Your Ag Empire

Jonathon Haralson & Holly Haralson

5.0 (11)
Entrepreneurship
Updated Weekly

Your Ag Empire is the no-BS podcast for farmers, ranchers, and ag professionals who are ready to rethink the business of agriculture. Hosted by Jonathon and Holly Haralson, we dive into real conversations about profitability, sustainability, and innovation—without the fluff. If you’re a changemaker in ag, this is where you belong. New episodes drop weekly.

Aug 12

73. Burning the Ships: How One Farmer Found His Calling Beyond the Land

Brett Hicks spent 11 years juggling three demanding lives simultaneously: running a poultry operation, building a real estate business, and serving in ministry. Then a business partnership dissolved, forcing him to make a decision most people never have the courage to make. Instead of viewing the loss as failure, Hicks saw it as divine intervention—a chance to walk away from agriculture and pursue full-time ministry. This episode explores what it means to leave something you built, how faith intersects with business decisions, and why some of agriculture's greatest lessons come not from success, but from the willingness to step into the unknown. In this episode, we cover: Faith isn't waiting for permission—it's taking the first step. Hicks draws a parallel to Moses at the Red Sea: the water didn't part until after he stepped forward. Many farmers and entrepreneurs pray for doors to open while still clinging to their old ones. True faith requires closing one door behind you before God opens the next.Compartmentalizing work and life doesn't work in agriculture—and shouldn't. Unlike most industries, farming naturally weaves family, faith, and business together. Hicks brought his daughters to the farm, ran his business with his wife beside him, and served his church while building his real estate niche. This integration, not separation, created resilience and meaning.Growth happens in incremental steps, not giant leaps. Whether training for a half-marathon or building a thousand-acre operation, the lesson is the same: start small, add incrementally, and build momentum. Hicks trained by running one mile daily, then a quarter mile more each week. Quick pivots—like his impulse poultry purchase—rarely go as planned.The real crisis in agriculture isn't financial—it's spiritual. Successful farmers in their 50s and 60s are hitting walls not because their operations are failing, but because they've lost sight of their purpose. Hicks emphasizes that retirement without redirection leads to emptiness. The solution isn't selling out—it's finding new ways to invest time and talents that bring value.Your value isn't in your business; it's in how you serve others. Hicks left a lucrative real estate career to pursue ministry because helping people mattered more than accumulating wealth. For those feeling called to something beyond their operation, the answer lies in mentoring the next generation, teaching others the trade, and finding fulfillment in passing on knowledge—not in clinging to what you've built. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Guest Brett Hicks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-hicks-56609b11b/ Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempireFollow on FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on LinkedInFollow on TikTokCheck out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a memberProtect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutionsJoin The Dirt email subscription Book Jonathon as your next speaker Mentioned in this episode: Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more. Empire Financial Services
Jul 29

72. The Things We Hide: Why Fear and Identity Are Holding Agriculture Back

In this powerful conversation, Tyler Dickerhoof joins Jonathon Haralson to unpack the invisible barriers that keep farmers, ranchers, and agricultural leaders from reaching their full potential. A former dairy nutritionist turned leadership expert, Dickerhoof shares how a childhood tragedy shaped 25 years of leadership patterns and why the most successful people in agriculture are the ones willing to be vulnerable. From succession planning failures to the isolation that plagues rural communities, this episode tackles the hard truths about fear, identity, and what it really takes to lead well in an industry that rewards grit but rarely teaches growth. In this episode, we cover: Leadership in agriculture is rarely taught, only inherited. Most people in ag end up in leadership roles because they were next in line, not because they developed the skills to lead people well. The industry focuses on technical training while neglecting personal development, leaving producers unprepared to manage employees, navigate change, or plan succession.Fear and insecurity drive four destructive responses: intensity, insensitivity, isolation, and inactivity. Dickerhoof reveals how unaddressed fears cause people to either bulldoze through problems, shut down emotionally, withdraw completely, or wait for issues to resolve themselves. Recognizing which wall you default to is the first step toward leading differently.The refusal to be vulnerable keeps farmers stuck and alone. Agriculture rewards toughness and self-reliance, but that same mindset prevents producers from asking for help, admitting mistakes, or building the relationships that could save their operations. The most successful operators are the ones who link arms with others instead of trying to do it alone.Succession planning fails when the leading generation has no identity beyond the farm. Older producers resist handing over control because they don't know who they'll be without the operation. Creating a clear role and identity for retiring farmers is essential to passing the baton successfully.The future of agriculture belongs to those willing to innovate and think differently. First-generation farmers and young producers unafraid to challenge tradition are finding profit in roadside stands, bottling plants, and direct-to-consumer models. The industry rewards those who separate emotion from business decisions and embrace change instead of clinging to legacy for its own sake. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Guest Tyler Dickerhoof Website: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetylerdickerhoofshowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerdickerhoof/ Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempireFollow on FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on LinkedInFollow on TikTokCheck out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a memberProtect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutionsJoin The Dirt email subscription Book Jonathon as your next speaker Mentioned in this episode: Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more. Empire Financial Services
Jul 15

