Built to Grow: Financial leadership for agribusiness owners who want to cultivate growth.

Mason Brady
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Built to Grow is a podcast for agribusiness owners who want to grow valuable enterprises. Hosted by Mason Brady, a 15-year agribusiness supply chain and finance leader, the show focuses on real-world financial leadership for farming, food, and ag-based businesses. We talk about cash flow management, financing, profitability improvement, growth strategy, risk management, and the decisions that matter most as agribusinesses scale.

Episodes

  1. Controller vs. CFO: What Does Your Ag Business Actually Need?

    May 28

    Controller vs. CFO: What Does Your Ag Business Actually Need?

    Does your ag business actually need a CFO — or is a great controller the smarter move right now? In this solo episode, Mason Brady breaks down one of the most common questions he gets from growing ag operations: what’s the real difference between a controller and a CFO, and how do you know which one your business actually needs? Mason walks through the distinct roles, what great looks like in each seat, and the revenue and complexity thresholds that should guide your decision — including when fractional makes more sense than full-time. Topics We Cover (0:00) – Why ag businesses ask the controller vs. CFO question (3:35) – What a great controller actually does (5:30) – Controller vs. accounting manager vs. bookkeeper (7:54) – What a CFO focuses on that a controller doesn’t (9:00) – Budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management (9:47) – Managing bank and third-party relationships (13:28) – Big-picture decisions: acquisitions, expansion, financing (15:00) – The $20M revenue threshold and what it means (17:26) – When entity complexity changes the equation (20:18) – Fractional vs. full-time: how to decide (21:16) – Getting the right fit — and not overspending on overhead Links & Resources 🌐 Brady CFO: https://bradycfo.com/ 🎙️ Connect with Mason Brady: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrady/ Built to Grow is the podcast for agribusiness owners who want to grow valuable enterprises. Every episode brings you real financial leadership and business strategy built specifically for farming, food, and ag-based businesses. Follow, rate, review, and share. Questions or topic ideas? Reach out at marketing@bradycfo.com

    23 min
  2. How to Identify, Buy, and Turn Around a Distressed Ag Business

    May 14

    How to Identify, Buy, and Turn Around a Distressed Ag Business

    Is the ag business you’re looking at truly distressed — or is there something valuable buried underneath the balance sheet? In this episode, Mason Brady and returning guest Landon Friend dig into the growing wave of distressed ag businesses what’s causing them, how to spot one worth buying, and what a real turnaround looks like from day one through the first year. They cover the buy-vs-build decision, what to look for in a distressed asset, a 30/60/90-day playbook for operators, and why transparent communication with stakeholders is the move most owners get wrong. Links & Resources 🌐 Brady CFO | Fractional CFO Services for gribusiness: https://bradycfo.com/ 🤝 Connect with Landon Friend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/landonfriend/ 🎤️ Connect with Mason Brady: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrady/ Built to Grow is the podcast for agribusiness owners who want to grow valuable enterprises. Every episode brings you real financial leadership and business strategy built specifically for farming, food, and ag-based businesses. Follow, rate, review, and share. Questions or topic ideas? Reach out at marketing@bradycfo.com

