Claim OwnershipPivot Points
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Pivot Points is back, and our second season is packed with deep conversations exploring some of the big questions - and obstacles - that came up in earlier episodes. This season, many of the pivots we hear about revolve around the pursuits of accessing land, transitioning farm businesses to new owners, and redefining farming partnerships.
Episode release schedule:
September 16: Carly and Ethan Zierke of Sweet Season Farm and Barb Kraus of Canoe Creek Produce on The Impact of Farm Incubation and Land Access Support (sponsored by SILT)
September 23: Cassie Wyss and Michael Noltner of Crossroads Community Farm on Choosing the Life You Want
September 30: Monica Ponce and Demetrius Milling of Love is Love Cooperative Farm on Lessons Learned in Collaborative Farming (sponsored by the Conservation Fund)
October 7: Richie Buser and Jordan Lyon of Buser's Produce on Passing on the Family Farm…To Another Family (sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa)
October 14: Carmen and Maja Black and Susan Jutz of Sundog Farm / Local Harvest CSA on Maintaining the Community of a CSA Through a Farm Ownership Transition (sponsored by Renewing the Countryside)
October 21: Season 2 Reflections with your hosts, Dan and Sarah
And if you haven't yet, be sure to check out our two-part series on farmer civic engagement which we released earlier this year.
Pivot Points is co-hosted by Dan Fillius with Iowa State University Outreach and Extension and Sarah Janes Ugoretz with University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Episode release schedule:
September 16: Carly and Ethan Zierke of Sweet Season Farm and Barb Kraus of Canoe Creek Produce on The Impact of Farm Incubation and Land Access Support (sponsored by SILT)
September 23: Cassie Wyss and Michael Noltner of Crossroads Community Farm on Choosing the Life You Want
September 30: Monica Ponce and Demetrius Milling of Love is Love Cooperative Farm on Lessons Learned in Collaborative Farming (sponsored by the Conservation Fund)
October 7: Richie Buser and Jordan Lyon of Buser's Produce on Passing on the Family Farm…To Another Family (sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa)
October 14: Carmen and Maja Black and Susan Jutz of Sundog Farm / Local Harvest CSA on Maintaining the Community of a CSA Through a Farm Ownership Transition (sponsored by Renewing the Countryside)
October 21: Season 2 Reflections with your hosts, Dan and Sarah
And if you haven't yet, be sure to check out our two-part series on farmer civic engagement which we released earlier this year.
Pivot Points is co-hosted by Dan Fillius with Iowa State University Outreach and Extension and Sarah Janes Ugoretz with University of Wisconsin-Madison.
18 Episodes
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What if farm success means making farming fit your life—not the other way around? In this season two wrap-up, Dan and Sarah revisit stories of creative land access, farm transitions, and the relationships that make them possible. From incubator farms and off-farm jobs to redefining work-life balance and honoring a farm's legacy, they explore why there's no single path to success. Tune in for standout moments and reflections on building a farm that works for everyone involved—and leaves room for life beyond the farm gate. Chapters 00:18 — Season Two Wrap-Up: Creative Paths to Farming 01:20 — Flexibility, Incubator Farms, and Mentorship 02:38 — Off-Farm Jobs and Redefining Who Can Be a Farmer 04:29 — Changing Workloads and Work-Life Balance 07:36 — Putting Quality of Life at the Center of Farm Planning 09:33 — Clear Roles, Trust, and Hard Conversations 12:02 — Relationships That Make Farm Transitions Possible 14:06 — Valuing the Farm Beyond Land and Equipment 16:22 — No One-Size-Fits-All Recipe for Success 17:23 — Building a Farm That Supports the Life You Want 19:13 — Beyond the Farm Gate: Civic Engagement and Community Service 21:41 — Thanking Our Guests and Sponsors 22:18 — Looking Ahead to Season Three
Susan Jutz of ZJ Farm and Carmen and Maja Black of Sundog Farm in Solon, Iowa, speak about transferring land, knowledge, and the Local Harvest CSA farm business that Susan started over three decades ago. Susan details the process she, Carmen, and Maja took to achieve this transition over time. Carmen and Maja, now fully running Local Harvest CSA under their farm business, discuss how their partnership relies on flexible roles, open communication, and continually adapting responsibilities. Both owners have sought to serve the surrounding community while preserving the land. This conversation explores creative financing options, the integration of new farm enterprises, the valuation of a CSA business, and the impact of mentorship. This episode is made possible by the support of Renewing the Countryside.
Richie Buser and Jordan Lyon of Buser's Produce, a multi-generational melon farm in Conesville, Iowa, talk about their long-standing partnership and farm transition efforts. Both farmers talk about how business succession goes far beyond the simple transfer of assets. They detail the many strategies, from new wholesale accounts to evolving production techniques, that have helped the farm navigate instability in markets, weather, and labor. This episode explores equity building strategies, expanding decision-making and responsibilities, and the evolving obstacles that farmers face in supporting a sustainable and healthy farm business. This episode is made possible by the support of Practical Farmers of Iowa.
Monica Ponce and Demetrius Milling of Love is Love Cooperative Farm in Mansfield, Georgia, talk about navigating land access barriers as well as the many aspects of farming in cooperation with four worker-owners. Detailing the evolution of Love is Love over the last five years, Monica and Demetrius also describe the process of understanding each worker owner's personalities, leadership styles, and strengths. They also share their experiences farming on much larger acreage than what any of the worker-owners had originally anticipated. This episode explores creative approaches to capital and community investment, determining whether there is an ideal growth rate for both the business and the team, and key challenges and opportunities associated with cooperative farming. This episode is made possible by the support of The Conservation Fund.
Cassie Wyss and Michael Noltner of Crossroads Community Farm in Cross Plains, Wisconsin, talk about starting their farm and, several years later, making the decision to continue farming together after their divorce. Both farmers detail the process of redefining their business partnership and how deeply they rely on open communication, clearly defined roles, and the trust they have in one another. Having run their farm for 21 years and counting, Cassie and Michael also talk about including quality of life as a core part of their farm business planning. This episode explores the legal aspects of renegotiating a farming partnership, creative childcare strategies, and intentional marketing channels that support farmer quality of life.
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