In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Grit and Grace in the Heartland, Mary and Leah welcome Nebraska rancher Naomi Loomis of Circle L Ranch to share the raw reality of surviving the devastating March 2026 wildfires in western Nebraska.

Before the conversation begins, Leah reflects on celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary while Mary shares thoughts on why podcasts resonate so deeply right now. Together they explore how people are craving authenticity, connection, and real stories in a world that often feels overly polished and filtered.

Naomi then takes listeners directly into the chaos of the wildfire that tore through her ranching community. She recounts the eerie weather conditions, the frantic scramble to protect livestock and property, the terrifying drive through smoke and flames, and the miraculous survival of their family home despite fire burning only feet away.

The conversation explores:

• The emotional and financial toll of wildfire recovery
• The uncertainty surrounding aid, insurance, and rebuilding
• The realities of ranching during extreme drought conditions
• PTSD in both humans and livestock after disaster
• The heartbreaking work of caring for burned calves
• Dry lotting cattle and managing herd survival
• The importance of community support during crisis
• The future of ranching families across the Great Plains

Naomi speaks candidly about the stress of rebuilding fencing, replacing hay, securing feed, and making impossible financial decisions while continuing daily ranch work. She also shares moving stories of neighbors arriving with help, donated hay from across the country, and the determination to rebuild stronger than before.

This episode is an honest portrait of resilience, faith, agriculture, and the people who continue to fight for rural America during unimaginable hardship.

Naomi Loomis Circle L Ranch Western Nebraska

• Nebraska wildfire recovery
• Ranch life during drought
• Livestock emergency management
• Community response after disaster
• Faith and resilience in agriculture
• The hidden costs of wildfire
• Rural mental health and recovery
• The future of family ranching

You can follow Naomi and the ongoing recovery efforts at Circle L Ranch on social media.

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• Facebook: Grit and Grace in the Heartland
• Website: gritandgraceintheheartland.com

In this heartfelt episode of Grit and Grace in the Heartland, Leah and Mary reflect on a whirlwind weekend packed with milestones, emotions, gratitude, and the realities of rural life.

The conversation begins on Nebraska primary election day with a reminder to appreciate poll workers and the importance of civic engagement. Leah shares about daughter Maggie casting her first ballot and the meaningful influence of teachers who encouraged students to register to vote.

The heart of the episode centers around Maggie’s graduation weekend. Leah recounts the joy and overwhelm of hosting a graduation party surrounded by family, neighbors, teachers, and lifelong community members. She reflects on learning to accept help and the blessing of having others step in so she could fully enjoy the celebration.

Graduation day itself was filled with emotional moments. Maggie, named salutatorian of her class, delivered a moving speech centered on kindness, gratitude, and appreciating life’s small moments. One of the most touching moments came when she honored her younger sister Lucy during the speech, bringing tears to nearly everyone in attendance. The ceremony also included a tradition where graduates present flowers to people who impacted their lives, creating another powerful moment of recognition and appreciation.

Leah and Mary discuss the value of humility, kindness, and teaching children to celebrate others. They talk candidly about the importance of giving and receiving compliments gracefully, overcoming scarcity mindsets, and the need to openly encourage and support one another.

The episode also touches on the realities of agricultural life during historic drought conditions. Leah shares honest concerns about the stress farmers and ranchers are carrying, the difficult decisions facing rural families, and the importance of caring for physical and mental health during hard seasons.

In a tender segment, Leah updates listeners about Peaches the barn cat and the loss of her kittens. The discussion turns reflective as they talk about life, death, resilience, and lessons passed down through generations of farming families.

Mary shares updates from her own homestead, including newly planted gardens, greenhouse progress, and the excitement of another growing season beginning.

Throughout the episode, themes of gratitude, resilience, community, motherhood, and finding beauty in both joyful and difficult moments shine through. The conversation closes with excitement about future podcast guests and continuing to share the stories of rural women across America.

• Nebraska primary elections
• Graduation celebrations and family traditions
• Parenting and raising kind children
• Community support in rural towns
• Accepting compliments and generosity
• Farming stress and drought conditions
• Mental health in agriculture
• The loss of Peaches’ kittens
• Gardening and homesteading updates
• Friendship, gratitude, and resilience

• Maggie honoring Lucy during her salutatorian speech
• Graduates presenting flowers to loved ones
• Reflections on scarcity mindset and kindness
• The emotional stories shared at Leah’s nephew’s graduation
• The handcrafted wooden photo backdrop becoming an unexpected hit

“There’s always enough pie. There’s enough goodness. There’s enough clapping to go around.”

“Life happens in the small moments in between.”

“What you put out into the world does come back to you.”

“All worry does is steal tomorrow’s joy.”

Visit Grit and Grace in the Heartland for episodes, updates, and more stories from rural America.

Mary and Leah reflect on graduation season, calving season, and the emotional weight of watching children grow up. Leah shares what it means to celebrate her daughter Maggie’s graduation while balancing ranch life, drought conditions, and family responsibilities. The conversation touches on parenting, marriage, family farms, gratitude, grief, and the importance of showing up for the people you love. They also swap stories about chickens, sweet corn, and the small moments that become lifelong memories.

In this episode of Grit and Grace in the Heartland, Mary and Leah welcome Marilyn Lambert of Silloway Maple in Randolph Center, Vermont. Marilyn shares the story of her family’s maple syrup business, which began in the 1940s, and explains how they sustainably tap 27,000 naturally grown maple trees to produce pure Vermont maple syrup, maple sugar, maple candy, and more.

The conversation covers the maple syrup making process, how weather impacts sap runs, and why different grades of syrup have unique flavors. Marilyn also talks about opening the sugar house to visitors and the importance of helping consumers connect with the people who grow and produce their food.

