Home: Huxley, IA. Age: 38. Birthplace: Storm Lake, IA. Profession: Content creation; farm labor. Organization: Farm4Profit Media. Significant other: Allie.
Current project: Helping to create a predictions market for farmers through a partnership with AcreHedge that farmers can use to sense the direction/feelings/expertise of the crowd when making decisions to hedge the risk on their farms. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? We remain consistent at our podcast but investing in high quality cameras and producing great video both in long form and shorts has propelled the podcast to be consumed over 7 million times with an audience of over a half a million farmers. Hobbies: Golf, coaching youth sports. Recently viewed and recommended: “History that Doesn’t Suck” podcast, finding myself going all the way back to the beginning.
Personality profile: Determined, organized, open-minded, curious; a teacher; always early. What is your greatest joy? Unexpectedly exceeding others’ expectations. What is your greatest fear? Losing touch with the farmer and producing content that doesn’t provide them any value anymore. What is your guilty pleasure? Judging the way people mow their lawns. Having run a lawncare company, a well-kept yard brings great pleasure. What word or phrase do you use far too often? So….. its by crutch word/phrase while I transition a topic or think of an answer. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Bourbon. What is at the top of your bucket list? Hawaii. What is your go-to workout? Distance run. What was your first paying job? Mowing churches and cemeteries.
What was your favorite college course? Business Finance. What book have you repeatedly read? Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Iowa State Cyclone Items or something tied to the history of Farm4Profit or John Deere. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? The iPhone. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? TikTok.
What is your big idea?
Building a network of agriculture influencers by creating a modern version of an “Association” where the group collectively feeds off the experience of others. Providing value to this group which now finds its influence as more of a business than a hobby.
What message do you want to send out into the world? That I am a good and trustworthy person. What change to you seek to effect in the world? Having an impact on someone who may now be feeling as low, just as I have in the recent past; letting them know it will get better. What mega-trend most concerns you? AI, which is helpful in many areas but hard to control.
As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A farmer. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My laptop, but would probably be yelled at to get my wife’s dogs. What advice would you give your younger self? Slow down. You will find exceeding expectations rather easy and that will fuel you to want to do more. Doing more can and will cause issues.
Personal mission: Providing entertaining and educational content for others to learn and build from, helping to make their business and themselves better. Personal motto: Trust but verify.
