Plow and Pencil
Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field. –President Dwight D. Eisenhower A lot has changed in America since Ike’s presidency, including agriculture. Equipment, supply-chains, communication platforms – they’ve all evolved and adapted with the rise of technological advancements. Like Ike, HitchPin’s roots begin on a farm in Abilene, KS where the spirit of watching the original entrepreneurs – American farmers and ranchers – was planted in a young man watching his dad sell hay. As he, and their family farm grew, a belief was cultivated that one creates value by looking to solve problems for others. That conviction grew into an idea: the agriculture industry needed new technology to buy, sell, hire and find work. In 2019, founder Trevor McKeeman publicly launched HitchPin: the best digital marketplace for agriculture. HitchPin has been plowing new ground ever since, providing a platform at the fingertips of farmers and ranchers to securely, efficiently and easily transact – all from their computer or mobile device. And today’s consumers? It’s safe to say they’ve changed over the decades too. Growing in number and now generations-removed from production agriculture, they are truly curious about where their food comes from. It’s an incredible opportunity for agriculturalists to bring the cornfield to the consumer, and with the help of technology, it too is easier than ever. The Plow & Pencil podcast will paint a picture of American Agriculture today. It will tell the stories of the producers, the products, the policies and the platforms that provide feed and fuel to our nation and world.
Episodes
In this episode, HitchPin’s Jess Smith sits down with Brian Pine from Heck, based in Lawrence, KS, to talk about his deep roots in farming, the transition into agricultural real estate, and the unique story behind the Black Hat Ranch listing. Together, they cover themes of family legacy, land as both an emotional and financial asset and how technology is reshaping agriculture and real estate.
02:19 – Staying Connected to Agricultur...
Most people don’t start a business with worms. But most people aren’t Dan Rasure.
Dan is the founder of Fed N Happy, a company focused on helping farmers, ranchers, and gardeners build better soil through natural, regenerative products like worm castings and compost. What started as a curiosity about improving land and reducing waste has grown into a full-fledged business—and it’s changing the way we think about ag inputs.
I got ...
Some of the best ag businesses start with a simple idea and a whole lot of grit. That’s the case for M3 Welding & Fabrication, a custom manufacturing shop in Alma, Kansas, run by Hunter and Stephanie Maike. What started as a hobby in high school ag shop has turned into a growing business that’s now delivering show pens and barn equipment across the country.
From Side Hustle to Full-Time Shop
Hunter’s passion for welding grew ...
When I sat down with Jeff Bathurst of Bathurst & Sons LLC, I didn’t just hear a farm story—I heard a legacy. Five generations of hard work, hay, and heart. Based in Abilene, Kansas, Jeff and his family grow crops like sunflowers, milo, soybeans, corn, wheat, and alfalfa hay, while also raising cattle and kids (six of them, to be exact).
Jeff jokes that their farm motto could be "raising quality crops, kids, and cattle," and ho...
When I sat down with Brandon Cowley, owner of Kaw River Ag Solutions, I could tell right away he was someone who doesn’t just talk about supporting farmers—he shows up and gets to work. After 24 years in ag retail and co-op management, Brandon saw a gap in the market and took a leap to do something about it.
And it’s paying off faster than he expected.
A Business Built on Relationships
Brandon and his wife launched Kaw River Ag ...
Marketing might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about raising livestock, but for Allison May, it’s become a way to help producers tell their stories, grow their reach, and move their business forward.
Allison owns Pinnacle Livestock Solutions, a business based in Greenfield, Indiana, that provides digital and social media marketing services tailored for livestock producers. And while Pinnacle is just a yea...
Farming isn’t about standing still—it’s about evolving, season after season. That’s something I’ve learned firsthand talking with folks like Glenn Brunkow, a fifth-generation farmer from Wamego, Kansas, who’s taken his family’s rich agricultural history and turned it into something new.
Glenn runs Brunkow Family Lamb, a diversified farm that’s been in the family since the 1880s. What started as a few 4-H lambs for the kids has gro...
Farming has never been a one-size-fits-all business. Every operation is different, shaped by the land, the family working it, and the challenges they face. That’s exactly the case for Jesse Welch and his family, who are taking their farm in Tonganoxie, Kansas, to new heights by blending tradition with innovation.
Rooted in Tradition, Growing for the Future
Jesse and his family moved from Reno, Nevada, back to their Kansas roots t...
