MOR Than Farming

Active Duty Rancher: MOR Than Farming
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Ranching, real life, and lessons learned the hard way. From Meadow Oaks Ranch in North Carolina, Joe, the Active Duty Rancher, joins Chris Loranger, his former Special Forces warrant officer who’s learning ranch life as he goes. Expect honest conversations about raising cattle, starting a farm, leadership, family, and everything that happens between fixing fences and getting the job done. Joe brings the ranching experience. Chris brings the questions you might be thinking while having fun along For new ranchers, fellow veterans, and anyone who enjoys good stories without the polished filter.

Episodes

  1. 10h ago

    Episode 2: Sometimes You Have to Grab the Bull by the Horns

    A bull ride gone wrong. A missing tooth. And hard-earned lessons about starting a farm, leading people and learning to adapt. In Episode 2 of MOR Than Farming, Joe Presher and Chris Loranger kick things off at Meadow Oaks Ranch in Cameron, North Carolina, with the new ranch store, local beef, changing cattle prices and the kind of banter you probably won't hear in a farming manual. Janice Wright of Rooted in NC drops in with her unmistakable personality and a quick introduction to the woman helping farms tell their stories. Then Chris calls his former Army squadmate, Chris "Big Country" Phillips, the Redneck Roughneck behind Phillips Ag-Co in Georgia. They reconnect over farm life, military service, oil-field work and building something of your own. The conversation gets into bringing solutions instead of just problems, knowing your strengths, accepting honest feedback, adapting to new tools and giving your team ownership of the plan. And when Big Country finally explains the bruised face and missing tooth, Joe has a bull-riding story of his own. There's also a surprise tucked into this episode. We're keeping that one under wraps. You'll know as soon as you hear it. Chris closes with a reminder that applies far beyond agriculture: you can't wait for perfect conditions to start. Plan, take responsibility, learn from the hard days and keep growing. CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS Janice Wright | Rooted in NCFarm marketing, business support and helping agricultural businesses get seen.Website | Facebook | Instagram Chris "Big Country" Phillips | Phillips Ag-CoFollow his journey building a farm and putting a lifetime of practical experience to work.Website | Facebook MORE FROM MEADOW OAKS RANCH Explore the ranch or order local beefWatch on Active Duty Rancher Sponsored by Smith's Enterprise. Hosted by Joe Presher and Chris Loranger.Produced by Chris Loranger, C-Lo Media.Intro music: Alex Beck. Follow MOR Than Farming for more ranch life, real conversations and lessons that reach beyond the fence. What is one lesson you had to learn the hard way? Leave it in the episode comments. 00:00 Cold open and welcome 02:10 Ranch store and real-life chaos 09:27 Livestock prices and local beef 13:12 Janice Wright of Rooted in NC 18:17 Meet Chris "Big Country" Phillips 25:20 Resilience and bringing solutions 31:00 Adapting to change and using AI 34:04 Humility and honest feedback 41:29 Delegation and owning the plan 45:38 The missing tooth and bull ride 56:57 When the plan meets real life 01:06:27 Closing thoughts and community Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on MOR Than Farming are those of the individual hosts and guests, speaking in their personal capacities. They do not represent the official views, policies or positions of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), any branch of the U.S. military, the U.S. government, or any other organization or employer with which the speakers are or have been affiliated. References to military service, rank or affiliation are provided for context and do not imply official endorsement of this podcast, its sponsors, products or services.

    Episode 2: Sometimes You Have to Grab the Bull by the Horns

  2. 2d ago

    How to Start & Drive a Tractor | TYM T654 Beginner Guide

    New to tractors? Before you turn the key, Joe walks Chris through the basics on a TYM T654 at Meadow Oaks Ranch - from checking the oil to your first forward and reverse moves. The MOR You Know - Part 1: Check It Before You MOOve It.Sponsored by Smith's Enterprise. SHOP TYM WITH SMITH'S ENTERPRISEhttps://smithsenterprise.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_id=activedutyrancher Call: (910) 567-2680Visit: 9269 Dunn Rd., Salemburg, NC 28385Tell them the Active Duty Rancher sent you. GET THE FREE ONE-PAGE TRACTOR GUIDESave it, screenshot it, or keep a copy for your next ranch hand:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1elJBOAWBKT1q9NUTKp0zWIvTYgm7agah/view?usp=drivesdk GET MOR FROM MEADOW OAKS RANCHLocal beef. Real ranch life. More lessons along the way.https://meadowoaksranch.com/ Joe brings the experience. Chris asks the beginner questions. Subscribe for more practical ranch lessons, and tell us: what should Joe teach next? CHAPTERS00:00 The MOR You Know00:22 Check the engine oil00:42 Cab setup and starting the tractor01:19 Brakes and parking brake02:03 Range, gears, and shuttle shift03:49 Warm-up and loader clearance04:28 First forward movement05:07 Reversing the tractor05:24 Park and shut down05:49 Why Smith's Enterprise?06:45 Pause and screenshot the checklist07:01 Shop Smith's and get MOR Demonstrated on a TYM T654. Controls and procedures vary by model - follow your tractor's operator manual. Filmed and edited by Chris Loranger, C-Lo Media. #TYMTractors #TractorBasics #TheMORYouKnow

  3. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    First Look at Meadow Oaks Ranch Part one of their TYM Tractor: So Easy a Ranch Hand Can Do It

