The Ranch Rolodex: Connecting ranchers with resources

Derek Jackson, Zach Hopson, & Daniel Unruh
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Biweekly

The Ranch Rolodex is where ranching, business, and relationships come together. Hosted by Derek Jackson, Zach Hopson, and Daniel Unruh, the show is built around conversations with the people who know what it means to start from nothing and build something real. From cattle and land deals to entrepreneurship, leadership, and hard-earned life lessons, the guys sit down with ranchers, businessmen, mentors, and friends who helped shape their journey along the way. Every episode pulls a new contact from “The Ranch Rolodex” — the kind of people you call when there’s a problem to solve, a deal to make, or wisdom to pass down. These are stories about grit, faith, risk, stewardship, and the relationships that build ranches, businesses, and communities from the ground up. Whether you’re in agriculture, business, or just appreciate authentic conversations with people who have earned their stripes, this podcast brings you inside the world behind the brand. Welcome to The Ranch Rolodex.

  1. 5d ago

    13. Some Things Are Worth Gathering For: Courage, Craft, and Carrying The West Forward with Nicky Tiffany

    Some things are worth gathering for, and in Council Grove, Kansas, that has been true since the days of the Santa Fe Trail. In this episode, Derek’s wife, Kerri, takes over the host seat as she sits down with Nicky Tiffany, owner of the Territory Ballroom in Council Grove. They talk about how a historic trailhead town became a modern hub for rural community, and how Nicky reimagined the Gathering in the Grove as a showcase for Western women artists. Nicky has turned a fading fine art show into an event that celebrates handmade Western art, from silversmithing and leatherwork to pottery and upholstery, made by women who are raising families and working in agriculture across the Flint Hills. They preview this year’s Gathering in the Grove, which is happening on November 13 & 14, 2026. The event features keynote speaker Danna Larson of Rural Revival and a live and online auction of a one-of-a-kind chair made collaboratively by the artists. Proceeds go to a new fund that offers grants to help rural women grow their craft. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Connect with Nicky: Check out Nicky’s websiteFollow on Instagram @theterritoryballroomFollow on Instagram @ntiffany1Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Facebook Connect with Kerri: Follow on Instagram @theranchcreatives and @jacksonforgeks Connect with us: Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on Instagram @theranchrolodexFollow on FacebookCheck out the website Resources & Links: Learn more about Gathering in the GroveScholarship PledgeScholarship ApplicationPodcast Music by Cade FoehnerCheck out the Territory BallroomSign up for our email list so you never miss an episode

  2. Oct 21

    12. Cash or Credit: An Access to Capital Conversation with Derek, Zach & Dan

    Access to capital can be one of the biggest barriers to building a ranching business, especially when cattle, equipment, and land all come with a hefty price tag. In this episode, Derek, Zach, and Dan share how they’ve financed their own operations, from conventional loans and FSA financing to private investors and self-financing. They discuss the trade-offs between borrowing money and using your own capital, including how each approach affects growth, risk, and your ability to seize opportunities. They also dig into the importance of building relationships with lenders, managing cash flow, and keeping working capital available for the right deal. Each operation has a different approach, shaped by its goals, resources, and comfort with debt. They also discuss whether more government support is needed to help beginning ranchers access capital and why they ultimately see capital as an even bigger barrier than land. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Connect with us: Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on Instagram @theranchrolodexFollow on FacebookCheck out the website Resources & Links: Episode 3. There's No One Way to Ranch: Toby Holsted's Story of Leaving the Family Farm and His Path to ProfitabilityEpisode 11. Owning Dirt vs. Building a Ranch: A Land Access Discussion2025 Bluestem Pasture ReportScholarship PledgeScholarship ApplicationPodcast Music by Cade FoehnerCheck out the Territory BallroomSign up for our email list so you never miss an episode

