Off-Farm Income Matt Brechwald

I don't know if you have noticed, but his show is about non-conformists and people who look at the world a different way.  All of us fit that definition a little bit by the mere fact that we want to farm and only 2% of our population is in that career field.  But what about that person that says "why do I have to do it that way"?
Today's guest, Ben Rykerd, is that person.  Ben is now 29 years old.  He describes himself as having a "travel bug" and he has known this since he was a kid.  So, as high school was coming to a close Ben didn't just take the next prescribed step in the journey, he stopped and asked himself what type of life he wanted to have.

Today's Farm Update Episode includes a large announcement about the future of the Off-Farm Income Podcast.  I hope you will all tune in and share this moment with me.

Tip Of The Week
Install a driveway alarm
Rural Crime In The U.S.
https://abc45.com/news/local/thomasville-police-name-suspect-from-april-tractor-theft-truecrime-northcarolina
https://www.dailygazette.com/police-thoroughbred-stolen-from-coxsackie-horse-farm/article_681ab881-bafe-5eaf-b793-94726626f9e6.html
Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above
https://www.clare.fm/news/witnesses-sought-bales-hay-stolen-south-east-clare-farm/
https://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/8621253/bundarra-farmers-battle-40-year-theft-crisis/
https://www.9news.com.au/national/three-charged-after-300-cows-allegedly-stolen/3f915918-78a0-4628-829e-c56602d6cb3e
https://www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/five-lambs-stolen-in-co-kerry-817974
Africa
https://www.mmegi.bw/news/five-in-court-for-stock-theft/news
https://htxt.co.za/2024/05/how-tech-is-helping-fight-cattle-theft-in-eastern-cape/
Chalk One Up For The Good Guys
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/two-men-caught-stealing-75-pounds-of-oranges-from-a-hawaii-farm-cops/ar-AA1gyxTZ?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1
https://www.agdaily.com/livestock/texas-men-guilty-horse-theft/
 

Lynn & Jesse Frey are the owners of Life Root Farm in Stanley, Wisconsin.  These are two people who are definitely listening to and following their inner voices.  Lynn grew up with a mother who was passionate about gardening, and Lynn thought that she would never want to do that.  However, somewhere along the line it clicked and she found herself wanting grow fresh and healthy food for her family.  Jesse grew up on a dairy and was encouraged by his father to go get an education and do something different than farming.  He followed that path but eventually felt himself called back to agriculture.
Today they are in the midst of transitioning from a CSA based business model to one that is centered around growing and marketing heirloom seeds.  With four children to raise and mentor, they are showing them how rewarding a life on the land that connects with nature can be.

I am starting to think that plant breeders are born, not made.  At least every time I interview a young man or woman with this passion it appears that is correct.  In today's interview I am speaking with a junior in high school that has already obtained $10,000 in funding to begin an apple orchard on his high school's property.  Gabe Olson-Jensen is our featured guest, and look at this list of accomplishments:
Started working at a local orchard at age 12 Grafted his first trees at age 12 Obtained land at his school start a 1/4 acre apple orchard in 2020 Applied for and received a $1,000 SAE grant in 2020 Applied for and recieved $9,000 in funding from USDA SARE in 2020 Purchased 200 apple trees and trellising and began the orchard in 2020 Using integrated pest management to sustain and grow the fruit trees Gabe really has an amazing story as so many of these seed breeders do.  Today, we will profile it all for you!

Olivia Vanderwalt is the reporter for the Lee County FFA Chapter, and is just finishing her junior year of high school.  She has a very interesting and unique story.  Part of the story I have heard before.  She grew up in a neighborhood and not on a farm.  So, when she wanted to join the FFA, with no agricultural background, in the 6th Grade her mom wasn't so sure.  So far, there is nothing unusual about this story as parents who aren't familiar with the FFA often wonder why their kids want to get involved in agriculture.
However, there is a twist.  Olivia's mom grew up in England, and her dad grew up in South Africa.  Both of them were exploring the world by taking positions in physical therapy when they met in Florida, and this led them to get married, start a family and settle down in Leesburg.  This has to be the most unique origin story in this town!
Luckily for the FFA, Olivia's mom consented, and Olivia has been significantly engaged in the FFA since 6th Grade.  She is hoping to become her chapter's president during her senior year, and she has been showing dairy heifers and working on a dairy for her SAE for several years.  She also works at her local zoo and gets to educate people about animals and reptiles, allowing them to touch and handle the animals from time to time.