"The greatest asset on any farm is the people. It is not the machinery, it's not the livestock, it is the people."

In this special episode, co-host Amy Hughes swaps roles to share how she is challenging conventional thinking in agriculture with her new business, EmpowerAg. Joined by guest co-host David Irvine, Arron and Amy discuss the critical need for "soft skills" in a hard industry.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Origin Story: Amy's honest account of postnatal depression, identity crisis, and how Holistic Management helped her get "unstuck."

• Behaviour Change: Why education and opportunity aren't enough if the motivation and social support are missing.

• "Living a Dead Man's Dream": The heavy burden of tradition and how it paralyses the next generation.

• The 4 Common Losses: Why the older generation resists change (Loss of Competence, Control, Certainty, and Identity).

• Actionable Advice: How to start a difficult conversation when you don't know where to begin—and why writing a letter might be your best first step.

Here's the link to Amy's business website www.empowerag.co.uk

Thanks, as always, to our sponsor, Range Ward www.rangeward.com

Welcome to the Season 3 premiere of "Think Outside the Fence"! We are kicking off this season by introducing our new sponsor, Range Ward Canada, in a special episode that perfectly matches our show's name.

This is our first-ever four-person podcast, featuring two special guests. First, we're joined by Neil Thorsteinson, the Canadian Sales Director for Range Ward, who dives into the company's origin story, its innovative product line, and his own passion for agriculture.

We also welcome rancher Clay Hanson from Valleyview, Alberta. As a long-time Range Ward customer, Clay gives a practical, on-the-ground perspective of how these mobile electric fencing solutions have provided an incredible return on investment and revolutionised the flexibility of his family's 3,000-acre cow-calf operation.

Join us as we explore the "easy button" for temporary fencing and learn how the right tools can make regenerative, managed grazing more efficient and effective.

• Range Ward Website: www.rangeward.com

  • Find detailed product info, videos, and customer testimonials.

• Funding Opportunities: Check the "Resources" tab on the Range Ward website for a list of available Canadian agricultural grants by province.

Silas is a farmer, coach, and consultant with hands-on experience in regenerative agriculture. He divides his time between the Cotswold Cattle Company, his co-owned food and farming venture, and Grass Fed Farmer, his agroecological coaching business. With a background rooted in both the UK and New Zealand, he champions lean, profitable farming systems that deliver on increasing biodiversity and soil health gains. Silas is also an Integrity Soils trained agroecological coach from the Yellowstone cohort.

In this episode, we hear about...

• A Tale of Two Systems: The stark contrast between subsidised UK farming and New Zealand's unsubsidised, business-focused approach.

• The First Profit in 25 Years: How Silas's "New Zealand way" of mob grazing and cutting inputs transformed the economics of a UK farm.

• Direct-to-Consumer Deep Dive: The tough lessons learned from selling retail cuts and the strategic pivot to a burger-focused food brand.

• From Gut Feeling to Hard Data: The journey from observing changes on the farm to participating in a four-year scientific research project on adaptive grazing.

• Inside the Integrity Soils 'Create' Program: What it's like to train with Nicole Masters in Yellowstone, blending deep soil science with crucial coaching and personal development skills.

• The Power of Collaboration: The innovative model behind Cotswold Cattle Company, partnering with arable landowners to bring cattle back to the landscape.

• Beyond the Labels: Why Silas is passionate about breaking down the barriers between regenerative and conventional farming to create real, large-scale impact.

Have a look at what Silas is doing at

https://www.grassfedfarmer.com

https://www.cotswoldcattle.com

Thanks, as always, to our sponsors - Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association and Covers & Co.

www.mfga.net

https://www.coversandco.ca