  3. Oct 14

    11. Owning Dirt vs. Building a Ranch: A Land Access Discussion with Derek, Zach, and Dan

    Everyone wants to own the dirt they’re ranching on, but what if owning land isn’t always the best way to build a ranching business? In this episode, Derek, Zach, and Dan dig into the tradeoffs between buying and leasing ground, drawing from their own experiences building ranch businesses with limited capital. They discuss how land ownership affects cash flow, why controlling productive land can matter more than owning it, and how the right approach can change as a business grows. The conversation then moves beyond buy versus rent to the relationships that make land access possible. The guys talk about building a strong reputation as an operator, creating win-win arrangements with landowners, and why a rancher’s legacy doesn’t necessarily have to be tied to owning dirt. They also wrestle with when buying land does make sense and why the answer ultimately depends on your capital, stage of business, and goals. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Connect with us: Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on Instagram @theranchrolodexFollow on FacebookCheck out the website Resources & Links: Episode 10: What 10 Years Away Taught a Fifth-Generation Rancher with Logan Pribbeno of Wine Glass RanchScholarship PledgeScholarship ApplicationPodcast Music by Cade FoehnerCheck out the Territory BallroomSign up for our email list so you never miss an episode

  4. Oct 7

    10. What 10 Years Away Taught a Fifth-Generation Rancher with Logan Pribbeno

    What happens when a fifth-generation rancher is required to leave the family operation for ten years before he can come back? In this episode of the Ranch Rolodex, Derek sits down with Logan Pribbeno, of Wine Glass Ranch in Southwest Nebraska, a multi-generational ranch that's been in his family for 140 years. Logan's family had a rule: leave the state, leave agriculture, and stay gone for a decade. He spent those years studying economics at UC Santa Barbara and working in Silicon Valley finance through the Great Recession, and he came home viewing the ranch as a business first. Derek and Logan dig into how that time away shaped his approach to ranch finances, from treating cattle as financial instruments to waging war on overhead and using long-term mortgage debt as an inflation hedge. They close on ranch succession, the K-shaped economy, and how Logan structured his operation so he can leave for six months while the business keeps improving. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Connect with Logan: Check out his websiteFollow on XFollow his podcast, Running on Grass Connect with us: Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on Instagram @theranchrolodexFollow on FacebookCheck out the website Resources & Links: Episode 5: How Profitable Ranchers Think Differently with John HaskellScholarship PledgeScholarship ApplicationPodcast Music by Cade FoehnerCheck out the Territory BallroomSign up for our email list so you never miss an episode

  5. Sep 30

    9. The Real Cost of Rebuilding the Cow Herd: a Conversation with Zach, Dan, and Derek

    Everyone says America needs to rebuild the cow herd, but what does it actually take for a rancher to keep back heifers when the market won't give them confidence? In this episode, Zach, Dan, and Derek dig into the cattle market volatility and political noise pressuring producers right now. They look at the latest cattle inventory numbers, why heifer retention isn't the same as herd expansion, and dive into the USDA’s LRP program. The conversation then moves past the headlines to the long-term threats to the U.S. beef supply including urban sprawl, the disappearing tallgrass prairie, generational land transitions, and the barriers beginning ranchers face in accessing land and capital. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Connect with us: Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on Instagram @theranchrolodex Follow on FacebookCheck out the website Resources & Links: Scholarship PledgeScholarship ApplicationPodcast Music by Cade FoehnerCheck out the Territory BallroomSign up for our email list so you never miss an episode

