The Rural Dispatch

Behrens & Co

Welcome to The Rural Dispatch, the podcast that delivers honest conversations from the fields, the highways, and the home front. I'm your host, Aly Behrens - headquartered in rural Iowa, I help run a trucking company that specializes in hauling livestock nationwide.  I was born and raised in small-town-Iowa and I’m passionate about rural communities and the people who help them thrive. Since becoming a mom, I’ve taken a step away from my own career in finance and into a behind the scenes role in our second-generation family business. I’m proud to help continue the legacy of hard work and dedication that built this business. I’m building a life with a multi-faceted business owner who also holds the title of truck driver, cattle feeder and dispatcher, all while we both work together to manage office operations, oversee business development, and bring the next generation along to show them the ropes, just like their grandpa did with their dad.   If you’re anything like us, you wear a lot of hats in your operation. This podcast is for people like you: hardworking men and women in the rural trucking, livestock and business communities who are juggling all the things every day. Whether it’s running loads, managing a herd, staying compliant, or handling the bookkeeping, we know the challenges you face because we’ve lived them.  In our weekly episodes, I’ll bring you a mix of my own experiences as I navigate the ins and outs of these industries, stories with my better half, Smoke about the lessons we’ve learned throughout our time in this business, and interviews with experts who tackle the pain points we all probably face at one time or another. From trucking to livestock production to rural entrepreneurship, this show is here to equip you with the tools, resources and a supportive community to help you thrive. Whether you’re in the cab of a truck, out checking cattle, or sitting at your kitchen table, we hope you’ll tune in and find value in conversations that speak your language. No matter your role in the industry, there’s something for everyone here.  Buckle up, friends, there's lots to come. If you enjoy an episode, it would mean the world to us if you would share it with a friend. Keep up with us between episodes on our socials, at Behrens and Co., or subscribe to our email list on our website to receive new episodes directly to your inbox every Wednesday. Thanks for being here. We'll talk soon.

  1. Using What You Know to Grow: How an Iowa Farm Family Built a Diversified Ag Business

    JAN 14

    Using What You Know to Grow: How an Iowa Farm Family Built a Diversified Ag Business

    Send us a text In this episode, Aly and Smoke sit down with Austin and Mady Blair, owners of ABC Beef, to talk about what it really looks like to diversify a family farming operation while raising three young kids. We dig into how they’ve used what they already knew to build multiple income streams, including their direct-to-consumer beef business. They share how the idea started, what it took to get up and running, the struggles they've faced, and where they hope to take things in the future. Austin and Mady also walk us through their hog operation and how it has evolved over the years, including how a devastating fire in their sow unit changed the way they do things. We talk about the day-to-day of raising livestock, plus what goes into managing cattle alongside it all. We dive into their decision to put up a deep pit slatted barn for cattle, why they chose that route, and what they’ve liked about it so far.  Throughout the conversation, they share their “why” and how important it is to bring their kids along for every part of farm life. There’s never a shortage of things to do, and they open up about their biggest weakness — wanting to do everything themselves instead of hiring help. This episode is a real, honest look at modern farm life, entrepreneurship, and building a business that supports multiple generations. Find the ABC Beef on Instagram & Facebook Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up. ➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play Support the show BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

    54 min
  2. Record Keeping that Pays: How Better Data Leads to Smarter Decisions for Today's Cattle Producer

    12/10/2025

    Record Keeping that Pays: How Better Data Leads to Smarter Decisions for Today's Cattle Producer

    Send us a text This week we're talking about the one thing every cattle producer knows they could do better or should do better or would do better if they had the time... but most put off: record keeping. I'm joined by Oaklee Trapp, rancher, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Smarter Cattle, to break down why better data leads to better decisions in today's cattle market.  Oaklee grew up in the beef industry, interned with Producers Livestock Marketing Association, and now works with producers marketing their cattle through Producers Livestock. That experience has pushed her to develop Smarter Cattle into what it is today - a simple tool designed to turn ranch records into real, usable information.  We talk about why knowing your numbers matters, how emotion can get in the way of good decision making, what holds producers back from adopting new technology, and where ranch management is headed in the next decade.  If you've ever thought "I should really figure out a better way to track that," this episode is a good place to start.  Find Smarter Cattle online: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up. ➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play Support the show BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

    50 min
  3. 12/03/2025

    Veal Calves, Market Pivots & Amish Barns — Lessons for Livestock Producers

    Send us a text This week Smoke and Aly sit down with Adam Prokash, a first-generation livestock producer whose path into agriculture looks nothing like the traditional one. Adam walks us through how he bought his first farm and learned to raise veal calves without the benefit of growing up in the industry, and how those early years shaped every decision that came after. His story spans multiple chapters: the rise and fall of the veal market, the stretch of years when feeder pigs kept his operation alive, the return to Holstein calves, and the unexpected opportunity that came placing calves in Amish barns. Today, he helps oversee calf programs across Amish communities while supplying milk replacer, meds, and hands-on management. This episode is about building relationships—the ones that open doors, the ones that keep ag businesses afloat, and the ones inside Amish communities that will change your perspective on work, contentment, and the pace of life. It's also about recognizing opportunity and trusting your instincts when it's time for a change. If you love real stories about building something from nothing in rural America, this one’s for you. Beef Hub App – Built by cattle haulers, for cattle haulers. Tools to make your job easier out on the road. Use referral code RURAL to sign up. ➤ Download the Beef Hub App | Google Play Support the show BEHRENS & CO | Join Our Email List — BEHRENS & CO Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode to support rural voices!

    1h 35m

Trailer

5
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Rural Dispatch, the podcast that delivers honest conversations from the fields, the highways, and the home front. I'm your host, Aly Behrens - headquartered in rural Iowa, I help run a trucking company that specializes in hauling livestock nationwide.  I was born and raised in small-town-Iowa and I’m passionate about rural communities and the people who help them thrive. Since becoming a mom, I’ve taken a step away from my own career in finance and into a behind the scenes role in our second-generation family business. I’m proud to help continue the legacy of hard work and dedication that built this business. I’m building a life with a multi-faceted business owner who also holds the title of truck driver, cattle feeder and dispatcher, all while we both work together to manage office operations, oversee business development, and bring the next generation along to show them the ropes, just like their grandpa did with their dad.   If you’re anything like us, you wear a lot of hats in your operation. This podcast is for people like you: hardworking men and women in the rural trucking, livestock and business communities who are juggling all the things every day. Whether it’s running loads, managing a herd, staying compliant, or handling the bookkeeping, we know the challenges you face because we’ve lived them.  In our weekly episodes, I’ll bring you a mix of my own experiences as I navigate the ins and outs of these industries, stories with my better half, Smoke about the lessons we’ve learned throughout our time in this business, and interviews with experts who tackle the pain points we all probably face at one time or another. From trucking to livestock production to rural entrepreneurship, this show is here to equip you with the tools, resources and a supportive community to help you thrive. Whether you’re in the cab of a truck, out checking cattle, or sitting at your kitchen table, we hope you’ll tune in and find value in conversations that speak your language. No matter your role in the industry, there’s something for everyone here.  Buckle up, friends, there's lots to come. If you enjoy an episode, it would mean the world to us if you would share it with a friend. Keep up with us between episodes on our socials, at Behrens and Co., or subscribe to our email list on our website to receive new episodes directly to your inbox every Wednesday. Thanks for being here. We'll talk soon.

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