Beyond The Crops

Mary Pat Sass + Jena Ochsner
  • 4.9 (171)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 2D AGO

    146. "Only Grans," Homeschool Plans & Homeopathy

    Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this packed episode, Jena and Mary Pat are catching up on everything from spring break shenanigans and pre-planting progress to some seriously exciting life updates. Mary Pat drops a bombshell announcement that will change her family's life. Plus, Jena gives an incredible deep dive into the world of practical homeopathy, sharing what she's learning in her new class and how you can use it to empower your own family's health. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Spring Break Recaps & Pre-Planting Updates ✅ BIG NEWS: Mary Pat's Family is Homeschooling!  ✅ Homeopathy 101 ✅ Ticks & Lyme Disease Prevention ✅ Hilarious Tangent ✅ "Only Grans" Retreat Update 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Big life changes are scary, but incredibly rewarding. Mary Pat's decision to homeschool is a testament to listening to your heart and making the best choice for your family's unique needs, even if it's unconventional. ✨ Practical homeopathy can be an empowering tool for moms. Learning about basic remedies for common ailments can give you the confidence to care for your family's health in a more natural, proactive way. ✨ Be your own health advocate. Whether it's testing a tick for Lyme disease or exploring alternative medicine, you have the power to take control of your family's well-being. ✨ Flexibility is a superpower. As Jena's "unplanned" spring break shows, having the ability to pivot and adapt to life's curveballs (like sickness) is a huge blessing. ✨ Sometimes the best ideas come from just talking. The "Only Grans" retreat idea is a perfect example of how casual conversations can spark something truly special and needed in a community. 🙌 Join the Conversation! We’d love to hear from you! Are you homeschooling? What's your #1 piece of advice? Or do you have a go-to homeopathic remedy you love? Share your stories and tag us Share your thoughts and tag us @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!

    41 min

  2. APR 28

    145. "It's a Long Haul": Lessons from the '80s for Today's Tough Farm Economy

    Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this very special episode, Jena and Mary Pat are joined by a beloved repeat guest who just so happened to be sleeping in the basement: Mary Pat's dad, Jack! As a farmer who started his career in the incredibly tough economy of the 1980s, Jack brings a lifetime of wisdom and a much-needed perspective to the challenges facing farmers today. From navigating 17% interest rates to the advice that kept him going when a lender told him to quit, this is a powerful conversation about resilience, faith, and the long-haul mindset it takes to build a generational farm. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Meet Jack (Again!): An introduction to Mary Pat's dad and his journey back to the family farm in 1981, leaving a stable management job to take over an operation that was in tough shape. ✅ Farming in the '80s: A sobering look at the economic realities of the '80s farm crisis, including navigating interest rates as high as 17-18% and watching his farm's value plummet by 40% in just four years. ✅ "I'll Let You Know When I'm Ready to Quit": Jack shares the powerful story of when his lender told him he was broke and should give up, and the sheer stubbornness and faith that kept him going. ✅ The Long-Haul Mindset: Jack's core philosophy for survival: your average cost of production must be lower than your average income over the long haul. It's not about one single year. ✅ Efficiency & Innovation: How his focus on efficiency allowed their family dairy to triple milk production per cow and triple crop production on the same acreage over his career. ✅ A Father's Perspective on Farmland: Jack shares his strong opinions on converting productive farmland for solar panels and data centers, and the long-term risks of undervaluing our agricultural land. ✅ The Biggest Advancement He's Seen: Jack points to advancements in seed genetics as the most significant change in his career, allowing for more targeted and reduced chemical use. ✅ Hilarious & Heartwarming Stories: From Mary Pat's childhood "job" as Calf Health Manager to her aggressive grain truck driving and the time she got her bus driver's license in college. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Farming is a long-haul game. Don't get discouraged by one tough year. The key to long-term survival is managing your averages and focusing on efficiency. ✨ Faith and stubbornness are a powerful combination. When the numbers look bleak and the world tells you to quit, a deep-seated belief in what you're doing (and a refusal to give up) can see you through the darkest times. ✨ Your lender relationship is crucial. In good times and bad, maintaining open communication and a strong relationship with your lender is vital. ✨ Productive farmland is a finite, precious resource. We must be thoughtful and forward-thinking about how we use our best land, as decisions made today will have long-term consequences on our food supply. ✨ Hard work and a good attitude are timeless. The lessons learned from a generation that endured the '80s farm crisis—efficiency, perseverance, and faith—are just as relevant for farmers navigating the challenges of today. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes. 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!

