Beyond The Crops

Mary Pat Sass + Jena Ochsner
  • 4.9 (194)
  • MZGenre.Podcasts.Education
  • MZPodcastFrequency.Episodic.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. 1d ago

    167. Growing Chickens For Costco with Hannah Borg

    What does it look like to build a future on the family farm? This week, Jena and Mary Pat are joined by Hannah Borg, a sixth-generation Nebraska farmer who found her own path home through an unexpected opportunity: raising chickens for Costco. Hannah shares how her family diversified their farm to create opportunities for the next generation, what it’s like raising 65,000 chickens, and how the chicken operation fits alongside their crops and cattle. They also talk about the importance of manure management and soil health, entrepreneurship, working with family, and the value of finding your own place within a family operation. Plus, Hannah shares her passion for farm photography and documenting the everyday moments that become family history, along with a personal health journey that led her to explore tongue and lip ties, breathing, and sleep. In this episode: Creating opportunities for the next generation on the family farmHannah’s family’s diversified chicken, cattle, and crop operationRaising chickens for CostcoThe chicken supply chain from farm to processingBiosecurity and the challenges of avian influenzaUsing livestock manure and chicken litter to build soil healthEntrepreneurship and the UNL Engler Entrepreneurship ProgramFinding your own path and purpose on the farmWorking with parents and siblingsFarm photography and “finding the magic in the mundane”Documenting family, farm, and agricultural historyHannah’s personal health and wellness journeyThe legacy of a multi-generation family farmNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @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!

  2. Sep 22

    166. Making Farm Life Work for Your Family. You Don't Have To Do It All

    What happens when you’re new to farm life, working a job, raising kids, and trying to keep up with the demands of harvest? Jena and Mary Pat have been there—and in this episode, they’re sharing what they’ve learned along the way. They talk about over-communicating with your spouse and family, setting expectations before harvest, recognizing burnout, making room for rest, and asking for help when you need it. They also get real about motherhood, bringing a new baby into farm life, protecting time for yourself, and why taking a true day of rest can make busy seasons more sustainable. Plus, Jena shares an update on her home build and the mold issues they’ve encountered, and the two friends talk about finding support through hard seasons, taking care of your mental health, and praying with your spouse. In this episode: Advice for new farm wives and farm momsCommunicating and setting expectations before harvestBalancing an off-farm job with farm lifeRecognizing burnout and knowing when to ask for helpBringing a new baby into the farm lifestyleMaking time for yourself and protecting your restThe importance of a true day of rest during harvestJena’s home build and mold challengesFinding professional and community supportPrayer, faith, and getting through hard seasons togetherNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @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!

  3. Sep 15

    165. Ready or Not, Harvest Is Here

    Harvest has officially started for some farmers, and Jena and Mary Pat are talking about what that means—from getting equipment ready to having serious conversations with their kids about farm safety. They also recap their time at the Farm Progress Show, including a family rail bike adventure, Seed Life, Red Ants Pants, Case IH equipment, unpredictable weather, and plenty of farm-show fun. Plus, they talk about bringing kids to farm shows, making time for family, and learning to slow down and enjoy the experience—even when things don't go exactly as planned. In this episode: Harvest is starting earlier than expectedFarm safety and keeping kids safe during harvestFamily adventures at Farm Progress ShowRail biking with the kidsSeed Life and Red Ants PantsCase IH’s 2026 America 250 displayFarm show weather dramaBringing kids to farm showsGetting ready for the rhythm of harvestNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @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!

  4. Sep 8

    164. Harvest Is Coming, Faith Is Growing & Making Time for Yourself

    Harvest is right around the corner, but before the combines roll, Jena and Mary Pat are squeezing in a little fun, faith, and family time. This week, they recap Becknology Days and Farm Wives Club, talk about independent agricultural research and Beck’s incredible Root Reveal greenhouses, and share some of the women who inspired them along the way. They also get personal about adult baptism, motherhood, mom guilt, and learning to make time for yourself—even when it feels like there’s always something else that needs to be done. Plus: House of Colour, women’s workwear from Red Ants Pants, a 20-mile run, and getting ready for Farm Progress! In this episode: Jena’s adult baptism and growing deeper in faithBecknology Days & Beck’s Practical Farm ResearchRoot Reveal technology and hybrid selectionFarm Wives Club and inspiring women in agricultureHouse of Colour and finding colors that work for youMom guilt and making time for yourselfRed Ants Pants women’s workwearGetting ready for harvest and Farm ProgressNew episodes every Tuesday! 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @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!

