Beyond The Crops

Mary Pat Sass + Jena Ochsner
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Jena & MP bring a unique perspective to the world of agriculture, offering a blend of humor, heart, and wisdom honed from their combined years on the farm. With a deep passion for their families, their farms, and the communities they call home, these two farmwives delve into the daily triumphs and tribulations that come from rural living. They discuss everything from the latest advancements in agriculture and the art of balancing family with farm duties to the time-honored traditions and recipes that make life on the farm so special. Their stories will make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings, and inspire you to see the beauty in the ordinary moments of life. "Beyond The Crops" is not just a podcast for farmers; it's for anyone who appreciates the enduring values of hard work, resilience, and the simple joys of living close to the land. Whether you're an urban dweller curious about rural life or a fellow farm enthusiast, you'll find something to love in the genuine and heartfelt conversations of Jena & MP.  Subscribe today and be a part of their journey as they cultivate a deeper appreciation for the remarkable world of agriculture.

  1. 1 day ago

    171. Harvest Survival Guide: Little Things Getting Us Through

    Harvest season is busy, exhausting, and sometimes a little chaotic, so we’re sharing the little things helping us get through it! From meal prepping and decluttering to favorite drinks, better routines, and finding small pockets of joy in the middle of a full season, these are the things making everyday life feel a little easier. We talk homemade tortillas, fall crafts with the kids, five-minute makeup routines, favorite kitchen finds, and the importance of making time for what grounds us most. And we wrap things up with a reminder from Ecclesiastes about keeping our eyes on what really matters, even when life feels overwhelming. In this episode: Freezer meal prep to make busy harvest days easierSmall habits that help us manage stress and find gratitudeFavorite afternoon drinks, coffee alternatives, and tea findsDecluttering and simplifying during a busy seasonSleep, breathing, and other wellness habits we’re exploringThe unexpected joy of making homemade tortillasFall crafts, outdoor lunches, and little adventures with the kidsFive-minute makeup routines and doing what makes you feel goodFavorite products, from honey and tallow lip balm to carbon steel cookwareFinding peace and perspective through time in God’s Word🙌 Join the Conversation! What’s helping you get through a busy or challenging season? We’d love to hear from you! Send us a message on Instagram at  @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

  2. 20 Oct

    170. Feeding the Crew: Field Meals & Harvest Hacks

    What’s for lunch in the field? During harvest, keeping everyone fed while juggling a million other things can be a job all on its own. Jena and Mary Pat chat about their field meal routines, prepping hot lunches, and the tools that make feeding their farmers a little easier—including a Milwaukee lunch warmer that’s become a harvest favorite. They also share the reality of a challenging harvest, disappointing yields, and supporting your farmer when the season isn’t going as planned. Plus, they talk about homeschool co-ops, grocery delivery, and finding ways to take a few things off your plate when life gets busy. In this episode: Feeding the crew during the busy harvest seasonPrepping and packing hot meals for the fieldThe Milwaukee lunch warmer: how it works and why they love itField meal inspiration from The Seed Life CookbookSupporting your farmer through a difficult harvestGrocery delivery and other ways to lighten your workloadFinding a rhythm when your plate is already fullLINKS:  Seed Life CookBooks! Use code JENA for discount.   New episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

  3. 13 Oct

    169. Listener Q & A: Finding Your Place on the Farm and Fighting Imposter Syndrome

    Have you ever felt like you don’t quite belong on your own farm, or wondered if what you do really matters? This week, Jena and Mary Pat answer listener questions about imposter syndrome, finding your role in a family farming operation, and giving yourself credit for the work that happens behind the scenes. They also talk about the transition into marriage and farm life, especially when you’re joining your spouse’s family farm. From communication and changing expectations to building trust and giving yourself grace, they share what they’ve learned along the way—and why you don’t have to have it all figured out right away. In this episode: Feeling like an imposter on your own farmWhy not all valuable farm work shows up on a balance sheetGiving yourself credit for the work you do behind the scenesNavigating the first year of marriage and changes in family lifeCommunicating with your spouse about your needs and expectationsBuilding trust with your spouse’s familyGiving yourself grace as your role changesChoosing to grow through life’s inevitable changesNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

  4. 6 Oct

    168. Holding Things With an Open Hand

    Harvest is not going the way Jena and Mary Pat hoped this year. With weeks of rain, delayed harvest, crop disease, and plenty of uncertainty, they’re learning firsthand that sometimes the things you work hardest for are completely outside your control. They talk about the pressure to have a record year, dealing with tar spot, and the reminder that not every year will be a record year—and that’s okay. Jena also shares about some of the difficult things happening behind the scenes in her family’s life and how faith, prayer, community, and past trials are helping them navigate this season. In this episode: A delayed and difficult harvestExcessive rain and crop diseaseLearning to hold things with an open handWhy not every year can be a record yearFinding hope in hard seasonsPrayer, faith, and leaning on your peopleCreating small, intentional spiritual habitsGiving ourselves and others graceNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

