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 "The Central Illinois Sisters," for a conversation that is both harrowing and hopeful. Missy shares her powerful, first-hand account of a near-fatal accident with a sweep auger and the miraculous moments that saved her life. This episode is a must-listen for every farm family, serving as a vital reminder of the dangers of complacency and the life-saving power of communication.

📌 What We Cover in This Episode:

✅ Meet Missy & Maddie
✅ Grain Bin Safety Week: A primer on why this week is so important, including some sobering statistics on grain entrapment and a call to action to nominate your local fire department for Nationwide's grain rescue tube program.
✅ Missy's Story - A Near-Miss in the Bin:
✅ Lessons Learned & New Safety Protocols:
* The danger of getting "too comfortable" with routine tasks.
* Their new non-negotiables: Always having two people present when sweeping, never leaving anything to assumption, and treating safety like a pilot's pre-flight checklist.
* The power of direct communication and eye contact before starting any machinery.
✅ Farm Safety with Kids: The conversation pivots to crucial tips for keeping children safe on the farm.
* Teaching kids to come immediately when called.
* Over-communicating with all farm personnel about the presence and location of children.
* The importance of establishing clear boundaries and "no-go" zones.
* Practical tools like high-vis vests and child-proof locks.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✨ Complacency is the biggest threat to farm safety. Getting "too comfortable" with a dangerous task you've done a hundred times is when accidents happen. Stay vigilant.
✨ Over-communication is life-saving. Never assume someone knows what you're thinking or doing. Use direct language, make eye contact, and run through safety checks, every single time.
✨ Never work alone in a grain bin. Having a second person present can be the difference between a close call and a tragedy.
✨ Your story matters. Sharing near-miss experiences, like Missy's, is a powerful way to remind others of the real-life dangers and reinforce the importance of safety protocols.
✨ Teach farm safety to kids early and often. Establish non-negotiable rules, create visual reminders of dangers, and maintain constant communication to build a culture of safety for the next generation.

🙌 Join the Conversation!
Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes.

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Nominate Your Fire Department!
Help equip your local first responders. Click here to learn more about Nationwide's Grain Bin Safety advocacy and nominate your fire department for a grain rescue tube.

#GrainBinSafety #FarmSafety #AgSafety #GrainEntrapment #Harvest #FarmLife #BeyondTheCropsPodcast #WomenInAg #FarmHer #FarmKids #Sponsored

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. This episode is a classic front-porch chat, filled with stories from their recent vacations, significant health updates, new hobbies, and their intentions for the year ahead.

📌 What We Cover in This Episode:
✅ We're Back! Kicking off the new season with a prayer and a hilarious story about what happens when a pull-up explodes in the washing machine.
✅ January Vacation Recaps:
* Mary Pat shares stories from her trip to Cancun with Seed Life, including meeting awesome new farm couples and getting the worst sunburn of her life (leading to a tangent on "Jenna-approved" sunscreen).
* Jena recounts her relaxing trip to the Dominican Republic with Beck's Hybrids, complete with beautiful beaches, a luxurious spa, and a refreshing alcohol-free vacation.
✅ Real-Life Health Updates:
* Mary Pat's Vertigo: A positive update! She shares the small but significant changes she's made—prioritizing sleep and a new migraine-support drink—that have led to milder and less frequent episodes.
* Jena's Mold Journey: A deep dive into her family's ongoing health mystery. She shares the shocking results of a home dust test, the fascinating experience of having a "mold-sniffing dog" inspect their house, and what he found (including mold in her running shoes!).
✅ New Hobbies & Homesteading: Mary Pat is officially a freeze-drying mama! She talks about her new hobby, the fun things she's already made (freeze-dried grapes are like candy!), and her plans to make beef organ supplements.
✅ An Honest Homeschool Update: Jena shares the beauty of flexibility in homeschooling, taking an extended break after a season of sickness, and her thoughts on evolving their curriculum.
✅ Intentions for 2026: Instead of rigid resolutions, they discuss their "words" and intentions for the new year, including Jena's focus on giving herself grace with her workouts and Mary Pat's goal of trusting God's plan while celebrating slow, consistent progress.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✨ Taking a real break is a powerful reset. Whether it's a tropical vacation or a break from your normal routine, stepping away is crucial for recharging your mind and body.
✨ Healing is not linear. It’s a journey of small changes, setbacks, and celebrating slow, consistent progress. The path to wellness requires patience and grace.
✨ Be your own health advocate. When something doesn't feel right, keep digging. Ask questions, explore all options (even mold-sniffing dogs!), and be persistent in finding root causes.
✨ Set intentions, not just resolutions. A guiding word for the year (like "Intention") or a general focus can be more powerful and sustainable than a rigid list of goals, allowing for grace and flexibility.
✨ Find joy in the mundane. There is an opportunity to find blessings and glorify God even in the most everyday tasks, like a mountain of laundry.

🙌 Join the Conversation!
We’re so excited to be back for a new year! What's one thing you'd love for us to talk about in 2026? Let us know your ideas and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes.

#NewYearIntentions #HealthJourney #Vertigo #MoldSickness #FreezeDrying #Homesteading #HomeschoolLife #BeyondTheCropsPodcast #FarmWife #Sponsored

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, Jena takes a moment to reflect on the year that was, the lessons learned, and what’s on the horizon for 2026. She shares a vulnerable and transparent look at her family’s intensive health and healing journey this past year, from startling lab results to the powerful tools they’ve used to detox and heal. This is a raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful look at a year of growth, challenges, and leaning on faith.

📌 What We Cover in This Episode:

✅ Flying Solo: Jena explains why she's recording by herself and sends prayers and well wishes to Mary Pat, who is recovering from another vertigo spell.
✅ A Quick Christmas Recap
✅ The Best "Non-Toy" Gifts
✅ A Year of Healing: The 2025 Health Journey.
✅ Looking Ahead to 2026:
* Podcast Plans: The podcast will be taking a break for the month of January and will return with fresh episodes in February!
* Family & Faith: Jena shares her family's prayer for another child in the coming year and the importance of focusing on health and healing first.
* A Heartfelt Thank You: A sincere thank you to all the loyal listeners for their support, engagement, and ideas throughout the year.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✨ Your health is your greatest asset. Don't wait for a crisis to make your well-being a priority. Investing in your health now is a long-term investment in your family and your future.
✨ Healing is a journey, not a destination. It involves lifestyle changes that stack over time. Be patient with yourself and celebrate the small steps forward.
✨ Detoxification is a powerful tool. In a world full of environmental toxins, actively supporting your body's natural detox pathways through tools like saunas, lymphatic support, and ozone therapy can be game-changing.
✨ It's okay to take a break. Whether it's a social media break or a podcast break, stepping back to rest, recharge, and focus on family is essential for long-term sustainability.

🙌 Join the Conversation!
Have you navigated tricky family business conversations? What's one piece of advice you'd give to another farm family in transition? Share your thoughts and tag us @beyondthecrops_. And don't forget to leave us a message on our new voicemail line! The link is in our show notes.

Leave us a Voice Message!
We love hearing from you and continuing the conversation off the podcast. Click here to leave us a voice note!