Raised Between the Rows

Buckle up for a real and relatable look at the chaos of modern farming! In this episode of Raised Between the Rows, Ashley and Amanda catch up right after a long day of planting a massive 17-variety corn test plot.The girls dive straight into the unpredictable reality of this year’s "marathon spring." They discuss shifting dramatically from ultra-wet conditions to an unexpected dry spell, and the modern farming dilemma: at what point do you stop waiting for the "perfect" conditions and just settle for "good enough"?Amanda also gets candid about the learning curves of operating a brand-new planter. From troubleshooting software kinks to accidentally breaking off a closing wheel (and choosing to just keep moving anyway!), she shares the humorous and exhausting reality of juggling a new piece of equipment while keeping a baby happy off the tractor field.Whether you’ve had to suck 600 pounds of beans out of a drill this season or you're just trying to beat the next rain cloud, this episode is a reassuring reminder that no one has the perfect spring—and we're all just figuring it out as we go.In this episode, we talk about:Planting a 17-variety test plot with corporate seed partners.The wild weather shifts from freezing wet days to immediate 80-degree heat.Managing the inevitable "growing pains" and quirks of new farm equipment.Why the "perfect spring" doesn't exist and how farmers across the region are coping.A hilarious runaway stroller incident on the deck!Grab your coffee or a Diet Coke, and join us for a chat between the rows!

In this episode, Ashleigh and Amanda sit down with Sarah Zastrow—a multi-generational crop farmer, farm-stress guru, and the voice behind the Throwing Wrenches, Mending Fences podcast. Farming is often romanticized, but the reality involves a unique set of pressures that can weigh heavily on families and mental well-being. Sarah shares her journey from joining the Farm Bureau to find a "better way of doing things" to becoming a leading advocate for mental health in the agricultural community.We dive into practical strategies for managing stress, the importance of building a supportive network, and how to find joy in agriculture again, even when the "wrenches" start flying. Whether you're a lifelong farmer or new to the industry, this conversation offers the tools and encouragement needed to balance the demands of the farm with personal wellness.Show NotesMeet Sarah Zastrow: An introduction to Sarah’s background farming 1,400 acres of corn and soybeans in Midland and Saginaw counties alongside four generations of her family.The Path to Leadership: How Sarah’s involvement in the Michigan Farm Bureau led her to win the 2021 State Discussion Meet and the 2022 Young Farmer Leader Award.Defining "Cultivate Balance": Sarah explains the mission of her business, which provides workshops and coaching to help farmers manage stress and prevent burnout.Throwing Wrenches, Mending Fences: Insights from Sarah’s own podcast about life, family, and finding peace in the middle of farm chaos.Practical Stress Tactics:Recognizing the "volcano" of stress before it erupts.Low-cost strategies for better sleep and mental clarity.The power of a strong support network like the Young Farmer program.Agriculture Advocacy: Why Sarah believes it’s vital to be a "voice for agriculture" in communities that may feel disconnected from the farm.Connect with Sarah:Podcast: Throwing Wrenches, Mending FencesSocial Media: @throwingwrenchesmendingfences on Instagram and Facebook

Ready to hit the fields? This episode of Between the Rows is all about that high-stakes first pass and the unpredictable Michigan spring.Episode DescriptionThe frost is lifting, the equipment is hummin’, and Ashleigh and Amanda are back to talk about the most critical time of year: The Planting Pass. From the back of a seed tender in the Upper Peninsula to the active discing fields of West Michigan, the girls check in from the thick of pre-season prep.They dive deep into the "non-negotiables" of planting—discussing why technologies like down force and variable rate seeding are game-changers for uniform emergence and harvest consistency. But it wouldn’t be farming without a few curveballs; the duo discusses navigating record-breaking rainfall, the "Billy Eilish" method of documenting farm history, and an unexpected cameo from Ashleigh’s dad that nearly stole the show.Whether you're making the call on early-season soybeans or just trying to keep the rye cover crop from taking over, grab your coffee (or Diet Coke) and join us between the rows.Show NotesField UpdatesAshleigh's Road Trip: Delivering seed and fuel tenders across the Upper Peninsula to get growers ready for the ground to break.Amanda’s Home Front: The discs are running, lime is being spread, and the team is putting in 11-hour shop days to get the planters communicating.The "Planting Pass" Deep DiveNon-Negotiables: Why Down Force and Variable Rate Seeding are essential for achieving that "one-day emergence" window.Uniformity is King: How consistent emergence in the spring leads to easier drying and better yields at harvest.Tech Talk: A look back at precision planting kits and how equipment upgrades have evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic.Weather & Agronomy ChallengesRain, Rain, Go Away: Analyzing the Davis weather station data—some areas have seen over 7 inches of rain, moving the conversation from "pre-season" to managing wet fields.Soybean Strategy: Is April too early for beans in Central Michigan? The girls discuss the "10-year pattern" vs. recent early planting trends.The Wheat Worry: Potential nitrogen leaching concerns following the heavy spring deluges.Between the Rows: Life & LegacyNew Beginnings: Celebrating Ashleigh’s parents finally moving into their new home.Documenting the Farm: The importance of recording "Farmer Stories." Amanda and Ashleigh discuss using video to preserve the legacy of grandparents.Dad’s Cameo: A hilarious mid-episode interruption involving a loader tractor and a "scraped approach" by Ashleigh's father.Connect with us! Have a farmer story we should feature? Want to tell us your planting non-negotiables? Reach out to us on social media—we’re experts at "volun-telling" people to come on the show!

