The Homestead Education Podcast

In this episode, Amanda Radke shares her journey as a fifth-generation cattle rancher, passionate educator, and advocate for the real stories of American agriculture. She discusses how direct-to-consumer beef sales, land rights, and truthful storytelling are shaping the future of rural America, inspiring producers and consumers alike.

Main Insights:

Amanda’s background as a South Dakota rancher and author of children’s books about farming.

The significance of direct-to-consumer platforms like Bid on Beef in reconnecting rural producers with urban buyers.

How COVID-19 revealed vulnerabilities in global food supply chains and the opportunity for local, relationship-based food systems.

The monopolization of the beef supply chain by large packers and foreign ownership, and the need for stronger farmer advocacy.

The role of land rights and property preservation amid policies favoring foreign-backed projects such as carbon pipelines.

The importance of grassroots activism, local government engagement, and courageous advocacy in protecting American farmland.

How region-specific animal husbandry practices, like rotational grazing and grain finishing, reflect the diversity of U.S. agriculture.

Addressing misconceptions about antibiotics, environmental impact, and industry labels, emphasizing transparency and consumer education.

Amanda’s perspective on “keep growing” — prioritizing faith, family, and long-term sustainability over short-term gains.

Resources & Links:

Amanda Radke's Website: https://amandaradke.com/

The Heart of Rural America Podcast: https://apple.co/3BoFh0N

Bid on Beef: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-heart-of-rural-america/id1698761477

American Land and Legacy: https://americanlandandlegacy.org/

Connect with Amanda Radke:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandaradke

Kody's Links

Homestead Education Curriculum: https://thehomesteadeducation.com

Shop Books & Resources: https://thehomesteadeducation.com/shop

Join the Email List for Resources & Updates: https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/subscribe

Follow Along

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/thehomesteadeducation

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

In this episode, Susan Poizner shares her journey into urban orchards, emphasizing the importance of understanding and caring for fruit trees. Her insights are especially valuable for community groups, schools, and individuals committed to food resilience and ecological harmony.

Key Topics

The crucial minimums needed to keep fruit trees healthy and productive

How to select climate-appropriate fruit trees and the importance of native and disease-resistant cultivars

The role of community orchards in building sustainable food systems

Community-driven strategies for orchard maintenance, pest management, and soil health

Practical tips for planting, spacing, and protecting young trees

The emotional and ecological bonding with trees as living beings

How to integrate food growing into small spaces, urban environments, and large properties

The legacy aspect of perennial trees and their role in family and community traditions

The influence of rootstocks—dwarf vs. full-size and their implications for care

Strategies for pest and disease control using organic methods like dormant sprays

Susan Poizner’s Resources & Links

Susan Poizner’s Website

Growing Urban Orchards Book

Designing a Fruit Tree Garden

Fruit Tree Grafting Book

Organic Dormant Sprays

Orchard Nurseries & Resources

Connect with Susan Poizner

LinkedIn

Twitter

Podcast: Orchard Conversations

Kody Hanner’s Resources & Links
Homestead Education Curriculum:
https://thehomesteadeducation.com

Shop Books & Resources:
https://thehomesteadeducation.com/shop

Join the Email List for Resources & Updates:
https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/subscribe

Follow Along
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/thehomesteadeducation

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

Final thoughts:
This episode underscores that caring for fruit trees is not just about harvesting—it's about building relationships with nature, nurturing community, and fostering resilience for future generations. Whether you have a backyard or a large farm, adopting a thoughtful approach rooted in ecological mindfulness can transform your space into a thriving food forest.

Homesteading and education aren’t just about what you know or how much you can produce.
They’re about the mindset, skills, and real-life experiences that shape how you live, work, and contribute to the world around you.

And the truth is, more families than ever are questioning traditional education… but many aren’t sure what to replace it with or how to confidently teach their kids real-world skills.

In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits down with Daniel Salatin of Polyface Farm to have an honest, practical conversation about learning outside the classroom, building a life through agriculture, and raising kids who are capable, confident, and ready for real life.

From growing up on one of the most well-known regenerative farms to struggling in traditional academics, Daniel shares how hands-on learning, problem-solving, and purpose-driven work shaped his life and why those same principles matter now more than ever.

Together, they talk about what education actually needs to look like, how kids learn best, and why real-life responsibility may be the missing piece for so many families today.

This isn’t just a conversation about farming or homeschooling.
It’s about raising a generation that knows how to think, work, and contribute.

If you care about:

Raising capable, confident kids

Teaching real-life skills through everyday experiences

Homeschooling with purpose (not pressure)

Preparing kids for the real world—not just tests

Building problem-solving and critical thinking skills

Creating a lifestyle rooted in responsibility and contribution

This episode will challenge how you think about education and remind you what actually matters.

In This Episode, We Cover:

Daniel’s upbringing on Polyface Farm and his homeschool journey

Why traditional education doesn’t work for every child

The importance of problem-solving over memorization

How real-life responsibility creates motivation to learn

Finding your life’s calling and building a purpose-driven career

Why agriculture and homesteading create natural learning environments

The transition into leadership at Polyface Farm

Inside the Polyface Stewardship Program and full farm immersion training

The value of mentorship, trades, and hands-on experience

How learning often happens faster when there’s a real reason behind it

🤝 Support Our Guest — Daniel Salatin
If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to learn more about Daniel and Polyface Farm.

