Farming on Purpose

About Farming on Purpose

A podcast for farmers and ranchers ready to shift for a stronger future... Stronger farm families Stronger food systems Stronger rural legacies

Publisher

Lexi Wright

Category

arts · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

31 Oct 2022

Latest episode

12 May 2026

Latest episodes

12 of 138 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   12 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Building a Farmstead Business One Step at a Time

   Host Lexi Wright interviews Ali Lightfoot of Lightfoot Farmstead about building a direct-to-consumer farm business while balancing life and finding the middle ground in agriculture.

2. 

   5 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Navigating Change, Legacy, and the Future of the Family Farm

   “We have to evolve to keep what we have.” In this episode of Farming on Purpose, I sit down with Hannah and Ashley Rainville, two sisters from a multi-generational dairy farm in northern Vermont, to talk about what it looks like to face one of the hardest decisions in agriculture—stepping away from the system you were raised in. Hannah and Ashley share the reality behind their family’s decision to sell their dairy herd after generations of milking cows. What started as a tough winter filled with breakdowns, low milk prices, and mounting pressure turned into a deeper conversation about sustainability—not just financially, but for their family, their future, and their way of life. We talk about the emotional weight of that decision, what it means to redefine legacy, and how they’re beginning to build a new path forward. From experimenting with gardening and livestock to exploring direct-to-consumer opportunities, they’re not walking away from farming—they’re reshaping it. This episode is a powerful listen for anyone navigating change in agriculture, questioning the systems they’ve been handed, or trying to figure out what comes next for their farm and their family. Key Topics: The reality behind selling a family dairy herd Why the traditional dairy model is becoming harder to sustain The emotional side of change and decision-making on a family farm What it means to protect legacy while doing things differently How small experiments can shape a new direction for your farm Building a diversified, direct-to-consumer model Why family—not the operation—has tocome first Navigating uncertainty while creating new opportunities LINKS Follow Hannah & Ashley Rainville: TikTok & Facebook: RainvilleRizzz Sign up for the 8-Hour Marketing Plan here! Marketing Routine class, do so here! Join the Farming On Purpose Facebook group and visit the Farming on Purpose merch page. Check out our favorite software tool for online sales: Thrivecart I may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page. Other Episodes You May Enjoy: Episode #112: A Family Legacy of Dairy and Determination A deep dive into what it really means to grow up in dairy farming and carry that responsibility forward. This episode explores the connection between family, livestock, and identity—and the pressure that comes with keeping it all going. Episode #90: Current State of Farming – A Tale of Two Scales This episode breaks down one of the biggest tensions in agriculture today—the gap between small family farms and large-scale operations—and what that means for the future of the industry. Episode #74: Capturing Profit from Heifers with Direct-to-Consumer Beef A practical look at what diversification can actually look like on a farm, including selling direct-to-consumer and building additional income streams beyond traditional models. About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright: I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture. Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

3. 

   14 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Rebuilding Health, Food, and Family Through Homesteading

   Host Lexi Wright interviews Kody Hanner, founder of The Homestead Education, about rebuilding health and family through intentional homesteading and food production.

Inside a recent episode

Building a Farmstead Business One Step at a Time

Published 12 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Yes, that was definitely, there has been some growing pains with that because my husband was actually the one, like I quit, I taught for six years, I quit for two years to be at the processing facility full -time. That's what we were doing. That was our job. My husband quit his full -time job. We were all in. He was the butcher. My brother -in -law was on the fill floor and that kind of thing, my sister -in -law was helping pack and we had a store up front and so we were selling our own beef and when you can cut it yourself, you can do whatever you want. You can make sure that it looks the way you want it to look and then having to turn around and go to somebody else and drop it off and just pray it looks halfway decent. […]

Who has been a guest on Farming on Purpose

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Frank Baggiolini
• Dan Brunner
• Hayley Darnielle
• Megan Daluge
• Heidi Olson

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

16 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact Farming on Purpose

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Farming on Purpose