323. Digitizing Farm Operations: Tracey Wiedmeyer on Gripp's Role in Ag Tech
Release Date: 03/04/2025
335. From Sheep to Soil: Zeb Horrell’s Vision for Regenerative New Zealand
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
What does it look like to transform land, community, and food systems—all at once? This week on the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Zeb Horrell, Chief Regenerative Officer at Mangaroa Farms in Whitemans Valley, New Zealand. Zeb is a third-generation farmer turned regenerative land steward, working to reimagine what farming can be through bioregional resilience, collaborative land models, and deep ecological awareness. At Mangaroa Farms—a community food hub and living laboratory—they’re transitioning former dairy and pine operations into regenerative agriculture and native...
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334. Securing the Homestead: Tim Eng on Safety, Resilience, and Community
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
What role does security play in building a thriving homestead? Today on the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Tim Eng, a West Point graduate, Army veteran, and real estate expert who now helps families transition into resilient, self-sufficient homesteads. After years in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the U.S., Tim and his family made the leap to homesteading in Tennessee. With a background in military engineering and a passion for regenerative living, Tim now teaches homesteaders how to build security into their land, homes, and communities—from the ground...
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333. Teaching Self-Sufficiency: Kody Hanner on Homesteading and Hands-On Education
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
How can homesteaders empower the next generation through practical, real-world learning? Today on the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Kody Hanner, a homesteader, author, and educator based in North Idaho. As the founder of The Homestead Education, Kody helps families integrate homesteading and self-sufficiency into their homeschooling journey. What began as a personal health journey turned into a life-changing homestead and a mission to equip children with the tools they need to thrive outside the traditional classroom. Tune in to hear how Kody’s family healed, homesteaded, and...
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332. Building the Fair Trade Movement: Paul Rice on Ethical Farming & Global Impact
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
How can global trade empower farmers and create a more just food system? Today on the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Paul Rice, Founder and CEO of Fair Trade USA. After spending more than a decade working with coffee farmers in Nicaragua, Paul returned to the U.S. to launch the Fair Trade Certified™ label—transforming the way we think about sourcing coffee, cocoa, produce, apparel, and more. Since 1998, Paul has partnered with over 1,400 companies, from Whole Foods to Patagonia, helping channel billions of dollars into the hands of farmers and workers worldwide. In this...
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331. Soil, Stewardship & Safe Food: Kyle Becker on Growing Becker Farms
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
What does it take to build a thriving farm business while raising a family and stewarding the land for the next generation? Today on the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Kyle Becker, owner of Becker Farms in Moorland, Indiana. Since 2007, Kyle and his wife, Emily, have grown their farm from a small freezer beef operation into a diversified livestock farm offering beef, pork, chicken, turkey, eggs, and local milk. In addition to running the farm, Kyle works as a food animal veterinarian, serving dairy and beef farms across Indiana and Ohio. With a deep focus on soil health,...
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330. Pesticide-Free and Purpose-Filled: Taylor Bemis on Running Tumbleweed Farm
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
What does it look like to farm beyond organic on a small scale with big impact? On this episode, Michael is joined by Taylor Bemis, co-owner of Tumbleweed Farm in Oregon’s Hood River Valley. Since 2012, Taylor and his wife, cookbook author Andrea Bemis, have been growing vibrant, pesticide-free produce on just over two acres. Together, they run a 160-member CSA and sell at the Hood River Farmers Market. With a strong focus on educating their community about the nutritional power of fresh, local food, Taylor and Andrea go beyond organic standards—often labeling their vegetables with the...
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329. Collaboration Over Competition: How Two Farmers Built Urban Roots Collective
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
What happens when two first-generation farmers decide to team up instead of compete? Today on the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Jody Prosser and Mady Hastings, co-owners of Urban Roots Collective in Simpsonville, South Carolina. These first-generation female farmers each started out with their own small farms and no prior ag experience—but when they met, they quickly realized they could grow more and serve more together. Now operating as a team, they’re cultivating vegetables, flowers, and animals on regenerative principles and selling through a unique farmstand model...
