Leaders Of The West

What happens when a rancher sees a hurdle in the cattle industry and decides to build the solution himself? This week, I'm joined by Jake Nelson, rancher, Army veteran, and founder of CattleQuest. Jake shares how his background in ranching, military service, and entrepreneurship led him to create a tool that brings cattle market data from multiple stockyards into one place, helping producers make more informed decisions about when and where to buy and sell their cattle. We talk about taking an idea from a conversation to an actual product, the challenge of introducing new technology into an industry that can be resistant to change, and why Jake chose to launch before everything was perfect. Jake also shares how his military experience shaped the way he approaches leadership, fear, and adversity, and why pushing through uncomfortable situations can leave you more capable on the other side. Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode! Connect with Jake: Visit the CattleQuest website Connect with Jessie: Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest Check out the Of The West website Resources & Links: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss Join The Directory Of The West Get our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job Description Get our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your Internship Get our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them) Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers Make Email us at [email protected] Subscribe to Of The West's ⁠Newsletters List your jobs on ⁠Of The West Mentioned in this episode: Raising a champion takes more than feed. It’s work, time, and passion. Purina Equine Feed

This week we’re tackling an uncomfortable conversation in the job-seeking world: If you're applying for many positions and never hearing back, you simply might not be qualified for that job. In this solo episode, I'm breaking down how to honestly evaluate whether you're a good fit for a role before you hit apply. We're talking about the "spray and pray" approach, why more applications don't necessarily equal better odds, and how to separate must-have qualifications from skills you can learn along the way. I also dig into technical skills, transferable experience, career transitions, and why sometimes taking a strategic step back can actually move your career forward. This isn't about shrinking your goals or settling for less. It's about protecting your time, energy, and confidence by focusing on opportunities where you can genuinely compete. If you're job searching or trying to break into agriculture or the Western industry, this episode is for you. Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode! Connect with Jessie: Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest Check out the Of The West website Resources & Links: The Ag + Western Career Blueprint Join The Directory Of The West Get our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job Description Get our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your Internship Get our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them) Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers Make Email us at [email protected] Subscribe to Of The West's ⁠Newsletters List your jobs on ⁠Of The West Mentioned in this episode: Raising a champion takes more than feed. It’s work, time, and passion. Purina Equine Feed

This week, I'm joined by Catherine Neumayr of V8 Ranch, one of the most legendary Brahman operations in the world. Catherine grew up in the cattle industry, but she and her husband, Luke, also built a wildly successful wedding photography business, photographing more than 150 weddings around the world and building their first million-dollar business without spending a dime on traditional advertising. Today, Catherine has brought those lessons back home to V8 Ranch. We talk about why the little details matter, how to create an experience that turns customers into lifelong fans, and the four principles Catherine and Luke used to build their business. Catherine also shares how V8 creates meaningful experiences for customers and why agriculture needs people with skills and experience from outside the industry. Whether you're running a ranch, building a business, or wondering if the skills you've developed somewhere else belong in agriculture, this episode is a reminder that there is a place for you here. Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode! Connect with Catherine: Visit V8’s website Follow on Instagram @v8ranch Follow on YouTube @V8RanchCattle Connect with Jessie: Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest Check out the Of The West website Resources & Links: Purple Cow by Seth Godin Author Freida McFadden Of The West Walk Up Song Playlist Join The Directory Of The West Get our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job Description Get our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your Internship Get our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them) Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers Make Email us at [email protected] Subscribe to Of The West's ⁠Newsletters List your jobs on ⁠Of The West Mentioned in this episode: Raising a champion takes more than feed. It’s work, time, and passion. Purina Equine Feed

If you work behind the scenes of an equine or Western event, whether you're managing a facility, producing a show, or just getting your foot in the door, this episode is for you. I'm joined by Dana Jensen, Managing Director of The League, an organization dedicated to advancing the equine and ag event industry through education, professional development, networking, and shared standards. Dana shares her own journey from horse-crazy kid to competitor, show producer, facility director, and eventually leader of The League. We also dive into some of the organization's incredible resources, including its Footing Academy and Certified Manager of Equine Centers credential, plus why The League recently expanded its membership to include producers, young professionals, breed associations, and others throughout the industry. And we're sharing something exciting! Of The West and The League are joining forces for a free town hall focused on 2026 hiring trends, tips, and best practices. We'll be talking about the challenges that facilities and event producers face when it comes to finding qualified people, building stronger teams, and hiring full-time, part-time, seasonal, temporary, and contract help. If you're involved in producing equine or Western events at any level, we hope you'll join us. Click here to sign up. Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode! Connect with Dana: Visit The League’s website Follow on Instagram @theleaguehub Connect with Jessie: Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest Check out the Of The West website Resources & Links: The Ag + Equine Hiring Town Hall from The League & Of The West Of The West Walk Up Song Playlist Join The Directory Of The West Get our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job Description Get our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your Internship Get our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them) Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers Make Email us at [email protected] Subscribe to Of The West's ⁠Newsletters List your jobs on ⁠Of The West Mentioned in this episode: Raising a champion takes more than feed. It’s work, time, and passion. Purina Equine Feed

This is Part 2 of a two-part episode with Sharon K. Beach. Listen to last week’s episode where Sharon shared the incredible story of surviving a kidnapping, a life-threatening medical battle, and a decades-long fight within the justice system. This week, we're continuing the conversation by digging into what carried her through it all: mental toughness. Sharon shares her ABCs of surviving: attitude, belief, and choice. She also shares how faith, forgiveness, determination, and a refusal to let her past control her helped her rebuild an extraordinary life. We talk about what it means to keep going when life looks nothing like you planned, why asking for help is a sign of strength, and how even our hardest experiences can become part of someone else's survival guide. If you're walking through your own version of rock bottom, this conversation is a powerful reminder that healing takes time and there are people willing to help. Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode! Connect with Sharon K. Beach: Visit her website Sign up for release dates and info for her book Don’t You Dare Let Go Connect with Jessie: Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest Check out the Of The West website Resources & Links: Ep 168: Surviving the Unimaginable with Sharon K. Beach, Pt 1: What She Lived Through Same Kind of Different As Me National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 Join The Directory Of The West Get our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job Description Get our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your Internship Get our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them) Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers Make Email us at [email protected] Subscribe to Of The West's ⁠Newsletters List your jobs on ⁠Of The West Mentioned in this episode: Raising a champion takes more than feed. It’s work, time, and passion. Purina Equine Feed