In this episode, Kasey Brown and Ryan Armstrong share the stories, tough lessons and laughter that come with building lives and careers in agriculture — both on the farm and behind the scenes. From Kasey Brown’s journey from Indiana stock shows to launching Teal Hat Communications, to Ryan Armstrong’s winding road of solitary drives and citrus fields that led him to podcasting, their conversation highlights the power of “figuring it out” and embracing uncertainty as an act of faith.

Together, they discuss how intuition, vulnerability and pushing out of comfort zones shape not just the ag industry, but also personal growth and leadership.

Along the way, you’ll hear about cattle genetics, choir concerts for President Bush, and how a teal cowboy hat became Kasey Brown’s business signature. This episode pulls back the curtain on why Farmstrong is committed to giving you the real faces and stories behind your food.

In this episode:
* Kasey shares how a layoff — and her favorite hat — inspired her to build a business from scratch

* Ryan talks about finding purpose and energy by asking tough questions and taking career risks

* Insights on community, family legacies, and the many “spokes” that keep agriculture rolling

* How Kasey's favorite people in the ag industry marry tradition with cutting edge technology

* A candid look at why listening to your inner nudges and being honest (even when awkward) matter so much in ag and in life

Quotes to remember:
“Everything’s figureout-able if you have the resiliency to learn things and be willing to get out of your comfort zone...” — Kasey Brown

“Your calling often whispers — it doesn’t scream at you.” — Ryan Armstrong

This conversation proves that behind every farm and every podcast episode, it’s people — with grit, heart, and stories worth telling — who make this industry strong.

You can find Kasey at tealhatcommunications.com, on LinkedIn or on Instagram.

Resources:

• Florida Farm List
• Georgia Grown
• Fresh from Florida
• Community Cannery Locations
• Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Resources
• Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers

Questions or guest ideas?
Email farmstrongpodcast@gmail.com

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We'd really appreciate if you would leave a review — please leave a sentence, not just stars. That helps others find the podcast so they can put a face behind their food.

Work hard. Be honest. Speak proudly.

Ryan Armstrong sits down with Kacee Bohle, founder of AgriMinds, to dig into the real, often-hidden stresses facing farmers and ag professionals. Rather than talking markets or machinery, the conversation zeros in on burnout, mental health stigmas, and the need for intentional support within agriculture.

Kacee shares her journey from the family farm to creating AgriMinds — a community and coaching program that helps ag professionals build resilience, balance and boundaries. She discusses why meaningful change only happens when we move past buzzwords and into deep, honest conversations.

Key highlights include:

• How Kacee’s own struggles led her to build a coaching community for personal growth in ag
  
  
• Why discussing mental health in farming requires the right language — and a willingness to go beyond the surface
  
  
• The AgriMind Summit: a sponsor-free retreat focused on personal transformation
  
  
• The surprising discovery that, in group settings, men in ag open up about emotions more readily than women
  
  

Thought-provoking Quotes:
“Are you willing to get in the combine or the tractor with a farmer and let them be in their element and actually hear what they have to say?”
— Kacee Bohle

“The women are always the ones…shoving their emotions under the rug because they don’t have the time to talk about emotions…Whereas the guys are like, yeah, this is how I’m feeling, and I’m ready to get it out.”
— Kacee Bohle

“If you don’t know you’re spiraling, you can’t do anything about it. Having a support system you can reach out to — that’s the goal.”
— Kacee Bohle

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who cares about the people behind our food. Whether you’re seeking inspiration or practical advice for tackling stress in rural life, Farmstrong brings real talk, vulnerability, and actionable ideas for a healthier, more connected future.

Learn more about AgriMinds at kaceebohle.com and find Kaacee on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaceebohle/) or Instagram (@agcoachkacee).

Resources:

• Florida Farm List
• Georgia Grown
• Fresh from Florida
• Community Cannery Locations
• Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Resources
• Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers

Questions or guest ideas?
Email farmstrongpodcast@gmail.com

Follow or subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode!

We'd really appreciate if you would leave a review — please leave a sentence, not just stars. That helps others find the podcast so they can put a face behind their food.

Work hard. Be honest. Speak proudly.

Few things connect people faster than food. Listen to authentic conversations with deeply rooted guests like land men, fruit pickers, marketers, plantation owners, photographers, cowboys and everyone in between in this incredibly nuanced agriculture industry. Let’s put a face behind the food.

Everyone has a seat at this table. This podcast uncovers the honest and proud stories of the fascinating yet little-known sectors of the agriculture industry.

Follow the Farmstrong podcast anywhere you get your podcasts and tune in on Wednesdays.

Resources:

• Florida Farm List
• Georgia Grown
• Fresh from Florida
• Community Cannery Locations
• Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Resources
• Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers

Questions or guest ideas?
Email farmstrongpodcast@gmail.com

Follow or subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode!

