Most people assume cattle buying is a business that takes decades to break into. In this episode, John sits down with Eli Hopping, a 16-year-old cattle buyer from northeastern Oklahoma, to talk about how skill, discipline, and reputation matter far more than age when having an eye for cattle. Joined by Wally Olson, the conversation highlights what it really takes to succeed in the sale barn and why doing a good job consistently is still the fastest way to earn trust.

Eli shares how growing up around auction barns shaped his eye for cattle, how he learned to think fast under pressure, and what he looks for when evaluating calves in the ring. The discussion also covers customer relationships, commission structures, record keeping, and why understanding where cattle are going is just as important as knowing what to buy.

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we cover:

1. How Eli got started buying cattle at a young age and earned trust in the sale barn
2. What experienced buyers look for when evaluating cattle quickly and accurately
3. Why reputation, consistency, and knowing your customers matter more than age
4. The importance of understanding cattle potential and where those cattle will be sold
5. Lessons about business, math, and decision-making learned in real time at auctions

Connect with Ranch Right:

1. Subscribe on YouTube
2. Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
3. Follow on Facebook
4. Check out the website
5. Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:

1. His Cavvy Foundation
2. Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
3. Ranching for Profit
4. Ranching.FYI
5. Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:

At Ranch Right, we build financial systems that make sense for real ranch operations —...

At a time when conventional row crop margins are under heavy pressure, John sits down with Reece Klug to explore a very different path. Reece farms with his family in eastern Nebraska, running both conventional and organic acres alongside a feedlot operation. In this conversation, they dig into what organic production actually looks like in practice, beyond the buzzwords and assumptions.

Reece shares how their operation transitioned acres into organic production, the mistakes they made along the way, and the mindset shift required to move away from input-driven systems toward biology, rotations, and management. They discuss soil health changes over time, integrating cover crops and grazing, certification requirements, and how organic grain markets really work. With real numbers and honest comparisons, this episode highlights why organic production has dramatically improved profitability per acre for their operation, even through challenging market cycles.

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we cover:

• What the three-year organic transition really looks like in practice
• Yield changes, input reductions, and how profitability compares to conventional crops
• How cover crops and grazing fit into an organic row crop system
• Organic grain markets, pricing, and working directly with buyers
• Certification requirements, audits, and record-keeping realities

Connect with Reece:

• Send an email at reecek1992@hotmail.com
• Call 402-910-4805

Connect with Ranch Right:

• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
• Follow on Facebook
• Check out the website
• Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:

• Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
• Ranching for Profit
• Ranching.FYI
• Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for the 2026 Ranch Right Retreat, February 16th-19th in Orange Beach, Alabama. Space is limited, so click the link below to grab your seat now.

Ranch Right Retreat

Most ranchers know the Farm Service Agency exists, but few fully understand the programs, payments, and opportunities available to them. In this episode, John sits down with two former FSA employees, Kailee Butterfield and Micayla Giffin, to break down how these programs really work and how ranchers can use them as practical management tools rather than confusing government paperwork.

Kailee and Micayla explain why participating in FSA programs can create a real competitive advantage, how deadlines and rules actually function at the county level, and what ranchers need to know before signing up for contracts or disaster programs. They walk through common challenges, what producers can realistically expect, and how to build a productive relationship with your local office.

This conversation is a grounded, honest guide to how FSA programs fit into a profitable operation and how to use them wisely without relying on them to save the ranch.

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we cover:

• Why participating in FSA programs can create a real competitive advantage
• The major categories of programs ranchers should know about
• How FSA loans work and when they make sense for new or growing operations
• Common challenges producers face and how to navigate confusing rules
• How deadlines, paperwork, and county office differences really work
• Practical tips for staying informed and building strong relationships with staff

Connect with Kailee:

• Send an email at kailee@ranchrightllc.com

Connect with Micayla:

• Send an email at micayla@ranchrightllc.com
• Follow on Instagram @micaylagiffin
• Follow on Facebook @micayla.giffin and @GiffinFarms
• Subscribe to YouTube @GiffinFarms

Connect with Ranch Right:

• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
• Follow on Facebook
• Check out the website
• Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:

• ChatGPT FSA Program Navigator Tool
• Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
• Ranching for Profit
• Ranching.FYI
• Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:

At Ranch...

