Episodi

  • Head, Heart, Hands, and Health: Why 4-H Still Matters

    Head, Heart, Hands, and Health: Why 4-H Still Matters
    Jan 26 2026
    In this episode of Grit and Grace in the Heartland, Mary and Leah talk about 4-H, what it is, where it came from, and why it still matters more than ever. From livestock projects and county fairs to creativity, leadership, and service, Leah shares how 4-H shapes kids for life, not just for competition. This conversation is about growing people, building community, and giving kids the tools they need to succeed long after the ribbons are put away. What We Cover What the 4-H pledge really means How 4-H goes far beyond agriculture Life lessons learned through projects, service, and responsibility Why 4-H prepares kids for the real world The importance of supporting youth programs like 4-H and FFA Connect With Us Find Grit and Grace in the Heartland – Women in Agriculture on Facebook Visit gritandgraceintheheartland.com 00:00 Mary and I'm Leah and welcome to Grit and Grace in the Heartland. Good morning, Leah. How are you? Good morning, Mary. Doing well. Happy day. Yeah. Can you believe it's January 15th? Halfway through the month that has felt already kind of like a whole month or more. Yeah. I mean, Valentine's Day is less than a month away. Spring is less than two months away. 00:28 I know, and my Thanksgiving cactus is blooming again. Both of them are, which makes me happy. Yeah, are they the hot pink ones? I have hot pink and a red one, both, and they're side by side, and they're just putting on all kinds of blooms again. So I'm happy about that, adding some color to my window. Yeah, not to go too far down the house plant rabbit hole here, but there's a Thanksgiving 00:55 cactus, there's a Christmas cactus, and I think there's an Easter cactus, and they're all the same plant. Yes, they just has to do with the shape of their leaves, I believe. Yeah, yeah. They're really pretty. My mom really wanted a Christmas cactus for a long time, and a few years back, my sister got her a baby one, just a little tiny one. And my mom has been like nurturing that thing forever. And she was so excited because this past Christmas, it had blooms all over it. 01:24 Yeah, and they will live, they will outlive you if you take care of them correctly. They can live multi-generations. Yeah, they're kind of like spider plants. And pothos, oh my god, pothos. My husband loves pothos because all you have to do is water them. They don't need any bright direct sunlight. They just need water really and they will live forever. 01:48 And for the longest time in the old house, he would take cuttings off the plant. And I'm like, I don't want any more pothos. It is taking over our house. Yeah, I know someone that does that with her her spider plants and then she'll get her babies going and then just line the porch and put it on social media. I got more babies. Come get them from me because I can't keep them all. Yeah, I've had terrible luck with spider plants and I've had terrible luck with English ivies because English ivies need diffuse light. 02:18 from a south-facing window. And I didn't have that in the old house, number one. And number two, I got one when we moved here thinking that we had more than enough light, because this place has more windows than any place ever needed. And I still couldn't keep it alive. So I'm not great at house plants. I'm great at herbs. Herbs are fine. all righty. So we're going to talk about 4-H today, because Leah, you were involved in 4-H as a kid, is that right? 02:46 I have been involved in 4-H, I say, even before I was born and I am involved still today. I've never stopped and it is one of my favorite things to talk about. Good, because I have all kinds of questions. I was not involved in 4-H. 4-H was what my parents taught me at home with gardening and pets and I had a rabbit for a while. And that was it because 4-H wasn't offered where I lived. I don't know why, but it wasn't. 03:16 So to start with, do you know how long 4-H has been around? Like when did they It has been around a long time. As far as the exact starting year, I would have to look it up and we can drop some great resources after we post this podcast to help direct the show notes, yes. Yes ma'am, because I am so passionate about it. And while 4-H is headquartered in our nation's capital, 03:45 4-H and how it is run really is up to the states and within the states it filters out to the county level and then the local level. And while there is a lot of unity in certain aspects of 4-H, how the individual uh clubs em and counties and states do a lot of their 4-H programming is very unique depending on where you live. 04:13 And I love that aspect about it as well. So 4-H is for everyone. That is what I tell everyone. um It is said that 4-H does touch the lives of one in three youth in the United States. Between the ages of now, we say age six, because that's when we have our Clover Kids programming that starts. All the way to age 18 and then beyond, is collegiate 04:...
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    37 min
  • Unknotting the Mess: Labor, Immigration, and Hope in the Heartland

