Today's Ag: Multi-Generational Farming with Zoe Kent

Welcome back to Today's Ag. I'm your host, Howard Halderman, and on this episode we're talking about something that sits at the heart of farming in this country, keeping land and a way of life in the family for generation after generation.

My guest is Zoe Kent, an eighth generation corn and soybean producer in Ohio and the voice behind the YouTube channel FarmwithZoe, where she shares an honest look at day to day life on a farm that's been in her family for over two hundred years. Zoe brings a perspective that a lot of us in this business talk about but few actually live, what it takes to carry a farm forward from one generation to the next.

We'll dig into succession planning and transition planning from her point of view, the conversations that have to happen around the kitchen table, the decisions that get put off too long, and what it actually looks like to hand a farm off successfully instead of watching it get sold or split apart.

If you're a landowner thinking about the future of your farm, or a farm family trying to figure out how to talk about it, this episode is for you.

Farmland values keep climbing, and for many operators the hardest part of expansion isn't finding the ground, it's finding the money to buy it. In this episode, host Howard Halderman sits down with Ben Gordon, CEO of Fractal Ag, a farmland investment platform built to help farmers access capital without giving up control of their land.

Ben Gordon is the co-founder and CEO of Fractal Ag, a farmland investment platform that brings investors alongside farmers to help fund farm businesses and drive returns. Rather than competing with farmers to buy land, the company invests alongside farmers by taking a passive stake in their current farmland, with farmers receiving needed capital while maintaining full control of their land.

Howard and Ben dig into what's driving today's land values, how equity partnerships differ from traditional debt, and what growers should be doing now to line up capital before the right farm hits the market. If you've ever penciled out what you'd do if the farm across the road came up for sale, this conversation is for you.

Welcome to Today's Ag. I'm Howard Halderman. Most people in this business talk about preserving agricultural heritage. Today's guest lives inside it. Larry Smith is a Halderman area representative in northeast Indiana — and when he goes home at night, he pulls up to a brick farmhouse that has been standing since 1860. Three owners in 165 years. Four Belgian draft horses. And harness hooks still on the wall right where they were put. Today Larry and I talk about what that kind of continuity means, and how it shapes the way he serves landowners every day.

Welcome to the Halderman Podcast. I'm Howard Halderman, President and CEO of the Halderman Companies, and today I have a guest that I'm genuinely excited to sit down with.

Emily Recker has spent this summer with us as an intern here at the Halderman Companies, and I can tell you — she has made an impression. Emily is heading into her senior year at Purdue University, one of the top agriculture programs in the country, and she's been getting a firsthand look at what it means to work in farm management and real estate from the inside.

This summer Emily has been working alongside some of our best — Michael and Dave Bonnell down in the Columbus and Hope area, and Todd Litten over in Ellettsville. That's a lot of ground covered, literally and figuratively. Those are experienced farm managers who know the markets and spending a summer learning from that group is about as good an education as you can get outside of a classroom.

What I find especially compelling about Emily is where her sights are set after graduation in the spring of 2027. She's got her eye on the appraisal side of this business — and that's one of the most demanding and rewarding paths you can take in agricultural real estate. It takes deep knowledge of soils, markets, and methodology, and a genuine feel for the land. We think Emily has what it takes.

Today we're going to talk about her summer, what she's carrying back to West Lafayette for that final year at Purdue, and what the road toward an appraiser's license looks like for a young professional just getting started.

In this episode, host Howard Halderman heads to the Miami County Fair to sit down with two longtime 4-H members, Chloe Jordan and Levi Merritt. Chloe and Levi share the stories behind their projects, the lessons they've carried with them through the years, and what 4-H has meant to their personal growth. From the show ring to the fairgrounds, this conversation is a reminder of why programs like 4-H remain such a cornerstone of rural communities and agricultural life. Whether you're a 4-H alumni, a current member, or simply someone who loves the fair, this one's worth a listen.

Josh Wagenbach and Joe Halderman join host Howard Halderman to discuss their newly earned Accredited Farm Manager designation from the ASFMRA and what it means for their careers in farm management.

Josh Wagenbach joins our host, Robert McNamara, to share insights from the recent ASFMRA conference in Clearwater, FL. They delve into how this organization not only enhances education but also significantly boosts networking opportunities for managers, empowering them to excel in their roles.

Join us for an informative webinar exploring the concept of highest and best use in today’s evolving land market. We’ll break down what highest and best use truly means and how it influences value, strategy, and long-term decision-making. Attendees will gain insight into the key factors professionals evaluate when determining how a property can reach its full potential.

From market trends and physical characteristics to legal and financial considerations, we’ll cover the critical components that shape sound recommendations. Whether you’re planning ahead or simply seeking a deeper understanding of valuation principles, this session will provide practical knowledge you can apply with confidence. Come prepared to think strategically and walk away with a clearer perspective on how informed analysis drives stronger outcomes.