Building Nebraska

Rural Radio Network
  • 5.0 (3)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

A podcast for dreamers AND do-ers. We'll ignite your passion for entrepreneurship and showcase those who turn ideas into reality. A podcast produced by the Rural Radio Network and powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneu

  1. 3D AGO

    Entrepreneurship, Marriage & Motherhood | Hannah Klitz, Oak Barn Beef (Part 2)

    Presented by the Engler Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In Part 2 of our conversation with Hannah Klitz, founder of Oak Barn Beef, we move beyond business strategy and into life behind the storefront. Hannah and her husband Eric met through the Engler Entrepreneurship Program and now run their West Point-based beef company together — while raising two young daughters inside the rhythm of the business. She shares what it means to: • Build a company with your spouse • Balance motherhood and entrepreneurship • Embrace Engler’s hands-on, mentorship-driven mindset • Navigate a crowded direct-to-consumer beef market • Invest in rural communities If you missed Part 1, be sure to listen to the business story behind Oak Barn Beef’s growth into a nationwide brand.

    10 min

  2. FEB 12

    From College Startup to 50-State Beef Brand | Hannah Klitz, Oak Barn Beef (Part 1)

    Hannah Klitz was just 20 years old when she launched Oak Barn Beef as a sophomore in college. Today, the West Point, Nebraska-based company raises cattle, operates a storefront, and ships dry-aged, Nebraska-raised beef to customers in all 50 states. In Part 1 of this conversation, Hannah shares how she built a direct-to-consumer beef brand from scratch — including learning how to ship a perishable product, developing an e-commerce strategy, working with local processors, and navigating historically high cattle prices. This is a story about grit, logistics, rural entrepreneurship, and scaling a business from a college idea into a nationwide operation. Part 2 drops next week. Presented by the Engler Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln

    13 min

  3. JAN 29

    Baby Boomers: How Retiring Farmers Fuel Big Iron’s Online Auction Momentum | Building Nebraska

    As more farm families retire and look to reduce risk, Big Iron Auctions is seeing continued growth in its online auction model, according to co-founder Mark Stock. Stock discussed the company’s evolution and current business dynamics on Part 2 of the Building Nebraska podcast, powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Stock, who started the auction business with his brother Ron, said the company’s data shows online auctions consistently outperform traditional open-outcry sales. He said the trend is being driven largely by retiring baby boomers who want certainty as they exit agriculture. Stock said Big Iron’s growth has also depended on staying focused while continuing to adapt, including embracing new technology. Hear how Big Iron Auctions has grown from a Nebraska startup into a nationwide online auction company, remaining rooted in people, from employees to sellers navigating some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. Building Nebraska is powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

    13 min

  4. JAN 22

    Seeing the Shift: Why Big Iron Auctions Went Online Before It Was Normal | Building Nebraska

    In Part 1 of the Building Nebraska podcast, Mark Stock—co-founder of Big Iron Auctions—shares how a willingness to experiment with technology years ahead of the curve reshaped the auction business. Long before online bidding was widely trusted in agriculture, Mark and his brother Ron were testing real-time internet auctions. This episode dives into the importance of timing, trust, transparency, and knowing when to change—without losing the values that built your business in the first place. Building Nebraska is brought to you by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

    14 min

  5. JAN 8

    Turning Toilets Into a Luxury Business: The Stahla Services Story

    Most people don’t think about restrooms — until they need one. Grant and Erin Stahla built Stahla Services LLC, a Nebraska-based company that provides high-end mobile restroom, shower, locker room, and specialty trailers for construction sites, commercial remodels, disaster response, and major events across the country. What started as a college startup operating out of a metal shop outside Lincoln has grown into a national operation rooted in quality, culture, and intentional leadership. On this episode of Building Nebraska, the Stahlas share how they scaled an asset-heavy service business, navigated cash-flow pressure, hired for culture first, and learned how to run a growing company together as husband and wife — without losing sight of their values. This episode is proudly powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

    29 min

  6. 12/18/2025

    Building Amigos: Risk, Resilience, and a Nebraska Restaurant Icon

    Before Amigos became a familiar name across Nebraska, it was just a husband and wife with an idea. In this episode of Building Nebraska, we sit down with Roger and Jan Moore, the founders of Amigos, to hear the full story behind one of Nebraska’s most recognizable restaurant brands. From opening their first location in Lincoln in 1980 to growing the business to 30 stores statewide, the Moores share what it really took to build Amigos from the ground up. They talk about 18-hour days, sleeping in the restaurant, fierce fast-food competition, closing locations when necessary, and navigating major disruptions like COVID-19. You’ll also hear how Amigos has adapted over time—from drive-thru shifts and food courts to grocery store products, food trucks, and national shipping. Along the way, Roger and Jan share hard-earned lessons on risk-taking, hiring great managers, employee ownership, and what they look for in future leaders. It’s a candid conversation about perseverance, humility, and building a business that treats customers like friends. This is the Amigos story—on Building Nebraska.

