Agripreneur Podcast

On this episode, Phil sits down with an innovative industry leader, Jason Mauck, to talk about the value of locally owned businesses and to research where your meat sources come from. Jason, CEO of Munsee Meats and CEO of Constant Canopy, has learned a thing or two and experienced more over the years in his career that he shares with us. Learn more from industry experts like Jason on the Agripreneur Podcast, subscribe today!

Episode Recap: This week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast is one you do not want to miss. The hosts are coming to you LIVE from Capital Cigar Lounge in Lincoln Nebraska, which is co-owned by this week’s guest and his partner Austin Hillis. Phil and Landon sit down with Anthony Goins, a marine, father/husband, and serial Entrepreneur. They talk about how he ended up moving to Lincoln Nebraska, to starting a business in the city. The three talk about how one of Anthony’’s businesses is breaking the mold of the digital age and keeps customers coming back. The host’s dive into Anthony’s history while uncovering some Marine philosophies he still follows today with his businesses. Later, the group talks about how complaints are actually gifts in disguise. Also, find out how Anthony turned a one star review by a lost customer, into a great review by a loyal customer. They talk mindset, mission, and execution, for every business to take, apply, and succeed. Find out how football relates to business, and what Anthony’s experience was like from leaving the Marine’s to transitioning into an office setting. There are many interesting topics in this week’s episode, and so much great advice in just a short amount of time. Connect with us on Social: Agripreneur Podcast Instagram: @AgripreneurPodcast Phil Instagram: @p_con1 Twitter: @PhilConradt1 Landon Instagram: @LifeOfLandon Twitter: @LifeOfLando Tony Instagram: @agoins50   “The competition can’t put me out of business but the customer can.”   You’ll Learn: [00:00] — Introduction of the episode and welcome [00:50] — Anthony explains how he ended up in Lincoln, Nebraska [06:30] — What Anthony did for a living, and how he is currently diversifying his revenue with two businesses [07:50] — How to break the norm of the digital age and how Anthony created a culture of authenticity with good conversation [10:00] — The vision for Anthony’s business, environment, and culture [12:10] — How to optimize your business. Anthony breaks down the building blocks of a profitable business [19:38] — Execution and a Marine philosophy that Anthony applies to business to this day. [20:55] — Anthony’s adjustment coming out of the Marine core to a corporate office setting. [24:16] — How football can echo back to the business world [28:21] — The mindset that will set you up for failure, and how you need to adjust your mindset to become successful [30:10] — Overcoming internal difficulties and what brought Anthony to continually succeed in his field [35:23] — Closing remarks     Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!

Episode Recap: The average person makes about 35,000 decisions everyday. As an entrepreneur you may feel like your number is way more… and you are probably right! Luckily, in this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast, it is all about making life decisions  - the good, bad, and disasters. The hosts discuss how difficult it is to really sift through the many decisions entrepreneurs need to make in life and how to make sure you stay level-headed through it all. In addition to the hilarious perspectives and personal experiences in this episode, you will receive plenty of practical solutions from the various “Pro-Tips” our hosts provide. Early in the episode, we hear about a life changing decision that Phil had to make in high school that had altered his direction through life. However, Landon provides insight on how small decisions/changes can affect our lives just as much as the larger ones. Later, they discuss how to make sure you are making rational decisions when taking meetings, potential clients, and writing up proposals. Learn a life-hack from Phil that we all wish we knew earlier and find out how you can spin even the worse decisions to your advantage. There’s all of this and more in Episode 12, of The Agripreneur Podcast. Connect with us on Social: Agripreneur Podcast Instagram: @AgripreneurPodcast Phil Instagram: @p_con1 Twitter: @PhilConradt1 Landon Instagram: @LifeOfLandon Twitter: @LifeOfLando   “You gotta trust your gut but what if your gut sucks?”   You’ll Learn: [00:00] — Introduction of the episode and welcome [00:58] — Phil reflects on a life altering decision [02:00] — “You gotta trust your gut but what if your gut sucks?” [05:30] — The line between being realistic and irrational. Phil explains the importance taking ownership of all your decisions [07:30] — How small changes build confidence, competence, and credibility [09:40] — Phil shares a simple life-hack that will help you each and everyday [11:30] — A critical way of thinking when going into important decisions [15:54] — Landon reveals a game he plays against himself to get stuff done faster [17:19] — Phil shares a personal story of how one minor thing caused a hiccup in his plans that changed the direction of his life [19:04] — How to be able to tell if a behavior is irrational, which leads to bad decisions [20:46] — Phil’s biggest takeaway about making decisions [23:18] — The “Quit your job and become an entrepreneur” Trend [25:45] — Two incredible books that have been inspiring Landon recently [27:08] — Closing remarks     Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!

