#224 – Caleb Smith – Switching from Dairy to Sheep

by Jared Luhman | May 5, 2025 | Ranching Returns Podcast

Caleb Smith has taken a unique path into agriculture. He had the opportunity to take on a 40-year land lease from a non-profit, which allowed him to build a dairy farm from scratch. In this episode, he shares that story, along with his recent transition from the dairy...

#223 – Hayden Heigele – Changing Genetics, Calving Window, and More

by Jared Luhman | Apr 28, 2025 | Ranching Returns Podcast

Hayden Heigele encountered some resistance when he wanted to introduce new farming and ranching practices on his family farm. Rather than giving up, he has been experimenting with low-input ranching while building an operation of his own, all while continuing to work...

#222 – Doug Badcock – Building an Adapted Cow on a Zambian Ranch

by Jared Luhman | Apr 21, 2025 | Ranching Returns Podcast

Doug Badcock is building a ranch in Zambia and trying to develop a cow herd adapted to his harsh climate! He shares all the traditional paradigms he’s pushing back against and where he’s finding success. He also shares the story of how and why he left the...

#221 – Ryan Cone – Building a Business in Order to Buy a Ranch

by Jared Luhman | Apr 14, 2025 | Ranching Returns Podcast

I absolutely love Ryan Cone’s story of finding a creative path to building a large and successful ranch from the ground up. He shares how he bought a struggling medical sales business—just weeks away from shutting down—turned it around and eventually sold it to fund...

#220 – Neil Peterson – Integrating Cows on Cropland in Iowa

by Jared Luhman | Apr 7, 2025 | Ranching Returns Podcast

After doing missions work overseas, Neil Peterson moved back to the family farm in Iowa. He’s now working to build a diversified and profitable farm that integrates cattle on land that many would consider suitable only for crops. We discuss how he’s making...