Farm4Profit Podcast

We start by learning about her journey into agriculture, her Iowa roots, and how her family plays a big role in her farming story. Rachel gives us a glimpse into her current projects and what she’s looking forward to in the ag world.

Rachel’s a top 5 contestant for John Deere’s CTO (Chief Test Operator) program, showcasing her passion and expertise in ag technology. She’s an Iowa State University alum and has previously worked for Iowa Corn—yes, she was the one in the corn suit at the state fair!

We also dive into her connection to the Manternach Cattle Company, where she helps capture amazing farm moments on camera. She introduces us to her beloved cattle crew, including Dolly, Poppy, Dotty, Posey, and Mr. Bubba the bull. Plus, Rachel shares her growing hobby of collecting farm-fresh eggs from her chickens.

Beyond farming, Rachel has a few surprises up her sleeve—she’s an avid fisherman, loves hosting shrimp boils, and enjoys shooting sports. We also get personal as she opens up about her experience with an oversized thyroid nodule and her journey back to health.

Kevan “Flea” Hueftle

We are proud to present U.S. Paralympic Athlete, Rancher, and Father Kevan Hueftle. In 2005 Kevan also known as “Flea” was involved in a hunting accident that led to an amputation of his left leg below the knee. Consequently, Flea struggled with alcoholism due to the tragic loss of his limb and the constant pain he suffered as an amputee. Through perseverance and grit, Flea decided to defy the odds and would eventually compete on the US Track and Field teams and medal as an elite Paralympic Athlete. Kevan is a beacon of hope for anyone struggling with limb loss or addiction.

Kevan is a husband, father, rancher, and motivational speaker. He has been a member of the U.S. Paralympic track and field team.

Works at Lazy Creek Beef Company LLC

starting when he was 20 years old. He had been hunting and while pulling the gun out of the truck, it went off, shooting him in the foot. After several surgeries his leg was amputated below the knee.

“To say my life has been easy ... there have been parts that have been harder than others,” he said. “I’m still living a dream of mine.”

At the time of the accident, he was on the track and field team at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Hueftle talked about fitting a prosthetic. He said the first seven years were miserable and the prosthetic didn’t fit. He also talked about the depression that followed the amputation.“I knew it was going to be tough, but it was really, really hard. I was an alcoholic for seven years. I was a person that I would never look up to.”

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!
Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link

https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address

[email protected]

Phone

515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profit

Connect with us on Facebook

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In this special episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, we are thrilled to sit down with Welker Farms, the YouTube sensation that offers a unique glimpse into the daily life of a multi-generational family farm. Welker Farms has captivated viewers with its blend of farming expertise, entertaining content, and authentic storytelling, creating an incredible connection with a global audience of agricultural enthusiasts. In this interview, Nick and Scott share the backstory of how their YouTube channel began, its evolution over the years, and their motivation for opening up their lives on the farm for the world to see.

We dive deep into the day-to-day operations at Welker Farms, exploring how the entire family contributes to the farm’s success and how that translates into the content they create for their channel. The Welkers give us a behind-the-scenes look at the joys and challenges of balancing full-time farming with video production, editing, and the occasional blooper reel. They discuss how the content they produce has shifted over time in response to their growing audience and share some hilarious moments and mishaps that didn’t make the final cut. You'll hear about their favorite pieces of equipment to operate, as well as the tasks they’d rather avoid if given the choice!

Beyond their role as YouTubers, Nick and Scott are deeply committed to their local community and agriculture at large. They talk about how their channel has positively impacted their hometown and inspired others in the farming industry to embrace technology and share their own stories. As the episode comes to a close, they share their vision for the future of Welker Farms—both on and off the screen—and the legacy they hope to leave behind for future generations.

Don’t forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen!
Website

www.Farm4Profit.com

Shareable episode link

https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.com

Email address

[email protected]

Phone

515.207.9640

Subscribe to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5Xqw

Follow us on TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profit

Connect with us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

How do “Large Scale” Solar and Wind projects get started?