71. Pain Is a Signal, Not a Sentence: How Farley Schweighart Brings Healthcare to the Farc

There is a farmer somewhere right now running on ibuprofen and willpower. He has been hurting for months. He needs to see a doctor, but the nearest clinic is an hour away, and harvest does not stop. Farley Schweighart built a business for that exact person. She is a physical therapist who operates Rural MedEx, a mobile, cash-pay practice that meets farmers, ranchers, and rodeo athletes where they work. She treats patients on tailgates, in farm shops, and beside horse trailers. In this conversation, Farley talks about why people in agriculture ignore their health, the reality of building a non-traditional business, and why champions are masters of the basics. In this episode, we cover: Masking an injury with medication does not fix the root cause. It just guarantees a bigger problem down the line. Listen to what your body is telling you before it forces you to stop.You have to fix the rider to help the horse. Agricultural and performance professionals will spend thousands on veterinary bills while ignoring their own broken bodies. You cannot operate at a high level if your own mechanics are falling apart.Asking a farmer to lose four hours of a workday to sit in a beige waiting room is a losing battle. Schweighart stripped away the insurance red tape and built a transparent, cash-pay practice that respects her patients' time.Champions master the basics. Whether you are running a business, competing in the arena, or rehabbing a shoulder, success is rarely flashy. It comes down to doing the simple, unsexy work day after day.You can only fix your corner of the world. Burnout happens when you try to change a massive, broken system. You find traction when you stop trying to save the whole industry and start doing good work right where you stand. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Guest Farley Schweighart: Website: https://www.ruralmedex.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruralmedexLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farley-schweighart-a57a1318a/ Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempireFollow on FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on LinkedInFollow on TikTokCheck out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a memberProtect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutionsJoin The Dirt email subscription Book Jonathon as your next speaker Mentioned in this episode: Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more. Empire Financial Services
Jul 1

70. From Backyard Patch to Insurance Empire: Terren Moore's First Generation Story

Terren Moore signed up for an FFA elective in high school just to get an easy A. That one decision changed his life. He started Moore Peas Company from a backyard patch while still in high school, built a produce business with zero capital, and eventually launched MFI Agency, a farm and ranch insurance firm that now serves clients across 15 states. In this conversation, Terren talks about mentorship, the power of relationships, why leadership matters more than talent, and what it actually takes to build something real when you are starting from nothing. This is a story about hard work, faith, and the willingness to step through doors even when you cannot see what is on the other side. In this episode, we cover: You are one decision away from changing your life. Terren signed up for an FFA class just to get an easy A. That one choice led him to farming, mentorship, business ownership, and the career he has today. Every decision matters.Mentorship is the difference between thriving and surviving. Terren did not know how to drive a tractor or plant seeds at the right depth. An older farmer from his church taught him. Without mentorship, he never would have gotten the farm off the ground.Leadership is more important than sales skills. You can be the best salesperson in the world, but if you cannot lead a team, calm down a frustrated client, or handle conflict, your business will crumble. Leadership is the skill that scales.You never really start from scratch. Even when Terren left Farm Bureau to start his own agency, he was not starting from zero. He had relationships, experience, and skills he had built over years. You bring everything you have learned with you.Take care of yourself first. If you are not mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy, you cannot take care of your team, your family, or your business. Read, exercise, pray, and make sure you are in a position to give when the world demands your attention. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Guest Terren Moore: Website: https://www.mfi-services.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terren-moore-48178314b/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moorefarmsandinsurance Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempireFollow on FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on LinkedInFollow on TikTokCheck out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a memberProtect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutionsJoin The Dirt email subscription Book Jonathon as your next speaker Mentioned in this episode: Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more. Empire Financial Services
Jun 17

