Beyond The Crops
Jena & MP bring a unique perspective to the world of agriculture, offering a blend of humor, heart, and wisdom honed from their combined years on the farm. With a deep passion for their families, their farms, and the communities they call home, these two farmwives delve into the daily triumphs and tribulations that come from rural living.
They discuss everything from the latest advancements in agriculture and the art of balancing family with farm duties to the time-honored traditions and recipes that make life on the farm so special. Their stories will make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings, and inspire you to see the beauty in the ordinary moments of life.
"Beyond The Crops" is not just a podcast for farmers; it's for anyone who appreciates the enduring values of hard work, resilience, and the simple joys of living close to the land. Whether you're an urban dweller curious about rural life or a fellow farm enthusiast, you'll find something to love in the genuine and heartfelt conversations of Jena & MP.
Subscribe today and be a part of their journey as they cultivate a deeper appreciation for the remarkable world of agriculture.
Episodes
153 episodes
153. 4-H, Half Marathons, Household Chaos and Trusting God Through the Unknown
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this episode, Jena and Mary Pat cover everything from 4-H projects and half marathon plans to summer hosting chaos—but the heart of this conversation is a major life update J...
152. Summer Bucket Lists, Running Wins & Making Space for What Matters
In this episode of Beyond the Crops, Jena and Mary Pat catch up on all things summer — from marathon training and recovery wins to building intentional family bucket lists for the season ahead.MP shares an encouraging update on ...
151. A South Dakota Adventure, Health Updates & Half Marathon Training
This week on Beyond the Crops, we're catching up on life lately. Jenna shares highlights from her family's trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota, including Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Jewel Cave, and their experience staying at Unde...
150. You Only Get 18 Summers: Why We’re Prioritizing Family Memories
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this fun, start of summer episode, Jena and Mary Pat dive into the reality of balancing busy farm seasons with making intentional family memories. From summer travel plans an...
149. We Said We’d Never Homeschool… Now We Are!
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this episode, Jena and Mary Pat sit down for a real conversation about homeschooling, motherhood, slowing down, and choosing a lifestyle that better aligns with thei...
148. Betrayed By My Safe Space: The Results of Our 12-Hour Mold Inspection
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this incredibly vulnerable and emotional episode, Jena and Mary Pat catch up on the realities of planting season before Jena shares the long-awaited, and heartbreaking, resul...
147. Planting, Pivots & A Mold Inspector from Florida
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! It's the thick of planting season, and in this episode, Jena and Mary Pat are catching up on everything from their very different weather situations to some major updates on the...
146. "Only Grans," Homeschool Plans & Homeopathy
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this packed episode, Jena and Mary Pat are catching up on everything from spring break shenanigans and pre-planting progress to some seriously exciting life updates. Mary Pat...
145. "It's a Long Haul": Lessons from the '80s for Today's Tough Farm Economy
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this very special episode, Jena and Mary Pat are joined by a beloved repeat guest who just so happened to be sleeping in the basement: Mary Pat's dad, Jack! As a farmer who s...
144. The Parts We Don't Post: Navigating Stress, Finding Hope & What Really Matters
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! This week, Jena and Mary Pat are pulling back the curtain to talk about the parts of farm life you don't always see on social media. After a quick update on their pre-p...
143. You Cannot Farm Without Faith: Finding Hope in a Tough Farm Economy
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this heartfelt and timely episode, Jena and Mary Pat tackle a heavy topic that's on the minds of so many in agriculture right now: how to find hope and encourage your husband...
142. Building Seed Life: Katie Dowson on Entrepreneurship, Motherhood & Faith
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this inspiring episode, Jena and Mary Pat are thrilled to welcome their friend and fellow entrepreneur, Katie Dowson. As the founder of Seed Life, a mom of three girls, and a...
141. Holy Week Reflection: Navigating Faith, Farming & Pre-Planting Pressure
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! As Holy Week approaches and the pre-planting buzz is in the air, Jena and Mary Pat sit down for a candid catch-up on everything happening in their worlds. After opening with a b...
140. A Season of New Beginnings: Product Launches, Half-Marathon Training & A Heartfelt Chat
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! As planting season quickly approaches, Jena and Mary Pat sit down for a much-needed catch-up on all the exciting things happening in their lives. From big business launches and ...
139. Commodity Classic Recap and Manifesting Our Big Idea for Farm Women
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! After a couple of weeks apart, Jena and Mary Pat are catching up on everything they've been up to, and this episode is all about Commodity Classic. With Jena holding down the fo...
138. How to Find Time When You Have None: A Guide to Priorities & Habits
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this incredibly practical episode, Jena and Mary Pat tackle the number one question they get asked: "How do you find the time?" Inspired by a listener question, they dive dee...
137. A Farm Wife's Guide to Healthy Swaps: Food, Cleaning & Where to Start
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this super-practical, listener-requested episode, Jena and Mary Pat are tackling a big question: "How do you transition to a healthier, non-toxic lifestyle without breaking t...
136. Grain Bin Safety Week: A Survivor's Story and Essential Tips for Every Farm
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life. This week, Jena and Mary Pat are tackling one of the most critical topics in agriculture: grain bin safety. They are joined by two special guests, sisters Missy and Maddie of "T...
135. We're Back! Vacations, Health Updates & Our Intentions for 2026
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops for the first episode of 2026! After a much-needed January break, your hosts Jena Ochsner and Mary Pat Sass are back behind the mics to catch up on life, travels, and what's on their hearts for the new year. Thi...
134. Wrapping Up 2025: A Raw 2025 Recap on Health, Healing & Hope
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops for our final episode of the season! In this special solo episode, Jena is flying solo as Mary Pat is under the weather. After opening with a heartfelt prayer for health and a Christ-centered holiday season, Jen...
133. You Asked, We Answered: Stay-at-Home Mom Life, Burnout & Finding "The One"
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! Get ready for another rapid-fire Q&A episode where Jena and Mary Pat tackle your heartfelt and practical questions. After opening with a prayer, they dive straight into some...
132. Is Total Acre Worth It? An Inside Look at the High-Yield Farmer Network
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! This week, Jena and Mary Pat are asking the question "What is Total Acre, and is it worth it?" They're joined by two very special guests who are deep in the trenches with this h...
131. Farm Wife's Guide to Christmas: Gifts, Traditions & Making Adult Friends
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! As the Advent season begins, Jena and Mary Pat are kicking off the holidays with a fun, rapid-fire Q&A episode, tackling a sleigh-full of listener questions. After opening w...
130. A Post-Thanksgiving Catch-Up: Falling Iguanas, Freeze Dryers, & Holiday Prep
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! Fresh off the Thanksgiving holiday, Jena and Mary Pat are back for a classic catch-up episode that's equal parts heartfelt, hilarious, and helpful. They kick things off with a p...
129. The Poop Test & Getting Unstuck: Answering Your Questions on Decluttering & Farm Life
Welcome back to Beyond the Cops, where farm life meets real life! In this episode, Jena and Mary Pat are giving a real-time update on the end of harvest and answering some fantastic listener questions. They kick things off by responding to a he...