    Unknotting the Mess: Labor, Immigration, and Hope in the Heartland
    Jan 23 2026
    In this episode, Mary and Leah open with the familiar rhythms of Midwestern life, weather, winter wellness, and the importance of vitamin D, before moving into a deeply honest, timely conversation about immigration, agriculture, and the values shaping our food system. Sparked by recent events in Minnesota and the emotional weight they carry, the discussion explores why so many Americans are feeling frustrated, sad, and divided, and how those feelings connect to broken systems that affect us all. From labor shortages in agriculture to the human cost of immigration policy, Mary and Leah step back from sound bites and headlines to look at the bigger picture. This episode centers on one core idea: together matters. Together in community. Together in responsibility. Together in rebuilding systems that no longer work. Rather than arguing politics, Mary and Leah focus on people, the farmers, families, immigrants, and neighbors whose lives are intertwined with the food we eat and the values we hold. They discuss why cheap food has come at a high cost, why honorable work deserves fair pay, and why fear and misinformation are harming our ability to solve real problems. The conversation also touches on: Labor challenges in agriculture and the role of immigrant workers The cultural shift away from valuing hard, physical work Why “breaking even” isn’t sustainable for farms or communities How broken immigration systems create fear instead of solutions The growing impact of misinformation and AI-generated content Practical ways listeners can show up with grit, grace, and courage Mary and Leah close with hope, grounded in community, young people, and everyday acts of kindness, reminding listeners that change doesn’t start on social media or TV screens, but in how we treat one another. Takeaway We may not have all the answers, but we are capable of better. And it starts with choosing empathy, accountability, and connection, right where we live. Resources & Links Website: gritandgraceintheheartland.com Blog posts and episode player available for every episode 00:00 Mary and I'm Leah and welcome to Grit and Grace in the Heartland. Good morning, Leah. How are you? Good morning, Mary. A beautiful day in the neighborhood. Is it nice in Nebraska right now? It is again, this atypical, droughty, mild January, a 40 % chance of rain tonight. I'm hopeful for that. As odd as that sounds for rain in the middle of January, but we will take it. Yeah. 00:28 Absolutely. It's been so dry and not here in Minnesota, we still have snow on the ground and ice, but I know in Nebraska it's been really dry. Typical Midwesterners, we open up our conversations with discussions of weather and then possibly what we're eating and if we have recently bought anything on sale. I always try to open my podcast and my other podcast and this one with the weather because we're all affected by it. 00:57 100%. And I feel like it joins us all together. It is very bright and shiny here today. There's a light breeze. It was 40 degrees when I got up at 4 a.m. 40 degrees at 4 a.m. On January what 13th? I bought myself one three years ago. I bought myself one of those lights to use in the wintertime because my office is in the basement with no windows. 01:23 And it occurred to me that I haven't even pulled it out and used it one time this winter. That's because I've been able to be outdoors every day this winter for the most part. So that just speaks to what kind of winter it has been. And I put myself on a high quality vitamin D supplement as recommended by my doctor. But I'm a big advocate of those lights if you don't have them and taking time to sit in your south facing windows during the day, especially if you're a very pale midwesterner. But yes, I have not had to use my light at all. 01:52 Yeah, I just started taking vitamin D because I was at, I was below the lowest recommended number in my blood work. And my doctor said that most people who hail from a European descent, especially Northern European descent, sometimes carry a below average level year round, but especially in those darker, longer winter months and checking the vitamin D level is not on your typical panel for your annual 02:22 you sometimes have to ask for it. So while we're not talking necessarily about wellness today, I know it goes back to our conversations last week. Ask for your vitamin D to be checked and talk with your doctor about what level you should look for. Vitamin D levels are directly linked to so many things, one of them being your mental health and wellbeing. So definitely get that vitamin D level checked. 02:48 Oh, for sure. And if you can afford it, if you have good health insurance or if you just happen to have the money to pay for it, ask for every test you can get when they take your blood because they're going to take four vials anyway. They might as well test for everything. And a lot of those tests are becoming ...
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    45 min
  • Grit, Grace, and the Lost Art of Reading & Speaking

    Grit, Grace, and the Lost Art of Reading & Speaking
    Jan 19 2026

    In this wide-ranging and deeply reflective episode, Mary and Leah kick off 2026 by talking weather, resilience, and the skills that truly prepare us for life, especially in agriculture. From drought conditions in Nebraska and icy chores in Minnesota to coaching high school speech, the conversation unfolds into a powerful exploration of public speaking, reading, family connection, and the unintended consequences of a screen-saturated world.

    The hosts share personal stories, some funny, some emotional, about learning to speak up, advocating for oneself, the lifelong impact of reading, and why libraries, librarians, and speech programs matter now more than ever. This episode is a heartfelt call to return to the basics: conversation, books, shared work, and real human connection.

    Topics Covered

    • Warm winters, drought, and finding gratitude in hard conditions

    • Ice cleats, chores, and farm safety in winter

    • Coaching high school speech and why speech kids are “athletes”

    • The confidence-building power of speech classes and 4-H

    • Learning to advocate for yourself, especially as a young woman

    • Why reading aloud to children changes lives (and brains)

    • Attention spans, screens, and what research is showing

    • Libraries as one of America’s greatest public resources

    • Why “watching how” is not the same as “doing”

    • Grit, resilience, and what really prepares young people for adulthood

    • A New Year’s call to unplug, read, cook, and connect

    Memorable Moments

    • A childhood story about standing up to a librarian - with grace

    • Why speech classes should be required everywhere

    • How Stephen King, Dr. Seuss, and National Geographic shaped curious minds

    • The difference between information and true skill

    • Why “real always wins” over polished, filtered perfection

    Listener Takeaways

    • You don’t need perfection, just participation

    • Reading builds memory, empathy, and lifelong resilience

    • Speaking skills are survival skills

    • Libraries are free, powerful, and underused

    • Technology is a tool, not a replacement for connection

    • Grit begins with a strong foundation at home

    Call to Action

    • Get (or use) your library card

    • Read with your children - even 3–5 minutes matters

    • Volunteer to read in your community

    • Learn to cook from scratch

    • Check on your neighbors

    • Put the phone down and pick a book - or a board game - up

    Resources & Links

    Website: https://www.gritandgraceintheheartland.com Contact the show via the website contact page Support your local public library
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    56 min
  • Carrying On: New Year Reflections, Community, and Courage

    Carrying On: New Year Reflections, Community, and Courage
    Jan 12 2026
    Carrying On: New Year Reflections, Community, and Courage As 2025 comes to a close, Mary and Leah settle into a heartfelt, wide-ranging New Year’s Eve conversation about what it really means to carry on. From quiet family traditions and dive-bar burgers to the realities of agriculture, social media algorithms, and the courage it takes to speak hard truths, this episode is a reminder that most of life happens in the ordinary moments—and that those moments matter. Together, they reflect on how a year can feel both painfully long and impossibly fast, why New Year’s resolutions don’t always serve us, and how shifting our focus toward goodness, community, and accountability can shape a healthier year ahead. The conversation also explores the weight women often carry, the power of vulnerability, and why asking questions - rather than passing judgment - can change everything. This episode is honest, thoughtful, sometimes funny, and deeply grounded in lived experience from rural America. It’s an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and enter 2026 with grit, grace, and intention. In This Episode, We Talk About: What New Year’s Eve really looks like for most Americans Why quiet traditions and family time still matter Letting go of traditional New Year’s resolutions in favor of vision, intention, and focusing on the good How social media algorithms reward outrage—and how to take back control of what we consume The danger of comparison culture, especially for women Alcohol, accountability, and the responsibility we have to keep each other safe Vulnerability, wellness, and why sharing hard stories can save lives Women’s tendency to put themselves last—and why that has to change The realities of farming and ranching that most people never see Judgment within agriculture—and why curiosity is more productive than criticism Bridging rural and urban divides through storytelling and conversation Leah’s upcoming speaking engagements and her hopes for women in agriculture The importance of community problem-solving and civic engagement Why being bold, even when it’s uncomfortable, is part of being a good citizen Memorable Themes: “Carry on” as an act of resilience Choosing goodness over negativity The power of showing up honestly Community over algorithms Curiosity instead of judgment Shared humanity, even when our lives look different Where to Find Us: Facebook: Grit and Grace in the Heartland – Women in Agriculture Website coming soon Final Thought: As Mary and Leah remind us, people are people, no matter where we live or what we do. As we step into 2026, may we look out for one another, ask better questions, stay connected to our communities, and move forward with both grit and grace. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and help us continue telling the stories of women in agriculture. 00:00 Mary and I'm Leah and welcome to Grit and Grace in the Heartland. Hello, Leah. How are you? good afternoon. Happy almost new year. Yeah. Happy New Year's Eve. I can't believe it is the end of 2025, the year that is felt fast and slow, like a miserably long dentist appointment all at the same time. Uh huh. Yes. That's a very good way of describing it. 00:30 it's really remarkable because it's actually beginning the same way that it ended and it began as it began also because this weather we've had in Nebraska went in the same with this mild dry weather. So it's not really very remarkable. And yet I think about last January and the blissful ignorance going into a new year and then it wasn't even one month in and things just started going bonkers. 00:58 you know, in every direction, especially for those of us who with the government or in a nonprofit or something like that. Yeah. Yeah. And I don't think I said anything in the first two episodes recorded that we've recorded so far. I am in Minnesota and it is uh gently snow flurrying out there. It's really beautiful. Like a beautiful New Year's Eve of my childhood. Always was, it seems. Yes. So what are you guys doing this evening for fun? 01:28 Not a lot of excitement going on around here. New Year's Eve is typically pretty quiet for us. Of course, our eldest teenager has her set of fun plans. We're hanging out at home. We are playing in a bowl game today, I guess, for Nebraska. And our 10-year-old asked for waffles. And I thought that was really sweet because that is actually what my mom tended to fix for us on New Year's Eve, waffles or pancakes. 01:57 And so that's what we're doing for New Year's Eve tonight and probably play some card games or something with her and call it an early night. I learned that the New Year comes in whether I'm awake to see it turn or not. I'm not staying up till midnight. Rarely do. Sometimes I, you know, get curious about the events in the big city and I love good music. So I would try 02:23 I loved Dick Clark. I ...
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    58 min
  • The Health Insurance Dilemma