    44 min

  3. APR 21

    144. The Parts We Don't Post: Navigating Stress, Finding Hope & What Really Matters

    Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! This week, Jena and Mary Pat are pulling back the curtain to talk about the parts of farm life you don't always see on social media. After a quick update on their pre-planting progress (or lack thereof, thanks to rain!), they dive into an honest conversation about the unseen pressures and struggles that come with the farming lifestyle. From financial stress and weather anxiety to marital strain during busy seasons, this is a raw and relatable look at the realities that exist beyond the highlight reel. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Pre-Planting Update ✅ A Tangent on Tabs ✅ The Parts We Don't Post * Weather Anxiety: The constant stress of watching the forecast, the helplessness of seeing storms ravage your crop, and the silent toll it takes on farmers. * Financial Pressure: A real talk about the gut-wrenching reality of high inputs and low markets in the current farm economy, and the misconception that farmers are "rich" just because they have big equipment. * Burnout & Exhaustion: The intense physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that comes with busy seasons and the importance of recognizing your limits. * Marriage Strain: How the pressure of busy seasons can create tension in a marriage, the danger of unmet expectations, and the importance of intentional communication. ✅ How to Thrive, Not Just Survive: They shift to practical advice for navigating these challenges. * Take Care of Yourself: Mary Pat emphasizes Elaine Froese's advice to prioritize your spiritual, mental, and physical health so you can show up for your family. * Communicate Intentionally: Jena shares a simple but powerful daily check-in for couples: "What's in your head? What's on your heart? How can I help you today?" * Set Boundaries: The importance of saying "no" to protect your time and peace, even to good things like school dances. ✅ A Final Word of Encouragement: A reminder that while every farm's situation is unique, many of the struggles are universal. You are not alone in the hard stuff. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Everyone is fighting an unseen battle. The highlight reel on social media never tells the full story. Remember that behind every smiling picture, there are real-life pressures and struggles. ✨ The weather's impact is more than just physical; it's emotional. The constant uncertainty and lack of control over the weather is a significant source of stress for farm families. ✨ Open communication is the antidote to assumptions. Unmet expectations are a major source of conflict, especially during busy seasons. Intentionally checking in with your spouse is crucial. ✨ Your well-being is not optional. Prioritizing your spiritual, mental, and physical health isn't a luxury; it's a necessity that equips you to handle the demands of farm life and support your family well. ✨ It's okay to not post the hard stuff. You don't owe the world every detail of your struggle. The goal is to inspire and educate, not to add to the noise. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes. 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!

    57 min

  4. APR 14

    143. You Cannot Farm Without Faith: Finding Hope in a Tough Farm Economy

    Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this heartfelt and timely episode, Jena and Mary Pat tackle a heavy topic that's on the minds of so many in agriculture right now: how to find hope and encourage your husband during a tough farm economy. Inspired by a vulnerable listener message, they set aside their planned topic to offer encouragement, practical advice, and a powerful reminder of where our true hope lies, especially as planting season begins. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ A Prayer for Planting & Holy Week: Jena opens with a prayer for the upcoming season, asking for safety, patience, and a steadfast faith for all farm families, especially in a year with low markets and high inputs. ✅ "You Are Not Alone": They start by addressing a listener's DM about the fear and anxiety surrounding the tough farm economy after a neighbor's farm was shut down by the bank. ✅ The Long Haul Perspective: Mary Pat shares wisdom from her dad, a farmer who started in the '80s: farming is a long-term game where the goal is for your average income to be higher than your average cost over many years, not just one. ✅ The Ultimate Encouragement: Faith: Jena shares the powerful message from her grandma's needlepoint sign: "Who plants a seed beneath the sod and waits to see, believes in God." They discuss how leaning on faith and giving anxieties to the Lord is the most crucial step in navigating uncertainty. ✅ How to Practically Support Your Husband: * Pray for him specifically—for his physical body, his mental clarity, and for peace over the decisions he has to make. * Get curious. Ask questions to understand what's on his mind and heart. * Jena shares a simple but powerful daily check-in: "What's in your head? What's on your heart? How can I help you today?" ✅ Building Your Own Resilience: A deep dive into how resilience isn't something you just have; it's something you build through small, daily habits like exercise, prayer, and gratitude, which prepares you for the hard seasons before they arrive. ✅ A Mindset Shift on Self-Care: Jena offers a powerful reframe, viewing self-care not as selfish "self-love," but as biblically honoring your body as the temple God gave you so you can better serve your family. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ You cannot farm without faith. In years where the numbers don't pencil out, trusting in God's provision and sovereignty is the ultimate source of peace and strength. ✨ Your support as a farm wife is a powerful ministry. Praying for your husband, encouraging open communication, and being his helper are vital roles, especially during high-stress seasons. ✨ Resilience is built in the calm, not the storm. The small, daily habits of self-care (spiritual, mental, and physical) are what build the strength you'll need to withstand the tough times. ✨ Focus on the long-term average, not just the short-term crisis. Farming is a career of ups and downs. One tough year does not define the entire journey. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes. 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!

