A family ranch, a hometown bank, and a region built on grit—this conversation brings them together to explain how modern agriculture actually works when the numbers get big and the margins get thin. We sit down with banker and lifelong ranch kid Duane Bowman to unpack the shift from two-hundred-thousand-dollar operating notes to multi-million-dollar lines, the rise of precision ag and seed genetics, and the reality of running million-dollar machinery on dryland acres. It’s a clear-eyed look at risk, growth, and the decisions that matter.

We start with the Bowman ranch story—custom feeding, backgrounding, and a long commitment to genetics that grew into a registered Angus program neighbors trust with their bids. That same neighbor-first mindset shapes Dakota Western Bank’s approach across Bowman, Scranton, Hettinger, and Regent: hire local, understand agriculture, and build relationships that last longer than a cycle. From coffee on Fridays to lending strategy, small-town banking turns out to be a competitive advantage when markets lurch and weather toys with your plans.

Then we go deep on the playbook. On the crop side: inputs, precision seeding, camera-guided spraying, and storage that supports smarter marketing when basis and futures aren’t cooperating. On the ranch side: record calf checks, facility and genetics upgrades, and why Livestock Risk Protection makes sense when bred heifers push four figures per head. We talk land and pasture, too—rising rents, out-of-area demand, and how cautious expansion beats chasing the last dollar. Through it all, the theme is discipline: protect the downside, invest in productivity, and don’t let short-term highs cloud long-term math.

If you care about agriculture, rural finance, or the way communities lift each other, this is a grounded, data-aware conversation that cuts through the noise. Subscribe for more candid stories from the people who seed, feed, and finance America—and leave a review to tell us what you want to hear next.

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Taxes shouldn’t decide the future of your farm. We sit down with Jody Robinson, VP of Tax Planning at Mariner Wealth Advisors, to unpack how the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” changes the game for landowners and the families who depend on them. From estate tax thresholds to capital gains strategies, we break down what actually matters when the goal is to keep acres in the family and options open.

We start with the bigger picture: how a higher, now “permanent,” federal estate tax exemption buys time and clarity for long-range planning, and why state-level rules can still spring surprises. Jody explains the step-up in basis in plain English and shows how it erases decades of appreciation for heirs, often preventing forced sales at the worst possible time. Then we pivot to active moves: 1031 exchanges to keep gains deferred and capital working, Qualified Opportunity Zones for an alternate deferral path, and portfolio tactics like tax-loss harvesting to soften the blow when sales are necessary.

Operators get a timely walkthrough of bonus depreciation’s return to 100% for qualifying assets such as equipment, irrigation, and grain bins. The upside is immediate cash flow relief; the catch is potential depreciation recapture when you sell. Jody lays out how to time purchases, align hold periods, and avoid trading short-term relief for a bigger tax bill later. We also dive into titling choices—individual, joint, trust, or entity—and how they affect control, transfer, and taxes. Finally, we tackle gifting versus inheriting: when lifetime gifts support continuity for an on-farm heir, and when waiting for inheritance preserves a step-up in basis for those likely to sell.

If you want a practical roadmap—clear steps, real trade-offs, and fewer landmines—this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with someone planning a transition, and leave a review with your top tax question so we can cover it next.

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What does it really take to keep a small town alive—and help it grow? We sit down with developer and community leader Nathan Burseth to unpack how Colfax, North Dakota, paired housing with heart to attract families, remote workers, and retirees while strengthening its school and tax base. From the first 15 lots to multiple phases in Colfax Meadows, to the shop-friendly Trackside, to the barn dominium-focused Reserve, Nathan shows how choice, covenants, and city services create real momentum without losing the rural feel people love.

We dig into the practical playbook: municipal water and sewer on large lots, creative architecture with many builders, and fiber internet that lets Minneapolis or Chicago professionals work from the prairie. Nathan explains how a diversion settlement funded county-wide housing initiatives, reducing risk for builders and banks, and why home rehabilitation is a powerful lever for affordability and neighborhood renewal. Each new household matters; just a few students can change a district’s budget, keeping class sizes small and opportunities wide.

Community culture ties it together. The Richland 44 Foundation’s scholarships—up to $10,000 per graduate—plus a new events venue keep resources flowing to students and teachers, from dual-credit support to classroom tech. Add pheasants at dusk, kids biking to the pool, and a 20-minute interstate drive to Fargo’s jobs and concerts, and you have a compelling mix of small-town life with big-city access. If you care about the future of rural America—or you’re searching for a home where values and opportunity align—this conversation brings a blueprint you can use. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s “small-town curious,” and leave a review with the one idea your community should try next.

