Your Ag Empire

In this deeply personal conversation, ag media personality Kirbe Schnoor opens up about the hidden struggles facing farming families across America. Growing up on an almond farm in California's Central Valley and now hosting Farm Her and Ranch Her on RFD-TV, Schnoor has witnessed both the triumphs and tragedies that define rural life. From her family's own experiences with the highs and lows of agriculture to the stories she encounters while traveling the country, this episode tackles the mental health crisis in agriculture head-on. Schnoor discusses the unique pressures facing multi-generational farms, the isolation that comes with farming life, and how women often become the emotional backbone of agricultural operations while dealing with their own identity struggles. This isn't just about telling agriculture's story—it's about acknowledging the very real human cost of feeding America and the urgent need for more honest conversations about mental health in rural communities. In this episode, we cover: Mental health challenges in agriculture are intensified by generational pressure and isolation. Multi-generational farms carry the unique burden of not wanting to be the generation that loses great-grandpa's farm, creating enormous psychological pressure that other industries don't face. Combined with the isolating nature of farm work, this creates a perfect storm for mental health struggles. Women in agriculture often bear the emotional load while maintaining their own identity. Farm and ranch wives frequently serve as the emotional support system for their spouses while simultaneously managing household responsibilities, helping with business operations, and often sacrificing their own identity in the process. This dual burden requires recognition and support. Communication breakdowns between farm couples compound stress and isolation. Male farmers and ranchers often try to shield their spouses from business stresses, leading to communication gaps that prevent couples from working through challenges together. Open, honest dialogue is essential for family mental health. Agriculture faces unique external pressures that affect mental well-being. From regulatory challenges and labor law constraints to water restrictions and land consolidation pressures, farmers deal with variables beyond weather and markets that most other industries don't face, creating additional stress layers. Authentic storytelling is crucial for building understanding and support. Media representation of agriculture must show both the beautiful and difficult realities of farm life. Honest stories that don't shy away from discussing struggles, failures, and mental health challenges are essential for building genuine support and understanding from both within and outside the agricultural community. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Kirbe Schnoor: Instagram: @iamfarmher (https://www.instagram.com/iamfarmher/) Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/IAmFarmHer/) Dirt Diaries Podcast: (https://dirtdiaries.captivate.fm/) Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempire Follow on Facebook Subscribe on YouTube Follow on LinkedIn Follow on TikTok Check out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions Join 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

Gavin Spoor represents the new generation of agriculture—first-generation farmers who are building empires from scratch in a world where most inherit their operations. Starting with just six rented acres in Northeast Missouri, Spoor has grown to farm 2,000 acres of row crops and specialty popcorn, proving that you don't need legacy land to create something significant. In this conversation, Spoor shares how he leveraged social media to build both his farming operation and his direct-to-consumer popcorn brand, the challenges of rapid growth without generational guidance, and why he believes opportunity still exists for young farmers willing to work for it. From rebuilding old equipment to navigating the balance between ambition and sustainability, this episode explores what it really takes to build an agricultural empire in the modern era. In this episode, we cover: Rapid growth requires skill development to keep pace, or it becomes dangerous. Spoor emphasizes that while he's been blessed with significant growth opportunities, the biggest challenge has been ensuring his education and skill set keep up with the expansion. Young farmers often can't say no to opportunities, but growth without proper preparation can lead to serious problems. Equipment strategy should prioritize function over flash for first-generation farmers. Spoor advocates for investing in a quality sprayer for timely applications while being more conservative on combines. He successfully rebuilt a 50-year-old planter with modern technology for a fraction of new equipment costs, proving that smart upgrades can deliver performance without breaking the bank. Social media can be a legitimate business tool, not just entertainment. Spoor built his entire operation through strategic use of social media, documenting his journey from six acres and creating invested followers before he even had product to sell. Multiple land opportunities came through social media connections, proving its value beyond just brand building. Specialty crops can provide higher margins but require different skill sets. Spoor's popcorn operation involves direct-to-consumer sales, food-grade processing, and careful harvest techniques that are completely different from commodity production. While more profitable, specialty crops demand additional expertise in marketing, packaging, and logistics. First-generation farmers have advantages that legacy operations don't. Without family expectations or inherited debt, first-generation farmers have the freedom to innovate, pivot quickly, and take calculated risks. Spoor notes that if he fails, he's only losing what he built himself, which removes some psychological pressure that can paralyze generational operations. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with Guest Gavin Spoor: Website: (https://www.spoorfarms.com/) TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@thepopcornfarmer) Instagram:(https://www.instagram.com/gavin_spoor) AcresTV: (https://www.watchacrestv.com/dirtpoor-season1) Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempire Follow on Facebook Subscribe on YouTube Follow on LinkedIn Follow on TikTok Check out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions Join 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

Jordan Morris represents a new breed in agriculture: the first-generation farmer who's building something from nothing in an industry where most inherit their start. From playing with toy tractors as a kid in Iowa to running Midwest Feeders LLC and helping producers manage risk through innovative cattle coverage programs, Morris has carved out his place in agriculture through grit, relationships, and a willingness to embrace both opportunity and failure. In this conversation, Morris opens up about the realities of custom cattle feeding, the importance of risk management tools like LRP and LGM, and how joining Empire Ag has expanded his vision for what's possible. He also shares the personal side of farming—balancing the demands of building a business with being present for his five boys and staying grounded through the inevitable ups and downs of agricultural life. In this episode, we cover: First-generation farmers face unique challenges but bring fresh perspective to agriculture. Morris started with negative $19,000 in equity in 2013 and built his operation from scratch. Unlike generational farmers who inherit land and relationships, first-gen operators must build everything—from credit to customer networks—while learning the business in real time. Risk management isn't optional in today's high-stakes cattle market. With feeder cattle costing $2,200-$2,400 per head compared to $700-$900 just a few years ago, producers need tools like LRP (Livestock Risk Protection) and LGM (Livestock Gross Margin) insurance to protect against market volatility. These subsidized programs allow farmers to set price floors and protect margins without limiting upside potential. Success in agriculture depends heavily on relationships and customer service. Morris built his custom feeding operation by personally knowing every customer and being available when they need him. In an industry where reputation travels faster than trucks, maintaining trust and delivering consistent service separates successful operators from those who struggle to fill their facilities. Being present for family requires intentional choices, not just good intentions. Morris learned early in his parenting journey that working longer hours doesn't necessarily create better outcomes. He now prioritizes involving his five boys in the operation when possible and making their activities as important as his business commitments. Having a support network and mentorship transforms both business and personal outcomes. From his early mentor Pat Hammes who trusted him with a tractor, to joining Empire Ag's community of farmers, Morris credits his growth to relationships with people willing to share knowledge, provide accountability, and offer guidance during challenging times. Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with guest Jordan Morris: Instagram: @overdrawnjmorris (https://www.instagram.com/overdrawnjmorris/) Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempire Follow on Facebook Subscribe on YouTube Follow on LinkedIn Follow on TikTok Check out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions Join 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

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 @youragempire Follow on Facebook Subscribe on YouTube Follow on LinkedIn Follow on TikTok Check out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions Join 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

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.3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetylerdickerhoofshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerdickerhoof/ Connect with Your Ag Empire: Follow on Instagram @youragempire Follow on Facebook Subscribe on YouTube Follow on LinkedIn Follow on TikTok Check out our website Resources & Links: Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions Join 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