Episode Recap: In this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast, Phil and Landon sit down with Brandon Peterson of DPA Auctions, SELFiD, and many other companies. His passion for entrepreneurship and building businesses is what got him to where he is today. There is a lot to be covered when it comes to a conversation with Brandon and the hosts waste no time. First, Brandon takes us through his background of how he became so into entrepreneurship and what he did when he first realized his talent at such a young age. Phil asks about what other businesses he is involved with, which leads into an conversation about a new smart technology that is changing the game. Later, Brandon discloses how DPA is leveraging social media to their advantage and talks about auctioneering in the agriculture industry. You’ll learn the best time to buy and sell used equipment and what major difference there is between DPA and their competitors. Also, Brandon explains how he brought his innovative ideas about video to the board and shares his outlook on innovation, influencers, and decision makers. This episode is full of first hand experiences and insight that will be great for people in any industry.   Connect with us on Social: Phil Instagram: @p_con1 Twitter: @PhilConradt1 Landon Instagram: @LifeOfLandon Twitter: @LifeOfLando Brandon Twitter: @brandaid238   “Before anyone listens to you, you have to get their attention”   You’ll Learn: [00:00] — Introduction of Brandon Peterson [00:27] — The Peterson family background, the history of the company, and how they got to where they are now [03:00] — The journey of being someone who has an entrepreneurial spirit and interested in building businesses [05:08] — Brandon’s background in leadership and the mentors he’s had throughout his life [07:27] — What businesses Brandon has started and what they do [09:26] — Brandon explains one of his unique companies called “Geo Key,” and Landon shares his experience with this smart technology access [13:30] — Specific trends in agriculture from Brandon’s perspective of being in the auctioneering industry [14:55] — The financial shift in tractors, agriculture equipment and commodities in the auctions and when they change. [18:25] — DPA’s emphasize on strategic marketing and an updated look at marketing as a whole. [21:13] — Who the influencers and decision makers are, and how they can interact to make the best decisions. [22:01] — How long Brandon has been doing these social media videos and what he thinks about technology in agriculture. [22:56] —  Phil asks about the metrics and feedback DPA has received from these videos. [24:03] — Brandon’s perspective on innovation [25:03] — DPA’s biggest competitors and the major difference between his company and others [28:20] — Brandon’s ten year plan and outlook [27:21] — Ending points and a quote from the author. [27:50] — Closing remarks   Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!

