What happens when a physician falls in love with alpacas and discovers a whole new purpose in life? Meet Kerri Harting, owner of Eagle Eye Farm in River Falls, Wisconsin!

Kerri joins Mary and Leah to share how a visit to an alpaca farm turned into a thriving agritourism business with approximately 130 animals, including alpacas, kangaroos, porcupines, mini Highland cows, donkeys, and plenty of other surprises.

Kerri talks about building her farm, opening to the public during COVID, the importance of agricultural education, and creating a welcoming place where families can slow down, connect with animals, and enjoy time together. She also shares the challenges of running a farm while continuing her career as a breast radiologist, and how she has grown into running the business on her own.

Plus, hear about the farm's handmade products, including alpaca and sheep wool goods, goat's milk soap, and an impressive variety of infused honey.

It's a conversation about following unexpected dreams, building community, educating people about agriculture, and finding joy in the animals and people who make it all worthwhile.

Find Eagle Eye Farm:

• Website: https://eagleeyefarm.net

• Instagram: @EagleEyeFarmWI

• Facebook: Eagle Eye Farm

• Also on TikTok and YouTube

Eagle Eye Farm is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and welcomes visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours do not require reservations.

Join Mary and Leah for another conversation celebrating the women, stories, and ideas shaping agriculture in the heartland!

What would you do if the power went out for several days? Could you feed your family, find clean drinking water, cook a meal, or keep everyone warm without relying on modern conveniences?

Mary and Leah sit down for a practical conversation about emergency preparedness, sparked by recent government recommendations encouraging households to keep emergency supplies on hand.

But this isn't about building a bunker or preparing for the end of the world. It's about being ready for the unexpected, whether that's a winter storm, a prolonged power outage, or simply being stuck at home for a few days.

The conversation covers the importance of keeping basic pantry supplies, having essential medications on hand, storing drinking water, and learning practical skills like starting a fire, cooking without electricity, and finding information without the internet.

Leah shares her family's experience living without electricity for 21 days after a severe Nebraska snowstorm in 1994. It's a reminder that resourcefulness, problem-solving, and a little planning can go a long way.

The biggest message? Don't panic. Think ahead, learn some basic life skills, and make sure your family knows how to make do with what you have.

Because being prepared isn't about fear. It's about confidence, common sense, and taking care of the people who depend on you.

In this episode:

• Why emergency preparedness deserves everyone's attention

• Basic pantry staples and household supplies worth keeping on hand

• The importance of having drinking water and essential medications

• Cooking and making coffee without electricity

• Learning to start and maintain a fire

• Why children should learn practical life skills

• Leah's experience surviving 21 days without electricity

• How to prepare without panicking or spending a fortune

A little reminder from Mary and Leah: Don't wait until the power goes out to figure out what to do. Take some time now to make a plan.

Learn more about emergency preparedness at Ready.gov.

What does it mean to grow up on a farm, carry on a family legacy, and preserve the stories that make agriculture special?

Mary and Leah welcome AJ Hein, a fifth-generation dairy farmer and author of Home on the Farm, a children's book inspired by her childhood growing up on an Iowa dairy farm. AJ shares why she wanted to preserve her family's memories, the simple joys of farm life before smartphones and the internet, and how she turned a dream into a published book.

AJ also talks about the realities of dairy farming, including long hours, family sacrifices, and the challenges of finding time away from the farm. She reflects on raising children in agriculture, passing traditions from one generation to the next, and helping people understand the hard work and rewards behind the dairy industry.

This conversation is a heartfelt reminder of the importance of preserving agricultural history, sharing our stories, and building strong communities for future generations.

In this episode:

• Growing up on an Iowa dairy farm in the 1990s

• The inspiration behind Home on the Farm

• Self-publishing a children's book and chasing a dream

• AJ's family's farming history and dairy farming traditions

• The realities of dairy farming and the commitment it requires

• Raising children with an appreciation for agriculture

• Why preserving family stories and rural communities matters

Find AJ Hein: Website: www.ajhine.com Facebook: AJ Hein Author Instagram: @author_ajine

Find Mary and Leah at gritandgraceintheheartland.com and on Facebook at Grit and Grace in the Heartland: Women in Agriculture.