    34 min

  5. APR 7

    142. Building Seed Life: Katie Dowson on Entrepreneurship, Motherhood & Faith

    Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this inspiring episode, Jena and Mary Pat are thrilled to welcome their friend and fellow entrepreneur, Katie Dowson. As the founder of Seed Life, a mom of three girls, and a farm wife, Katie's story is one of faith, grit, and incredible passion. She shares her journey of leaving a job she hated to build a business from the ground up, the realities of balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood and farm life, and the powerful reason she started running. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Meet Katie Dowson: An introduction to Katie, her background in agriculture, and her journey from livestock judging to becoming a "mompreneur." ✅ The Leap of Faith: Katie shares her story of quitting a secure but unfulfilling job just eight months in to follow her passion back to her family's farm, even for a significant pay cut. ✅ The Birth of Seed Life: How she identified a need for downstream seed treating and built her business from an idea, including the story behind the name: becoming the "Salt Life of the Midwest." ✅ From Seed to Swag: The evolution of Seed Life from a seed treatment service to a beloved apparel brand that allows everyone—farmers and non-farmers alike—to support agriculture. ✅ The Entrepreneurial Grind: Katie gets real about the early years—not paying herself for three to four years, selling Younique makeup on the side, and embracing being "uncomfy" to build her dream. ✅ Balancing Business, Farm & Family: How she and her husband Adam use daily communication (at 5 AM!) to stay connected and support each other's busy schedules, especially during planting season. ✅ The Power of Praying Together: Katie shares how starting to pray with her husband, while awkward at first, has profoundly deepened their connection and strengthened their marriage. ✅ Running for Mental Health: A powerful testimony on how she started running to combat postpartum anxiety and how it has become a non-negotiable mental and spiritual practice for her to disconnect and fill her cup. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Life's too short to be unhappy. Taking a leap of faith to quit a job that drains you can open the door to your true passion and a more fulfilling life, even if it's harder in the short term. ✨ The "overnight success" you see online is often built on years of unpaid work, side hustles, and embracing being uncomfortable. The entrepreneurial journey requires grit and perseverance. ✨ Daily communication is the bedrock of a strong farm marriage. Even a short, intentional check-in each morning can keep you and your spouse feeling like a team during chaotic seasons. ✨ Finding "me time" isn't selfish; it's essential. Carving out time for something that fills your cup—like running or a hobby—is crucial for your mental health and makes you a better mom, wife, and business owner. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes. Find Katie on Instagram: @kt.dowson  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!

    42 min

  6. APR 1

    141. Holy Week Reflection: Navigating Faith, Farming & Pre-Planting Pressure

    Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! As Holy Week approaches and the pre-planting buzz is in the air, Jena and Mary Pat sit down for a candid catch-up on everything happening in their worlds. After opening with a beautiful prayer for the Easter season and the upcoming planting rush, they dive into spring break recaps, health updates, and a powerful discussion about the role of agriculture in the national conversation. From cookie competitions and wildfire relief to Ag Week at the White House, this episode is a perfect blend of real-life moments and thought-provoking conversation. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Pre-Planting & Spring Break Updates ✅ Wildfires in the Sandhills ✅ National Ag Week at the White House ✅ Navigating Social Media Hate ✅ A Deep Dive into the Old Testament ✅ Focusing on the True Meaning of Easter ✅ "Only Grans" - A New Retreat Idea?  💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Prepare your heart for the season. As both Holy Week and planting season approach, it's a perfect time to focus on what truly matters: your faith, your family, and trusting in God's plan. ✨ Agriculture's story needs to be told. When farmers are given a platform, like at the White House, it's an opportunity to represent the industry and bridge the gap with the non-farming public. ✨ Respect the position, even if you don't agree with the person. Showing respect for our nation's leaders is a principle that transcends politics. ✨ The Old Testament is dense, but its lessons are timeless. The stories of failure, grace, and redemption from thousands of years ago are just as relevant to our lives today. ✨ The greatest joy is found in community and shared wisdom. Whether it's rallying around ranchers during a wildfire or brainstorming a retreat to learn old-fashioned skills, we are better together. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes. 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!