Episode Recap: Agripreneur had the pleasure of sitting down with Jason Mauck, CEO and Farmer of Constant Canopy. Jason has garnered a strong following on Twitter and brings a fresh perspective to the Agriculture game. Phil and him discuss how he got started in agriculture, what’s working for him, and a misguided mindset that is behind many family farms that he had to face when he was younger. Using the experience that he has acquired through the years, Jason explains what he sees happening in the future for not only his business but agriculture as a whole. Later, we learn what farming practices have been very effective for his yield and why trying unconventional farming techniques may not always be a bad thing. We even get an inside look at what his yield drag looks like, what is keeping costs low, and the benefits he’s found with certain practices. Diversification is another topic of discussion in this week’s episode, and Jason tells how he has diversified to keep business going throughout the Winter season. Also, the two talk about how the Internet is shaping many industries and how farmers are using (and not using) social platforms to their benefit. Last but not least, Phil asks Jason how he ended up with a golf course in the back of his house! There’s a lot of great conversation and a ton to learn in this week’s podcast. Connect with us on Social: Phil Instagram: @p_con1 Twitter: @PhilConradt1 Jason Twitter: @JasonMauck1   “If you want to have extraordinary results you’ve got to stretch on both sides of the spectrum to see where you need to go.”   You’ll Learn: [00:00] - Introduction of Jason Mauck and how he got to be where he is now. [04:45] - A misguided mindset behind some family farms. [05:27] - Jason’s perspective on row cropping/continuous cropping/relay cropping. [09:20] - How Jason is trying to take the cost out of everything and lowering the cost of production. [10:40] - Jason’s typical yield drag and what he does to optimize his yield. [14:30] - An analysis of feeding the soil year-round and the benefits of Jason has seen from doing this. [18:55] - A sharing economy for manure in the future. [23:35] - Leveraging your practices to landlords. [24:53] - Jason’s epiphany while on a trip with college buddies. [27:28] - How the internet is changing many industries. [32:09] - How Jason ended up with a golf course in the back of his house. [34:13] - Jason adds one more thought regarding scaling. [35:30] - The importance of diversification. [37:03] - Hiring & Outsourcing [38:42] - Farmers on Social Media and perspectives on Twitter and Facebook. [40:44] - Final Thoughts, College Football, and Golf   Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!

Growing a YouEconomy   Episode Recap: On this Fourth of July, the hosts are joined by John Pfanner, a commodity consultant at Tredas. Today’s episode is all about building a personal brand, as they take a look at the article, “3 Lessons for Growing a YouEconomy,” by Emma Johnson of Success.com. Now more than ever, people are leaving the workforce to pioneer their own businesses and brands. Because of this, it is crucial to build an identity in what you do, who you serve, and why people should listen to you. That is why Phil, Landon, and John, break down the three major lessons introduced in this article. They discuss how to receive, react, and leverage audience feedback. If you aren’t receiving feedback at all, don’t worry! Landon talks about how to establish a level of credibility and evoke a reaction from your audience. Later in the episode, you’ll learn about some successes of others and how to apply that to your own entrepreneurial goals. They take a look at the strategic moves Amazon is making to continue to be a power-house in multiple markets, and John tells a story about how a local business is taking their local product to a large scale store like Walmart. Whether you are in the agriculture industry or just interested in entrepreneurship, this episode is for you. Sit back, relax, and learn the secrets to building your very own YouEconomy.   Connect with us on Social: Phil Instagram: @p_con1 Twitter: @PhilConradt1 Landon Instagram: @LifeOfLandon Twitter: @LifeOfLando John Instagram: @jpfanner57 “Building what you see as the future, and having the ability to preach that to your followers will help you build your following, hold on to them, and make them raving fans of whatever your movement is”   You’ll Learn: [00:00] — Opening Remarks [01:24] — Introduction of the article, “3 Lessons for Growing a YouEconomy,” by Emma Johnson [02:26] — “Go niche. Super niche” - The benefits of appealing to a smaller group of people to increase loyalty. [05:40] — “Listen to your audience” - What Johnson has done to create a community with her audience. [06:20] — How to respond to feedback and criticism from your audience [08:09] — The way receiving audience feedback has changed and how we can leverage that change to connect with them [09:25] — What to do when you are not getting much feedback or engagement [11:16] — How one company focused on their niche market to create a prospering business [12:54] — Phil talks about Amazon’s new pharmacy and how the company is becoming the go-to for everything. John agrees but explains why some businesses do not like going through the platform. [16:45] — How one company is taking their product from a local Walmart to their regional area, and what it takes for a local business to get into such a large store. [18:33] — “Creating a Movement Around Your Personal Brand” - Identifying your revolution and getting your audience excited. [20:00] — Tredas’ unique competitive advantage. [22:02] — The way social media marketers are focusing on their ideal clients’ niche and are finding success. [23:12] — Landon explains what happens when you become obsessed with the content.  John finds a new article and gives a brief overview of Amazon’s new delivery service. [27:09] — Closing Remarks   Resources: 3 Lessons for Growing a YouEconomy Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!  