  6. Sep 23

    8. Know Exactly What You Want: How a Clear Vision Makes Every Ranch Decision Easier - with the Vision Flight Team

    What if the biggest thing holding your ranch back isn’t your resources, your genetics, or your market, but actually not knowing exactly what you’re building toward. In this episode, hosts Derek, Daniel, and Zach sit down with the Vision Flight team to unpack why mission and vision aren’t just corporate buzzwords but essential tools for ranch decision-making, family alignment, and long-term profitability. The conversation walks through real examples of ranchers and families that used the Vision Flight process to move past vague goals and uncover the deeper interests driving those goals. Often finding that clarity changes the entire direction of their business and personal lives. No matter what season of life or ranching you’re in, tune into this episode to learn about the power of a practical framework for turning aspirations into a written plan you can act on. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Connect with Vision Flight: Check out their websiteFollow them on Facebook Connect with us: Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on Instagram @theranchrolodex Follow on FacebookCheck out the website Resources & Links: Use code ROLODEX20 to get 20% off your Vision Flight experience (valid through the end of 2026)Scholarship PledgeScholarship ApplicationPodcast Music by Cade FoehnerCheck out the Territory BallroomSign up for our email list so you never miss an episode

  7. Sep 16

    7. The Profit Is in the Buyback: Sell/Buy Marketing with Daniel, Zach and Derek

    Most cattlemen are taught to buy low and sell high, but what if the real profit lives in what you buy back, not what you sell? In this episode, Daniel, Zach, and Derek break down sell/buy marketing, a cash-flow-driven approach to cattle trading that flips the traditional buy/sell mindset on its head. Instead of hoping the market rewards you at sale time, sell/buy marketing locks in your margin upfront by selling the overvalued animal and immediately identifying an undervalued buyback. Turning a cow herd into a continuously appreciating asset instead of a once-a-year calf check. The guys share the core numbers and formulas you need to know, walk through examples in real time, and even dive into the emotional side of ranching, with the ultimate goal of sharing sell/buy marketing not as the only way to successfully ranch, but as an option of a way to successfully ranch. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Connect with us: Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on Instagram @theranchrolodex Follow on FacebookCheck out the website Resources & Links: Doug Ferguson Mr CattlemasterWally Olson & Ranching.FYIRanching for ProfitKLR MarketingScholarship PledgeScholarship ApplicationPodcast Music by Cade FoehnerCheck out the Territory BallroomSign up for our email list so you never miss an episode

  8. Sep 9

    6. Building More Than a Business: Creating a Ripple Effect in Rural America with Nicky Tiffany

    In this episode, Derek sits down with Nicky Tiffany and their conversation digs into confidence, courage, and what it actually takes to go first. Whether that's revitalizing a historic building, starting a side hustle, or stepping into a new season of life you don't feel ready for. They talk about the difference between performance-based confidence and the real thing, why growth requires the courage to stop doing everything yourself, and how a rural Kansas town became an unlikely hub for ranchers, entrepreneurs, and women rediscovering their own value. Whether you're weighing a big leap of your own or just need permission to believe your gifts are worth something, this episode offers a grounded, practical look at what it means to build something that outlasts you. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Connect with Nicky: The Territory Ballroom website and Instagram @theterritoryballroomHer website and Instagram @nickytiffanylegacycoach Connect with us: Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on Instagram @theranchrolodex Follow on FacebookCheck out the website Resources & Links: Scholarship PledgeScholarship ApplicationPodcast Music by Cade FoehnerCheck out the Territory BallroomSign up for our email list so you never miss an episode

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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Ranch Rolodex is where ranching, business, and relationships come together. Hosted by Derek Jackson, Zach Hopson, and Daniel Unruh, the show is built around conversations with the people who know what it means to start from nothing and build something real. From cattle and land deals to entrepreneurship, leadership, and hard-earned life lessons, the guys sit down with ranchers, businessmen, mentors, and friends who helped shape their journey along the way. Every episode pulls a new contact from “The Ranch Rolodex” — the kind of people you call when there’s a problem to solve, a deal to make, or wisdom to pass down. These are stories about grit, faith, risk, stewardship, and the relationships that build ranches, businesses, and communities from the ground up. Whether you’re in agriculture, business, or just appreciate authentic conversations with people who have earned their stripes, this podcast brings you inside the world behind the brand. Welcome to The Ranch Rolodex.

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