Breaking Barriers with R&D: Gratitude, Faith, and Resilience on the Farm

In this special Thanksgiving episode of Breaking Barriers with R&D, lifelong farmers and Total Acre founders Randy Dowdy and David Hula open up about the deeper foundations that sustain them—far beyond agronomy. While they’re known for pushing the limits of corn and soybean yields, Randy and David use this conversation to reflect on the gifts that truly matter: faith, community, and the people who walk beside us through every season.

They explore the power of active giving, gratitude for intangible blessings, and how faith anchors them through life’s hardest trials. From stories of uniform crop emergence and game-changing technologies to deeply personal experiences—Randy’s son’s recovery and David’s loss of both parents—the duo shares how resilience is grown through support, prayer, and honest connection.

Randy and David also shine a light on mental health across farming communities, encouraging listeners to reach out, lift each other up, and never face challenges alone. Whether you're focused on profit per acre or personal growth, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and hope for every farmer striving for continual, measurable improvement.

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