In this personal and heartfelt episode, host Haylie Shipp shares how a major health crisis in her family in 2024 changed the way she views wellness on the ranch. Ranchers plan for drought, markets, and succession, but rarely for themselves. Preventative healthcare is another kind of ranch insurance. It protects the most important asset on any operation: the people who keep it running.

Haylie visits with Dr. Kevin Ross of Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, a critical access hospital serving northeastern Montana, and rancher and registered nurse Carmen Salveson. Together, they discuss what preventative care looks like in rural communities, how access to healthcare is evolving, and why taking care of yourself is one of the smartest investments you can make in your ranch’s future.

In This Episode:

• Why preventative care is essential ranch insurance
• How Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital supports rural health as a critical access facility
• The importance of early detection and regular screenings
• Addressing the stigma surrounding mental health in rural communities
• Building a culture of care that sustains families and operations
• If you're going to do the bare minimum, what are a doctor's suggestions?

Resources Mentioned:

• Depression Self-Assessment (Mayo Clinic): https://anxietycoach.mayoclinic.org/depression-coach/depression-self-assessment/
• Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, Glasgow, Montana
• Aaniih Nakoda College “Grow Our Own” nursing program

The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is a rancher-led, grassroots organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for rural communities throughout the Northern Great Plains. Through collaborative conservation projects, rancher education events, and local community outreach, RSA works to strengthen our rural community, economy, and culture for generations to come.

For more on the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, head to www.RanchStewards.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Your feedback is always welcome. Email info@ranchstewards.org. Want to support our mission? Visit https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.

In this episode, Haylie Shipp sits down with eco-nutritionist Sara Keough and rancher Craig French to explore the surprising ways soil health and human health are connected. Sara shares what it means to look at people as ecosystems. Craig tells the story of meeting Sara at the Soil Health Symposium and the big changes he has seen since working with her, including weight loss, better sleep, and more energy. Together they talk about practical shifts in food choices and the parallels between soil microbes and the gut microbiome. The conversation also touches on the importance of mental health in agriculture and how preventative care can help keep people and operations strong.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Event: Gut Check: How Soil Health Shapes Human Health – Oct 11 in Malta, MT
• Sara Keough’s website: eco-nutrition.com
• Sara’s article: Meat is Medicine

The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is a rancher-led, grassroots organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for rural communities throughout the Northern Great Plains. Through collaborative conservation projects, rancher education events, and local community outreach, RSA works to strengthen our rural community, economy, and culture for generations to come.

For more on the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, head to www.RanchStewards.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Your feedback is always welcome. Email info@ranchstewards.org. Want to support our mission? Visit https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.

Today’s episode of the Ranch Stewards Podcast takes us underground, as we bring you a replay from our 2025 Rural Resilience webinar series all about vermicast. Vermicast is a soil additive produced by earthworms that can improve soil biology, boost plant health, and strengthen ranching systems.

You will hear from:

• Kendall Morgan, Land Health Specialist with Winnett ACES
• Adele Stenson, rancher and Western Sustainability Exchange staff member
• Conni French, RSA President and Phillips County rancher

Together, they share practical ways to raise worms, harvest castings, and put vermicast to work in a ranch setting.

Want the full webinar with visuals? Watch it on our YouTube channel here: Vermicast Webinar Replay. While you are there, explore more replays and subscribe to our channel: RSA on YouTube.

Looking ahead, our Rural Resilience 2026 webinar series will kick off in January. Dates and topics will be announced soon at RanchStewards.org/events.

The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance is committed to peer-to-peer learning and equipping ranchers with tools to stay successful and inspired.

The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is a rancher-led, grassroots organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for rural communities throughout the Northern Great Plains. Through collaborative conservation projects, rancher education events, and local community outreach, RSA works to strengthen our rural community, economy, and culture for generations to come.

For more on the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, head to www.RanchStewards.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Your feedback is always welcome. Email info@ranchstewards.org. Want to support our mission? Visit https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.