This week on Greenhorn Radio, our hostess Severine von Tscharner Fleming interviews Jacob Cowgill of Prairie Heritage Farm outside of Conrad, Montana. Prairie Heritage Farm is in the tradition of old-time Montana farms that existed decades ago: diversified, small-scale, and locally-based. Listen in as Jacob discusses the challenges of starting a farm with a full-time job and a family, selling in a small direct market, and some of the upcoming grain ventures of Prairie Heritage Farm. This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"When the winter hit, we started thinking about the next season and how we were going to make it work. We made the nonsensical decision that I would quit my full-time job with benefits." --Jacob Cowgill on Greenhorn Radio

"It's really amazing to see whats going on elsewhere, and see that we're part of something larger going on in the U.S."--Jacob Cowgill on Greenhorn Radio

Ben is a full-time and part-time organic farmer. By day he works as the Organic Farm Manager for the University of Kentucky's Organic Farming Research and Education Farm, a job he has held for the previous five years. The university farm is home to a 80-member CSA, grant-funded research, and extension and education efforts relating to organic vegetable production in Kentucky. By night he operates his own (leased) farm in Fayette County, Kentucky where he grows organic sweet potatoes, cabbage, winter squash, and watermelons on 10 acres.

"What's been so great about having the farm is because it has created a visual component to the organic agriculture program [at the University of Kentucky]."

"I've found this movement of young farmers is very inclusive. There's a lot of passion."

-- Ben Abell on Greenhorn Radio

An Idaho farm girl, Marci found her roots after meeting her partner Greg and traveling the world together. After graduating from the University of Idaho with a degree in Conservation Social Science and a certificate on Sustainable Small Acreage Farming and Ranching, as well as several apprenticeships each, they decided to venture out on their own and launched Deep Roots Farm & Design. Selling vegetables at the Tuesday Grower's Market in Moscow, ID and directly to restaurants in the area has created a solid foundation for the future. Marci's favorite part of farming is the satisfaction that comes from pulling weeds and thinning rows of young carrots. She also loves educating others and planning new garden designs for clients. As co-chicken wrangler, she hopes to see volunteers coming to the farm over the season to share creative ideas for innovation and help move chicken pens. This episode is sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"[Farmers] want to stop exporting all their goods to China . . .it's exciting with all these large farmers looking more locally"

--Marci Miller on Greenhorn Radio