Tax planning is one of the most overlooked tools in ranch management, yet it can save a business thousands of dollars when done well. In this solo episode, John walks through the practical process Ranch Right uses with ranching clients to plan ahead, avoid surprises, and make smart decisions before the year ends. He explains why tax strategy should never be about panic spending and why good planning always starts with accurate numbers and a clear picture of the year.

John also breaks down how different types of income are taxed, how brackets work, and how ranchers can use livestock purchases, depreciation, and timing to manage their liability across multiple years. With clear examples and straightforward guidance, this episode helps ranchers understand how to make decisions that support cash flow, long-term profit, and tax liability.

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, I cover:

• Why tax planning starts with accurate financials before the end of the year
• How to project fall income and expenses and adjust through the season
• When prepaying expenses or making strategic purchases can make sense
• Common mistakes that drain cash without reducing taxes
• How tax brackets work and why managing income across multiple years matters
• The difference between ordinary income, capital gains, and self-employment taxes
• How livestock purchases, depreciation, and retirement accounts fit into a solid strategy

Connect with Ranch Right:

• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
• Follow on Facebook
• Check out the website
• Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:

• Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
• Ranching for Profit
• Ranching.FYI
• Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for the 2026 Ranch Right Retreat, February 16th-19th in Orange Beach, Alabama. Space is limited, so click the link below to grab your seat now.

Ranch Right Retreat

Hard times can feel like the end of the world, but what if they're actually the start of something better?

In this episode, I sit down with long-time friend and rancher, Kim Barker from Walnut Creek Farms in Oklahoma, to talk about the unexpected ways drought, high prices, family challenges, and even personal setbacks can become turning points in your ranching business. Kim has lived through plenty of ups and downs, and he shares how a crisis mindset can keep you stuck, while an opportunity mindset can turn the same situation into a launchpad.

From navigating multi-year droughts to helping the next generation get started, Kim lays out practical examples of how to look ahead, prepare wisely, and build a network that helps you see opportunities you would have missed on your own. Whether you are dealing with tight feed, high cattle prices, family pressure, or just a tough season, this episode will help you reframe the challenge and look for hidden opportunities in hard times.

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we cover:

• How drought and other crises can create long-term opportunities you cannot see in the moment
• Ways to prepare for tough years by deciding early what to sell, what to keep, and where to market
• How other people's drought and feed can open profitable doors if you have the right skills and portable infrastructure
• Why high prices are a chance to clean up your herd, strengthen your finances, and make smart changes
• How education, relationships, and a strong network make opportunities easier to spot
• The mindset shift that turns a crisis into a turning point instead of a setback

Connect with Ranch Right:

• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
• Follow on Facebook
• Check out the website
• Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:

• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
• Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
• Ranching for Profit
• Ranching.FYI
• Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

Mentioned in this episode:

At Ranch Right, we build financial systems that make sense for real ranch operations — bookkeeping, reporting, and strategy that actually work. Make this the year you stop guessing and start managing with clarity. Click the link below to learn more.

New Year's Resolution

When cattle prices climb to levels few of us have ever seen, the dollar value of a single load can quietly double, or even triple. And while most ranchers wouldn’t dream of driving uninsured, many are still hauling cattle with cargo coverage that hasn’t been updated in years. Are your cattle covered?

In this episode, Julie Davidson of High Country Coverage Consulting returns to walk us through the real risks and the practical steps every rancher should take before cattle hit the road. From radius limits and VIN-specific coverage to knowing who’s responsible when a neighbor hauls your calves, this is a timely conversation for a high-price market.