Why Most Farmers Fail and How to Make Sure You Don’t   Episode Recap: In this episode, Phil and Landon take a look at key points from the article, “10 Reasons Why 7 Out of 10 Businesses Fail Within 10 Years,” by R.L. Adams of Entrepreneur Magazine. Adams’ article tackles the tough reality of starting and maintaining your business in the long run. The hosts dive into 7 reasons and help translate how these business pitfalls apply to the unique struggles farmer’s face in 2018. From the start, this episode is chalked full of expert tips and personal anecdotes on how to overcome the hurdles of farming and entrepreneurship. Landon shares his take on farming from a branding standpoint and why he predicts farmers will change the way they prioritize their resources in the near future. Later in the discussion, they talk about the types of people you should look for when building a “tribe” for your business. Later, they reveal how to use this tribe to create a strong company culture and develop an effective management strategy throughout your business. With success comes failure, and in this episode, you’ll learn why documenting that failure will bring value to your business. Learn all this and much more in this week’s Agripreneur podcast. Connect with us on Social: Phil Instagram: @p_con1 Twitter: @PhilConradt1 Landon Instagram: @LifeOfLandon Twitter: @LifeOfLando   "Farmers need to find their REAL value proposition - learn how to over deliver and over communicate internally and externally." You’ll Learn: [00:01] —  Introduction [00:56] — “Failure to Deliver Real Value” - Finding your real value proposition. [03:15] — “Failure to Connect with Target Audience” - As a farmer, you have multiple target audiences, and it is important to appeal to these different end users. [04:40] — Landon shares his point of view from a branding stand-point and why he thinks farmers are going to spend more time, money, and energy on branding in the future. [05:13] — “Lack of Authenticity and Transparency” - Best practices of farming and what actress Natalie Portman said that caused an uproar on social media. [06:11] — Phil tells a story about Gary Vaynerchuck’s take on farming from 100 years ago to now. [07:02] — Ways that bridge the gap, bring that on-farm-feel, and show that your brand cares about how you raise crops. [10:14] — The passionate feelings surrounding how farmers raise crops is a double-edged sword. [11:19] — “Unable to compete against market leaders.” - What market leaders look like in the agriculture industry and how smaller farms can still thrive. [13:29] — “Inability to control expenses.” - How to be smart about your expenditures to make sure you stay out of a jam. [17:17] — “Lack of strategic and effective leadership & Failure to build an employee tribe.” The hosts discuss how these two points, in tandem, are crucial to management and leadership. [19:34] — Phil shares what he learned from the farm that he worked on growing up. [21:23] — The kinds of people that should make up your tribe and ultimately push you towards success. [22:58] — How to manage your energy to make the most out of any negative situation, and raise the morale of your “tribe.” [24:11] — “Failure to create the proper business systems.” - Landon describes what exactly a proper business system looks like in the farming/agriculture type world and how to keep it consistent throughout the years. [26:11] — How documenting your successes and failures build your brand and acquire future business. [27:21] — Ending points and a quote from the author, R.L. Adams. [27:50] — Closing remarks   Resources: 10 Reasons Why 7 Out of 10 Businesses Fail Within 10 Years Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!