    The Health Insurance Dilemma
    Jan 5 2026
    In this episode, Mary and Leah dive into the realities of the U.S. healthcare system and why it is deeply personal—especially for women, families, and those in agriculture. From navigating insurance as self-employed ranchers to the loss of rural healthcare access, they share lived experiences, hard truths, and honest frustration with a system that often feels broken. This conversation covers affordability, pre-existing conditions, delayed care, and the emotional toll healthcare decisions place on women who manage family wellbeing. Rooted in rural values, the episode also highlights resilience, community care, personal responsibility, and small ways families can take control of their health while advocating for better solutions. This is not a political debate—it’s a real conversation about real people, and why healthcare must work better for everyone. 00:00 Mary and I'm Leah and welcome to Grit and Grace in the Heartland. Good morning Leah, how are you? Good morning Mary, I'm great. Good. um So the second episode is going to be about the health care situation in the US right now and I don't know how to introduce it very well so that's my introduction to the to the episode for today. um 00:25 One thing I want to say before we really dig in is that healthcare is definitely a women's issue. We are the ones who birth babies. We are the ones who might not want to birth babies. And we're the ones who keep the, I don't have a word, the population growing because we're the ones who produce the next generations. for women, this is a very hot topic and 00:55 I didn't really think about the fact that this situation with the Affordable Care Act was such a big deal because my husband has a job and we get our health insurance through his employer. And when Leah and I were talking back on an episode a while ago on the other podcast, Leah mentioned that because they are self-employed, they don't have 01:23 anything offered to them for health insurance outside of uh the Affordable Care Act and we all know what's going on with that right now. So Leah's going to be really generous and talk about her experience with this. 01:37 Thanks, Mary. Oh, goodness, it's such a complicated conversation. And over Christmas, our family was reminiscing like people often do when they're gathered. And we were talking actually about some of the traumatic events that have happened on the ranch over the last 40-some years, including when I was a child and I required uh emergency medical care with a broken leg. my parents saying, you know, back then, 02:03 you just went to the emergency room or to the clinic and you had business taken care of if it included being admitted or just treated and released and then you got a bill in the mail. And while it was considered expensive, of course, it didn't ever feel unmanageable or impossible. We can all agree that certain families probably have more dynamics of like trying to 02:30 diagnose yourself and use your own cures and treat things. But people didn't just avoid going to pursue healthcare treatment because they were afraid of it as they are now. That it means the decimation of anything you've ever had and saved and worked for and people avoiding care or delaying treatment. And 40 years really isn't that long. We've evolved and changed so much. And when we moved home back to the ranch and left our 03:00 great jobs with great health insurance. Even then in 2012, we weren't afraid of becoming self-employed and joining legions of other friends who were self-employed, not just in agriculture, but really anywhere where you were purchasing your own health insurance. How quickly things have already changed in the last 13 years. So we're self-employed. We are on our own for purchasing our 03:26 healthcare coverage, whatever type of coverage we need. We don't have a pool of employees at the ranch. So uh yeah, indeed on our own. And it became a job each year doing the research, investigating what kind of things were available to us. I'm thankful for sometimes crisis is what brings about the most entrepreneurial new ideas where we have 03:55 now providers who are cash pay like the old days or health share kind of companies that are there. There are a couple of private health insurance companies out there, but they're not easy to work with, especially have pre-existing conditions. And then there is the marketplace where millions and millions of people go to shop for a plan that's available that they can afford if they meet those income requirements. 04:24 And the end of 2025 leaves me discouraged because I feel like, you know, which crisis of the day do you want to talk about for this country? But the wellbeing of our healthcare industry has to be a priority in my mind. A healthy America is a strong America. And there are lots of facets and components to that. em But ultimately we're at a... uh 04:51 at a stalemate, in my opinion...
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    51 min
  • Women In Agriculture

