In this Episode: Join Ashleigh and Amanda for the very first episode of Raised Between the Rows. Today, they share the candid stories of how they both tried to leave the farm behind, only to find that their roots ran deeper than they realized. From Ashleigh’s dreams of marine biology to Amanda’s journey through the "lawyer track" and the dairy barn, this episode explores the beauty and the "mucking out" of family business.

Timestamps & Key Moments:

• [00:00] Intro: Meet your hosts—a seed dealer from Central Michigan and a mother of three from a West Michigan dairy-turned-crop farm.
• [02:00] Ashleigh’s Journey: How a middle school dream of Florida palm trees turned into an FFA obsession and a career at Beck’s Hybrids.
• [06:30] The Beck’s Transition: The story behind the family business, BRB Seed Services, making the jump from Pioneer to Beck's.
• [11:00] Amanda’s Story: Growing up between two homes and finding peace in the milking parlor with her grandpa.
• [13:30] Choosing the Farm: The "hard conversation" with her dad about staying home versus going to law school.
• [16:45] Technology & Robots: The reality of 24/7 life with robotic milkers and the difficult decision to sell the herd in 2023.
• [21:00] Working with Dad: Reflections on being "the same person" as their fathers and learning to navigate the stressors of spring planting.
• [24:00] "Good Ground" & "Between the Rows": A weekly segment reflecting on faith, family health scares, and the blessings of a slower postpartum season.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Beck’s Hybrids
• Michigan State University (MSU) Ag Tech Program
• FFA (Future Farmers of America)
• World Dairy Expo

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