We'd really appreciate if you would leave a review — please leave a sentence, not just stars. That helps others find the podcast so they can put a face behind their food.

Work hard. Be honest. Speak proudly.

Laura Conaway joins Ryan Armstrong on Farmstrong for a candid look into Florida’s cattle country and the realities behind the ranching life. Laura talks about growing up in a first-generation cattle family — her parents having built their operation from scratch near Daytona Beach — and the unpredictable nature of working with animals, hurricanes and land development pressures.

They unpack riding the line between romanticized portrayals of ranch life (think shows like Yellowstone) and the honest, gritty day-to-day realities of Florida agriculture. Laura shares her journey from ranch kid to writer for Certified Angus Beef®, reflecting on how firsthand experience brings authenticity to agricultural storytelling. The episode is filled with vivid stories of “Florida cracker” heritage, wild cow hunts, competitive meat judging at UF, and why cattle producers are some of the toughest people you’ll meet.

Highlights include:

• Laura’s transition from the cow pens to national storytelling, and why she never saw herself as a “real writer”
• The pressure facing Florida ranchers from development and changing landscapes
• The lessons Laura learned from industry veterans and why failing forward is key in agriculture
• Behind-the-scenes takes on the meat judging team and the grit it takes to work cattle in the Florida heat

Thought-provoking Quotes:

“The cattle business isn’t just calves in meadows — it’s hurricanes, feed costs, and those moments of beauty that keep you going.” – Laura Conaway

“If I hadn’t failed, I wouldn’t be successful.” – Advice Laura heard from restaurant owners and ranchers

“Florida is changed so much, but still unchanged — and there are still cowboys cracking whips in the palmetto scrub.” – Ryan Armstrong

Tune in for honest stories about rural resilience, the value of telling it like it is, and why agricultural heritage matters more than ever.

Resources:

• Florida Farm List
• Georgia Grown
• Fresh from Florida
• Community Cannery Locations
• Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Resources
• Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers

Questions or guest ideas?
Email farmstrongpodcast@gmail.com

Follow or subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode!

We'd really appreciate if you would leave a review — please leave a sentence, not just stars. That helps others find the podcast so they can put a face behind their food.

Work hard. Be honest. Speak proudly.

In a continuation of the conversation, Ryan and Dr. Bobby Safranski share honest insights on parenting, legacy and living well in today’s world. From Bobby’s tradition of writing monthly notebook letters to his son, to Ryan’s mission to preserve family stories and revive lost arts, this episode explores how everyday choices shape family — and community — legacy.

Together, they discuss the challenges of screen time, the revival of hands-on trades and the importance of teaching kids through example rather than just words. Vulnerability is at the heart of their conversation: both men open up about mental health, fatherhood and building supportive networks in the face of personal and systemic struggles.

Highlights:

• Bobby’s “legacy notebooks” — preserving real life, beyond the screen
• The role of YouTube as both a teaching tool and a pitfall for families
• Lost arts: canning, cobbling and the value of hands-on skills
• Why it matters to let kids simply be kids — even if it means bending the rules
• Mental health and fatherhood, and how honest conversations can protect what matters most

Thought-provoking Quotes:

“I want a book full of all the knowledge we were just talking about so that my son and grandkids know, like, hey, yeah, that works for heartburn. Go get that.” — Bobby Safranski

“It’s tangible. It’s real. It’s not just here and gone.” — Ryan Armstrong

“Let them be a kid. I don’t want him to be stressed. I want him to be happy.” — Bobby Safranski

Resources:

• Florida Farm List
• Georgia Grown
• Fresh from Florida
• Community Cannery Locations
• Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Resources
• Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers

Questions or guest ideas?
Email farmstrongpodcast@gmail.com

Follow or subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode!

We'd really appreciate if you would leave a review — please leave a sentence, not just stars. That helps others find the podcast so they can put a face behind their food.

Work hard. Be honest. Speak proudly.

In part one of a raw and engaging conversation, Dr. Bobby Safranski joins host Ryan Armstrong to share how a passion for chiropractic care led him from treating humans to adjusting horses, dogs and even potbellied pigs in the heart of Florida farm country. Bobby reveals how merging animal and people care creates surprising connections and opportunities — often sparked by a simple conversation over coffee or noticing a client’s vest.

Their conversation dives deep into the value of face-to-face interaction, the “currency” of reputation and trust within rural communities, and the resilience of agriculture in Florida despite challenges like vanishing orange groves and urban sprawl. Bobby reflects on the struggles and joys of balancing family, business growth, and personal discipline, all while nurturing authentic relationships with the people and animals in his care.

