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PODCAST

Pioneer Mindset

Garrett Ruskamp

Welcome to Pioneer Mindset! A podcast for rural ag business owners who want to challenge their mindset and address the discomfort in their business and personal lives by finding clarity resulting in bold conviction. Your host, Garrett Ruskamp, is a 5th generation farmer, husband and father from rural Nebraska. In the last 10 years of farming, he has experienced many challenges that business owners face on a day to day basis that stem from disorganization and being financially unaware. He

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

01:00:24

E100 | The Season That Almost Broke Us But Built Us...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2026/01/06

Episode Summary In this milestone 100th episode, I sat down with my wife, Ellan, to share the behind-the-scenes story of our farming operation, family, and the difficult seasons that shaped us both. We walk through what it was like to move from not knowing our financial reality, to being forced to confront it head-on during a season of expansion, debt, stress, and major family change — including pregnancy, young children, buyouts, and hard conversations with bankers, attorneys, and family members

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26:19

E99 | Fear or Purpose: What Will Drive You in 2026?

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/12/30

Episode Summary As 2025 comes to a close, I walk through reframing how to approach the challenges and opportunities ahead of us in 2026. I walk through two scenarios — one driven by fear, overwhelm, and scarcity, and the other grounded in purpose, optimism, and intentional action — this episode challenges you to examine what actually motivates you to move forward. I dive into how fear can sometimes push us into action, but more often leads to paralysis, inaction, and burnout. I talk about why

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30:15

E98 | Lessons Learned the Hard Way: Our Mistakes from...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/12/23

Episode Summary As the year winds down and the holidays approach, I take a look back at 2025 — not to highlight wins, but to analyze the mistakes and learning opportunities that happened throughout the year. From communication breakdowns and rushed decisions to equipment issues, agronomic timing, and family-life lessons, this episode is an honest reflection on what went wrong, what it cost, and what can be learned. This episode isn't about beating yourself up over mistakes. It's about documenting

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26:04

E97 | Bridging the Gap Between Survival and Profit

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/12/16

Episode Summary In this week's Pioneer Mindset episode, I break down what I call the "profit gap" in farming — the space between being stuck in the trenches and reaching profitability I talk about why so many service providers in agriculture are built to help producers once they're already profitable, while far fewer are designed to help farmers and ranchers who are still grinding to get there. From accountants and bankers to agronomists and marketing advisors, I dive into who helps at each stage —

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48:45

E96 | A Lender's Perspective for Farmers with Banker...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/12/09

Episode Summary In this episode, Garrett sits down with agricultural lender Bryce from CharterWest Bank to give producers a clearer understanding of what lenders actually look for — and how you can set yourself up for a smoother, more successful loan renewal process. They break down the realities of farm financing, why equipment and land decisions can't be based on "justifying" the numbers, and how being organized with your financials can save you real money through better rates and stronger lending

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29:20

E95 | Your End-of-Year Farm Business Checklist

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/12/02

Episode Summary As we enter the final month of 2025, I break down the essential business tasks every farmer and rancher should focus on to finish the year strong and set up 2026 with clarity—not chaos. I walks through the some core areas that make the biggest impact on your financial organization, stress levels, and decision-making as we close out the year. Whether you're ahead, behind, or somewhere in between, this episode helps you get grounded, stay proactive, and avoid the December overwhelm

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32:11

E94 | Creative Ways to Add Revenue to Your Operation...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/11/25

Episode Summary What It Really Means to "Provide Value" to Your Operation We all grow up wanting nothing more than to farm, but many of us work off farm jobs, build side businesses, or take big risks just to earn our way to keeping the farm alive. In this week's episode, I challenge the mindset of "just keep doing what we've always done" — and encourage you to think differently, experiment, and not fear failure. The Truth About Sharing Your Competitive Advantages Farmers are naturally protective of

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25:10

E93 | The Money Mindset Every Farmer Needs

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/11/18

Episode Summary In this week's solo episode of Pioneer Mindset, I dive deep into how you think about money — because your mindset around money impacts far more than just your bank account. I recently listened to one of Mel Robbins' podcast interviews with Morgan Housel, author of The Psychology of Money.From that episode, I share my own thoughts and break down the core principles from the book and connect them directly to farm and ranch life. Farm and ranch life is FULL of financial pressure — high

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30:10

E92 | Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze? The Custom Work...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/11/11

Episode Summary As harvest wraps up, I take a practical look at one of the most common questions farmers face each fall: is custom work worth it? Whether you're combining for neighbors, drilling cover crops, or taking on extra acres to help justify equipment costs, there are real pros, cons, and mindset shifts to consider. In this episode, I break down how to evaluate custom work in your own operation—beyond the surface of "extra income." In this week's episode on custom work: The hidden costs

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22:24

E91 | The Weight of Always Trying: Letting Go of...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/11/04

