In this episode of Grit and Grace in the Heartland, Mary and Leah welcome Nebraska farm wife, healthcare professional, agriculture advocate, and writer Michaela Gasseling.

The conversation begins with a look at current drought conditions across Nebraska, including the ongoing challenges facing western Nebraska producers. Michaela shares firsthand insight into what her family and neighbors are experiencing as drought, wildfire recovery, and difficult agricultural decisions continue to impact daily life.

Michaela discusses her journey from growing up on a Nebraska farm to pursuing a career in healthcare, becoming an ultrasound technologist, and eventually returning to rural life after insisting she would never live on a farm again.

Topics in this episode include:

• Current drought conditions in western Nebraska and their impact on ranching and farming operations

• Feeding cattle through June due to lack of pasture and forage

• The realities of purchasing hay and making difficult management decisions during extreme drought

• Rural communities supporting one another through wildfire response and recovery

• Balancing multiple careers and responsibilities in agriculture

• Working in rural healthcare while also helping operate a family farm

• Why agricultural advocacy matters and the importance of hearing farming stories directly from farmers

Michaela also shares the remarkable story of a life-changing health crisis that unfolded shortly after the birth of her fourth child in 2020.

After months of severe headaches, hearing loss, and balance issues that were initially attributed to pregnancy, Michaela was diagnosed with a six-centimeter brain tumor just days after giving birth. She opens up about emergency brain surgery, recovery during the COVID era, and the incredible support she received from family, friends, and her rural community.

Additional topics include:

• Navigating trauma, recovery, and postpartum life simultaneously

• The importance of mental health support, counseling, and therapy

• Processing gratitude alongside grief and anger after a traumatic experience

• Why it is okay to acknowledge that something difficult happened even when the outcome was positive

• The challenges women face when balancing family, career, and agricultural responsibilities

• Letting go of expectations and defining fulfillment on your own terms

• Returning to healthcare work and rediscovering purpose outside the farm gate

This episode is an honest conversation about resilience, community, motherhood, mental health, and finding the courage to embrace the life that truly fits you.

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Thank you for listening. Until next time, have some grit and grace.