Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this candid catch-up episode, Jena and Mary Pat dive into the realities of the late-harvest season and the unique pressures it brings. From navigating the "double whammy" of harvest and hunting season to sharing hilarious family stories this conversation is the perfect mix of laughter and life lessons. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ A Prayer for Harvest & Health ✅ Funny Hunting Stories ✅ Food, Glorious Food ✅...

Welcome back to Beyond the Cops, where farm life meets real life! Jena and Mary Pat are here to answer your questions! From practical questions about their favorite cab snacks and how to monetize social media, to thoughtful discussions on Bible study and navigating holiday family schedules, this episode is packed with stories, tips, and plenty of fun tangents. What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Harvest Updates ✅ A Tangent on Farm Laundry ✅ Things We're Loving Lately ✅ Answering Your Quest...

Welcome back to Beyond the Cops, where farm life meets real life! In this raw and relatable harvest season check-in, Jena and Mary Pat get real about what it's like to navigate the busiest time of year when life throws you curveballs. Mary Pat opens up about feeling defeated after another vertigo episode sidelines her from the field, leading to a heartfelt conversation about self-preservation, giving yourself grace, and the pressures we put on ourselves. From harvest updates and homeschool re...

Welcome back to Beyond the Cops, where farm life meets real life! In this insightful and highly relatable episode, Jena and Mary Pat are tackling a thief that steals joy and paralyzes progress: comparison. After a quick harvest update filled with rain delays and breakdowns, they dive deep into why we compare, how it shows up in the ag world, and the practical, powerful steps you can take to break free. From social media pressures to finding your unique role on the farm, this conversation is a...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this truly special episode, Jena and Mary Pat are honored to sit down with a woman whose life is woven into the very fabric of agricultural legacy: Glendia Beck. As the wife of CEO Sonny Beck and a pivotal figure in the Beck's Hybrids story, Glendia shares a lifetime of wisdom, from the hilarious story of how she and Sonny really met (it started in the womb!) to the foundational principles that have guided their family and ...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life. In this special and deeply personal episode, Jena and Mary Pat take a moment to pause amidst the harvest rush to honor the incredible women who shaped them. Between the two of them, they lost three beloved grandmothers this past summer, all of whom had deep roots in agriculture. Join them for a heartfelt conversation as they share cherished memories, funny stories, and the timeless values passed down from their family matriarc...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this deeply personal and highly-requested episode, Jena and Mary Pat get vulnerable about health. With Jena on the mend from a severe illness during the peak of harvest, the stage is set for a raw conversation about navigating health challenges during the busiest seasons. Mary Pat takes the lead, opening up in detail for the first time about her frustrating, months-long battle with vertigo. From the first dizzy spell in a W...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! Harvest is officially underway, and your hosts Jena Ochsner and Mary Pat Sass are diving into the beautiful chaos of the season. This episode is a classic catch-up, blending real-time harvest updates with life-at-home adventures, listener voicemails, and some heartfelt encouragement for navigating heavy times with grace. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Harvest Has Begun! ✅ Homeschooling Update ✅ School Life & Potty Tra...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life. In this somber but hopeful episode, Jena and Mary Pat set aside their planned topic to speak from the heart about what’s been weighing on them. Opening with a heartfelt prayer, they dive into a candid conversation about navigating a world heavy with tragedy, the spiritual battles we all face, and the unwavering hope found in the Gospel. This isn't just a podcast episode; it's a front-porch chat about faith, conviction, and the...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life. In this heartfelt and candid episode, Jena and Mary Pat take a moment to pause and reflect. Jena opens with a powerful prayer for a world heavy with tragedy, setting the stage for a conversation about finding hope, controlling what we can, and the immense value of community. Then, they dive into a full recap of their inspiring and cup-filling weekend at Kylie's Farm Wives Club, an event that couldn't have come at a better time...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! Fresh off a whirlwind month of travel, your hosts Jena Ochsner and Mary Pat Sass are here to recap their adventures at two major farm shows. From the incredible culture and cutting-edge research at Beck's Technology Days to the hustle and bustle of the Farm Progress Show, they're sharing the behind-the-scenes stories, coolest tech, and most inspiring moments. Plus, stick around to the end for a special live interview they reco...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! Join your hosts, Jena Ochsner and Mary Pat Sass, as they sit down with Lori Reese, the Director of Commercial Sustainability at Pivot Bio. This conversation is a fascinating deep dive into the future of farming, from cutting-edge microbial nitrogen products to the often-confusing world of carbon credits. Lori, who comes from a seventh-generation farm family on both sides, shares her unique perspective on innovation, sustainabi...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this episode, your hosts Jena Ochsner and Mary Pat Sass are tackling a topic on every parent's mind: heading back to school. With a fantastic listener question, they dive into prepping advice, lunch ideas, and strategies for managing the morning chaos. Coming from two different perspectives this year—Mary Pat sending her kids to school and Jena embarking on her first year of homeschooling—this conversation is packed with pr...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops! In this episode, Jena and Mary Pat are joined by Dena Malsom, Chief Marketing Officer at the National Peanut Board, for a fascinating conversation that busts myths, shares surprising facts, and explores the story of this humble but mighty crop. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Meet Dena Malsom & her journey from corporate marketing to the National Peanut Board. ✅ Peanut Farming 101: How peanuts are grown (spoiler: underground!) and why they're so sustai...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops! Summer is in full swing, and for Jena and Mary Pat, it's been... dense. In this candid catch-up, they share the highs, lows, and hilarious chaos of a summer packed with family, travel, and unexpected health deep dives. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Catching up on a "dense but good" summer filled with intentional family time. ✅ Navigating grief and family togetherness, plus a hilarious "beef stick in the ear" funeral moment. ✅ The hilarious reality of tod...

In this deeply personal and reflective episode, Jena and Mary Pat share a conversation sparked by recent life events that have them thinking about legacy, the passage of time, and the ever-present challenge of managing screen time in a hyper-connected world. After the loss of both of her grandmothers just eight days apart, Jena shares the poignant realization that it often takes a funeral to bring the whole family together, leading to a heartfelt discussion about being truly present with the ...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! Did you know a staggering 80% of farmers don't plan to fully retire, creating huge risks for the farm and family. In this crucial succession episode, we're tackling the tough questions about what happens when you can no longer work. Mary Pat and Jena are joined by ag economist Jessica Groskopf, to debunk financial myths and reveal the four essential estate documents every adult needs now to protect their legacy. 📌 What We Cove...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! Join your hosts, Jena Ochsner and Mary Pat Sass, as they "think outside the box" with special guest and agronomist, Faith Pearson. In this eye-opening conversation, Faith Pierson (aka "The Crunchy Agronomist") challenges conventional wisdom and draws fascinating parallels between holistic human health and the health of our soil. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Holistic Soil Health vs. Traditional Agronomy ✅ Rethinking the S...

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this special episode, Mary Pat takes the host chair and brings on her husband, Josh, for a fun and lighthearted Q&A session. They pulled questions directly from listeners on Instagram, covering everything from this season's crop updates and farm dynamics to raising kids on the farm and keeping a marriage strong. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: If you want to be more involved in the farm operation, you have to voice it....

Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! Join your hosts, Jena Ochsner and Mary Pat Sass, as they dive into a conversation that’s close to the heart of every farm family: prioritizing family time amidst the never-ending demands of the farm. With their different living situations—Jena on the farm and Mary Pat off—they offer unique perspectives on a universal challenge. They discuss the guilt, the blurred lines, and the intentional strategies they've developed to prote...