Farming isn’t just a job—it’s a way of life. For Jolene Dunbar of 88 Custom Hay in Almeria, Nebraska, that way of life has always revolved around hay and forage. With deep family roots in agriculture, Jolene has taken her passion for haying and turned it into a thriving business, overcoming challenges and embracing technology to connect with more customers.
A Life Rooted in Agriculture
Jolene grew up in the hayfield, literally. S...
Farming is built on trust, transparency, and good neighbors who look out for each other. That’s exactly what Zach Bosle, founder of Tractor Tuesday, believes in as he reshapes the online auction world for farmers and ranchers. His partnership with HitchPin is making it easier than ever to buy and sell farm equipment with confidence.
From the Farm to the Auction Space
Zach is a sixth-generation farmer from Hastings, Nebraska, who ...
Farming comes with plenty of challenges, and sometimes, the right equipment just doesn’t exist—yet. That’s where EJ Swihart of Swihart Solutions in Enterprise, Kansas steps in. His business is built around one goal: helping farmers work more efficiently by designing and fabricating the tools they need.
From Small Repairs to Big Ideas
EJ started Swihart Solutions as a small fabrication shop, but his vision went beyond just fixing ...
On this episode of Plow and Pencil, Emilie at HitchPin got ahold of Lauren and Matt from Elm Dirt to discuss their innovative fertilizer business.
Lauren Cain is CEO and Founder of Elm Dirt. She and her husband Matt started Elm Dirt in January 2020 and started their operation on their dining room table. Elm Dirt is located outside of Kansas City, Missouri and they sell Red Wiggler worms, their castings, plant fertilizer, and more...
In this episode of Plow and Pencil, I chatted with our very own Bryce McPhail to hear about HitchPin’s newest feature.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- About HitchPin Storefronts.
- The tools and resources that are available to help you get your Storefront set up.
- The importance of Storefronts and how it will make buying and selling easier on HitchPin.
Rate, Review, and Follow!
It’s National Dairy Month and we had the opportunity to take a moment to learn from a well-known name in dairy – Hildebrand Farms, of Junction City, Kansas. In this episode Melissa Reed shares with us more about what makes the Hildebrand Farms Dairy work in the evolving dairy industry.
Facebook: Hildebrand Farms Dairy
Website: https://www.hildebrandfarmsdairy.com/
In this episode you’ll hear:
- Melissa disc...
In this episode of Plow and Pencil, I had the pleasure of sitting down with two of my colleagues at HitchPin, Lexi Wright, and Bryce McPhail. Lexi and her husband farm outside of Manhattan with their four children while Lexi also owns Back Pocket Social Marketing. Bryce is the Product Manager at HitchPin and has been with us almost a year. Bryce and his team have been hard at work making updates to HitchPin to provide an excellent...
In this episode, Dr. Hodes talks about his experiences being a veterinarian and shares some very unique stories from his years of treating and caring for his patients. Dr. Hodes has been a veterinarian for 43 years and has a mixed-animal veterinarian practice.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- Some of Dr. Hode’s favorite veterinary stories and some of his more challenging encounters.
- Advice Dr. Hodes has for...
Andy Junkin owns and operates Stubborn.farm, a consulting business that provides farming families with farm succession and operating their family farm business together. In this episode Andy shares his experiences and insight into what saves family farms and stubborn farm families.
You can follow Andy on Facebook or YouTube or learn more on his website: www.stubborn.farm
In this episode you’ll hear:
- What...
Wrenn and her husband Arturo Pacheco started their direct-to-consumer beef business, Pacheco Beef, LLC in 2021. We are excited to share Wrenn’s story with you about her business.
Find Wrenn on Instagram: @pachecobeef
In this episode you’ll find:
- How Wrenn and her family came to Kansas and how their business got started.
- The roles that Wrenn and Arturo take on in Pacheco ...
Youth are the future of our industry and we are excited to share Will Stroda’s story with you today. Will was the very first person to transact on HitchPin and is a perfect example of the next generation in agriculture.
In this episode you’ll find:
– Will’s story of how he got started in agriculture and how he continues to grow his operation.
– The plan Will is using for genetic improvement in his herd and how his job at Bluestem E...
Katherine, self-proclaimed “Cheif Minion to the Goats,” owns and runs her family’s small livestock farm in the metropolitan area of Central Ohio. Harrison Farm focuses on celebrations, animals, and teaching. The mission of the farm is to connect people with animals and farming. She raises primarily sheep, goats, and chickens. On her farm, she hosts numerous agritourism events including Goat Yoga, on-farm dinners, private events, an...
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