    27 min

  7. 11/25/2025

    Season One Recap With The Engler Entrepreneurship Program | Building Nebraska

    Entrepreneurship doesn’t care where you come from. It doesn’t care about your GPA, your hometown, your age, or your background. And in Nebraska, wherever you go—from a kindergarten classroom in Omaha to the wide-open rangeland near Cody—you’ll find people with a shared belief: Nobody’s coming to rescue us, so let's get to work. That no-nonsense spirit is at the heart of the latest episode of the Building Nebraska podcast. Recorded inside the Rural Radio Network’s Lincoln studios, this special edition brings together two of the people behind the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program: Director Tom Field and Chief Creative Officer Hailey DeMers, to reflect on the stories that shaped Season One and preview the journey ahead. A Year of Showcasing Real Entrepreneurs Season One traveled the state to spotlight the everyday innovators who are building businesses, building communities, and building Nebraska. Field and DeMers share how the Engler community has been behind the podcast from the start. Their mission: to highlight the untold stories of Nebraska entrepreneurs who aren’t chasing yachts or tech hype, but rather those who are creating legacy businesses that strengthen rural communities. Inside the Engler Entrepreneurship Program For those unfamiliar with Engler, Field breaks down the program's unique approach: helping students do entrepreneurship long before others might think they’re ready. Unlike traditional programs centered on high-growth tech, Engler focuses on purpose-driven, community-rooted businesses. Students learn by building: from the entry-level 101 course to the famous $50 business class, where students are handed $50 to launch something real. One standout example? LS Lures launched in the Engler Garage and is now selling nationwide. More than 90% of Engler alumni stay in Nebraska or return to their rural roots—building companies that pump millions into the local economy. Engler’s last impact report showed nearly $150 million in cumulative revenue and more than 140 jobs created within a decade. Entrepreneurship in the Real World One of the big conversations in this episode centers around a reality every business owner faces: pivoting, failing, and starting again. DeMers shares stories of students who’ve lost entire hard drives, or who’ve had to scrap and rebuild their companies. Engler teaches that failure isn’t an identity, but rather a stepping stone. Field emphasizes the power of community, reminding listeners that the most important work is always still ahead. And that even in places like Tecumseh, innovation blooms in unexpected places, including programs teaching entrepreneurship to the incarcerated. Looking Ahead to Season Two Field and DeMers close the conversation with a message to future entrepreneurs: the Engler Program is open-armed and open-sourced. Whether you're a student, a dreamer, or someone with an idea you can’t shake, Engler’s mission is to invest in your potential and help you build something that matters. Season Two of Building Nebraska promises even more journeys across the state to capture the stories of the innovators, growers, makers, and doers shaping Nebraska’s future.

    26 min

  8. 11/13/2025

    How a Farm Crisis Floated a New Industry: The Story Behind Valentine’s Tubing Boom | Building Nebraska

    When cattle prices crashed during the farm crisis of the 1980s, rural Nebraska faced a hard question: what’s next? For farmers and ranchers near Valentine, the answer came not from the pasture, but from the Niobrara River. In this episode of Building Nebraska, host Rebel Adamson visits with Mary Mercure of Brewers, Canoers, and Tubers to learn how a simple idea to boost local tourism turned into a thriving river recreation industry. Mercure explains that her husband’s parents were local teachers who saw opportunity in the scenic waterways of Cherry County. “They were on a board looking for another avenue for Valentine,” she says. “They hired a group to do a study, and that’s when they realized the Niobrara River could be a new resource.” What started as a few canoes on the water became the roots of what’s now known as Nebraska’s tubing capital. Today, that legacy lives on. Thousands of visitors each summer come from across the Midwest to float the Niobrara, bringing a major boost to Valentine’s restaurants, campgrounds, and motels. “They’ve really embraced tourism here,” says Mercure. “Golfing, stargazing, vineyards, local shops, people have found new ways to keep this community vibrant.” What once started as a survival strategy is now a symbol of resilience and reinvention in rural Nebraska. Listen to this episode of Building Nebraska, powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, to hear how Valentine and Cherry County as a whole have embraced tourism as an asset to their community.

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A podcast for dreamers AND do-ers. We'll ignite your passion for entrepreneurship and showcase those who turn ideas into reality. A podcast produced by the Rural Radio Network and powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneu

Information

  • Creator
    Rural Radio Network
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026