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328. From Grass-Fed to Wood-Fired: Pizza Farmer Maren Beard of Luna Valley Farm
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
How can agritourism deepen community connections and support a diversified farm? In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, we’re joined by Maren Beard, co-owner of Luna Valley Farm in Decorah, Iowa. Maren and her husband, Tom, run a certified organic regenerative farm, raising 100% grass-fed cattle and sheep while also serving up delicious wood-fired pizzas to their community. Tune in to hear how Luna Valley is creating connection through food and what it really takes to run a thriving pizza farm! Episode Highlights: Origin Story: How did Maren and Tom get started with Luna Valley...
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327. Urban Farming for Food Justice: Devon Wilson on Sunlight Gardens
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
How can urban farming transform communities and increase access to fresh, local food? In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, we’re joined by Devon Wilson, founder and farmer of Sunlight Gardens, a two-acre organic urban farm in Battle Creek, Michigan. Devon started Sunlight Gardens to increase access to fresh, local food and inspire the next generation of farmers through their fresh corner store, community events, and Farm Squad youth program. Devon’s passion for food justice stems from personal experience—witnessing multiple family members struggle with diet-related illnesses....
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326. Reinventing Beef: Justin Pettit on Santa Carota’s Carrot-Finished Cattle
The Thriving Farmer Podcast
How does carrot-finished beef set a new standard for flavor and sustainability? In this episode, we’re joined by Justin Pettit, third-generation rancher and co-founder of Santa Carota Beef—the only grass-fed, carrot-finished beef on the market. By finishing cattle on a 95% carrot-based diet, Justin has crafted a nutrient-rich, flavorful beef that’s earned praise from top chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsay. Tune in to hear how Justin is redefining high-quality beef with a focus on sustainability, nutrition, and exceptional taste! Episode Highlights: Ranching Roots: How did...
info_outlineHow can farmers streamline record-keeping and operations management with technology?
In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, we’re joined by Tracey Wiedmeyer, co-founder of Gripp. Growing up on a farm in rural Wisconsin, Tracey combined his deep-rooted agricultural knowledge with his expertise in technology to create a platform that simplifies farm operations. Gripp centralizes everything from equipment tracking to team communication, making it easier for farmers to stay organized and efficient.
Tune in to hear how Tracey and his team are transforming record-keeping, winning industry recognition, and shaping the future of agricultural technology.
Episode Highlights:
- Farming Beginnings: What was it like for Tracey growing up on a farm? [1:39]
- Career Path: How did Tracey’s journey lead him to agricultural technology? [3:38]
- The Birth of Gripp: What convinced Tracey to launch Gripp? [8:25]
- Organic Farming: Can Gripp be useful for organic record-keeping? [16:50]
- Ease of Use: How tech-friendly is Gripp for farmers? [20:24]
- Industry Recognition: How did Gripp win the American Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge? [25:08]
- Future Innovations: What trends is Tracey seeing in AgTech? [27:07]
- What’s Next: Where is Gripp headed in the coming years? [30:47]
Don’t miss this episode on how digital tools can revolutionize farm management and streamline operations with Tracey Wiedmeyer of Gripp!
About the Guest:
Tracey Wiedmeyer, co-founder of Gripp, combines his farming upbringing in rural Wisconsin with a hands-on, tech-savvy approach to solving agricultural challenges. With a focus on simplifying record-keeping and communication for farmers, Gripp provides user-friendly tools that make managing operations more efficient. Tracey’s expertise in both farming and technology has earned Gripp industry recognition, including a win at the American Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.
📲 Connect with Tracey:
- Website: www.gripp.ag
- Instagram: Follow Gripp
- Facebook: Like Gripp
- LinkedIn: Get a Gripp
The Thriving Farmer Podcast would like to thank our sponsor, GRIPP.
Got lots of people, places and things to track? Gripp is the easiest way for farmers to track anything important to their operation. With flexible QR code tracking, keeping digital records is a snap with Ag’s easiest operator-first mobile app centralizing alerts, reminders, electronic forms and team conversations. With simple month-to-month pricing and no long-term commitments, Gripp can transform and streamline your operation, so you can focus on what’s most important—growing.
For a limited time get 15% of any monthly or yearly subscription at www.gripp.ag/pricing with the code THRIVEIN25