Grow Getters

In this inspiring episode of Grow Getters, host Davis Michaelsen sits down with Andrew McCrea—a Missouri farmer, rancher, and the voice behind American Countryside Radio. McCrea shares how he juggles life on the land with his passion for storytelling, and his goal to travel to all 3,144 U.S. counties to spotlight extraordinary everyday people. From leading the Heartland Foundation and serving as a lay pastor, to drawing inspi...

When Ty and Tracy Woodard’s infant son required brain surgery, they leaned on their faith, trusted doctors, and a special blanket gifted by a caring nurse. Two years later, with their son healthy and thriving, Tracy was inspired to launch a business making blankets from cotton grown on their South Carolina farm. That dream became a reality with Covered in Cotton, a flourishing enterprise that weaves comfort and hope into ever...

In this episode of Grow Getters, Davis Michelsen talks with Katie Dotterer — former dairy farmer, Spanish teacher, and founder of Agvocate.com — about her unique path from the barn to becoming a leading voice in digital ag advocacy. Katie shares how her viral message, “Ask Farmers, Not Google,” reflects her mission to build trust and transparency in agriculture. Katie also dives into the importance of cross-...

In this episode of Grow Getters, host Davis Michelson sits down with Maren Beard of Luna Valley Farm in Decorah, Iowa. Maren and her husband, Tom, raise cows, pigs, and sheep using regenerative farming practices—but they’re best known for their incredible wood-fired pizza, made with ingredients from their farm and other local producers. Maren shares how their farm-to-table pizza nights have become a beloved community tr...

Chris Riggers came back to the family farm when his uncle retired. But then his dad, Nate, had a serious health issue, pushing Chris into the leadership role sooner than expected. Not only did he take the reins of the fifth-generation Idaho farm, he led the effort to establish Cold Stream Malt & Grain Company, which sells grains directly to breweries and distilleries in the Pacific Northwest. True grow getters, Chris and Nate j...

Out on the windswept prairie of North Dakota, the Doan family has been raising cattle since 1882. When fifth-generation brothers Jeremy, Jay and Jayce returned to Black Leg Ranch after college, they brought some new business ideas with them. Beyond raising Black Angus cows and bison on the 20,000-acre property, they’ve added a large event space, a micro-brewery, lodges for overnight guests, a hunting outfitter business and a ...

Where others see stumbling blocks, Kentucky farmer Joe Nichols sees building blocks. That’s how he’s built such a successful and diversified business. And he built it from scratch, starting as a teenager. Today, Seven Springs Farms spans 25,000 acres of row crops and more than 10,000 head of cattle. As a true grow getter, he also has developed side businesses such as manufacturing erosion-control blankets and selling cr...

When Bri Stagge came home to Greensburg, Indiana, after college to help out on the fourth-generation family farm a few years ago, she didn’t plan on starting a side business or on meeting Dustin Osborne, who is now her husband. But she did both. Bri and Dustin join Davis on this episode of Grow Getters to talk about how they started their own company — Osborne Ag Services — to help diversify the farm operation. Th...

As teenagers, Dave and Jean Gottenborg dreamed of owning a cattle ranch. After decades of delay, they finally achieved their dream. They now raise cattle and sell award-winning beef and hay at Eagle Rock Ranch, perched 9,000 feet above sea level in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Dave and his daughter, Erin, join Davis on this episode of Grow Getters to tell their amazing story.

Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers...

Iowa ag producer Kelly Garrett stays very busy growing corn and raising cattle, but his entrepreneurial spirit drives him to start side businesses to extend an impressive, vertically integrated operation. From trucking companies to digital advisory platforms, a direct-to-consumer beef business to a gas station/restaurant, he’s always hustling. On this episode of Grow Getters, he explains how — and why — he does it.

Grow Getters tak...

Well-known ag influencer Tara Vander Dussen (aka the New Mexico Milkmaid) joins Davis on this episode of Grow Getters to tell how she went from being a reluctant dairy farmer to a vital voice for the industry. She’s a busy mom, wife, environmental consultant, podcast host and public speaker, but she’s probably best known for her social media presence, which has drawn a great many followers. A quintessential grow getter, Tara explai...

When the goat dairy she was running wasn’t quite paying the bills, Penny Bowers-Schebel started a side business — Formality Bridal. Located in a tiny rural Ohio town, the shop has an ingenious business model, buying never-worn, sample bridal gowns from high-end boutiques and selling them for less than a thousand dollars. The idea worked and she now owns two profitable stores. The daily transition from milking a herd of American Alp...

To kick off National Pork Month (AKA “Porktober”), Unscripted hosts Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths welcome PORK magazine’s editor Jennifer Shike to the podcast. She provides plenty of insider insights on the state of the pork industry, from biosecurity to challenging markets to the impact of Hurricane Helene on North Carolina producers. Jennifer also reveals that she’ll soon fill a host’s chair herself on The PORK Podcast, which...

As prices on row crops sagged back in 2015, the Smith family in southern Michigan decided to try producing ancient grains on their seventh-generation farm. They grew teff, an Ethiopian grain, and began using it to make a new snack called Teffola. It’s now sold in health food stores throughout the Midwest. On this episode of Grow Getters, Claire Smith, who is literally allergic to farming, explains how she returned home to run this ...

Moving their farm operation more than 1,400 miles — from Maryland to Waco, Texas, — was quite a challenge for fourth-generation farmer Taylor Huffman and her family. After settling onto their new farm, they battled everything from record-setting drought to brutal heat to an invasion of fire ants that decimated their pumpkin crop. But this year their annual fall festival at Western Belle Farms is ready to go, complete with a cannon ...

When your farm is located right in Chicago’s backyard, you need to get more from every acre. Illinois farmer Jamie Walter joins us on Grow Getters to explain how he and his dad diversified their operation by making whiskey with their corn crop. Whiskey Acres is now an award-winning brand with a wide range of spirits and a popular tour stop for bourbon fans.

Grow Getters takes a lively look at creative ways farmers are plugging into...

Nebraska cattle rancher, social media influencer and popular public speaker Natalie Kovarik has built a large and fervent following by showcasing and celebrating western culture and the world of agriculture. She joins host Davis Michaelsen on this episode of Grow Getters to talk about her varied entrepreneurial efforts and to explain her message about bridging the gap between rural and urban people, helping all of us to understand ...

Iowa’s Naomi Gretter, Sky Hahn and Kari Berg were busy schoolteachers, married to busy farmers and raising busy kids. With so many responsibilities, their lives had become a grind. So they decided to grind coffee beans instead. They started a new business — Rural Revival Coffee Truck — and hit the road. On this episode of Grow Getters, they tell host Davis Michaelsen how their ingenious side hustle gives them more time for family, ...

When Ty and Tracy Woodard’s infant son needed brain surgery, they relied on their strong faith, expert doctors and a special blanket a nurse gave them. Two years later, with their son fully recovered, Tracy had a dream of starting a business making blankets from cotton grown on their South Carolina farm. That business, called Covered in Cotton, is now a thriving enterprise. On this episode of Grow Getters, Ty and Tracy share their ...