A family ranch, a hometown bank, and a region built on grit—this conversation brings them together to explain how modern agriculture actually works when the numbers get big and the margins get thin. We sit down with banker and lifelong ranch kid Duane Bowman to unpack the shift from two-hundred-thousand-dollar operating notes to multi-million-dollar lines, the rise of precision ag and seed genetics, and the reality of running million-dollar machinery on dryland acres. It’s a clear-eyed look at risk, growth, and the decisions that matter.

We start with the Bowman ranch story—custom feeding, backgrounding, and a long commitment to genetics that grew into a registered Angus program neighbors trust with their bids. That same neighbor-first mindset shapes Dakota Western Bank’s approach across Bowman, Scranton, Hettinger, and Regent: hire local, understand agriculture, and build relationships that last longer than a cycle. From coffee on Fridays to lending strategy, small-town banking turns out to be a competitive advantage when markets lurch and weather toys with your plans.

Then we go deep on the playbook. On the crop side: inputs, precision seeding, camera-guided spraying, and storage that supports smarter marketing when basis and futures aren’t cooperating. On the ranch side: record calf checks, facility and genetics upgrades, and why Livestock Risk Protection makes sense when bred heifers push four figures per head. We talk land and pasture, too—rising rents, out-of-area demand, and how cautious expansion beats chasing the last dollar. Through it all, the theme is discipline: protect the downside, invest in productivity, and don’t let short-term highs cloud long-term math.

If you care about agriculture, rural finance, or the way communities lift each other, this is a grounded, data-aware conversation that cuts through the noise. Subscribe for more candid stories from the people who seed, feed, and finance America—and leave a review to tell us what you want to hear next.

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Taxes shouldn’t decide the future of your farm. We sit down with Jody Robinson, VP of Tax Planning at Mariner Wealth Advisors, to unpack how the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” changes the game for landowners and the families who depend on them. From estate tax thresholds to capital gains strategies, we break down what actually matters when the goal is to keep acres in the family and options open.

We start with the bigger picture: how a higher, now “permanent,” federal estate tax exemption buys time and clarity for long-range planning, and why state-level rules can still spring surprises. Jody explains the step-up in basis in plain English and shows how it erases decades of appreciation for heirs, often preventing forced sales at the worst possible time. Then we pivot to active moves: 1031 exchanges to keep gains deferred and capital working, Qualified Opportunity Zones for an alternate deferral path, and portfolio tactics like tax-loss harvesting to soften the blow when sales are necessary.

Operators get a timely walkthrough of bonus depreciation’s return to 100% for qualifying assets such as equipment, irrigation, and grain bins. The upside is immediate cash flow relief; the catch is potential depreciation recapture when you sell. Jody lays out how to time purchases, align hold periods, and avoid trading short-term relief for a bigger tax bill later. We also dive into titling choices—individual, joint, trust, or entity—and how they affect control, transfer, and taxes. Finally, we tackle gifting versus inheriting: when lifetime gifts support continuity for an on-farm heir, and when waiting for inheritance preserves a step-up in basis for those likely to sell.

If you want a practical roadmap—clear steps, real trade-offs, and fewer landmines—this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with someone planning a transition, and leave a review with your top tax question so we can cover it next.

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What does it really take to keep a small town alive—and help it grow? We sit down with developer and community leader Nathan Burseth to unpack how Colfax, North Dakota, paired housing with heart to attract families, remote workers, and retirees while strengthening its school and tax base. From the first 15 lots to multiple phases in Colfax Meadows, to the shop-friendly Trackside, to the barn dominium-focused Reserve, Nathan shows how choice, covenants, and city services create real momentum without losing the rural feel people love.

We dig into the practical playbook: municipal water and sewer on large lots, creative architecture with many builders, and fiber internet that lets Minneapolis or Chicago professionals work from the prairie. Nathan explains how a diversion settlement funded county-wide housing initiatives, reducing risk for builders and banks, and why home rehabilitation is a powerful lever for affordability and neighborhood renewal. Each new household matters; just a few students can change a district’s budget, keeping class sizes small and opportunities wide.

Community culture ties it together. The Richland 44 Foundation’s scholarships—up to $10,000 per graduate—plus a new events venue keep resources flowing to students and teachers, from dual-credit support to classroom tech. Add pheasants at dusk, kids biking to the pool, and a 20-minute interstate drive to Fargo’s jobs and concerts, and you have a compelling mix of small-town life with big-city access. If you care about the future of rural America—or you’re searching for a home where values and opportunity align—this conversation brings a blueprint you can use. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s “small-town curious,” and leave a review with the one idea your community should try next.

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Contact the team at Pifer's