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
146 episodes
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...
128. Harvest, Hunting & Heavenly Promises: A Candid Catch-Up
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this candid catch-up episode, Jena and Mary Pat dive into the realities of the late-harvest season and the unique pressures it brings. From navigating the "double whammy" of ...
127. The Harvest Q&A: Our Unfiltered Answers to Your Questions
Welcome back to Beyond the Cops, where farm life meets real life! Jena and Mary Pat are here to answer your questions! From practical questions about their favorite cab snacks and how to monetize social media, to thoughtful discussions on...
126. A Raw Talk on Harvest Pressure & Giving Yourself Grace
Welcome back to Beyond the Cops, where farm life meets real life! In this raw and relatable harvest season check-in, Jena and Mary Pat get real about what it's like to navigate the busiest time of year when life throws you curveballs. Mary Pat ...
125. Breaking Free from Comparison: Finding Alignment in Your Farm Life
Welcome back to Beyond the Cops, where farm life meets real life! In this insightful and highly relatable episode, Jena and Mary Pat are tackling a thief that steals joy and paralyzes progress: comparison. After a quick harvest update filled wi...
124. Wisdom from a Matriarch: A Conversation with Glendia Beck of Beck's Hybrids
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this truly special episode, Jena and Mary Pat are honored to sit down with a woman whose life is woven into the very fabric of agricultural legacy: Glendia Beck. As the wife ...
123: The Grandmas We Lost This Summer: A Tribute to the Matriarchs Who Shaped Us
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life. In this special and deeply personal episode, Jena and Mary Pat take a moment to pause amidst the harvest rush to honor the incredible women who shaped them. Between the two of t...
122. The Long Road to Answers: Mary Pat's Vertigo Journey
Welcome back to Beyond the Crops, where farm life meets real life! In this deeply personal and highly-requested episode, Jena and Mary Pat get vulnerable about health. With Jena on the mend from a severe illness during the peak of harvest, the ...