Episode Summary In this solo episode, Garrett opens up about the reality of "trying so hard" — in harvest, in family life, in business, and in faith. From long days in the combine to the quiet moments of reflection that come after, this conversation is an honest look at the weight many farmers carry: trying to be the best husband, father, Christian, and business owner — all at once. In this week's episode I share about the reality of "trying so hard": We're all trying hard — and that's okay

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24:34

E90 | Informed. Aligned. Actionable. The Framework...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/10/28

Episode Summary In this episode of Pioneer Mindset, I break down one of the most overlooked skills in agriculture — decision-making. Every day, farmers and ranchers make thousands of choices, but not all of them are quality decisions. I dive into what it means to make high-quality decisions, why the process matters more than the outcome, and how improving your decision-making directly impacts profitability, confidence, and legacy. I share a simple but impactful framework for better decisions —

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29:28

E89 | More Than Yields — What We Forget in the Middle...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/10/21

Episode Summary Harvest season brings long days, high pressure, and plenty of comparison — whether it’s yields, equipment, or how much progress the neighbors have made. I share an honest look at how harvest is going at Ruskamp Farms and the mindset shifts that can make all the difference. I dive into the realities of yields, basis changes, long hours, and the constant temptation to push harder — but I also emphasize the importance of pausing, taking a breath, and remembering what it’s all for. This

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58:51

E88 | From Soil Data to Real Decisions: Getting ROI...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/10/14

Episode Summary Garrett sits down with Trent Mastny, a Nebraska-based farmer, agronomist and sales rep with JTM Ag, to explore how the next generation of soil sampling tools can help farmers make smarter fertility and planting decisions. They break down what makes zone sampling more accurate than traditional grids, how the Haney test measures real nutrient availability, and why tools like Ferticast are helping bridge the gap between data and action. Key thoughts from Garrett and Trent’s discussion

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30:58

E87 | The Confident Farmer: Why Faith and Action Go...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/10/07

Episode Summary In this week’s episode, I talk about one of the most universal struggles for farmers and ranchers — confidence. Whether you see yourself as naturally confident or someone who wrestles with self-doubt, this conversation dives deep into why confidence matters, how faith ties directly into it, and what practical steps you can take to strengthen both. This episode challenges you to flip the script: instead of waiting for motivation to build confidence, start with action. Every small step

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26:36

E86 | No More Excuses: Becoming the Leader Your...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/09/30

Episode Summary In this week’s episode of Pioneer Mindset, I talk about what it takes to move beyond “getting by” and stepping into true ownership—both in life and in business. Are you just keeping up, or are you stepping up as a businessman? This episode dives into the idea that to have what others don’t, you must do what others won’t. I apply this mindset across the CORE 4—body, being, balance, and business—with stories ranging from running a 5K to showing up as a dad, to getting proactive with

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35:54

E85 | Breaking Down Profitability: What Every Farmer...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/09/23

Episode Summary This week on the podcast, I dive into profitability!I talk why now—before harvest kicks into full swing—is the ideal time to evaluate your numbers, build crop plans for next season, and get clear on what’s truly profitable in your operation. In this week’s episode on profitability: Why profitability is more than just having cash in the bank The difference between cash vs. accrual accounting—and why both matter What bankers really want to see (and why) when you sit down for a line of

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49:12

E84 | Managing Volatility: Grain, Cattle and the...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/09/16

Episode Summary This week, I sit down with Zane Abner of Tredas to dig into grain and cattle marketing strategies that help producers stay proactive instead of reactive. From handling grain carry and price spreads to managing cattle market volatility, Zane shares practical tools and mindset shifts that keep operations steady when markets swing. We explore how to create flexible plans, avoid emotional decisions, and use tools like hedging, options, and LRP (Livestock Risk Protection) to protect

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55:28

E83 | Beyond the Bushels: Protecting Your Farm’s...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/09/09

Episode Summary Crop insurance may not be the most exciting part of farming, but it can make or break your bottom line. In this episode of Pioneer Mindset, I sits down with crop insurance agent and advisor Landon Schafer to break down what farmers need to know heading into harvest and beyond. From understanding new program changes and margin coverage options to managing claims, price discovery, and production records, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can use right now. We also

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01:00:48

E82 | Facing Fears in Farming, Fitness, and Life with...

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/09/02

Episode Summary What’s driving your goals—the destination, or the journey it takes to get there? In this conversation with John Sachse of RanchFIT Coaching, we dig into the deeper meaning behind goal setting, physical fitness, and living with intention in farming, ranching, and life. From training for the Boston Marathon to hosting annual ruck events, John shares how the pursuit itself often brings more growth than the achievement—and why tying your goals to a bigger why makes all the difference

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32:05

E81 | How to Recognize and Embrace the Season You’re In

Pioneer Mindset ·

2025/08/26

Episode Summary Life comes at us in seasons. Some are filled with growth and excitement, others with struggle and exhaustion. And too often, we either compare our season to someone else’s or complain about the one we’re in—without realizing it may be the very season we once prayed for. In this week’s episode I share some thoughts on embracing the season you’re in: Why it’s critical to acknowledge the season you’re in How fitness, faith, family, and finances each bring their own challenges and

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101 results

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