Introduction In this episode, hosts Ashley and Amanda welcome Rachel Hyde. Rachel shares her unique journey from working in corporate agriculture to balancing multiple roles as a business owner, mother, and active participant on her family’s corn and soybean farm.Key Topics Covered:The Transition Home: Rachel discusses the difficult decision to leave her full-time role at Beck’s Hybrids to focus on her family and growing businesses. She shares insights into the challenges of traveling for work with a young child and the importance of finding a sustainable work-life balance.Entrepreneurial Ventures:2nd Shift Garage Doors: Rachel and her husband Michael’s journey into starting a garage door business, born from working "the second shift" in the evenings and weekends.Connection Consulting: Rachel’s marketing consultancy, which focuses on providing tailored, affordable marketing strategies for small-to-mid-sized businesses that might otherwise rely on generic AI solutions.Life on the Family Farm: Rachel talks about her experience growing up in a traditional ag environment, the importance of her father’s belief in giving her and her brother equal opportunities on the farm, and her current seasonal role assisting with everything from bookkeeping to field work.Community and Advocacy: As the Public Relations Coordinator for the Hamilton County Farm Bureau, Rachel emphasizes the need for young farmers to stay involved in advocacy and connect with their local communities.Organization and Support: A look into how Rachel manages her busy schedule, the importance of a strong support system (her "tribe"), and tips for stay-at-home parents who are also running businesses.Rapid Fire Round:Favorite Piece of Equipment to Drive: The planter.Planting or Harvest Season: Harvest.Favorite Caffeine Drink: Marshmallow Coke with grenadine (or coffee for the flavor, though caffeine doesn't affect her much).Where to Find Rachel Hyde:Facebook: Rachel HydeBusiness Pages: 2nd Shift Garage Doors, Connection Consulting, and Flanders A-Maizing Grain 

In this episode, Amanda and Ashleigh pull back the curtain on the "slow" season in Michigan, which is anything but quiet. They dive into the realities of navigating record-breaking rainfall, the steep learning curve of grain marketing, and the vital importance of professional development through programs like Farm Bureau’s ProFILE. From venting to a trusted circle of female friends to finding a sense of belonging in local youth ministries, this conversation explores how staying connected keeps the farm—and the farmer—running.Show Notes Muddy Fields & Spring Break: Amanda and Ashleigh recap a week of heavy Michigan rain and the challenge of keeping kids entertained during a soggy spring break.The Educational Circuit: A look at winter meeting season, featuring takeaways on fertility from Jason Roth and the value of Beck’s PFR meetings.Market Outlooks & Political Climates: The girls discuss the "big unknown" of the current agricultural economy, biofuel shifts, and the struggle to master grain marketing "for dummies."The Ag Salesman as Therapist: Ashleigh reflects on the emotional side of seed sales—being a "punching bag" for frustrated farmers and learning not to take market stress personally.Finding Your People: The importance of "glass ball" vs. "rubber ball" priorities and how Farm Bureau’s ProFILE program creates lifelong statewide connections.Community Beyond the Farm: Ashleigh shares her passion for working with Central Michigan Youth for Christ and how serving others provides a necessary perspective shift.Successional Planning & Future Goals: A teaser for a deep dive into the emotional and legal complexities of passing on the family legacy.Key Quotes"Busy people get more done... but you have to know which 'glass balls' you can't afford to drop." — Amanda"In ag sales, you're the therapist, the punching bag, and the best friend. You never know which one you're walking into." — Ashleigh