    58 min
  3. Sales Tax Compliance for Agribusiness: How to Avoid a Costly Audit

    Apr 30

    Sales Tax Compliance for Agribusiness: How to Avoid a Costly Audit

    Is your agribusiness selling into multiple states without knowing the tax obligations that come with it? Most agribusiness owners don’t think about state and local tax until they’re in an audit. In this episode of Built to Grow, Mason sits down with Robin Klinghagen, CPA and Managing Director at Andersen with over 25 years of SALT (State and Local Tax) experience, to break down what every ag owner needs to know about sales tax compliance, exemption certificates, and the Wayfair decision before it becomes a costly problem. Topics We Cover 00:19 - What SALT (State and Local Tax) actually means and why it matters for ag businesses 03:00 - The 12,000+ sales tax jurisdictions and why every state is different 06:00 - The Wayfair Supreme Court decision and how it changed everything for businesses shipping product 10:00 - Sales tax thresholds: when does your agribusiness become responsible to collect and remit? 13:00 - Exemption certificates: the #1 audit risk most ag businesses aren’t managing 16:00 - Tax incentives and exemptions available for agribusinesses expanding into new states 19:00 - When to hire a SALT specialist vs. relying on your general CPA 21:00 - How to scale your tax function as your agribusiness grows Links & Resources Andersen | State & Local Tax Services: https://andersen.com/ Brady CFO | Fractional CFO Services for Agribusiness: https://bradycfo.com 🤝 Connect with Robin Klinghagen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-klinghagen-cpa-766b8127/ 🎤️ Connect with Mason Brady: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrady/ Built to Grow is the podcast for agribusiness owners who want to grow valuable enterprises. Every episode brings you real financial leadership and business strategy built specifically for farming, food, and ag-based businesses. Follow, rate, review, and share. Questions or topic ideas? Reach out at marketing@bradycfo.com #agribusinessmanagement #agriculture #agribusiness #businessowner #taxes2026 #agribusinesspodcast #salt

    29 min
  4. How to Get an Ag Loan: What Ag Capital Providers Are Really Looking For

    Apr 16

    How to Get an Ag Loan: What Ag Capital Providers Are Really Looking For

    Are you walking into your lender’s office with a loan application or with a strategy? Mason had Landon Friend back on the show for a second conversation about understanding how to secure ag loans and position yourself as a serious operator when it's time to make the big capital ask.  Topics We Cover 00:00 -  What capital providers are really looking for: durability, cash flow and real estate 04:15 -  The two buckets: real estate collateral vs. working capital and what each requires 07:08 -  Why vertical integration makes your ag business more attractive to investors 09:23 -  How to prove you’re a good operator on the working capital side 11:04  The four steps to setting yourself up for a successful capital ask 15:49 -  Why the bank relationship is mutual — and how to interview your lender 18:00 -  Understanding credit thresholds: who makes decisions at what level 20:25 -  Why the best interest rate should never be your only decision factor Links & Resources Brady CFO | Fractional CFO Services for Agribusinesshttps://bradycfo.com 🤝 Connect with Landon Friendhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/landonfriend/  🤝 Connect with Mason Bradyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrady/ Built to Grow is the podcast for agribusiness owners who want to grow valuable enterprises. Every episode brings you real financial leadership and business strategy built specifically for farming, food, and ag-based businesses. Follow, rate, review, and share. Questions or topic ideas? Reach out at marketing@bradycfo.com

    23 min
  5. The Software Implementation Guide Every Agribusiness Owner Needs

    Apr 2

    The Software Implementation Guide Every Agribusiness Owner Needs

    Is your agribusiness investing in new software without a real plan to get your team ready for it? The truth is, most agribusiness owners don’t fail at buying software. They fail at implementing it. We sat down with Bryan Burkholder, founder of Cadence and specialist in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) implementation and change management, to talk about what separates the ag businesses that get it right from the ones that end up with a costly mistake and a team ready to quit.   This episode is for you if you’re an agribusiness owner considering a major systems upgrade, trying to recover from one that didn’t go as planned, or wondering how to use AI and IoT tools to scale your operation without blowing up your overhead.     Topics We Cover •      00:00 -  Why your software vendor’s team isn’t enough •      06:05 -  A real $70K implementation nightmare and what Brady CFO walked into •      08:32 -  The nightmare PE rollup: four companies, one project manager, zero results •      12:40 -  The real cost of underestimating change management •      14:41 -  The marching band metaphor every agribusiness owner needs to hear •      20:00 -  How to think about ROI from a systems upgrade •      26:10 -  Why your ERP dashboard probably isn’t your analytics tool •      28:52 -  The role of a fractional CIO in agribusiness •      36:17 -  IoT, AI, and how even $40M ag businesses can afford to build at scale     Links & Resources •      Cadence — ERP Implementation & Change Management: https://cadenceconsultants.com/  •      Brady CFO — Fractional CFO Services for Agribusiness: https://bradycfo.com/ •      🤝 Connect with Bryan Burkholder: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanburkholder1/  •      🎤️ Connect with Mason Brady: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrady/    Built to Grow is the podcast for agribusiness owners who want to grow valuable enterprises. Every episode brings you real financial leadership and business strategy built specifically for farming, food, and ag-based businesses. Follow, rate, review, and share. Questions or topic ideas? Reach out at marketing@bradycfo.com

