Leaders Of The West

What happens when you need something that doesn't exist? If you're Sarah Calhoun, you build it yourself.This week, I'm joined by Sarah Calhoun, founder of Red Ants Pants, a women's workwear company she started in 2004 after years of struggling to find work pants that actually fit women doing physical labor. With no background in apparel, manufacturing, marketing, or business, Sarah taught herself what she needed to know and built a national brand from the tiny rural community of White Sulphur Springs, Montana.We talk about starting small, building a business in rural America, creating products designed to last, and why Red Ants Pants has become so much more than a pair of work pants. From a music festival and foundation to leadership programs and hands-on skills courses for women, Sarah shares how one simple idea has grown into something that supports women, agriculture, and rural communities across Montana.Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!Connect with Red Ants Pants: Check out the websiteFollow on Instagram @redantspantsConnect with Jessie:Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarvFollow on Facebook @jobsofthewestCheck out the Of The West websiteResources & Links:This House of Sky by Ivan DoigSmall Business for Dummies by Eric Tyson and Jim SchellJoin The Directory Of The WestGet our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job DescriptionGet our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your InternshipGet our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them)Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers MakeEmail us at [email protected] to Of The West's ⁠NewslettersList your jobs on ⁠Of The WestMentioned in this episode:Register here for Of The West's Free Workshop - How To Get Hired: How to Get Hired - October 2026

What is the thing people always come to you for? Not what you went to school for or what your job title says, but the thing that comes so naturally to you that you might not even realize it's special. That just might be your superpower.In this solo episode, I'm breaking down what superpowers actually are, how to identify yours, and why understanding them can change the way you show up in your career and your life. I share a few of my own superpowers and how they work together, plus the self-assessment tools and reflective questions that can help uncover the strengths you may have been overlooking.Whether you're job searching, building your personal brand, or simply trying to understand yourself a little better, knowing what makes you uniquely valuable can help you communicate it with confidence. Your superpower isn't just a career strategy. It's a tool for becoming more intentional in every area of your life.Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!Connect with Jessie:Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarvFollow on Facebook @jobsofthewestCheck out the Of The West websiteResources & Links:CliftonStrengthsDISCMyers-BriggsEnneagramEpisode 35. Understanding Yourself and the Enneagram with Terryn DrielingJoin The Directory Of The WestGet our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job DescriptionGet our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your InternshipGet our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them)Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers MakeEmail us at [email protected] to Of The West's ⁠NewslettersList your jobs on ⁠Of The WestMentioned in this episode:Register here for Of The West's Free Workshop - How To Get Hired: How to Get Hired - October 2026

If you own horses or cattle, chances are you've felt the large animal veterinarian shortage firsthand. Maybe your longtime vet retired with no one to take their place, or getting an appointment that once took a phone call now means waiting weeks.This week, I'm joined by Dr. Leslie Easterwood, clinical educator at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and longtime leader with the American Association of Equine Practitioners. She shares her path from livestock show kid to equine veterinarian and educator, then takes us inside the challenges facing large animal veterinary medicine today.We talk about why veterinarians are leaving equine and rural practice, the impact of student debt, work-life balance and mental health, and what organizations are doing to change that trajectory. Dr. Easterwood also shares how clients can better support their veterinarians and why she remains incredibly optimistic about the future of the profession. Whether you're a livestock owner, horse owner, or a student considering veterinary medicine, this is an important conversation about a shortage that affects all of agriculture.Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!Connect with Dr. Easterwood:Visit the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) websiteVisit The Foundation for The Horse websiteConnect with Jessie:Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarvFollow on Facebook @jobsofthewestCheck out the Of The West websiteResources & Links:How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Don CliftonTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Veterinary Science Certificate ProgramThe Future of Equine Practitioners Symposium OEPSTexas Equine Veterinary Association (TEVA)Join The Directory Of The WestGet our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job DescriptionGet our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your InternshipGet our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them)Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers MakeEmail us at [email protected] to Of The West's ⁠NewslettersList your jobs on ⁠Of The WestMentioned in this episode:Register here for Of The West's Free Workshop - How To Get Hired: How to Get Hired - October 2026

What happens when a rancher sees a hurdle in the cattle industry and decides to build the solution himself?This week, I'm joined by Jake Nelson, rancher, Army veteran, and founder of CattleQuest. Jake shares how his background in ranching, military service, and entrepreneurship led him to create a tool that brings cattle market data from multiple stockyards into one place, helping producers make more informed decisions about when and where to buy and sell their cattle.We talk about taking an idea from a conversation to an actual product, the challenge of introducing new technology into an industry that can be resistant to change, and why Jake chose to launch before everything was perfect. Jake also shares how his military experience shaped the way he approaches leadership, fear, and adversity, and why pushing through uncomfortable situations can leave you more capable on the other side.Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!Connect with Jake:Visit the CattleQuest websiteConnect with Jessie:Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarvFollow on Facebook @jobsofthewestCheck out the Of The West websiteResources & Links:Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris VossJoin The Directory Of The WestGet our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job DescriptionGet our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your InternshipGet our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them)Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers MakeEmail us at [email protected] to Of The West's ⁠NewslettersList your jobs on ⁠Of The WestMentioned in this episode:Register here for Of The West's Free Workshop - How To Get Hired: How to Get Hired - October 2026

This week we’re tackling an uncomfortable conversation in the job-seeking world: If you're applying for many positions and never hearing back, you simply might not be qualified for that job.In this solo episode, I'm breaking down how to honestly evaluate whether you're a good fit for a role before you hit apply. We're talking about the "spray and pray" approach, why more applications don't necessarily equal better odds, and how to separate must-have qualifications from skills you can learn along the way. I also dig into technical skills, transferable experience, career transitions, and why sometimes taking a strategic step back can actually move your career forward.This isn't about shrinking your goals or settling for less. It's about protecting your time, energy, and confidence by focusing on opportunities where you can genuinely compete. If you're job searching or trying to break into agriculture or the Western industry, this episode is for you.Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!Connect with Jessie:Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarvFollow on Facebook @jobsofthewestCheck out the Of The West websiteResources & Links:The Ag + Western Career BlueprintJoin The Directory Of The WestGet our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job DescriptionGet our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your InternshipGet our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them)Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers MakeEmail us at [email protected] to Of The West's ⁠NewslettersList your jobs on ⁠Of The WestMentioned in this episode:Register here for Of The West's Free Workshop - How To Get Hired: How to Get Hired - October 2026