“With snow still making an appearance in Central Michigan in mid-March, Ashleigh and Amanda are navigating the final stretch of the "office phase". In this episode, Ashleigh discusses the logistical hurdles of shipping seed from the warehouse in Isabella County to a new elevator in Coleman while managing strict frost laws and road weight restrictions. Amanda shares a major operational pivot as her farm moves from a long-standing 12-row dry planter to a 16-row liquid system, emphasizing the importance of tech upgrades and fertilizer decisions during a tight agricultural economy. The conversation dives deep into the financial benefits of variable rate planting, explaining how adjusting seed populations based on soil types like blow sand versus heavy dirt can save on seed costs without losing yield. Beyond the field, the ladies talk about the necessity of a pre-season purge, from clearing out old shop rags to finally letting go of high school t-shirts. Before the 24/7 grind of planting season officially kicks off, Ashleigh and Amanda reflect on the value of leaning into a slower pace at home with sourdough starters and intentional family time.”In this episode, you’ll learn:Logistics & Frost Laws: The challenges of moving seed inventory between warehouses in Isabella County and Coleman while navigating road restrictions.The Liquid Transition: Why Ashley’s operation is switching from a 12-row dry planter to a 16-row liquid setup and the fertility decisions that come with it.Smart Cost-Cutting: How to utilize variable rate planting to save 20–30% on seed costs without sacrificing yield.Business vs. Ego: A candid discussion on why "farming more acres" isn't always the same as "farming more profitably".The Lifestyle Balance: Strategies for "prepping the house" before the field takes over—from freezer meals to organizing the pantry.Timestamps:[01:50] Moving seed to the Coleman elevator and fighting Michigan frost laws.[03:40] Upgrading the planter: Moving from dry to liquid fertilizer programs.[05:20] The "Dream List": Why every farmer wants a heated shop.[08:15] Market Watch: Capitalizing on rallies to sell last year’s crop.[11:30] Precision Ag: Saving money by cutting back on seed in "blow sand" areas.[14:45] Breaking the "Grandpa did it this way" cycle to improve margins.[17:10] The "Housewife Era": Making sourdough and stocking the freezer before planting hits.[20:40] The Great T-Shirt Purge: Why farmers never throw away old rags.Links & Resources Mentioned:Beck’s Hybrids: Seed hybrids discussed for the upcoming season.Chilled Freezer Meals: Amanda's go-to "busy season hack" for home-cooked meals.Farming Women’s Symposium: The inspiration behind the closet clean-out.

In this Episode: Join Ashleigh and Amanda for the very first episode of Raised Between the Rows. Today, they share the candid stories of how they both tried to leave the farm behind, only to find that their roots ran deeper than they realized. From Ashleigh’s dreams of marine biology to Amanda’s journey through the "lawyer track" and the dairy barn, this episode explores the beauty and the "mucking out" of family business.Timestamps & Key Moments:[00:00] Intro: Meet your hosts—a seed dealer from Central Michigan and a mother of three from a West Michigan dairy-turned-crop farm.[02:00] Ashleigh’s Journey: How a middle school dream of Florida palm trees turned into an FFA obsession and a career at Beck’s Hybrids.[06:30] The Beck’s Transition: The story behind the family business, BRB Seed Services, making the jump from Pioneer to Beck's.[11:00] Amanda’s Story: Growing up between two homes and finding peace in the milking parlor with her grandpa.[13:30] Choosing the Farm: The "hard conversation" with her dad about staying home versus going to law school.[16:45] Technology & Robots: The reality of 24/7 life with robotic milkers and the difficult decision to sell the herd in 2023.[21:00] Working with Dad: Reflections on being "the same person" as their fathers and learning to navigate the stressors of spring planting.[24:00] "Good Ground" & "Between the Rows": A weekly segment reflecting on faith, family health scares, and the blessings of a slower postpartum season.Mentioned in this Episode:Beck’s HybridsMichigan State University (MSU) Ag Tech ProgramFFA (Future Farmers of America)World Dairy Expo