AP007 So What’s Agripreneur All About Landon Rhodes’ interest in farming and agriculture initially began while growing up on his family’s farming operation near Exeter, Nebraska. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to receive his bachelor’s degree in Mechanized Systems Management. In 2016, he became part of the Tredas family. His current role at the company is to introduce clients to our experienced team of brokers while improving communication between current clients and brokers. Over the last year and a half, he has realized his passion for the media and advertising industry and will soon follow his passion of helping clients improve their marketing strategy through his new company, Grindstone Media. Doug Simon also grew up on a family farm based in Louisville, Nebraska. Following his high school graduation, he attended the University of Nebraska. After earning his bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Agriculture Economics, he became the president of an international beef export company, and later became the President and COO of RF Nature Farm Foods. His previous background and experience play a significant role in the way he helps Tredas clients identify and mitigate risks and build successful agriculture businesses. Landon and Doug join me today to share what the Agripreneur podcast is all about. We discuss our goals for the show and our mission to use the podcast as a platform to help farmers bridge the gap between farming and entrepreneurship. We also discuss the importance of identifying consistent paths to take in your agriculture business as well as how identifying consistencies in the market can help you mitigate risks and build a successful business.   “The idea behind our talks are going to be about risk, different people’s managed risk, and try to identify things they can do to mitigate that.” - Doug Simon   This Week on the Agripreneur Podcast: Entrepreneurial thoughts that apply to your farm. Gaining insight and advice from business leaders. Farmer pain points and ways to overcome them. The future of identity preserved grains in the agriculture industry. Overcoming challenges of working in niche agriculture markets. How Blockchain can impact the agriculture industry. The importance of identifying consistent paths to take to mitigate risk and grow your agriculture business.     Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media.  

Michael Kramer is a serial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Baths & Kitchens R Us Remodelers, a remodeling franchise based in Gretna, Nebraska that serves homeowners throughout the Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington regions. Michael’s journey into entrepreneurship initially began following the loss of his beloved father, who owned an auto body shop. After seeing the struggles his family faced following the devastating loss, he became passionate about building a legacy that would positively impact his family’s life while serving and empowering others. In 2003, he purchased his first franchise business, and in 2007, he sold the business for more than he initially believed it was worth. Michael joins us today to share his journey into entrepreneurship and the importance of understanding why you chose to become a business owner. We discuss the importance of building effective systems and processes into your business and how these processes can help you scale your company through outsourcing. We also discuss how your mindset, fears, and confidence impact your decisions, the effects of avoiding hiring help, and how to reverse engineer your current systems to discover ways to improve your process and scale your business.   “Your drive - no matter your level of success - has to be for a higher calling and a purpose.”- Michael Kramer   This Week on the Agripreneur Podcast: The worst advice he has received about entrepreneurship. The impact of trying to do everything yourself. How losing his father at a young age impacted his life and the decisions he makes for his legacy. The importance of delegating and outsourcing tasks. How creating systems and processes enable you to grow your business effectively and efficiently. How to avoid complacency. The importance of starting with the end in mind and reverse engineering your processes. Overcoming mindset challenges, limiting beliefs, and fears of growing your business. How building a legacy impacts your life as well as your family. How a tragic home remodeling accident impacted his faith, confidence, and self-esteem and how he overcame those challenges to achieve success. Marketing strategies he uses to promote his business.   Key Takeaway: Understand the ‘why’ of what you are doing - whatever the business may be. Good things will follow if your intentions are pure and good.   Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media  