1. What defines a utility-scale renewable energy project and how it works (quick definition of wind/solar projects and how they work)

2. What it’s like for a farmer to lease land to a renewable energy project (speaking with developers, signing a lease, etc)

3. How renewable energy projects can (and should) coexist with agriculture: (i.e. how wind turbines take very little space from farming land so farmers can continue to work the land. Not the same for solar projects, but farmers can grow crops next to solar sites, herd sheep within solar sites, and how the land will be fertile for agriculture once the solar site is decommissioned).

4. Pros and cons of leasing land to a renewable energy project

✅Pros of leasing land to a renewable energy project:

• Steady Income Stream (how much on average can a farmer earn from leasing land to a renewable energy project?)
• Minimal Impact on Land (especially wind)
• Local Economic Benefits (local tax revenue that can go to schools, infrastructure, emergency services, etc)
• Energy Security and Grid Resilience (enhancing national energy security)
• Contribution to Renewable Energy (reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and increase energy independence)
• Save American family farms (additional income has been a lifesaver and helped keep family farms from being sold to developers and maintain that agricultural profile of a county)

❎Cons of leasing land to a renewable energy project:

• Long-term Commitment (leases typically lasting 20 to 30 years)
• Land Use Restrictions (specifically for solar farms, usable farmland is often taken out of production)
• Need to provide access to company staff ( i.e. tech to service the turbines or panels)
• Potential Environmental Impact (how the installation and decommissioning processes can have environmental impacts)
• Sale of leased land can be complicated (if the land is already generating revenue from the lease then selling is easier. The lease can be transferred as long as it is covered in the lease agreement. Consult a lawyer for that)

5. How generating solar/wind energy is a form of harvesting in itself

6. Things to consider if you’re a farmer considering leasing land to a renewable energy project.

• Discuss potential impacts during construction
• Decommissioning process and responsibilities at the end of 20-30 years (so people remember grandpa/ grandma fondly :)
• Supporting your local community with many benefits that pay for essential public services for your county

7. Opportunity to answer commonly asked questions/misconceptions of renewable energy projects:

• Whether renewable energy projects affect property value
• Whether solar panels render land infertile
• Whether wind turbines are loud (in general wind turbines generate about 30- 45 decibels at 300 ft while the limit is 55 decibel. With proper setback in places where wind turbines are built, people are more likely to hear traffic from a distant highway than the turbine itself)
• Do wind turbines kill birds? (yes about 300K in the US but that is nothing compared to cats, buildings, pesticides, and cars that kill millions of birds per year)
• Whether renewable energy projects are funded by taxpayer money or by private investments (private investments. In fact a lot of fossil fuel companies are now making investments in renewable energy because the margins are better than generating power from gas or coal. Additionally like most energy projects clean energy companies make annual payment to the county tax revenues and support community benefits)
• Whether wind and solar energy are more expensive than coal or gas (see Lazard’s levelized cost of energy 2023 report)
• Supposedly 7-10% of the electricity generated is lost so where does that go? Ground water? Livestock, family?

8. Advice to farm landowners considering leasing land to a solar or wind project.

*It goes without saying but it’s important for landowners considering leasing land to a clean energy project to consult with relevant legal and financial experts for their unique situation before finalizing any agreements. There are resources like the Center for Rural Opportunity and Power (CROP) that provide good, unbiased information on how to get access to these resources as a landowner. CROP’s missio...

In this #Farm4Fun episode, we’re thrilled to chat with Shawn Feikema, the Minnesota-based farmer and YouTube creator behind Tractor Talk with Shawn. Shawn’s channel offers a unique glimpse into life on his family farm, where he manages daily operations, shares his love for tractors, and dives into the mechanics and history of farming equipment. We talk about what it’s like farming in Minnesota, how his multi-generational farm has evolved, and the challenges of working through the state’s unpredictable weather. Shawn also gives us behind-the-scenes stories from his YouTube content, discussing his favorite equipment reviews, learning experiences, and the excitement of growing his online farming community.

Listeners will hear about his journey balancing farming and content creation, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and what inspires him to keep sharing his passion with the world. Whether it’s talking about his favorite tractors, the Minnesota farming community, or the unpredictable challenges of farming, this episode is full of fun moments and insights into rural life. Join us for a down-to-earth conversation with Shawn Feikema, packed with laughs, farming wisdom, and plenty of tractor talk!