  5. 29 Sept

    167. Growing Chickens For Costco with Hannah Borg

    What does it look like to build a future on the family farm? This week, Jena and Mary Pat are joined by Hannah Borg, a sixth-generation Nebraska farmer who found her own path home through an unexpected opportunity: raising chickens for Costco. Hannah shares how her family diversified their farm to create opportunities for the next generation, what it’s like raising 65,000 chickens, and how the chicken operation fits alongside their crops and cattle. They also talk about the importance of manure management and soil health, entrepreneurship, working with family, and the value of finding your own place within a family operation. Plus, Hannah shares her passion for farm photography and documenting the everyday moments that become family history, along with a personal health journey that led her to explore tongue and lip ties, breathing, and sleep. In this episode: Creating opportunities for the next generation on the family farmHannah’s family’s diversified chicken, cattle, and crop operationRaising chickens for CostcoThe chicken supply chain from farm to processingBiosecurity and the challenges of avian influenzaUsing livestock manure and chicken litter to build soil healthEntrepreneurship and the UNL Engler Entrepreneurship ProgramFinding your own path and purpose on the farmWorking with parents and siblingsFarm photography and “finding the magic in the mundane”Documenting family, farm, and agricultural historyHannah’s personal health and wellness journeyThe legacy of a multi-generation family farmNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

  6. 22 Sept

    166. Making Farm Life Work for Your Family. You Don't Have To Do It All

    What happens when you’re new to farm life, working a job, raising kids, and trying to keep up with the demands of harvest? Jena and Mary Pat have been there—and in this episode, they’re sharing what they’ve learned along the way. They talk about over-communicating with your spouse and family, setting expectations before harvest, recognizing burnout, making room for rest, and asking for help when you need it. They also get real about motherhood, bringing a new baby into farm life, protecting time for yourself, and why taking a true day of rest can make busy seasons more sustainable. Plus, Jena shares an update on her home build and the mold issues they’ve encountered, and the two friends talk about finding support through hard seasons, taking care of your mental health, and praying with your spouse. In this episode: Advice for new farm wives and farm momsCommunicating and setting expectations before harvestBalancing an off-farm job with farm lifeRecognizing burnout and knowing when to ask for helpBringing a new baby into the farm lifestyleMaking time for yourself and protecting your restThe importance of a true day of rest during harvestJena’s home build and mold challengesFinding professional and community supportPrayer, faith, and getting through hard seasons togetherNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

  7. 15 Sept

    165. Ready or Not, Harvest Is Here

    Harvest has officially started for some farmers, and Jena and Mary Pat are talking about what that means—from getting equipment ready to having serious conversations with their kids about farm safety. They also recap their time at the Farm Progress Show, including a family rail bike adventure, Seed Life, Red Ants Pants, Case IH equipment, unpredictable weather, and plenty of farm-show fun. Plus, they talk about bringing kids to farm shows, making time for family, and learning to slow down and enjoy the experience—even when things don't go exactly as planned. In this episode: Harvest is starting earlier than expectedFarm safety and keeping kids safe during harvestFamily adventures at Farm Progress ShowRail biking with the kidsSeed Life and Red Ants PantsCase IH’s 2026 America 250 displayFarm show weather dramaBringing kids to farm showsGetting ready for the rhythm of harvestNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

  8. 8 Sept

    164. Harvest Is Coming, Faith Is Growing & Making Time for Yourself

    Harvest is right around the corner, but before the combines roll, Jena and Mary Pat are squeezing in a little fun, faith, and family time. This week, they recap Becknology Days and Farm Wives Club, talk about independent agricultural research and Beck’s incredible Root Reveal greenhouses, and share some of the women who inspired them along the way. They also get personal about adult baptism, motherhood, mom guilt, and learning to make time for yourself—even when it feels like there’s always something else that needs to be done. Plus: House of Colour, women’s workwear from Red Ants Pants, a 20-mile run, and getting ready for Farm Progress! In this episode: Jena’s adult baptism and growing deeper in faithBecknology Days & Beck’s Practical Farm ResearchRoot Reveal technology and hybrid selectionFarm Wives Club and inspiring women in agricultureHouse of Colour and finding colors that work for youMom guilt and making time for yourselfRed Ants Pants women’s workwearGetting ready for harvest and Farm ProgressNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line!  Leave us a Voice Message! We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!

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About

Jena & MP bring a unique perspective to the world of agriculture, offering a blend of humor, heart, and wisdom honed from their combined years on the farm. With a deep passion for their families, their farms, and the communities they call home, these two farmwives delve into the daily triumphs and tribulations that come from rural living. They discuss everything from the latest advancements in agriculture and the art of balancing family with farm duties to the time-honored traditions and recipes that make life on the farm so special. Their stories will make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings, and inspire you to see the beauty in the ordinary moments of life. "Beyond The Crops" is not just a podcast for farmers; it's for anyone who appreciates the enduring values of hard work, resilience, and the simple joys of living close to the land. Whether you're an urban dweller curious about rural life or a fellow farm enthusiast, you'll find something to love in the genuine and heartfelt conversations of Jena & MP.  Subscribe today and be a part of their journey as they cultivate a deeper appreciation for the remarkable world of agriculture.

Information

  • Creator
    Mary Pat Sass + Jena Ochsner
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    171
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond The Crops
  • Show Website
    Beyond The Crops

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