🌱 Learn more on the Polyface Farm website
🎓 Explore the Polyface Farm Stewardship Program (applications open each August)

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Polyfacefarm
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polyfacefarm/

 

Resources & Links
Homestead Education Curriculum:
https://thehomesteadeducation.com

Shop Books & Resources:
https://thehomesteadeducation.com/shop

Join the Email List for Resources & Updates:
https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/subscribe

Follow Along
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/thehomesteadeducation

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

🔥 Final Thought
Education doesn’t require perfect systems, perfect curriculum, or perfect timing.

It starts with a decision—to teach differently, to live intentionally, and to give your kids the skills they actually need.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about what they memorize…

It’s about who they become.

Homesteading isn’t just about land, animals, or how much you can produce. It’s about the mindset, lifestyle, and intentional choices behind how you live.

And the truth is, more people than ever are craving a slower, more self-sufficient life… but many feel like they don’t have enough land, time, or experience to even begin.

In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits down with Mary Lewis — host of A Tiny Homestead Podcast & Grit and Graceland in the Heartland Podcast to have an honest, real-life conversation about what homesteading actually looks like day-to-day.

From starting a homestead later in life to navigating gardening challenges, empty nesting, and building a life rooted in purpose, Mary shares her journey of stepping away from “city living” and into a more intentional, self-sufficient lifestyle.

Together, they talk about the realities of gardening, raising food, learning new skills, and redefining what it means to “be a homesteader” — whether you have acres of land or just a small backyard.

This isn’t just a conversation about homesteading.
It’s about learning to live differently with purpose, creativity, and a willingness to grow.

If you care about:

Starting a homestead later in life

Building a self-sufficient lifestyle without overwhelm

Growing food in any space (big or small)

Learning homesteading skills step-by-step

Balancing real life with homestead goals

Finding joy in simple, everyday living

This episode will remind you that homesteading isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.

In This Episode, We Cover:

Mary’s journey to starting a homestead at 50

Why homesteading is a mindset, not a measure of land or animals

The transition from city living to rural life

Real-life gardening challenges (weather, timing, and expectations)

How homesteading looks different in every season of life

The importance of starting small and building skills over time

Balancing homestead work without burnout or overwhelm

The role of community in modern homesteading

Why learning to cook is a foundational homesteading skill

Simple ways to begin growing and preparing your own food

🤝 Support Our Guest — Mary Lewis
If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to connect with Mary and follow along with her work.

🎙️ Podcasts: Grit and Grace in the Heartland | A Tiny Homestead

🌐 Website: Grit and Grace in the Heartland

📘 Facebook:
Mary Lewis
Grit and Grace in the Heartland – Women in Agriculture

 

Resources & Links
Homestead Education Curriculum:
https://thehomesteadeducation.com

Shop Books & Resources:
https://thehomesteadeducation.com/shop

Join the Email List for Resources & Updates:
https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/subscribe

Follow Along
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/thehomesteadeducation

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

🔥 Final Thought
Homesteading doesn’t require perfect land, perfect timing, or perfect skills.

It starts with a decision — to grow, to learn, and to do what you can with what you have.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how much you produce…

It’s about the life you’re building.

Success in agriculture isn’t just about working harder — it’s about learning how to manage the pressure, responsibilities, and mindset that come with the lifestyle.

And the truth is — burnout, overwhelm, and mental exhaustion are affecting more people in agriculture than ever before… but few are talking about how to navigate it well.

In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits down with Kacee Bohle — founder of AgriMinds and host of the AgriMinds Podcast — to talk about mindset, burnout, boundaries, leadership, and balancing family life while building a career in agriculture.

From growing up on a fourth-generation farm to climbing the corporate ladder in agriculture, Kacee shares her personal journey through burnout, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and ultimately building a business that helps others in the ag industry thrive both personally and professionally.

Together, they discuss the challenges of balancing farm life, business ownership, marriage, motherhood, homeschooling, and the constant pressure many in agriculture feel to “do it all.”

This isn’t just a conversation about business.
It’s about learning how to create a life that aligns with your values — without losing yourself in the process.

If you care about:

Preventing burnout while building your business or farm

Balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and agriculture

Setting healthy boundaries in work and family life

Leading yourself and others more effectively

Navigating mindset struggles in farming and entrepreneurship

This episode will encourage you to rethink what success truly looks like — and how mindset impacts every part of your life.

In This Episode, We Cover:

Kacee’s journey from family farming to corporate agriculture and entrepreneurship

Why burnout in agriculture often comes from doing the wrong work at the wrong time

How mindset impacts stress, overwhelm, and productivity

The importance of boundaries in work, family, and parenting

Leadership and communication within farm families and businesses

Balancing motherhood, homeschooling, and entrepreneurship

Why personal development matters in agriculture

🤝 Support Our Guest — Kacee Bohle
If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to connect with Kacee and learn more about AgriMinds.

🎙️ Podcast: AgriMinds Podcast

🌍 Website:

http://www.kaceebohle.com/agriminds

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agcoachkacee/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaceebohle

Resources & Links
Homestead Education Curriculum:
https://thehomesteadeducation.com

Shop Books & Resources:
https://thehomesteadeducation.com/shop

Join the Email List for Resources & Updates:
https://www.thehomesteadeducation.com/subscribe

Follow Along
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/homestead_education

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehomesteadeducation

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/thehomesteadeducation

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@homesteadeducation

🔥 Final Thought

Burnout doesn’t always come from doing too much — sometimes it comes from doing too much of the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Learning how to lead yourself well, set boundaries, and shift your mindset may be one of the most important skills for building a sustainable life in agriculture.