  5. Sep 1

    163. Tar Spot, Farm Wife Roles & Finding Your Place in Agriculture with Faith Pearson

    What happens when a challenging crop year has you questioning every decision you made? In this episode of Beyond the Crops, Jena and Mary Pat welcome back Faith Pearson, agronomist, seed business owner, farm wife, and self-proclaimed “crunchy agronomist,” for a conversation that goes way beyond what’s happening in the field. The challenge this year has been a corn disease called Tar Spot. Faith breaks down what tar spot is, the weather conditions that can contribute to its spread, and the reality that sometimes farmers can make the best decisions they can with the information they have—and Mother Nature still has the final say. The conversation quickly becomes about something bigger: the pressure farmers put on themselves. Jena shares how much Levi has been beating himself up over the tar spot situation, and the three women talk about the importance of checking in on the farmers in your life, learning from difficult seasons, and remembering that a crop that doesn't meet your expectations isn't necessarily a failure. From there, they dive into the very different roles women can have in agriculture. Whether you're working directly in the field, running a business, marketing grain, raising kids, managing the home, supporting the farm behind the scenes, or doing some combination of all of it—there is no one “right” way to be a farm wife or a woman in agriculture. And, as always, there's a little encouragement woven throughout: you don't have to have everything figured out. Your role can change. Your passions can change. And you can grow through those changes instead of fighting them. In this episode: What tar spot is and how it affects cornWhy weather and leaf wetness matter when it comes to diseaseHybrid selection and fungicide managementWhat this year's unusual weather has meant for cropsLearning from difficult farming seasons instead of beating yourself upThe importance of checking in on the farmers in your lifeWhy you can't have a record-breaking crop every yearThe many different roles women play in agricultureThe value of the work that happens behind the scenesMarketing grain with a different perspectiveFinding your own place in agricultureFollowing what fuels your passionEmbracing change through the different seasons of lifeConnect with Faith: 🎙️ Rhizometrics — available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📧 infinityagsolutions@gmail.com 🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @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!

  6. Aug 25

    162. What Running Has Taught Us About Doing Hard Things

    What started as a way to blow off some steam turned into half-marathons, early morning runs, sore muscles, and a whole lot of lessons about doing hard things. In this episode, Jena and Mary Pat talk about how running has challenged what they thought their bodies were capable of and what it has taught them about discipline, resilience, comparison, and making time for themselves in the middle of busy seasons of life. They talk about starting from very different places, learning to embrace slow runs and recovery, fueling for longer distances, avoiding injury, and realizing that you don't have to be an athlete to become a runner. They also get very honest about the less glamorous side of running… including nervous bathroom emergencies, cornfields, and the surprising freedom of ditching your underwear.  Most importantly, they talk about how building physical resilience can help us carry the other hard things life throws at us and why sometimes the biggest victory is simply proving to yourself that you can do something you once thought was impossible. In this episode:  How Jena and Mary Pat accidentally became runners  Why you don't have to be an athlete to start running  Learning to slow down and embrace easy runs  Fueling, hydration, and what they wish they'd known sooner  Injuries, recovery, and the importance of not rushing the process  The mental game of running and pushing past what your brain tells you  Comparison and learning to run your own race  Finding time to run as a mom  The very real (and very funny) bathroom side of running  Building resilience through physical challenges  Learning that you're capable of more than you think  Keeping fitness in perspective and remembering what matters most🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @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!

  7. Aug 18

    161. Traveling With Kids Made Easier: Food, Road Trips & Screen-Free Activities

    Traveling with kids can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to keep everyone fed, entertained, and happy without relying entirely on screens or fast food. In this episode of Beyond the Crops, Jena and Mary Pat are talking about their best healthy travel and road trip hacks for families. They share tips for packing food through airport security, traveling with kids, keeping road-trip meals simple, and finding ways to entertain kids without handing them an iPad for the entire trip. They also chat about 75 Hard, healthy eating, protein goals, canning salsa, farm life, and the realities of keeping up with healthy habits during a busy summer. Whether you're heading out for a family road trip, flying with kids, or just looking for easier ways to keep your family fed while traveling, this episode is full of practical ideas you can actually use. In this episode:  Healthy foods and snacks to pack when flying  TSA rules for traveling with food, ice packs, and breast milk  Easy road trip meals for families  Road trip organization and reducing car messes  Screen-free travel activities for kids  Travel scavenger hunts, books, podcasts, and Yoto players  How to keep kids entertained without constant screen time  75 Hard and creating healthier habits  Canning salsa and preparing for harvest season🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @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!

  8. Aug 11

    160. Prepping for Harvest and Picking Homeschool Curriculum

    In this episode of Beyond the Crops, Jena and Mary Pat catch up on the realities of late summer farm life, about starting a new homeschool year, choosing curriculum, creating routines, and finding flexibility when farm life, harvest, and family responsibilities don’t always go according to plan. Jena also shares an update on their tiny house project and the challenges of figuring out housing and homeschooling while preparing for harvest and a new baby. The conversation also covers drought, wildfires, farm stress, and the impact of weather on farmers and ranchers, along with a recent family trip to Idaho, hot springs, and making the most of time together before harvest. Plus, they dive into homesteading and food preservation, including canning salsa, marinara, tomato juice, applesauce, pickle relish, and beef. And finally, Mary Pat opens up about struggling with her mental health and ongoing dizziness, finding a new hobby in crochet, and the importance of giving ourselves grace when life feels overwhelming. In this episode: Homeschooling and choosing curriculumCreating routines around farm life and harvestBuilding a tiny house on the farmPregnancy, health, and family transitionsDrought, wildfires, and farming challengesFamily travel and making time for funCanning, gardening, and preserving foodSalsa, marinara, tomato juice, and canned beefFinding hobbies and coping with difficult seasonsMental health and giving yourself graceEncouragement for farm moms heading into a busy season🙌 Join the Conversation! Tag us or send us a DM @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!

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4.9
out of 5
194 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
    167
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond The Crops
  • Show Website
    Beyond The Crops