Welcome back to Laughlin Highlands Farm!
This week, we hit a major milestone — over 260 chickens and 30+ turkeys processed and ready for the freezer! The barn is quieter, the fields are calmer, and I’m reflecting on what it means to manage time, stress, and sanity during the busiest weeks of farm life.

If you’ve ever felt stretched thin trying to juggle family, work, and homesteading, this one’s for you. We’ll talk about what’s working (and what’s not), how to keep joy in the daily grind, and a few lessons from this week’s farm chaos.

💬 Topics Covered:

• Managing time and expectations when farm life gets overwhelming
• Finding sustainable rhythms between chores and family time
• Stress management tips for homesteaders
• How outdoor work can restore mental balance
• Why slower living doesn’t always mean “easy living”

📦 Farm Updates:

• 261 chickens + 30+ turkeys processed in Baltic, OH
• Prepping pastures for winter rest
• Recipe of the week: a hearty, slow-food comfort meal from the farm kitchen

🐓 Watch more from our farm:
👉 Laughlin Highlands Farm YouTube Channel

❤️ Support the Farm:
Shop meat boxes, lamb snacks, and more at LaughlinHighlandsFarm.com

Buy Meat Raised on Our Farm -> Laughlin Highlands Farm

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🌱 Are your habits leading to growth—or digging you into a rut?
In this video, I share a farm-inspired reflection on how our daily routines mirror the ruts in our pastures. From corralling escaped turkeys to navigating the muddy paths of habit, this story blends farm life with real lessons in self development, mental health, and personal growth.

We’ll explore:
1. Why habits can either keep you stuck or move you toward transformation
2. How negative thought patterns create “ruts” in your mind
3. Simple ways to adjust your daily routine for motivation and productivity
4. The role of mindset and faith in building a life of resilience and purpose

This isn’t just a farm story—it’s a reminder that with intention, you can break free, reset your perspective, and cultivate habits that bring inspiration, self improvement, and positive change.

✨ If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck, this motivational video is for you.

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Connect with us!
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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/farmer-marys-field-notes/id1836965250
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34haqAnv2OrNrGZMvrPPSH
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@laughlinhighlandsfarm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laughlinhighlandsfarm/

📧 Subscribe for Farmer Mary in your email and get 25% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER: https://www.laughlinhighlandsfarm.com/pages/social-email-sign-up

⏰ Timecodes ⏰
00:00 – Daily habits and farm pastures
00:04 – The impact of routines and escaped turkeys
00:08 – Soup season & small farm reflections
00:11 – A request for your help
00:14 – Why grass (and habits) matter
00:23 – Driving paths into pastures (and minds)
00:30 – How ruts form in grass and in life
00:42 – Rain, mud, and habits that get baked in
00:50 – The ruts we make in our minds

🔥 This podcast is supported by tryourfarm.com! ➡️ tryourfarm.com
🔥 Order a sampler box from us for 50% off the regular price!! Frozen meat from our farm to your doorstep, shipped Next Day Air.

Why would someone walk away from a secure career in higher education to chase life on a family farm? In this week’s Field Notes with Farmer Mary, I open up about the tough questions, the doubts, and the unexpected joys of starting over.

From building fences and wrangling animals to reflecting on mindset, regrets, and the meaning of work, this is my raw take on what it’s like to trade the classroom for the pasture.

👉 If you’ve ever wondered about life after college, career change, or pursuing sustainable farming, this story is for you.

🌱 Whether you’re a woman farmer, aspiring rancher, or someone searching for work-life balance in rural living, join me on this journey of personal growth and community.

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Connect with us!
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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/farmer-marys-field-notes/id1836965250
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34haqAnv2OrNrGZMvrPPSH
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@laughlinhighlandsfarm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laughlinhighlandsfarm/

📧 Subscribe for Farmer Mary in your email and get 25% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER: https://www.laughlinhighlandsfarm.com/pages/social-email-sign-up

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

0:00 – Why did I choose this?
1:05 – Kids going back to school
2:10 – Losing my helpers
3:15 – Balancing animals with jobs
4:20 – Starting from the basics
5:25 – Battling feelings of inadequacy
6:30 – Learning tractor skills
7:35 – Community and open-mindedness
8:40 – Wrestling with pessimism
9:45 – Finding small joys again