Cattleman’s Corner Extended Edition

Hale Broadcasting

Exclusive content only available online, from a company that’s been on the radio everyday since 1994. Listen in if you want to hear directly from the people who put those delicious steaks on your table!

Episodes

  1. APR 12

    Brandi Iverson Extended Interview on Cattleman's Corner

    A well rounded interview from our co-host David L. Woodruff with Central Montana Rancher and Businesswoman Brandi Iverson. Business Endeavors Brandi Iverson, a former schoolteacher from rural Central Montana, transitioned to entrepreneurship by acquiring a business selling wild rags—cowboy neckerchiefs. This move allowed her to stay home with her children more often while sustaining financial stability. Her business, based in Montana, follows a model where the production is handled by a team of sewists paid per piece, allowing flexibility given her remote location. This setup, which emphasizes local production and fair compensation, has successfully exceeded her previous teaching income. Ranch Operations and Challenges Brandi, alongside her husband, manages a ranch in Petroleum County, Montana, focusing on soil health and sustainable practices such as high-intensity rotational grazing. They handle about 750 cow-calf pairs across both deeded and leased lands, with the goal of improving plant and soil health. The family has faced challenges such as water management, unpredictable weather conditions, grasshoppers, and a fire that required pivotal operational adjustments. Community and Learning Brandi's passion extends to soil health education, taking part in various seminars and workshops, often provided by local organizations like Winnett ACES (Agricultural Community Enhancement and Sustainability). These efforts are important in their small, rural community to foster learning and interaction. Technology and Lifestyle Despite the challenges posed by isolation, modern technology aids in maintaining her social connections. Her husband is training for a pilot's license to expedite travel between their scattered properties. Family and Personal Notes Brandi emphasizes the importance of family and work-life balance. Her family's involvement in rural community services, including volunteer firefighting, underscores their commitment to both their agricultural operations and their community. Future Aspirations and Community Ties The interview highlights the potential for future projects, like introducing horses for 4-H activities for their children, and further utilizing technology to streamline operations. Brandi values community ties and learning from other ranchers to improve her practices continually. The conversation also provides insights into her husband’s aerial ambitions, which reflect a regional trend of using planes for ranch management efficiency.

    36 min
  2. 01/30/2024

    Mike Callicrate on The Cattleman's Corner

    Listen in to this special archived 2021 interview by Howard Hale with cattleman Mike Callicrate. Who is Mike Callicrate? Listen in to find out! Mike Callicrate, the founder of Ranch Foods Direct, is a rancher, business entrepreneur and family farm advocate. Considered the “go-to expert” on the negative consequences of industrial meat production, he served as an advisor for the films Food Inc. and FRESH and for several best-selling books including Fast Food Nation and The Omnivore’s Dilemma. A native of Evergreen, Colorado, he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University in 1975 and then moved to St. Francis, Kansas, where he began his career in farming and ranching. In 2000, he formed Ranch Foods Direct to sell high quality naturally raised beef directly to customers. Since then, it has grown into a prominent, well-respected marketing outlet in the community for small farmers and artisanal food producers from throughout the region. Today Mike’s farm follows a multi-species regenerative agricultural model, using the natural synergies between cattle, hogs and chickens to optimize the health of the livestock and the land. Ranch Foods Direct is a meat packing facility and local farmer’s retail market delivering healthful, high quality, naturally tender meats and foods to consumers direct from the ranch. Our goal is to foster a business that benefits both ranchers and consumers. Our processing and distribution systems assures incomparable quality, wholesomeness, eating satisfaction, and a mutually rewarding relationship of trust and responsibility between the rancher and you the customer.

    15 min

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Exclusive content only available online, from a company that’s been on the radio everyday since 1994. Listen in if you want to hear directly from the people who put those delicious steaks on your table!