Pioneer Mindset

Episode Summary The truck needs tires again. You just got done taking the sprayer to the shop. The wife wants to go on vacation. Five Target boxes showed up. And somehow it all hits at once. Those little things have a way of compounding fast. And when they do, it's easy to get sucked into a spiral that's a lot harder to climb out of than it was to fall into. In this episode, I get into the scarcity mindset, what it actually is, what it steals from you, and why it tends to hit the hardest right when you're already the most vulnerable. I also talk about the patterns we don't recognize until we're already at the bottom of the wave, why we never give ourselves enough credit for the seasons we've already made it through, and what it actually takes to break the cycle and get back to abundance. In this week's episode on scarcity: Scarcity steals two things above everything else: peace and progress It always hits hardest when you're already vulnerable Comparing yourself to others while you're already in a scarcity spiral makes it worse Pattern recognition is the key to not staying trapped at the bottom of the wave Action kills scarcity: even one small thing moves the needle Define what success actually looks like for you, or you'll never feel like you have enough Your thoughts dictate the results you get, if you don't like the results, change the thoughts Resources & Links: To learn more about how I can help you achieve financial clarity and confidence through essential tools and systems, check out my free training here! Connect with Garrett: Follow on Instagram - @garrettruskamp Follow on Facebook - Garrett Ruskamp Follow on TikTok - @garrettruskamp Learn more about Pioneer Farmer here! Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Episode Summary Are you treating your cost of money like every other input on your farm? Because that's the question I had to ask myself recently. We're in the middle of a land deal and I had to decide whether or not to tell our banker we were shopping around with FSA and Farm Credit for a better rate. Sounds simple but it wasn't. All the usual stories ran through my head, what if he takes it personally, what if it damages the relationship, what if there's repercussions down the road? In this episode, I walk through it.The resistance I felt, the conversation I actually had with my banker, and what happened when I just told him the truth. I also get into why most farmers never shop around for interest, even though we'll spend hours chasing a better deal on seed or fertilizer. The short answer: it's uncomfortable, and we feel powerless to the bank. But here's the reframe: interest is deductible, just like every other input. And your banker is a salesman. The bank sells loans. If you don't treat your cost of money the way you treat every other expense on your operation, you're leaving real dollars on the table. In this week's episode on interest rates: Interest is just another input, treat it like seed, fertilizer, or equipment Most farmers settle for "take what we can get" instead of asking what's actually possible Feeling powerless to the bank is common but it's not the full picture Being honest about shopping around didn't damage the relationship, it led to a better deal Good business owners keep their financial info organized so opportunities are easy to act on Resources & Links: To learn more about how I can help you achieve financial clarity and confidence through essential tools and systems, check out my free training here! Connect with Garrett: Follow on Instagram - @garrettruskamp Follow on Facebook - Garrett Ruskamp Follow on TikTok - @garrettruskamp Learn more about Pioneer Farmer here! Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Episode Summary Here's a question most farmers never stop to ask: how much equipment do you actually need? If you can reduce your overhead, you're giving yourself a raise. So why do we keep signing up for the opposite? This episode is a direct challenge to one of the most deeply ingrained habits in agriculture, the automatic reinvestment of profits back into equipment. I dive into why we do it, how we justify it and what it's actually costing us. Not just in payments, but in the capital we could be putting to work somewhere else. I share some honest thoughts from our own operation, including a tractor we bought with cash that may not have been the best use of capital, a ranch out west that looked rough on the surface but was one of the best-run operations around and the phrase that's been on repeat in my head: those that win are able to figure out what they can do without. This isn't anti-equipment. It's pro-business. And there's a difference. In this week's episode: Reducing overhead is the closest thing to a guaranteed raise in farming We're often reinvesting into assets that depreciate and calling it building equity The justification game is one farmers always win but we're asking the wrong question Better question: is this the best use of capital? It's hard to look around in lean times and not see the cost of past good times Take off the farmer hat and put on the business owner hat Those that win figure out what they can do without Resources & Links: To learn more about how I can help you achieve financial clarity and confidence through essential tools and systems, check out my free training here! Connect with Garrett: Follow on Instagram - @garrettruskamp Follow on Facebook - Garrett Ruskamp Follow on TikTok - @garrettruskamp Learn more about Pioneer Farmer here! Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Episode Summary Happy Memorial Day and what better way to honor it than by sitting down with someone who actually lived it. This week I brought on my good friend Tyler Sharp, Southwest Kansas native, former private security contractor, 22-year fire department veteran, and owner of Sharp Shooting Supply. In this episode, Tyler opens up about going overseas to Kandahar, Afghanistan as a precision overwatch contractor in his early twenties, the firefight that sent him home and the long road back to faith and purpose. He also talks about what he's built since, a thriving gun store, a deep commitment to his community, and a perspective on gratitude that stops you in your tracks. This one is raw, real, and a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy on a holiday weekend came at a cost most of us will never fully understand. In this week's Memorial Day episode with Tyler Sharp: Sacrifice looks different for everyone and it deserves our respect Asking for help isn't weakness, bottling it up doesn't work The change that pulls you out of a dark place often comes through the people closest to you Faith, community, and purpose are powerful tools for putting the pieces back together Building a business on relationships and customer service will always stand apart Gratitude for the sunrise is a practice, not a feeling Resources & Links: To learn more about how I can help you achieve financial clarity and confidence through essential tools and systems, check out my free training here! Connect with Tyler: Follow Tyler on Facebook Follow Tyler on YouTube Sharps Shooting Supply Website Connect with Garrett: Follow on Instagram - @garrettruskamp Follow on Facebook - Garrett Ruskamp Follow on TikTok - @garrettruskamp Learn more about Pioneer Farmer here! Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Episode Summary The farm will take every minute you have and every dollar you own. And right now, in the middle of the busy season, it's doing exactly that. This is part two of a three-part series on the stressors we're all carrying this time of year. Last week, I talked about the weight of the workload. This week, I want to talk about what quietly happens to your farm business when you're only focused on the fields. The bills that pile up. The marketing move you meant to make. The invoice you forgot to send. The crop plan you threw out the window because you just needed to keep moving. These things don't feel urgent when the sun is shining and your neighbor's planter is already rolling but they add up fast, and they can cost you more than you realize. In this episode, I get honest about the emotional decisions we make in the middle of the season, why the business side is always the first thing to slide, and what you can actually do about it without pulling yourself out of the tractor on a good day. Because if you wouldn't go a month without checking on the crop, you can't afford to go a month without checking on the business either. Key points from this week's episode: The small things slip first: don't let them Markets, bills, and decisions don't stop because you're busy Pause, detach, and don't make quick emotional decisions Build a plan and know what's important versus what's urgent Think back to your goals, are your actions actually aligned? Resources & Links: To learn more about how I can help you achieve financial clarity and confidence through essential tools and systems, check out my free training here! Connect with Garrett: Follow on Instagram - @garrettruskamp Follow on Facebook - Garrett Ruskamp Follow on TikTok - @garrettruskamp Learn more about Pioneer Farmer here! Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Episode Summary Hard seasons have a way of forcing clarity. In this episode of Pioneer Mindset, I sat down with fifth-generation farmer Matt Griggs to talk about some of the pivotal moments that reshaped his operation.From unexpectedly taking over the farm at 25, to surviving devastating droughts, to completely rethinking how he farms in order to reduce risk and build long-term resilience. We dive into how cover crops, reduced tillage, and a systems-based mindset helped Matt improve weed control, increase water infiltration, build organic matter, and weather drought years far better than in the past — all while lowering dependence on chemical inputs. This conversation is about evolving, staying curious, and making decisions today that strengthen your operation for tomorrow. Whether you're navigating weather challenges, financial pressure, or simply wondering how to look to the future on your farm, this episode offers honest perspective on what it really takes to build resilience. Resources & Links: To learn more about how I can help you achieve financial clarity and confidence through essential tools and systems, check out my free training here! Connect with Matt: Follow Matt on Facebook Follow Matt on YouTube Follow Matt on Tik Tok Griggs Farms Website Connect with Garrett: Follow on Instagram - @garrettruskamp Follow on Facebook - Garrett Ruskamp Follow on TikTok - @garrettruskamp Learn more about Pioneer Farmer here! Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Episode Summary Modern agriculture has pushed farmers toward specialization, higher yields, and more technology but has it actually made farms more profitable, resilient, or sustainable? In this episode of Pioneer Mindset, I sat down with David Kleinschmidt of Progressive Agronomy Consulting Services to discuss how agriculture arrived where it is today and why many producers feel like they're running harder just to keep up. From soil health and fertilizer ROI to technology, biologicals, and diversification, this conversation challenges the idea that more inputs automatically mean better outcomes. Instead of chasing the next "easy button," this conversation challenges producers to think about systems, knowing their numbers, and playing a different game, one that is focused on profitability and sustainability over the long haul. This podcast episode covers: How over-specialization has increased risk across farming operations Why efficiency matters more than maximum yield The hidden cost of technology and "easy button" solutions How some farmers are producing the same yields without borrowing operating money Using diversification and livestock to rebuild resilience and optionality Why one-size-fits-all recommendations hurt profitability What it takes to build farms the next generation can realistically return to Resources & Links: To learn more about how I can help you achieve financial clarity and confidence through essential tools and systems, check out my free training here! Connect with David: Follow David on Facebook - Progressive Agronomy Consulting Services Connect with Garrett: Follow on Instagram - @garrettruskamp Follow on Facebook - Garrett Ruskamp Follow on TikTok - @garrettruskamp Learn more about Pioneer Farmer here! Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Episode Summary To start off the new year, I dive into the importance of setting goals in this episode— not just dreaming about them — and why so many driven farmers, ranchers, and business owners feel stuck despite working hard and caring deeply about their families and future. Ag producers are capable, ambitious, and full of ideas… yet constantly distracted, overwhelmed, and feeling like nothing ever gets finished. Without a clear goal-setting process, it's easy to stay in survival mode, never celebrate wins, and slowly lose a sense of purpose or progress. Based on my own personal experience, I break down a simple, practical goal-setting process that actually works — especially in the chaos of farming, family, and business. I talk about the importance of how goal-setting isn't about perfection or motivation, but about clarity, prioritization, accountability, and momentum. Resources & Links: To learn more about how I can help you achieve financial clarity and confidence through essential tools and systems, check out my free training here! Connect with Garrett: Follow on Instagram - @garrettruskamp Follow on Facebook - Garrett Ruskamp Follow on TikTok - @garrettruskamp Learn more about Pioneer Farmer here! Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!