“If cash is king, cash flow is queen.”

In this episode of Farming on Purpose, I sit down with Tressie Mitzner, economist with Kansas Farm Management, to talk about the side of ranching and farming that no one gets excited about—but everyone needs to understand: taxes, recordkeeping, and financial strategy.

Tressie shares how she and her husband built their cow-calf operation from the ground up, why clean records matter more than most producers realize, and how to navigate high- and low-income years without losing sleep. She also breaks down some of the biggest tax code changes coming in 2025–2026 and how they’ll impact family operations across rural America.

Whether you’re new to managing your farm’s books or just ready to take a more confident approach to your financial decisions, this episode will leave you with clarity, encouragement, and a few practical to-dos you can start right away.

Key Topics:

• Year-end wrap-up tips for farm and ranch businesses

• Managing 1099s, W-2s, and reconciling accounts correctly

• Tracking capital assets and depreciation with confidence

• Understanding high- vs. low-income year strategies

• Smart planning for land, equipment, and future growth

• Upcoming 2025–2026 tax updates every producer should know

• Finding grace and rhythm in your recordkeeping routine

You’ll walk away from this episode ready to head into tax season with a plan—and a little less dread.

Connect with Tressie

Tressie welcomes questions and conversations from fellow producers and ag professionals. 📧 Email: tressiemitzner@gmail.com

LINKS

Sign up for the 8-Hour Marketing Plan here!

Marketing Routine class, do so here!

Join the Farming On Purpose Facebook group and visit the Farming on Purpose merch page.

Check out our favorite software tool for online sales: Thrivecart

I may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page.

Other Episodes You May Enjoy:

Episode 87: Farm Succession Planning: Securing Your Family's Legacy

Episode 8: Shifting Seasons in Motherhood and Ranching with Richelle Barrett

Episode 19: Homesteading Skills with a Farm Family with 14 Hands Ranch

About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:

I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.

Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

“I don’t want to spend my short years on this earth doing things that are insignificant.” — Andrew Miller

In this episode of Farming on Purpose, I sit down with Andrew Miller, co-founder and CEO of Tulip Valley Farms in Washington’s Skagit Valley. We talk about the realities of building an agritourism-centered farm business, navigating regulations and community pushback, and choosing a meaningful life rooted in land and legacy.

Andrew shares openly about returning home after years in tech, the process of building something his family could be part of, and the unique challenges of running a U-pick tulip farm in an urban-adjacent region where tourism and agriculture collide. His story is equal parts courageous, strategic, and deeply human.

• Building a life and business rooted in significance, not just productivity
• Why agritourism is one of the biggest opportunities in agriculture today
• Navigating lawsuits, regulations, and zoning challenges as a small farm
• Turning a flower farm into an immersive experience—not a commodity
• Balancing family, farming, and off-farm responsibilities
• What makes U-pick operations successful (and what makes them hard)
• How to advocate for policies that keep farmland viable
• Why innovation in ag must happen at the business-model level
• Finding resilience through community, connection, and purpose
• Building a future in agriculture your kids can participate in

🌷 Instagram: @tulipvalleyfarms 🌷 Website: tulipvalley.com 🎙 Listen to Andrew’s podcast: Agri IQ 📧 Connect with Andrew: andrew@tulipvalley.com

The 8-Hour Marketing Plan — Build your one-day marketing roadmap https://backpocketsocial.com/8hours

Marketing Routine Class https://backpocketsocial.com/plan

Join the Farming On Purpose Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/farmingonpurpose

Shop Farming on Purpose Merch https://backpocketsocial.com/shop

Our recommended software for online sales: Thrivecart https://backpocketsocial--checkout.thrivecart.com/thrivecart-standard-account/

I may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page.

• Episode 87: Farm Succession Planning — Securing Your Family’s Legacy
• Episode 8: Shifting Seasons in Motherhood and Ranching with Richelle Barrett
• Episode 19: Homesteading Skills with a Farm Family with 14 Hands Ranch

About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:

I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.

Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

“Imperfect planning is still better than no planning. If you don’t talk about it now, the people you love are going to be in a really hard spot.”

In this episode of Farming on Purpose, I sit down with Jessica Groskopf, a Nebraska Extension Economist and fourth-generation farm wife who has spent over a decade helping families navigate some of the toughest conversations in agriculture: estate planning, farm transition, and preparing the next generation to lead.

Jessica blends her professional expertise with her lived experience farming alongside her husband, giving her a unique and deeply practical perspective on what it actually takes to protect a multigenerational operation. We talk about the difference between estate planning and succession planning, how to start when you feel overwhelmed, the six documents every family should gather before meeting with an attorney, and why honest conversations are the foundation of a strong future.

This episode is a must-listen for every generation on the operation — whether you’re thinking about stepping back or stepping in.

Key Topics:

• The difference between estate planning and succession planning

• The Great Wealth Transfer and why it impacts agriculture so heavily

• Why a will is not enough to protect your farm or ranch

• How to start transition planning when family dynamics feel complicated

• The six critical items to prepare before meeting advisors

• Navigating conflict, resistance, or avoidance in the ownership generation

• Preparing financially to buy into or buy out the operation

• Why difficult conversations lead to stronger families and stronger operations

• How to update your plan every 3–5 years or after major life events

• Building a future with intention, communication, and shared vision

You can find Jessica on Instagram at @jessicagroskopf for more resources and tools on farm business management.

LINKS

Sign up for the 8-Hour Marketing Plan here!

Marketing Routine class, do so here!

Join the Farming On Purpose Facebook group and visit the Farming on Purpose merch page.

Check out our favorite software tool for online sales: Thrivecart

I may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page.

Other Episodes You May Enjoy:

Episode 117: Raising Kids, Cows, and Conversations: Paige Dulaney’s Real-Life Look at Ranching, Transition, and Family

Episode 115: Farm Accidents, Family, and Being Ready for the Unthinkable

Episode 120: Finding Where You Belong on the Farm or Ranch

About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:

I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.

Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.