69. From Chuck Wagon to Cast Iron Cowboy: Kent Rollins Refused to Fade Away

Most people know Kent Rollins as the cowboy cook from YouTube. But long before the views and the cookbooks, he was feeding cowboys on the trail with little more than a chuck wagon and a well-seasoned iron skillet. Today, he has a hit show called Cast Iron Cowboy on the Outdoor Channel, a loyal following of millions, and a mission that has not changed: feeding hearty meals to hungry cowboys with food that incorporates the flavors of each ranch's region. Kent's story is proof that honoring where you came from does not mean you cannot do something new. In this conversation, Kent talks about growing up along the Red River in southwest Oklahoma, the lessons he learned from old-timers who stood tall as giant oak trees, and why he walked away from a stable job with benefits to buy a chuck wagon and bet his entire life on faith and hard work. In this episode, we cover: Kent's father told him to find something he loved and do it better than anyone else. He quit a full-time job with benefits to buy a chuck wagon and cook for ranches. He has been on vacation ever since.Kent walked away from security to pursue a passion. He did not have a backup plan. He trusted God, worked harder than everyone around him, and built a legacy that reaches millions of people.Kent's cookbooks are not just recipes. They are full of stories because that is how people communicate, preserve history, and leave a mark on the world. He wants people to remember what he did while he was alive, not what is written on a headstone.YouTube and faith built something traditional media could not. Kent and his wife Shannon spent years filming videos on an iPhone and editing on a laptop. They turned down network deals that wanted to change who they were. They built their own platform where they could say "God bless America" and pray for people without anyone telling them to stop.The American rancher is not a dying breed. Kent uses his platform to showcase ranches across the country that are still raising cattle the way it was done over a century ago. Technology has improved the process, but the core mission remains the same: be a steward of the land, raise the best beef in the world, and pass it down to the next generation. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Guest Kent Rollins: Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/cowboykentrollins)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cowboykentrollinsYouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@CowboyKentRollins)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cowboykentofficialWatch Cast Iron Cowboy on Outdoor Channel Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempireFollow on FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on LinkedInFollow on TikTokCheck out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a memberProtect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutionsJoin The Dirt email subscription Book Jonathon as your next speaker Mentioned in this episode: Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more. Empire Financial Services
Apr 22

68. The Things Leaders Bury

Tyler Dickerhoof grew up on an Ohio dairy farm and spent 25 years building a massive business career. He also spent most of that time operating like a bulldozer. When things got hard, he simply put his head down and pushed. That works in the dirt, but it destroys relationships. In this episode, Tyler sits down with “Your Ag Empire” podcast host Jonathon Haralson to talk about the things leaders bury. They cover the emotional toll of agriculture, why farmers isolate themselves, and what it actually takes to pass the family operation to the next generation without burning it to the ground. In this episode, we cover: When things get tough, the default reaction in agriculture is to put your head down and push harder. That brute force might get the daily job done, but it isolates you and wrecks the relationships you need to survive.Elite military units do not look for the guy who can do everything alone. They look for the guy who links arms with the person next to him. Farming is no different. You have to drop the pride and ask for help.The older generation holds onto the checkbook and the daily decisions because they do not know who they are without the farm. Passing the baton only works when the exiting leader has a real, productive role to step into.The previous generation plowed with horses. You drive a tractor. The next generation might use robotics or artificial intelligence to run the dairy. Adapting to the market and using new tools is exactly how the operation stays alive. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Tyler Dickerhoof: Website: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetylerdickerhoofshowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerdickerhoof/ Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempireFollow on FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on LinkedInFollow on TikTokCheck out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a memberProtect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutionsJoin The Dirt email subscription Book Jonathon as your next speaker Mentioned in this episode: Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more. Empire Financial Services
Apr 15