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Land headlines may say “wild,” but the on-the-ground story is sharper: focused buyers, resilient prices on the right tracts, and real opportunity in mixed-use and grassland parcels. We unpack the three pillars driving value—farm profitability, interest rates, and safety nets—then dig into why “land is local” still explains so much of what clears at auction. Attendance may be thinner than last year, yet prime quarters near existing operations continue to command strength, especially where soils, access, and water line up.

We also trace the season’s format shift. Lakota’s live room popped, Devils Lake went heavy online, and harvest convenience kept producers bidding from the cab. You’ll hear when we choose live high-bidder’s choice versus timed online, how buyer profiles influence results, and why clear parceling, fencing status, water sources, and drone footage help sellers earn trust and bidders move fast. On the ground, grassland remains a bright spot as livestock values hold firm across western North Dakota and eastern Montana—where contiguous pasture, reliable water, strong fences, and maintained roads are the real currency.

Then we map the fall slate: Jamestown’s multi-parcel cropland, Emmons County’s contiguous grass, western ND pheasant-country tracts, and a standout 1,763-acre Cass County offering stretching Castleton to Wheatland. High PI soils and development shadow along Highways 10 and 18 create long-hold optionality, while additional parcels sit near the ethanol plant and along the interstate for future flexibility. Add a 2,500-acre Slope–Bowman package with river-bottom trees on Little Beaver Creek, and recreational and grazing value intersect in rare ways.

Looking to engage, learn, or bid? Join our Midwest Farm Land Seminar on October 14 at 5:30 PM in Bismarck, browse aerials and soils at Pifers.com, and subscribe for weekly updates. If this deep dive helps you plan your next move, share it with a neighbor and leave a review—what opportunity are you scouting next?

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Ever wonder how a shy teenager becomes the person who can run a meeting, lead a team, and shift an 18‑speed without grinding a gear? We sit down with educator and rancher Colby Steeke to trace that journey—from a ranch in southwest North Dakota to a 1,300‑student CTE powerhouse where agriculture education meets real-world opportunity. The story starts with roots: parents who teach ag, sisters who show goats across the Midwest, and mentors like the late Butch Howland who believed travel and exposure could change a student’s life. Then it accelerates—Denver Stock Show meat judging champions, late-night practices, and the kind of high expectations that turn small-town programs into statewide standouts.

We open the doors to the Southwest Area CTE Academy in Dickinson, where seven partner schools share 18+ programs ranging from diesel mechanics and heavy equipment to floriculture, food science, and health pathways. You’ll hear how mobile CDL and heavy equipment simulators give teens safe, high-fidelity reps on 10-, 13-, and 18-speed transmissions, and how a USDA-certified mobile meat processing trailer turns pork loins into chops while teaching food safety, value-add, and entrepreneurship. Colby makes a compelling case for SAEs, scholarships, and travel—from state leadership conferences to national convention—as the engines that build confidence, networks, and career clarity for students who may never step on a farm but will shape the future of food and fiber.

We also tackle the ROI question head-on. Not everyone needs a five-year degree to build a good life. Many agriculture-adjacent careers—welding, CDL, precision ag, HVAC, dental assisting, agronomy tech—start with certificates or two-year programs that pay back fast and meet urgent local needs. Along the way, social media gets reframed as a teaching tool: TikTok Tuesdays, classroom-ready clips, and a national community of ag teachers swapping ideas that work. If only one percent of Americans farm, then ag education is how the other ninety-nine percent learn what feeds and clothes them—and how thousands of students find real, respected careers. Subscribe, share with a parent or student who needs options, and leave a review with the skill you wish school had taught you.

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What happens when worlds collide? When Christian Miller sits down with Jack Pfeifer for a candid conversation about his journey from Lancaster County's Amish community to becoming a successful auctioneer in the Northern Plains, we're treated to a fascinating glimpse into a rarely-seen American experience.

Christian pulls back the curtain on growing up Amish, where one-room schoolhouses, horse-drawn farm equipment, and tight-knit community values shaped his worldview. He describes how Lancaster County's agricultural economy operates - from communal tractor ownership (with engines mounted directly on implements pulled by horses) to intensive dairy operations on relatively small acreages. We discover that virtually everything in Amish communities sells through auctions, explaining why auctioneering runs in Christian's blood as a third-generation professional following his grandfather and great-grandfather who began calling bids in 1942.

