Barnyard Language

Caite Palmer and Arlene Hunter
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Real talk about running farms and raising families. Whether your farm is a raised bed in your backyard or 10,000 acres and whether your family is in the planning stages or you've got 12 kids, we're glad you found us! No sales, no religious conversion, no drama. Just honest talk from two mamas who know what it's like when everyone is telling you to just get all your meals delivered and do all your shopping online, but your internet is too slow and you've got cows to feed.

  1. 6d ago

    Family Roots and Hemp Shoots with Morgan Tweet, CEO of IND Hemp

    Arlene and Caite sit down this week with Morgan Tweet, CEO of IND Hemp in Fort Benton, Montana, discuss “growing” her young family, the industrial hemp industry, and a Black Angus cow-calf herd on about 1,200 acres along the Missouri River. IND Hemp, founded in 2019 with her father, employs about 55 people across two Montana locations and has worked with roughly 40 growers, managing over 30,000 hemp acres, with facilities for fiber decortication and seed processing. She explains hemp’s three production categories (grain, fiber/biomass, and floral/cannabinoids), contrasting planting densities, compliance risk, and equipment needs, and addresses hemp’s prohibition history. The company sells B2B hemp hearts, oil, protein, hurd (mainly animal bedding), and fiber for insulation, automotive panels, wipes, erosion control, and emerging textiles. She describes advocacy in DC, feed approval work for hemp seed meal in laying hens via the Hemp Feed Coalition, and her education efforts as “The Industry Mama,” alongside reflections on parenting, childcare, and ranch life. We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch. If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

    1h 8m

  2. Jun 4

    Rural Resilience: Will Westmoreland on Farming, Politics, and Community

    Will Westmoreland, a Missouri agroforestry grower, discusses focusing on expanding Chinese chestnuts and developing gluten-free chestnut flour, after past work with elderberries and a family cow-calf operation. He explains chestnut production timelines (fruit in 3–5 years, heavy yields in 8–10) and uses in silvopasture, and describes building retail products through his large Back 40 following. Westmoreland founded The Back 40 as rural advocacy to counter stereotypes about rural voters and address rural decline driven by out-migration, weak local economies, and policy neglect. He outlines Back 40’s priorities: rural-framed local policy, health access awareness, voter empowerment, and economic resilience, emphasizing major rural healthcare shortfalls, education engagement, broadband/infrastructure investment, and constructive persuasion over culture-war issues. He argues immigration can revive small towns and shares where to find him and Back 40 online. We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch. If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

    1h 32m

  3. May 21

    Balancing Act: Parenting, Farming, and Advocacy with Anna Pesek

    This week, Caite and Arlene interview Iowa farmer, Anna Pesek of Over the Moon in rural Delaware County, about what she’s “growing”: farrow-to-finish purebred Berkshire hogs, pasture-raised chickens and turkeys, a meat business, alternative supply chains, and a two-year-old. Anna describes scaling from two to 21 sows, finishing about 100 pigs a year with hopes of 200+, raising a couple thousand birds, aggregating meat with other young farmers, and balancing an off-farm remote job. She shares her Massachusetts-to-Iowa path through ag education, policy work, and advocacy organizations, and highlights Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Savings Incentives Program and Chop Local’s role in building direct-to-consumer meat sales before moving to overthemoonmeat.com. They discuss how parenting changed farm priorities, childcare supported by nearby family, mom guilt and travel for advocacy, and concerns about USDA cuts to land-access training programs, plus a host’s uncertainty over a potential high-speed rail route. We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch. If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