Highlights:
*Bobby’s journey into business ownership, finding purpose in both animal and human healthcare
* Why trust, respect, and honest conversation are more powerful than digital marketing for building community
* Reflections on Florida’s farming landscape and the importance of buying and eating local
* The grounding influence of family meals and simple pleasures

Thought-provoking Quotes:

“Talking to people, you get to understand who they are, what they do. That’s the natural way to market.” – Bobby Safranski

“In farm country, one honest recommendation is worth more than any advertisement.” – Bobby Safranski

Tune in for an episode that celebrates building honest connections — with both people and animals — and the timeless value of hard work, humility and home-cooked meals.

Resources:

• Florida Farm List
• Georgia Grown
• Fresh from Florida
• Community Cannery Locations
• Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Resources
• Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers

Questions or guest ideas?
Email farmstrongpodcast@gmail.com

Follow or subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode!

We'd really appreciate if you would leave a review — please leave a sentence, not just stars. That helps others find the podcast so they can put a face behind their food.

Work hard. Be honest. Speak proudly.

Ryan welcomes longtime friend and Brooksville local Will Gregg for a conversation that blends welding, agriculture, and small-town shenanigans — all over sandwiches at Main Street Eatery. Will shares how his unexpected journey into welding was shaped by the agricultural community around him, and how the skills he honed on local ranches keep farm operations (and his neighbors) up and running.

Ryan and Will reflect on the deep connection between power plants, the electrical grid, and everyday farm life — which depends on reliable energy for everything from irrigation systems to modern machinery. The duo dives into Florida’s cattle and citrus legacies, the evolution of local butchers and food preferences, and the pride of knowing where your steak comes from.

Classic Brooksville tales pop up throughout: toothpick dart games above the Eatery bar, high school lunch-pass hacks, and the quirks of growing up where everyone knows your business. Will also opens up about the realities of welding life — boiling-hot shifts, the satisfaction of providing power for thousands and learning to fix just about anything on a farm.

Episode Highlights:

• How local agriculture launched Will’s welding career — and keeps his skills sharp
• Inside power plant outages: hot work that keeps the grid alive
• Florida’s forgotten history: cracker cattle, sprawling ranches and legendary sweet corn
• Nostalgic stories from Main Street Eatery and high-school hijinks

Quotes to Remember:

“If it wasn’t for agriculture, I would not be where I am with welding.” – Will Gregg

“If you let your yard go or a fence line go — two weeks, you hate yourself.” – Will Gregg

"It definitely gives them confidence. You can do it in class, but when somebody from the field comes in and says, 'It looks good, you're doing a good job,' it solidifies yourself for sure. The ultimate confidence was just achieved." — Will Gregg

Resources:

• Florida Farm List
• Georgia Grown
• Fresh from Florida
• Community Cannery Locations
• Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Resources
• Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers

Questions or guest ideas?
Email farmstrongpodcast@gmail.com

Follow or subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode!

We'd really appreciate if you would leave a review — please leave a sentence, not just stars. That helps others find the podcast so they can put a face behind their food.

Work hard. Be honest. Speak proudly.

Ryan Armstrong and Jason Cornman go deep on what it really takes to get food from field to fork in Florida and beyond. Childhood memories meet hard-earned industry experience as they trade stories about multi-generational farming legacies, navigating wild hurricane seasons, and why those humble bags of potato chips on supermarket shelves are more complicated than you’d ever imagine.

The conversation pulls back the curtain on agricultural procurement, logistics and the irreplaceable human relationships that anchor the food supply chain.

Highlights from the Conversation:

• Jason shares his winding journey from suburban Tallahassee kid to a key player in agricultural procurement, production, and food safety — plus his passion project tending 50 beehives.
• The logistical madness of moving millions of pounds of potatoes, why crop procurement means more than just numbers, and how “bird-dogging” in the field translates to quality corn on your backyard grill.
• Ryan and Jason discuss the hidden complexities and immense value of relationship-building with growers, harvesters and field crews — that one phone call could mean the difference between ruined potatoes and a perfect chip harvest.
• Hurricane stories only a Floridian could tell: from washed-out fields and snapped timber to how disaster response builds resilience for both the land and its people.
• The nitty-gritty of the H-2A seasonal worker program, busting the myth of the “invisible workforce,” and why respect and gratitude for farm laborers is due.
• The Southern way of football, family and tailgating: how agriculture and fall Saturdays intersect, weaving farmers and rural economies into the very fabric of community.

Thought-Provoking Quotes:

Resources:

• Florida Farm List
• Georgia Grown
• Fresh from Florida
• Community Cannery Locations
• Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Resources
• Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers

Questions or guest ideas?
Email farmstrongpodcast@gmail.com

Follow or subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode!

We'd really appreciate if you would leave a review — please leave a sentence, not just stars. That helps others find the podcast so they can put a face behind their food.

Work hard. Be honest. Speak proudly.