    39 min
  6. Agribusiness Financing Explained: Farm Credit, Banks, and Private Capital

    Mar 19

    Agribusiness Financing Explained: Farm Credit, Banks, and Private Capital

    What are the real financing options available to agribusiness owners today and how do you choose the right one? In this episode of Built to Grow, Mason Brady sits down with Landon Friend, VP of Portfolio Operations at Tiverton, to break down how agribusiness owners should think about capital. From Farm Credit and traditional banks to Farmer Mac lenders and private capital, they walk through how each option works, where it fits, and why choosing the right financing strategy can make or break your operation. Topics We Cover 00:00 - Introduction to the agribusiness capital marketplace 04:48 - Why understanding your financing options matters in agriculture 08:18 - How Farm Credit loans work and who they’re best for 11:03 - Why Farm Credit financing is often cheaper but more conservative 14:11 - The difference between Farm Credit and traditional banks 18:48 - How deposit relationships affect bank lending decisions 22:14 - Understanding Farmer Mac lenders and farmland financing 25:04 - The growing role of private equity and private debt in agriculture 31:40 - Key challenges agribusinesses face when raising capital 36:54 - Why relying on a single lender can be risky for operators Links & ResourcesTiverton | Farmer-first lendinghttps://www.tiverton.ag Brady CFO | Fractional CFO Services for Agribusinesshttps://bradycfo.com 🤝 Connect with Landon Friendhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/landonfriend/  🤝 Connect with Mason Bradyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrady/ If you enjoyed this episode of Built to Grow, be sure to follow, rate, review, and share the podcast. New episodes drop every other week, bringing practical conversations to help food and ag businesses manage risk, protect cash flow, and grow with confidence.

    41 min

  7. Mar 5

    Wage & Hour Claims, Workers’ Comp Fraud, and the Policies Every Agribusiness Needs ┃Built to Grow

    Do you know what happens to your business the moment an employee files a claim against you? In this episode of Built to Grow, Mason is joined by Matt Luis, Vice President at James G Parker Insurance Associates, for part two of their conversation on what real risk management looks like for agribusiness owners. They go beyond policy types to examine the specific claims that are hitting the industry hardest and what businesses can actually do about them. From wage and hour class action suits that insurance won't fully cover, to workers' comp claims inflated by legal pressure, to the auto liability exposure that comes with any business-owned vehicle, Matt breaks down where coverage falls short and how to build a more defensible operation. Topics We Cover 00:02:13 - Why EPLI claims are the #1 threat to California agribusiness 00:02:48 - The wage and hour coverage gap and why settlements still reach $500K+ 00:10:00 - What EPLI actually covers and how to size your policy 00:15:46 - Business auto and umbrella insurance the exposure most businesses underestimate 00:19:20 - Workers' comp strategy: why carrier selection matters more than coverage limits 00:25:00 - How to evaluate an insurance broker beyond the pitch 00:32:50 - The auto-renewal trap and why your coverage may already be outdated Links & Resources • James G Parker and Associates: https://jgparker.com/ • Brady CFO - Fractional CFO Services for Agribusiness: https://bradycfo.com/ • 🤝 Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpluis/ • 🎙️ Connect with Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrady/ If you enjoyed this episode of Built to Grow, be sure to follow, rate, review, and share the podcast. New episodes drop every other week, bringing practical conversations to help food and ag businesses manage risk, protect cash flow, and and grow with confidence.#agribusiness #agribusinessmanagement