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we cover:

• Why standard $100,000 cargo policies are now dangerously insufficient when calves can be worth $250k–$400k per load
• Who is responsible for coverage, depending on whether you haul, the buyer hires the trucks, or a neighbor does you a favor
• How cargo policies actually work: VIN-specific coverage, trailer listings, radius limits, and why “one policy for the ranch” isn’t enough
• What happens when there’s an accident, including how loss values are calculated and why injured cattle require special evaluation
• Key exclusions, especially the fact that loss of market price is not covered
• Practical steps to update coverage as markets rise and fall, so you’re protected without overspending

Connect with Julie:

• Send her an email at juliedavidsonhccc@gmail.com

Connect with Ranch Right:

• Meet the Ranch Right team
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
• Follow on Facebook
• Check out the website

Resources & Links:

• Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
• Ranching for Profit
• Ranching.FYI
• Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC
• Check out all of our past webinars here

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for the 2026 Ranch Right Retreat, February 16th-19th in Orange Beach, Alabama. Space is limited, so click the link below to grab your seat now.

Ranch Right Retreat

Buying cattle in a high market can feel intimidating, but as Wally Olson reminds us, the price doesn’t matter nearly as much as the relationship. In this episode, John and Wally dig into how to buy cattle the right way, why you always need to sell before you buy, and how understanding the value of gain, weight classes, and local market culture helps you make confident, profitable decisions no matter where the market sits.

Wally draws on decades of experience as a rancher, marketer, and educator to break down practical buying strategies, from barn cards to understanding how geography, humidity, forage quality, and reputation all shape performance and price. John and Wally walk through real-world examples, common pitfalls, and why good marketing, not good luck, is what drives long-term profitability.

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we cover:

• Why you should always sell before you buy, and how that drives cash flow and clarity
• How to evaluate cattle across weight classes, age classes, and pregnancy status using the value of gain
• Building a dependable barn card and running the numbers to know exactly what you can pay
• How geography, humidity, forage quality, and local culture affect buying decisions and animal performance
• When to use an order buyer, how to work well with one, and why reputation matters in both directions
• Smarter strategies for packaging cattle, contracting, and marketing in high-price environments

Connect with Wally:

• Check out his website

Connect with Ranch Right:

• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
• Follow on Facebook
• Check out the website
• Check out all of our past webinars here

Resources & Links:

• Value Of Gain
• Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
• Ranching for Profit
• Ranching.FYI
• Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC

It’s open-enrollment season, and if you’re sorting through health insurance options, you’re not alone. In this episode, John sits down with insurance expert Julie Davidson to walk through what ranch families need to know before choosing a Marketplace plan, from how subsidies actually work to what those deductibles and out-of-pocket numbers really mean.

Julie breaks down why your modified adjusted gross income is the key number that drives your subsidy, why calling to enroll is almost always better than doing it online, and what to watch for if you’re choosing between work-provided coverage and Marketplace options. John and Julie also talk through real-world considerations like prescription costs, family deductibles, HSA-eligible plans, and why Medicaid isn’t always the safety net folks assume it is.

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we cover:

• How open enrollment works and why your modified adjusted gross income drives your subsidy
• The pros and cons of Marketplace options vs. employer plans, and when to call instead of enrolling online
• How to think about deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, HSAs, and choosing the right level of coverage
• What to watch for with prescription costs, plus tools like GoodRx
• Why insurance should be viewed as risk protection, not a prepaid health plan
• How to avoid surprise bills and tax-time subsidies gone wrong

Connect with Julie:

• Send her an email at juliedavidsonhccc@gmail.com

Connect with Ranch Right:

• HealthCare.gov
• GoodRx
• Healthpilot
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc
• Follow on Facebook
• Check out the website

Resources & Links:

• Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More
• Ranching for Profit
• Ranching.FYI
• Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC