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. 17H AGO

    How Ag Startups Actually Get Funded (and Built) | Brennan Costello – The Combine (Part 2)

    How do ag startup ideas actually turn into real companies? In Part 2 of this conversation, Brennan Costello breaks down how entrepreneurs move from idea to prototype to funding — and what it really takes to build a scalable ag tech business. He shares real Nebraska success stories and explains why the state is becoming a hub for agricultural innovation. Building Nebraska is powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

    13 min

  2. MAR 12

    Why Some Ag Startups Succeed… and Others Fail | Brennan Costello - The Combine

    Why do some ag startups take off while others struggle to gain traction? In this episode of Building Nebraska, we sit down with Brennan Costello, Director of The Combine at Nebraska Innovation Campus, to talk about what separates successful ag entrepreneurs from the rest. Costello shares lessons from working with founders across the ag tech space, including why testing ideas in the real market — even when it’s uncomfortable — is critical to building a business that lasts. Building Nebraska is powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

    12 min

  3. MAR 5

    Building a New Industry: The $250M Salmon Project in Nebraska City

    Could cargo planes full of salmon soon be landing in Nebraska? On this episode of the Building Nebraska Podcast, Bryce sits down with entrepreneur Kiel VanderVeen, the founder behind a proposed $250 million salmon processing facility in Nebraska City. The idea started as a hobby. VanderVeen and his wife built a small aquaponics system in a greenhouse outside town, raising salmon and growing leafy greens using nutrient-rich water. But after a devastating fire destroyed their entire facility, the vision for what could come next only grew bigger. Now VanderVeen and his team are proposing a new model that could reshape how fresh seafood reaches American consumers. Instead of waiting weeks for imported salmon to travel through traditional supply chains, the plan is to fly fish directly to the Midwest for processing, dramatically reducing the time it takes to reach grocery stores. If built, the project could bring high-tech food manufacturing jobs, a major expansion of Nebraska City’s tax base, and a new industry to rural Nebraska. In this conversation, VanderVeen explains: • Why salmon makes economic sense in Nebraska • How cargo jets full of fish could shorten the seafood supply chain • The pivot that followed a devastating fire • What a $250 million facility could mean for southeast Nebraska • And how the U.S. could someday produce far more of its own seafood The Building Nebraska Podcast is brought to you by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln — empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs to build businesses and opportunities across rural America.

    8 min

  4. FEB 19

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026

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