103. The Power of Vertical Integration & Regenerative Farming with Ladd + Zoey Wahlen
05/13/25 • 38 min
Today’s conversation is with guests Ladd and Zoey Wahlen, the husband-and-wife duo behind Roots Chips!
This is the first time we’ve had a couple on the podcast together, and their story is such a great example of passion, perseverance, and purpose. From growing potatoes on their farm in Idaho to launching a regenerative, farmer-owned chip brand, Ladd and Zoey are doing business differently.
In this episode, we talk about how they took a big idea (that started as a dream!) and turned it into a thriving consumer product, all while raising four kids, running a farm, and making regenerative agriculture a core part of their mission. We also dive into the behind-the-scenes of building a brand from scratch, navigating the challenges of distribution, hiring a strong team, and the reality of balancing (or not balancing) two full-time businesses.
Resources & Links:
- Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- 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
- Email us at [email protected]
- Join the Of The West Email List
- List your jobs on Of The West
Connect with Ladd and Zoey:
- Follow on Instagram @rootschips
- Visit the website
- Follow on TikTok @rootschips
Connect with Jessie:
- Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv
- Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest
- Check out the Of The West website
Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s conversation is with guests Ladd and Zoey Wahlen, the husband-and-wife duo behind Roots Chips!
This is the first time we’ve had a couple on the podcast together, and their story is such a great example of passion, perseverance, and purpose. From growing potatoes on their farm in Idaho to launching a regenerative, farmer-owned chip brand, Ladd and Zoey are doing business differently.
In this episode, we talk about how they took a big idea (that started as a dream!) and turned it into a thriving consumer product, all while raising four kids, running a farm, and making regenerative agriculture a core part of their mission. We also dive into the behind-the-scenes of building a brand from scratch, navigating the challenges of distribution, hiring a strong team, and the reality of balancing (or not balancing) two full-time businesses.
Resources & Links:
- Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- 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
- Email us at [email protected]
- Join the Of The West Email List
- List your jobs on Of The West
Connect with Ladd and Zoey:
- Follow on Instagram @rootschips
- Visit the website
- Follow on TikTok @rootschips
Connect with Jessie:
- Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv
- Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest
- Check out the Of The West website
Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
102. Embracing Creativity & Brand Identity with Torie Egger
I'm so excited for you to hear today’s conversation with Torie Egger!
Torie is a wildly talented western lifestyle photographer with a gift not just behind the camera, but also in how she builds community and shares her craft. In this episode, we talk about how she went from photographing livestock on her family’s feedlot to building a recognizable brand and business with purpose.
Torie shares about the early days of her business, what she wishes she had done differently, and the personal projects that keep her inspired today. We also talk about creativity vs. competition, the myth of gatekeeping in the creative space, and how her “everyone has a seat at my table” mindset has shaped both her personal values and business growth.
This episode is packed with wisdom for anyone trying to build a meaningful brand, overcome imposter syndrome, or stay creatively inspired—whether you're a photographer or not.
Resources & Links:
- 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
- Email us at [email protected]
- Join the Of The West Email List
- List your jobs on Of The West
Connect with Torie:
- Follow on Instagram @torieegger
- Follow on Tiktok @torieegger
- Follow on YouTube @torieegger
- Visit her website
Connect with Jessie:
- Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv
- Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest
- Check out the Of The West website
Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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