Spencer Ray and Phil Knight (Nike guru) are both shoe dogs, just for different animals. Both work with athletes, to help them perform in ways that their sports, athleticism, unique body types and gaits require. As a farrier, Spencer works with the kind of animals that don’t talk back, but they do stomp, kick, dance around and sometimes jerk his shoulder out of its socket. He shares a piece of that life with listeners today and describes how his work is changing and how customer tastes are changing. Come prepared to learn something new.

Moving an operation from one generation to another, Gus Brackett offers advice for those coming back to the ranching operation, which is “understand the why – why we do things” and to understand that first, before you just come in wanting to change things, and then finally be patient with change. He says, “The more I went to school, the smarter Dad got.”

Beating the odds of farm consolidations or sell-offs, 4th generation family members at McIntyre Farms are now actively preparing for the 5th generation through soil health practices and multi-species grazing that will ensure their operation is sustainable for many years ahead.