tractor Supply Company, find the closest one at sea-90.com/trac...
213
Feb. 17, 2025

213: Dean Hunt - Ranching in South Dakota

Dean Hunt shares his story of growing the family ranch while working an off farm job. He had an opportunity to expand at a time that he wasn't sure he could handle it but shares how they made it work. He also shares his experience using Farmatan to stop coccidiosis and scours and shares his thoughts on getting started in ranching. For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check out https://farmfocused.com/ranching-returns-merch/ Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more infor...
211
Feb. 10, 2025

212: Knute and Amanda Severson - Grass Finishing and Successful Marketing

Knute and Amanda are fun! They met working for the Seattle Seahawks and through a long journey ended up back at Knutes family farm in Iowa. It's there that they purchased land, built infrastructure and have created a successful meat marketing business Grand View Beef! They share the struggles, and successes of that journey! Resources Mentioned: Fiver Shopify NRCS Programs Practical Farmers of Iowa For Ranching Returns shirts, hats, and sweatshirts check outhttps://farmfocused.com/ranching-...
210
Feb. 3, 2025

211: Kit Pharo - Converting to Low Input Ranching

I had a great listener question asking about how to convert from a high input cow/calf herd and operation to a low input operation. Kit and I discuss making that transition, both in management as well as actually converting the herd genetics. If you have questions you'd like answered on the podcast let me know! If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with your farm or ranch numbers, check out John Haskell and his team at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ranchrightllc.com/⁠⁠⁠. If you're intereste...
210
Jan. 27, 2025

210: Mitch Dahl - Very Successful First Generation Rancher!

Mitch Dahl is another one of those guys my age making me feel behind the game and I love it! He had the opportunity to take over an existing ranch from retiring ranchers and took it and ran with it. He now owns hundreds of cows, custom grazes, has a small amount of cropping acres and isn't afraid to experiment with new things. We discuss his experience grazing standing corn and so much more! Resources Mentioned: Ranching Returns Podcast Working Cows Podcast Knowledge Rich Ranching If you ar...
209
Jan. 20, 2025

209: Doug Voss - Expanding the Land Base Through Good Management

Since having Doug on last time back on episode 33, he has expanded his land base significantly. We talk about how he has done this on both public and private land. We discuss his experience grazing on a large piece of publicly owned land including his trial with virtual fencing and more. Resources Mentioned: Ranching for Profit Soil Health Academy Peer Groups/Consulting Soil Health Coalitions If you're interested in Farmatan to fight scours in your operation, call Paul Mitchell at 515-745-...
208
Jan. 13, 2025

208: Garth Gatson - Creating Value in Cattle

Garth is intentional with his cattle business, focusing on enterprises where he can add value. Because of this he's found great success and is able to be full time in the cattle business, a feat that many folks dream of. He shares his marketing strategy for all of his cattle, the different enterprises he runs, and his unique perspective on debt. Lots to learn from Garth in this one! Resources Mentioned: Ranching for Profit's free resources The Undoing - Michael Lewis Wonder where you can buy...
206
Jan. 6, 2025

207: Sean and Kat Weinert - Quitting the Off Ranch Job

We catch back up with Sean and Kat Weinert, previously on episodes 5 and 44 to discuss life after Sean left the off ranch job. We talk about the challenges that it presented, things that caught him off guard and how they've made it work. If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with your farm or ranch numbers, check out John Haskell and his team at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ranchrightllc.com/⁠⁠⁠. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and prof...
206
Dec. 30, 2024

206: Duane Thompson - 1200 Cows Profitably in Canada

Duane and his family run a ranch in Canada. They have figured out how to be successful in a northern environment facing challenges like snow, ice, cold temperatures, short growing seasons, etc. In todays episode we dive into the details of his cow/calf enterprise. Be sure to listen to episode 177, my previous episode with Duane where we discuss how he integrates cows on his cropland. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ...
205
Dec. 23, 2024

205: Cody Kologi - Switching Enterprises to Find Success

Merry Christmas! I pray God blesses your holiday season. Cody shares his awesome story of taking over his in laws ranch in North Dakota and how he went from struggling to finding improved profitability and an improved lifestyle! He shifted from a cow/calf enterprise to a stocker enterprise and is excited about what that is doing for their future! So much to learn from his story! Resources Mentioned: Soil Conservation Districts Menoken Farm Sell/Buy Marketing Schools Ranching for Profit Al...
204
Dec. 16, 2024

204: John Maddux - Cattle Risk Management

In Part 2 with John Maddux we discuss some of the strategies he uses for managing risk in his cow/calf and stocker business. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more fun and profit back into your ranching business! As always, check us out at Ranching Returns Podcast on Facebook and Instagram as well as at ⁠www.ranchingreturns.com⁠.
203
Dec. 9, 2024

203: John Maddux - Wall Street to Full Time Rancher

John Maddux shares his families story of aggressively purchases land and expanding their ranching operation over the generations. We dive into his very unique breeding and genetics program, his marketing strategy, low cost winter feeding program and begin to discuss his risk management strategy which we talk about more in next weeks episode. Resources Mentioned: Steven Covey - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on how to put more...
202
Dec. 2, 2024

202: Brady Wulf - Wide Row Corn, Cover Crops, Cows and Airbnb's

The title doesn't even cover it all! We talk about a bunch in this episode on Brady Wulfs ranch near Starbuck, MN. We cover the airbnb he has on the ranch, hunting leases and ranch tours. We discuss his no-till wide row corn system and how he grows cover crops in the corn and grazes cows on it in the fall. And we discuss how they have gotten access to public lands and worked to improve them with grazing! Resources Mentioned: Agspire If you are looking to add somebody to your team to help with...
201
Nov. 25, 2024

201: Brandon Mace - First Gen Rancher Started Leasing Cows

I have talked to many first generation ranchers but I'm not sure I've talked with anybody who has started leasing cows. Brandon shares his start and how he transitioned to owning cows by replacing the lease cows with his share of the heifer crop. He talks about his grazing management, cheap winter feeding program, starting a side business and so much more! Resources Mentioned: Tony Malmberg - Green Grass in the Spring The E-Myth Local Grasslands Coalition Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pharocattle.com...
200
Nov. 18, 2024

200: Greg Brown - From 0 to 450 Cows

To celebrate 200 Episodes I will be giving away 4 new Ranching Returns hats, listen to the podcast intro to hear how to enter to win one. But this conversation with Greg Brown is one of the stories that just get me absolutely pumped about the potential in this industry! Greg has built a pretty impressive operation in a very impressive amount of time and he shares that in this episode. He shares why he let some land go, how he has expanded on other land, how to be successful as a first generatio...