    Here is your FIRST LOOK, no fancy editing - Just PURE AWESOMENESS - The intro to Meadow Oaks Ranch's first video in our "TYM Tractor How-To Series: So easy, even an inexperienced Ranch Hand can do it. This is just the first rough cut and there are some expletives, but 100% fun and laughs. The final version will be cleaned up. Stay Tuned! Make sure to check out Smith's Enterprise! https://smithsenterprise.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_id=activedutyrancher #veteranfarmer #meadowoaksranch #TYMTractors #ranchlife #howto #funnyreels #reelsvideo #diy

  4. Season 1, Episode 2 Trailer

    Episode 2 Clip

    - Short clip from Episode 2 of the MOR Than Farming Podcast - "THE MOR YOU KNOW" Chris was today years old. Unfortunately, the microphones were on. 🤦‍♂️😂 Joe brings the ranch knowledge. Chris bring questions he probably thought no grown man would ask. A little MOR education than I planned on. 🎙️ What’s something you learned embarrassingly late? Make sure to follow so you don't miss the fun! #MORThanFarming #MeadowOaksRanch #TodayYearsOld

    Episode 2 Clip

  5. 4d ago ·  Bonus

    The Show Before the Show | Episode 2 Preview

    Apparently, planning the podcast requires its own podcast. Pull up a chair with Joe and Chris for a four-minute sneak peek behind MOR Than Farming. Before Episode 2 gets underway, we’re talking through the plan, trading a little banter, and giving you a taste of the personalities behind the microphones. Joe brings the ranching experience. Chris brings the questions. Getting through the show plan is part of the entertainment. While the full episode is being finished, enjoy a little of the show before the show. New here? Active Duty Rancher: MOR Than Farming comes from Meadow Oaks Ranch in Moore County, North Carolina. It’s where ranch life, lessons learned, and honest conversation meet - whether you’re raising cattle, starting your first farm, or just enjoy good company and a few laughs. Follow the podcast on Spotify so you can find Episode 2 when it drops. Share this preview with somebody who would fit right in at the table. Want MOR of the conversation before the conversation? Tell us in the comments. Full Episode 2 coming soon. Presented by Meadow Oaks Ranch
Supported by our title sponsor, Smith’s Enterprise
Hosted by Joe and Chris Loranger
Produced and edited by Chris Loranger | C-Lo Media Visit the ranch: https://meadowoaksranch.com
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chris.loranger/

  6. Sep 12

    Episode 1: From Special Forces to Cattle Farming: The Story Behind Meadow Oaks Ranch

    What happens when an experienced cattleman teams up with a retired Special Forces warrant officer who still has a lot to learn about ranching? In the first full episode of MOR Than Farming, Joe and Chris introduce the people, personalities and purpose behind Meadow Oaks Ranch in Cameron, North Carolina. They talk about leadership, military life, fatherhood, working cattle, learning from mistakes and what it really takes to keep a family farm moving forward. This is not a polished studio conversation about farming in theory. It is an honest, uncensored discussion from people living it - including the lessons, frustration, humor and occasional bull that come with the job. Whether you are an experienced farmer, a beginning rancher, a veteran searching for your next mission or someone who simply wants to know where local food comes from, pull up a chair. Because at Meadow Oaks Ranch, it is always MOR Than Farming. In this episode: • How Joe and Chris became friends and started working together • The difference between holding rank and earning respect • Chris learning ranch life from an experienced cattleman • Military experience, leadership and life after service • Family, fatherhood and keeping the ranch operating • The honest side of raising cattle in North Carolina • Why this podcast exists and what is coming next MOR Than Farming is presented by Meadow Oaks Ranch and Active Duty Rancher. Title Sponsor: Smith’s Enterprise Follow the show on Spotify so you do not miss the next episode. Meadow Oaks Ranch | Cameron, North Carolina Local beef. Local stories. Real ranch life.

  7. Trailer

    TRAILER: Ranch Life, Military Roots & Real Talk | MOR Than Farming Trailer

    One knows ranching. The other has questions. Both have stories. Welcome to Active Duty Rancher: MOR Than Farming, a podcast from Meadow Oaks Ranch in North Carolina. Join Joe, the Active Duty Rancher, and Chris Loranger, his former Special Forces warrant officer, for honest conversations and witty banter about cattle, country life, military experience, fatherhood, and learning as you go. This is your first look at the people and personalities behind the microphones. Expect ranch stories, practical lessons, a little chaos, and plenty of laughs. Starting a farm? Raising cattle? Missing the banter you had in uniform? Or just enjoy watching real people figure things out? Pull up a chair. Follow the show on Spotify so you can find our upcoming episodes, and send this trailer to someone who would fit right in. Presented by Smith’s Enterprise. There’s always MOR to the story. --- Intro Music courtesy of Alex Beck. Make sure to follow us at: - https://www.youtube.com/@ActiveDutyRancher\ - www.meadowoaksranch.com

Trailers

About

Ranching, real life, and lessons learned the hard way. From Meadow Oaks Ranch in North Carolina, Joe, the Active Duty Rancher, joins Chris Loranger, his former Special Forces warrant officer who’s learning ranch life as he goes. Expect honest conversations about raising cattle, starting a farm, leadership, family, and everything that happens between fixing fences and getting the job done. Joe brings the ranching experience. Chris brings the questions you might be thinking while having fun along For new ranchers, fellow veterans, and anyone who enjoys good stories without the polished filter.

Information

  • Creator
    Active Duty Rancher: MOR Than Farming
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Active Duty Rancher: MOR Than Farming
  • Show Website
    MOR Than Farming