    51 min

  4. May 7

    Grace, Grit and Lipstick with  Shelby Watson Hampton

    In this conversation with Shelby Watson Hampton, the first Maryland and first vineyard guest, describes her family’s five-acre estate vineyard and on-farm winery (six grape varieties; planted 2014; winery opened 2017) where they grow, harvest, process, bottle, and sell wine, plus a wedding barn converted from horse stables. Her husband manages the vineyard and works for the county soil conservation district; they have a four-year-old son and she is pregnant with their second child. Shelby explains vineyard labor, harvest timing, and staffing without H-2A, compares agritourism realities, and shares her family’s farm evolution from tobacco and hogs (since 1955) to a tree nursery and early agritourism, then to the current business after her grandfather’s death. She advises on succession planning, zoning/permitting for agritourism, recommends NAFDMA, discusses winery sales/shipping, wedding mishaps, her 2023 book “Grace, Grit, and Lipstick,” parenting challenges, and a recent loss of six pet chickens to a dog. We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch. If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

    1h 6m

  5. Apr 23

    We Don't Talk Politics but We’re Making an Exception: A Conversation With Rob Sand, Candidate for Iowa Governor

    In this episode of Barnyard Language, Caite and Arlene sit down with Rob Sand to talk about family, leadership, and what it really means to “grow” something meaningful. Rob shares about raising his two sons, building a strong marriage, and his work in public service. He also gives insight into his run for governor, including his goal of hosting town halls in every county to bring people together across political lines. The conversation touches on political reform, why he believes independent voters deserve a stronger voice, and what motivated him to run after changes limited the auditor’s ability to investigate taxpayer spending. We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch. If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

    31 min

  6. Apr 9

    Farm Girls Unfiltered: Adult Friendships, Feral Children and Coffee Pot Confessions

    Arlene and Caite recap post-Easter farm life—wrapping an easy lambing season, prepping for fieldwork, and navigating spring weather, a sump pump issue, and water system quirks. They share family updates, including a new driver and college acceptance, then welcome Annaliese and Court from the “Ag's Most Okayest Farm Girls” podcast. Together, they chat about rural life across Wisconsin and Iowa/Canada, building friendships (online and off), parenting through social dynamics, small-town culture, and a few lighthearted rants—ending with county fair goals and where to connect online. We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch. If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

    1h 13m

  7. Mar 26

    John Deere Tractor History Through the Eyes of an Archivist with Neil Dahlstrom

    This week, Caite and Arlene interview Neil Dahlstrom from the Quad Cities, an archivist at John Deere who manages historical records, collections, antique equipment, and corporate art; he says he cannot collect John Deere items personally due to ethics rules. Dahlstrom, who lacks a farming background, describes his path into archives and his interest in research and historical mysteries, while also “growing” his nearly 16-year-old son and new writing projects. He discusses his books: a Civil War press-freedom story (“Lincoln’s Wrath”), a biography of John and Charles Deere (“The John Deere Story”), and “Tractor Wars” (1908–1928) on tractor origins and the roles of Ford, International Harvester, and Deere, including forgotten brands, fraud prompting standards like the Nebraska Test Lab, long adoption curves, and implement changes. He explains how “Tractor Wars” became an Iowa PBS documentary, and reflects on why history matters. Don’t miss it! We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch. If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

    1h 8m

  8. Mar 12

    Crop Insurance, Advocating and Family Dynamics in Agriculture with Suzy Brandt

    In this engaging conversation, Suzy Brandt shares her experiences as a dairy farmer and mother, discussing the challenges and joys of balancing family life with agricultural responsibilities. The discussion delves into the importance of crop insurance, the impact of climate change on farming, and the vital role of community support in rural living. Suzy also reflects on her personal growth, parenting challenges, and the significance of communication and accountability in raising children. The conversation highlights the realities of modern farming and the interconnectedness of family, work, and community. We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch. If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

    1h 15m
See All (222)

5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Real talk about running farms and raising families. Whether your farm is a raised bed in your backyard or 10,000 acres and whether your family is in the planning stages or you've got 12 kids, we're glad you found us! No sales, no religious conversion, no drama. Just honest talk from two mamas who know what it's like when everyone is telling you to just get all your meals delivered and do all your shopping online, but your internet is too slow and you've got cows to feed.

Information

  • Creator
    Caite Palmer and Arlene Hunter
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    222
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Caite Palmer and Arlene Hunter
  • Show Website
    Barnyard Language

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