Clint Hoffman’s desire to work in the agriculture industry initially began as a young boy growing up on his family’s farm in Polk, Nebraska. While attending college to obtain a degree in Horticulture, he became a teacher’s assistant for his Grain Marketing class. Currently, he works for Tredas where for nearly the last two decades he has worked with farmers, crop insurance, and grain buyers with mitigating the risks often associated with volatile crop commodity markets. Jameson Jenson - a.k.a. Jameo - is a Wisner, Nebraska native that found his passion for agriculture and agribusiness while working on a local feed crew. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he graduated with a degree in Agriculture Business. After college, he began working with Lansing Trade Group, LLC., an independently owned international commodity trading company focused on whole grains, feed ingredients, and energy products. Clint and Jameson join me today to share their journeys within the agriculture and commodity trading industry. They discuss the differences between farming in upstate New York compared to Mid-West farming operations, the importance of managing and mitigating risks in an ever-changing market, and how the corn market has evolved over the last two decades. They also discuss the mindset of highly successful farm operation owners, current market trends, and hedging mechanisms for Direct Distiller’s Grains (DDGs).   “The market's job is to take the highest bidder and the lowest seller and put it together a thousand times a day.” - Clint Hoffman   This week on the Agripreneur Podcast: How upstate New York farmers approach agriculture differently than Mid-West farmers. How September 11, 2001 impacted the agriculture commodity market. Lessons learned from managing various risk parameters. How the corn market has evolved over the last two decades. How Clint helps farmers mitigate risks. Comparing the risk management strategies of upstate New York farmers vs. Mid-West farmers. Average farm operation size of New York farmers. Current farming market trends. Hedging mechanisms for DDGs Predictions for the future of farm operations. What separates highly successful farm operations from small operations.     Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!  

John Pfanner’s interest in the agriculture industry initially began during childhood while working on his family’s farm raising row crops such as corn, beans, and wheat as well as hogs, cattle, and sheep. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Missouri to obtain a degree in Agriculture Business Management and Ag Economy. In 2005, he began working with DeBruce Grain - currently known as Gavilon. In 2017, he began working with Tredas in the commodity brokerage and consulting fields. John Lenhart grew up in the small town of Bethany, Missouri. After graduating from the University of Missouri in 2008, he also began working with DeBruce Grain. In 2016, he began working with Tredas. Pfanner and Lenhart join me today to discuss transportation and market fluctuations within the agriculture commodity trading industry. They discuss how the thought process regarding transparency has evolved throughout the industry, how social media has impacted this evolution, and how crop market exposure fluctuates from state to state. They also discuss the potential crop yields for Alabama farmers; the current land values throughout Alabama, Southeast Nebraska, and Central Missouri as well as why they believe social media can help grain buyers compare basis bids.   “You can pick up a lot from a conversation with crop merchandisers.” - John Lenhart   This week on the Agripreneur Podcast: Differences in the mindset of southern farmers vs. northern farmers. How social media has impacted the thought process of farmers nationwide. How cotton farmers pivoted their crop production after the cotton market collapsed. How cotton is brokered and traded. What it’s like trading crop commodities across multiple states. Why crop market exposure fluctuates based on state and farming region. How the ethanol market has evolved over the last few years. Why grain buyers do not share basis numbers on social media. How thoughts on transparency have evolved throughout the agriculture trading industry. Potential crop yields for Alabama farmers. Average basis numbers for corn crops in Alabama. Land value differences between Alabama, Southeast Nebraska, and Central Missouri.     Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!  

Drew Jensen grew up in Exeter, Nebraska on his family’s farm operation. The first-hand experiences he had throughout his childhood and young adult life is what initially sparked his passion and interest in the agriculture industry. Following high school, he followed his passion for agriculture and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to earn his degree in Agribusiness and Finance. After graduating, he began working with Barlett Grain, and later, Applebee’s International in the supply chain management field. While working at Applebee’s International, he attended the University of Kansas to earn his MBA. Like Drew, Adam Ickes grew up on his family’s farm operation based in Page, Nebraska. After attending the University of Nebraska, he spent the first five years of his career working in the cash grain trade industry where his responsibilities included trading specialty grains, managing logistics, and understanding risk exposure. Drew and Adam join me on today’s episode to share how the Tredas company got started and how it became the successful business it is today. They share what inspired them to build a career in agriculture, the risks associated with quitting their previous careers to start a new company, and the company’s culture. They also explain how they gain inspiration from their team and clients, the biggest challenges and obstacles they’ve had to overcome while starting the company, and the lessons they have learned throughout their careers that have helped them build a successful agribusiness.   “Whether you’re farming or are in some type of agribusiness, you have to try to understand how to differentiate yourself. That’s not always easy, but you’ve got to really think outside the box.” Adam Ickes   This week on the Agripreneur Podcast: What inspired them to build a career in commodity trading and agriculture risk management. Transitioning from trading basis to commodity consulting. Lessons they have learned throughout their careers in risk management and commodities trading. Hedging risks in specialty and liquid markets. The importance of understanding perceived variables. The importance of identifying the worst-case scenario in trading commodities and creating a plan to protect your investment. Risks associated with leaving their previous jobs. How they developed the Tredas name. The company’s culture. The biggest pain points associated with starting a new agribusiness. Overcoming growing pains as an agribusiness startup. How they gain inspiration from their team and clients. Why farmers and agribusinesses need to keep an open mind and be open to change. How your mindset and emotions impact your ability to make firm decisions and take action.   Resources: Ask GaryVee Podcast     Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!  

