Episode 37: Kirstin Bailey talks intergenerational farming, farm transitions and much more!

Episode 37: Kirstin Bailey talks intergenerational farming, farm transitions and much more!

Author: Hobby Farms September 14, 2022 Duration: 34:59

Nebraska farmer Kirstin Bailey talks intergenerational farming, farm transitions, and the free support for farmers offered by the Center for Rural Affairs.

Hear about the four generations of Kirstin's family living on Fox Run Farms, where they grow fruits and vegetables and keep bees. Kirstin talks about planning a farm business in a rural area, accessing nearby urban markets and bringing the community to the farm. Learn about what it's like to farm in a place that swings from 100-degree-F-plus temperatures in the summer to -16-degree-F temperatures in the winter.

With a farm that's been in her family for 123 years, Kirstin talks about how her family has made intentional decisions about succession planning and farm transitions, including the importance of having support to create new farm enterprises to keep the farm viable through the years. Learn about the free support that the Center for Rural Affairs offers to beginning farmers, from business planning to crop- and livestock-specific training. Kirstin has a great success story about a beginner veteran farmer who's gone through CFRA programs and now has his own thriving farm. 

You have to listen to the end to hear Kirstin's advice for getting your farm dreams started and keeping them moving! Plus, Kristin shares with us her 13-year-old son's farm dreams and a little shot of hope for the future of family farming in rural America.

Center for Rural America

Email Kirstin Bailey


At the heart of Hobby Farms Presents: Growing Good are the conversations that happen over a fence line or at a farmers market, translated into audio. This podcast lives in the space where a personal passion meets practical purpose, featuring the voices of those who cultivate small plots, raise a few animals, or run a sustainable micro-farm. Host Lisa Munniksma doesn’t just interview her guests; she gets into the dirt with them, uncovering the personal journeys that led to a life rooted in the land. You’ll hear how a simple hobby evolved into a thriving side business, how families connect through daily chores, and how these growers are building resilience within their local communities far beyond the harvest. The discussions are grounded in real experience, tackling the challenges of soil health, animal husbandry, and market creativity alongside the profound satisfactions of self-reliance and stewardship. It’s a series for anyone who has ever felt the pull to grow something, whether that’s a backyard tomato plant or a fledgling farmstead business, offering relatable stories and tangible insights from people who are actually doing the work. Tune in for honest talk about the failures, the triumphs, and the quiet motivations that keep this community planting seeds season after season.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 88

Hobby Farms Presents: Growing Good
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