    Women In Agriculture
    Jan 2 2026
    Episode Summary In the very first episode of Grit and Grace in the Heartland, hosts Mary and Leah kick off an exciting new podcast focused on women in agriculture - just in time for 2026, the International Year of the Woman Farmer. They reflect on the whirlwind of recent years, explore why this moment matters so much for agriculture and rural America, and talk candidly about identity, language, community, and visibility in farming and ranching. From challenging stereotypes to celebrating modern women telling their stories online, this episode sets the tone for a year (and beyond) of lifting women up with honesty, resilience, and heart. ✨ What You’ll Hear in This Episode Why 2026 is a powerful year to launch a women-in-ag podcast The significance of the International Year of the Woman Farmer How women have always been central to agriculture—even when unseen Surprising podcast listener statistics (and what they might say about communication) Farming vs. ranching vs. homesteading—and why labels can divide more than help The danger of weaponizing words within agriculture Why community matters more than independence How storytelling can reduce isolation and strengthen rural resilience 🌱 Highlighted Voices & Inspirations Laura Farms (Laura Wilson) – A Nebraska farmer using YouTube and social media to share the real, honest journey of agriculture, inspiring the next generation Women in dairy and other ag sectors bravely sharing transparent, vulnerable stories Generations of women - from homesteaders to modern ag professionals - whose strength built the backbone of rural America 🧠 Big Themes Visibility: Women stepping out from behind the scenes in agriculture Identity: Every role on an operation matters - from the tractor to the desk Community: Humans weren’t meant to do this work alone Storytelling: Sharing both the hard and the hopeful helps others feel less alone Mental Health: Why connection and openness matter now more than ever ⏱️ Optional Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & reflections on entering a new year 01:22 – International Year of the Woman Farmer 03:19 – Surprising listener demographics 05:12 – Women’s evolving roles in agriculture 06:07 – Redefining “farmer,” “rancher,” and ag identity 10:23 – Why tearing others down hurts rural communities 11:22 – Spotlight on Laura Farms 17:02 – The unseen power of management, planning & budgeting 18:58 – Community, loneliness, and mental health in agriculture 21:48 – Looking ahead & closing thoughts 📣 Connect With Us You can find and follow the podcast on Facebook: Grit and Grace in the Heartland: Women in Agriculture Have a story to share or a woman in ag we should feature? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you. Closing Thought As Mary and Leah remind us: agriculture isn’t just about land and livestock - it’s about people. This year, and every year after, let’s show a little more grit and grace. 00:00 Mary and I'm Leah and welcome to Grit and Grace in the Heartland. Good morning Leah, how are you? Mary, almost happy new year, doing great. Yeah, I can't believe that 2025 is over in two days. Cannot. It's been, it's gone so fast and so slow at the same time. That's a great way to summarize it. 00:26 With everything that's happened this year, it seems like every day has just been another slog through craziness and impossibility. But I looked at the calendar yesterday and went, oh, oh, we're rolling in a new year in three days. Okay. I saw the funniest meme yesterday that said, I don't need 2026. How about a gently used version of 2013 or 2009? How about that? Just a gently used 00:56 I don't need a new year after what we've been through. I saw that and I giggled and then I was like, yeah, what is 2026 going to bring? And then I thought, I can't even think about it right now. I have to get through the next couple of days. um So before we decided to start this podcast together, I did not know that 2026 is the international gear of the woman farmer. 01:22 found that out last week and I thought what a great year to start this podcast. Do you agree? Absolutely. I appreciate the United Nations delegations and not only have been involved in International Year for the woman farmer or the woman farmer in agriculture, but it's also the International Year for range and pastoralists, which are a fancy word for people who love and appreciate the land. So I think it's perfect. know there are 01:52 celebrations and recognitions and education, things being planned all over the country and look forward to participating in what we're doing in Nebraska. Sometimes the universe just opens doors that you wouldn't even know it's opening for you. It's crazy. And 2020, 2026, sorry, is the 150th, no, 250th birthday of our country, Birthday of our country. And yeah, so 02:21 some exciting, neat things planned for arts and music and education and special recognition, doing ...
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    23 min