Zane Abner and Ethan Bruland have been members of the Tredas family for the last two years. Zane and Ethan both work out of the Lindsey, Nebraska offices in the risk management departments. Landon Rhodes is a real estate investor, landlord, and founder of Grindstone Media, a digital advertising agency based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ethan, Zane, and Landon join me today to discuss why building trusting relationships with those around you is critical to your success as well as share strategies for investing in real estate as an alternative method of increasing your farming operation’s revenue. They share the challenges they’ve faced throughout their journeys into real estate investing and property management, why having the right mindset is critical to achieving your goals, and how purchasing rental properties can enable you to invest in other areas of your farm operation. They also discuss some of the challenges and adversities they have faced throughout their lives and careers, how overcoming these obstacles has helped shaped the way they work with clients and customers as well as their definition of success.   “At the end of the day, life comes at you in cycles. You have to learn to execute even when you are at your lowest. Even when you hear that ‘no’ for the fifth time that day.” - Landon Rhodes   This week on the Agripreneur Podcast: Hurdles Ethan and Zane faced while transitioning into their roles at Tredas. The support system they discovered at the beginning of their career with the company. Risks associated with leaving their previous employer. How building relationships based on trust has impacted their ability to transition to a new company. How incorporating social media into their marketing strategy has impacted Tredas’ growth. How Landon got started with investing in real estate. Strategies to diversify your farm’s revenue streams. Challenges associated with renting properties. Overcoming mindset challenges associated with being a landlord. Turning a real estate disaster into a success. Overcoming adversity and failure.     Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media

Welcome to the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship. Each week, your host PJ Conradt interviews highly successful entrepreneurs within the agriculture industry to bring you inspiring stories, valuable insight, and unique viewpoints from farmers, bankers, ag salesmen and other agriculture professionals to help agriculture entrepreneurs thrive in the industry. PJ’s passion for the agriculture industry initially began in his hometown of O’Neill, Nebraska while working for a local farmer and rancher. While attending college, his passion for the industry intensified as he explored the marketing fields available to eager ag professionals. In 2014, he began working with Tredas, where he currently works with farmers, risk management, commodity consulting, and crop insurance. In this episode, PJ shares what inspired him to explore the world of agriculture market and commodity trading and why he decided to begin working with Tredas. He also explains how the idea for the Agripreneur podcast started and what you can expect by tuning in each week.   “Highly successful people are highly successful because they have extraordinary drive, are able to take risks, and view things differently.” - PJ Conradt   This week on the Agripreneur Podcast: How PJ’s career in the agriculture industry began. The various thought processes and viewpoints of highly successful agripreneurs. Weekly interviews with highly successful entrepreneurs within the agriculture industry. Recap episodes regarding the agricultural market.     Subscribe Rate & Review the Agripreneur Podcast Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Agripreneur Podcast - the show where agriculture meets entrepreneurship to bring you valuable information, interviews, and insight from the industry’s most successful entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us an honest rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media!