    45 min

  7. MAR 24

    140. A Season of New Beginnings: Product Launches, Half-Marathon Training & A Heartfelt Chat

    Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! As planting season quickly approaches, Jena and Mary Pat sit down for a much-needed catch-up on all the exciting things happening in their lives. From big business launches and ambitious new fitness goals to a major vehicle upgrade, this conversation is packed with life updates, practical tips, and a heartfelt reflection on what truly matters. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Weather Whiplash & Planting Prep: A real-time update on the wild pre-planting weather, from 98-degree days and wildfires to snowstorms, and how it's impacting their prep work. ✅ Mary Pat's New Ride: She's officially an SUV mom! Mary Pat shares the details of her new Ford Expedition and they discuss the pros and cons of hands-free driving technology like BlueCruise and Super Cruise. ✅ Half-Marathon Training: They're both embarking on a half-marathon training journey! They discuss their motivations, the Peloton training program they're using, and the hunt for the perfect gravel-running shoes. ✅ BIG LAUNCH! Beef's Best Friend: Jena officially introduces her brand-new, clean-ingredient seasoning, "Beef's Best Friend." ✅ ANOTHER NEW PRODUCT! The Skillet Stick: Jena also launched another genius product from Farm Wife Tallow – the "Skillet Stick," which is cooking tallow in a convenient, no-mess, push-pop style tube. ✅ Business & Life Updates: Mary Pat gives an update on Grounded Journals, sharing her ideas for a future "Farmer/Ranch Kid Memory Book" and the importance of giving yourself grace to let projects evolve at their own pace. ✅ A Heartfelt Reflection: The conversation takes a poignant turn as Mary Pat reflects on recent family losses and the profound realization of what truly matters: being present and available for the people you love. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Setting boundaries is crucial, especially heading into a busy season. Knowing when to say "no" protects your time and energy for what's most important. ✨ Find a need and fill it. Many successful small businesses, like Jena's "Beef's Best Friend," are born from a personal need for a cleaner, better product. ✨ Innovation isn't just for big equipment. Simple, convenient products like the Skillet Stick can make daily life easier and more enjoyable. ✨ It's okay to let ideas simmer. Not every project needs to be on a fast track. Sometimes the best creations come after a season of rest and reflection. ✨ Your most important role is being present for your family. Amidst all the business ventures and farm tasks, the ultimate goal is to be there for the people who need you most. Links You Need:  Grounded Journals: https://www.groundedjournals.co/ Beef's Best Friend: https://goodlifebeefne.com/ Skillet Stick: https://www.farmwifetallow.com/products/skillet-stick Farm Wife Tallow: https://www.farmwifetallow.com/collections/skin-cooking 🙌 Join the Conversation! Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes. 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!

    35 min

  8. MAR 10

    139. Commodity Classic Recap and Manifesting Our Big Idea for Farm Women

    Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! After a couple of weeks apart, Jena and Mary Pat are catching up on everything they've been up to, and this episode is all about Commodity Classic. With Jena holding down the fort at home, Mary Pat reports back from the massive farm show in San Antonio. From haunted hotels and exciting new ag tech to connecting with listeners and putting a big idea out into the universe, she's sharing all the highlights. Plus, they get into some hilarious travel horror stories and a few real-life running escapades. 📌 What We Cover in This Episode: ✅ Mary Pat Goes to Commodity Classic: A full recap of her trip to the massive farm show in San Antonio, which saw a record attendance of over 12,000 people. ✅ The Coolest Tech on the Trade Show Floor: * Biologicals: An explosion of new biological fungicides and pesticides from innovative companies. * Aptera: A fascinating "crunchy" technology that structures irrigation water to mimic rainwater for better soil penetration and efficiency. ✅ Community & Connection: Mary Pat shares how meeting and reconnecting with listeners in person is her favorite part of the show, and the power of putting faces to names. ✅ A Big Idea for Future Shows: Putting it out into the universe! Jena and Mary Pat share their vision for creating a dedicated space or workshop for farm women at future Commodity Classic events to tackle topics like succession and mental health. ✅ An Unexpected Opportunity: Mary Pat recounts a chance encounter with the Fellowship of Christian Farmers that led to a potential opportunity to lead a worship service at a future show. ✅ Travel Horror Stories: Jena shares an absolutely wild story of being stranded by an airline after a previous Commodity Classic, complete with a mad dash through DFW, a rude gate agent, and a middle-of-the-night rescue from her trucker brother. ✅ Running Escapades: They trade stories about their recent running adventures, from Jena's terrifying run-in with a skunk on a gravel road to Mary Pat's run being cut short by a call from the school nurse. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✨ Go to the farm show! Events like Commodity Classic are invaluable for learning about new technology, making connections, and getting a pulse on the future of the industry. ✨ Innovation is happening everywhere. From biologicals to water structuring technology, companies are constantly developing new tools to help farmers be more efficient and sustainable. ✨ The people are the best part. The real value of attending these events is the opportunity to connect with fellow farmers, industry experts, and friends from across the country. ✨ There's a need for more women-focused content in agriculture. Creating intentional spaces for farm women to learn and connect is crucial for the health of our families and businesses. ✨ Advocate for yourself (even at the airport). While it doesn't always work out, don't be afraid to speak up and fight for what's right when you're faced with terrible customer service. 🙌 Join the Conversation! Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes. 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!

    52 min
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4.9
out of 5
171 Ratings

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
    146
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond The Crops
  • Show Website
    Beyond The Crops

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