    36 min

  8. Feb 19

    How Smart Agribusiness Operators Protect Their Business Before a Crisis┃Built to Grow

    Are you managing risk, or just renewing insurance every year? In this episode of Built to Grow, Mason is joined by Matt Luis, Vice President at James G Parker Insurance Associates, to discuss how agribusiness owners can protect their operations beyond simply renewing insurance policies. From recall planning and crisis communication to employment exposure, auto liability, and workers’ comp strategy, they break down what real risk management looks like and how proactive leadership — not just coverage — protects margins, operations, and long-term stability. Topics We Cover 00:02:03 - Why insurance renewal is not real risk management 00:11:13 - How strong agribusiness leaders plan before a crisis hits 00:28:50 - A simple quarterly risk framework for farm and ranch operations 00:34:02 - The recall planning mistake that creates chaos 00:43:05 - Why crisis communication matters as much as coverage Links & Resources James G Parker Insurance Associates: https://jgparker.com/  Brady CFO - Fractional CFO Services for Agribusiness: https://bradycfo.com/  🤝 Connect with Mattt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpluis/ 🎙️ Connect with Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrady/ If you enjoyed this episode of Built to Grow, be sure to follow, rate, review, and share the podcast. New episodes drop every other week, bringing practical conversations to help food and ag businesses manage risk, protect cash flow, and grow with confidence.

    45 min

  9. Feb 5

    Accounts Receivable Risk Management in Food & Ag: How to Protect Your Most Overlooked Asset

    How much risk is hiding inside your accounts receivable? In the inaugural episode of Built to Grow, Mason Brady launches a new podcast focused on the food and agriculture industry, starting with one of the most overlooked and misunderstood assets on the balance sheet: Accounts Receivable. In this episode, Mason sits down with Brett Bronstein, Vice President at One Source Risk Management, to unpack why AR risk has intensified across food and ag companies, how recent economic pressure has changed the credit landscape, and what operators can do to protect cash flow while still growing sales. Topics We Cover 0:00 – Why AR is one of the riskiest assets on the balance sheet 2:07 – The current state of the food and ag industry and rising credit risk 3:22 – Inflation, tariffs, weather events, and their impact on food companies 5:59 – Why many food businesses are operating on a thin margin for error 8:25 – Opportunities and challenges heading into 2026 14:42 – Practical AR management strategies beyond insurance 17:17 – PACA, credit limits, and protecting suppliers in fresh produce 22:30 – Making AR accountability part of company culture 26:18 – What trade credit insurance is and how it works 31:51 – How insured receivables can improve bank financing terms 35:40 – Using credit insurance to expand into new markets safely 41:06 – Warning signs customers may not pay and when to take action 🤝 Connect with Brett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-bronstein/ 🎙️ Connect with Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonbrady/ If you enjoyed this episode of Built to Grow, be sure to follow, rate, review, and share the podcast. New episodes drop every other week, bringing practical conversations to help food and ag businesses manage risk, protect cash flow, and grow with confidence.

    47 min

  10. Jan 28

    Built to Grow: Podcast Introduction

    Built to Grow is a biweekly podcast for agribusiness owners focused on making smarter financial decisions as their businesses scale. Hosted by Mason Brady, the show brings together real-world experience from agribusiness supply chains, finance, and industry experts to break down cash flow, profitability, financing, growth strategy, risk management, and the decisions that matter most in agriculture-based businesses.

    1 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Built to Grow is a podcast for agribusiness owners who want to grow valuable enterprises. Hosted by Mason Brady, a 15-year agribusiness supply chain and finance leader, the show focuses on real-world financial leadership for farming, food, and ag-based businesses. We talk about cash flow management, financing, profitability improvement, growth strategy, risk management, and the decisions that matter most as agribusinesses scale.

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