67. You’re Treating Your Horse Better Than Your Own Back

There is a farmer right now running on ibuprofen and sheer willpower. He has not seen a doctor because the nearest clinic is an hour away, and harvest does not stop. Farley Schweighart built a business for that exact person. After hitting the wall in a traditional physical therapy clinic, she walked away to start Rural Medex. It is a mobile, cash-pay practice that meets farmers, ranchers, and rodeo athletes where they work. She treats patients on tailgates, in farm shops, and beside horse trailers. In this episode, we talk about why folks in agriculture ignore their health, the reality of building a non-traditional business, and why true champions master the basics. In this episode, we cover: Masking an injury with medication does not fix the root cause. It just guarantees a bigger problem down the line. Listen to what your body is telling you before it forces you to stop.Agricultural and performance professionals will spend thousands on veterinary bills while ignoring their own broken bodies. You cannot operate at a high level if your own mechanics are falling apart.Asking a farmer to lose four hours of a workday to sit in a beige waiting room is a losing battle. Schweighart stripped away the insurance red tape and built a transparent practice that respects her patients' time.Whether you are running a business, competing in the arena, or rehabbing a shoulder, success is rarely flashy. It comes down to doing the simple, unsexy work day after day.Burnout happens when you try to change a massive, broken system. You find momentum when you stop trying to save the whole industry and start doing good work right where you stand. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Guest Farley Schweighart Website: https://www.ruralmedex.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruralmedexLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farley-schweighart-a57a1318a/ Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempireFollow on FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on LinkedInFollow on TikTokCheck out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a memberProtect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutionsJoin The Dirt email subscription Book Jonathon as your next speaker Mentioned in this episode: Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more. Empire Financial Services
Apr 8

66. Choosing to Start Over

Brett Hicks spent 11 years building what looked like success from the outside: a poultry operation, a thriving real estate business serving poultry growers, and an active role in ministry. Then he walked away from all of it. Not because it failed, but because something else was calling. In this conversation, Brett talks about what it took to close one door before the next one opened, the lessons learned from growing up on a farm when your father worked offshore for 30 days at a time, and what he's discovered about faith, decision making, and the willingness to move forward without a safety net. This is a conversation about what happens when you burn the ships and step into the unknown. In this episode, we cover: The cows have to get fed, no matter what. Growing up in agriculture teaches a level of responsibility and compartmentalization that most people never develop. The work has to get done whether you feel like it or not, and that discipline carries into every area of life.You can't expect the next door to open until you close the one behind you. Moses stepped into the Red Sea before the water parted. Faith isn't waiting for God to move while you stay comfortable. It's taking the step forward and trusting He'll meet you there.Your mind will quit before your body does. Most people never find out what they're capable of because they let their limitations live in their head. The willingness to push past discomfort, to do hard things, is what separates those who grow from those who stay stagnant.If you're not growing, you're dying. In farming and in life, standing still means falling behind. The question isn't whether you'll face challenges. It's whether you'll keep moving forward through them.You're living on house money. At the end of the day, the size of your operation, the success of your business, the legacy you leave on paper doesn't matter in the grand scheme. What matters is what you did with the time you were given and whether you were willing to use it for something bigger than yourself. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Brett Hicks: Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-hicks-56609b11b/ Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempireFollow on FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeFollow on LinkedInFollow on TikTokCheck out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a memberProtect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutionsJoin The Dirt email subscription Book Jonathon as your next speaker Mentioned in this episode: Farming is a business—and at Empire Financial Services, we treat it like one. Our team helps farmers and ranchers get clarity on their finances, streamline bookkeeping, and build long-term stability. Click below to learn more. Empire Financial Services

5

out of 5

11 Ratings

Your Ag Empire is the no-BS podcast for farmers, ranchers, and ag professionals who are ready to rethink the business of agriculture. Hosted by Jonathon and Holly Haralson, we dive into real conversations about profitability, sustainability, and innovation—without the fluff. If you’re a changemaker in ag, this is where you belong. New episodes drop weekly.

Creator

Jonathon Haralson & Holly Haralson
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

76
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Copyright 2025 Empire Ag, LLC.
Show Website

Your Ag Empire

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

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Business

Business

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Management

Management

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Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

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Comedy

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Investing

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