The land dynamics Christian describes are eye-opening, with prime Lancaster County farmland commanding upwards of $20,000 per acre. This price pressure has pushed Amish families into neighboring York County, doubling land values there as families seek space to continue their agricultural traditions. Unlike conventional approaches to land investment, Christian explains how Amish families willingly take on "lifetime debt" for farmland, understanding it may be their children or grandchildren who finally own the property outright - a multigenerational perspective on legacy that profoundly influences market behavior.

The conversation shifts to exciting developments at Pifers as they celebrate their 25th anniversary, with Jack Pfeifer stepping into the CEO role while maintaining the company's commitment to exceptional service across real estate, auction, and land management sectors. The transition of leadership in their land management division signals growth and innovation while honoring the foundation built by longtime leaders.

Ready to discover more about America's agricultural landscape and the professionals who help transfer land between generations? Subscribe to America's Land Auctioneer podcast for regular insights into rural real estate, agricultural trends, and the stories behind the sales.

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Deep in the heart of America's farm country, Big Iron stands as the nation's largest agricultural show, sprawling across 300 acres of the Red River Valley Fairgrounds. On this special episode of America's Land Auctioneer, host Steve Link takes us through the final day of the 45th annual event, capturing conversations with the innovators shaping modern agriculture.

The spotlight first falls on Chris Paulson and his groundbreaking QA Farmer app. Born from frustration with existing digital tools, this purpose-built application consolidates weather forecasts, grain market data, and inventory management into one intuitive interface. "I used to log into four or five websites," shares one farmer, "now I literally just have to go into one app." Developed in just three months after consulting with dozens of producers, the app represents agriculture's ongoing digital transformation.

We then journey into the sugar beet harvest with Harrison Weber of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association. Weber explains the unique dual-harvest system and the delicate balance between sugar content and tonnage. With prices down 30-40% year-over-year, producers face significant challenges, yet remain optimistic about crop quality. "A good crop can mitigate some of those things," Weber notes, highlighting how weather, factory efficiencies, and storage conditions will ultimately determine the season's success.

Ross Johnson of Agassi Drain Tile shares insights from his company's 20-year journey and their expansion into precision planting technology. "Getting everything placed, both spaced out evenly and at depth, with the same compaction over it" dramatically affects yield, Johnson explains. His comments reinforce a recurring theme throughout the episode: even in challenging economic times, strategic investment in the right technology delivers substantial returns.

The episode concludes with Fair Director Cody Cashman revealing record vendor participation and exciting plans for next year's show, including the potential addition of a combine demolition derby. His passion for agricultural education shines through as he describes the fairground's year-round educational center and livestock enrichment program.

Ready to experience more insights from America's agricultural heartland? Subscribe to America's Land Auctioneer and visit piferscom for expertise in farmland management and auctions where experience truly meets results.

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What makes a community's stories worth preserving? Rick Thompson believes the answer lies in the rich tapestry of western heritage that defines North Dakota—a legacy he's dedicated his career to protecting as Executive Director of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Thompson's journey from Bowman, North Dakota to his current role spans decades of deep connection to rodeo and western culture. With an animal science degree and 25 years producing a nationally syndicated rodeo program, he brings authentic passion to the Hall of Fame's mission. When asked why this work matters, Thompson's answer cuts to the heart: "If we don't tell our story, what's that story going to sound like?"

The conversation reveals how the Hall of Fame functions as far more than a museum. Beyond its impressive exhibits honoring legendary cowboys, ranchers, and rodeo champions, the facility hosts land auctions, receptions, and community gatherings. Perhaps most remarkably, Thompson and his staff of seven don't wait for visitors to come to them—they travel extensively throughout North Dakota and beyond, sacrificing countless weekends to connect with communities and members who've relocated to warmer climates.

This dedication speaks to a deeper truth about preserving heritage: it requires going to where people are, meeting them in their own communities, and creating opportunities for stories to be shared. The Hall's ambitious expansion plans—adding 10,000 square feet with technology-focused areas for younger visitors—demonstrates their commitment to evolving while honoring tradition.

As Thompson explains, the urgency of their mission grows daily: "We lose those people every day. We lose a piece of that history when somebody leaves us." From the sod houses of early settlers to today's multi-generational ranches, these stories create an unbroken chain connecting past and future. Through creative fundraising (including auctioning a donated motorhome that attracted bidders nationwide) and a network of over 300 trustees who nominate Hall of Fame inductees, the organization continues finding innovative ways to capture these narratives before they're lost forever.

Want to be part of preserving North Dakota's western heritage? Visit the Hall of Fame in Medora, attend an event, or consider supporting their expansion project through membership or donation. Every contribution helps ensure these powerful stories will inspire generations to come.

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