Beyond maple syrup, the discussion dives into stewardship of the land, rural life, conservation policies, food sourcing, and healthy living. Marilyn shares her personal journey into holistic nutrition and her passion for helping others understand the connection between food, health, and agriculture.

This episode is a warm and thoughtful conversation about preserving traditions, caring for the land, and building stronger connections between farmers and consumers.

Find Marilyn and learn more at Silloway Maple.

Mary and Leah reflect on a gentle, much needed rain and how perspective shapes how we value it, from golfers to farmers. They discuss the importance of stepping outside personal silos to better understand others’ realities.

The conversation shifts to spring on the farm, including crop and tree concerns, and a joyful recap of a daughter’s birthday celebration filled with friendship, gratitude, and simple moments.

They explore traditions like small town baking, cottage food producers, and supporting local businesses, along with a deeper look into cattle management practices such as pelvic measuring and responsible breeding decisions.

A difficult story about livestock loss highlights the realities of animal husbandry and the dangers of mismatched breeding, leading into a broader discussion about social media behavior, online criticism, and the erosion of etiquette.

Mary and Leah emphasize the importance of respect, personal responsibility, and modeling good behavior, both online and in person. They share personal stories about kindness, manners, and raising children with strong values.

The episode takes a serious turn into concerns about artificial intelligence, including misuse of likeness and voice, misinformation, and the potential loss of human judgment and creativity. They question the long term societal impact and the balance between progress and ethics.

The episode closes with reflections on community, upcoming celebrations, and excitement for future podcast guests and stories from women in agriculture.

Topics Covered:

• Perspective and rural versus urban viewpoints
• Spring weather and farming updates
• Celebrations, family, and traditions
• Supporting local food producers
• Cattle health and breeding practices
• Social media culture and etiquette
• AI concerns and ethical challenges
• Community, connection, and storytelling

Planting season is underway and this episode opens with a real time snapshot of spring in the Midwest, from corn going in for next year’s silage to the rollercoaster of rain, frost, and greening fields.

Leah and Mary are joined by Brandy Von Holten, a Missouri based entrepreneur, horsewoman, and self described “shot of whiskey.” Brandy shares her journey from a tough upbringing to competing internationally as a heavyweight fighter, and how that drive for success shaped everything she does today.

The conversation covers:

• Spring planting updates and weather challenges across the region
• Brandy’s path from martial arts and Olympic dreams to life on a ranch
• Discovering horses early in life and returning to them with purpose in her 30s
• Building a multi faceted business including mounted archery, clinics, events, and agritourism
• Creating community through programs like Chicks in the Sticks and Country Tough Trail Versatility
• The realities of running a rural business including insurance, marketing, and wearing all the hats
• Advocacy for women, especially those rediscovering themselves later in life
• Health, strength, and longevity, from ice baths to fitness accountability
• Handling criticism online and creating safe, supportive digital spaces
• The impact of showing up authentically and inspiring others to change their lives

Brandy also shares her passion for writing children’s books with agricultural life lessons, her plans to grow the horse industry in Missouri, and her belief in turning hard chapters into powerful stories.

This episode is a mix of grit, humor, honesty, and motivation for anyone building a life on their own terms.

Find Brandy online at her website and on social media under Brandy Von Holten, author, speaker, instructor.

For more from Leah and Mary, visit gritandgraceandtheheartland.com

Until next time, keep showing up with grit and grace.

Mary and Leah catch up during a hectic spring in the Midwest, sharing updates on unpredictable weather, calving season, and the realities of rural life. They reflect on everything from late snow and drought concerns to the emotional weight of graduation season and shifting family roles.

This episode features a thoughtful conversation with Amy Blum, a South Dakota rancher, writer, and mother of four. Amy shares her journey into agriculture, her transition from nonprofit work to full-time ranch life, and how her role has evolved over the years. She opens up about raising kids in agriculture, preparing them to leave home, and the importance of letting them choose their own paths.

The discussion explores the challenges of multigenerational ranching, caring for aging parents, and navigating identity as both family and business partners. Amy also talks about her writing, how it began as a way to combat isolation, and why storytelling matters in agriculture.

Throughout the episode, themes of community, mental health, resilience, and connection take center stage. The conversation highlights the quiet strength of rural communities and the importance of supporting one another through both hardship and change.

Amy can be found online at The Writing Rancher on Facebook and at thoughtfullyamy.com.

As always, Mary and Leah close with encouragement for listeners in the thick of busy seasons and a reminder to carry both grit and grace.

Leah shares a firsthand update from Nebraska as multiple wildfires impact her community, highlighting the strain on volunteer firefighters, the dangers of extreme conditions, and the importance of rest and support for those on the front lines.

The conversation shifts to a heartfelt reminder of connection and care as Mary reflects on the deep bond formed through the podcast and the emotional weight of hearing about Leah’s experience.

This episode features guest Jessi Grote, founder of Foster Love with Beef. Jessi shares her journey from growing up in South Dakota to building a life ranching in western Nebraska, her path through infertility, and how she and her husband became foster parents.

Jessi explains how Foster Love with Beef began as a simple idea to support foster families with locally raised beef and has grown into a multi-state effort. The program provides beef to families when children enter foster care and during the holidays, offering both practical help and a tangible reminder that these families are supported.

Key themes include:

• The realities of wildfire and rural emergency response
• The power of community and volunteerism
• Foster care challenges and the need for strong support systems
• Agriculture as a way to give back in meaningful, local ways
• Food as nourishment for both body and soul

Jessi also shares how the program operates, its grassroots growth, and how listeners can get involved or support the mission.

Learn more: Foster Love with Beef Website: fosterlovewithbeef.org Email: Facebook

Connect with the podcast: Grit and Grace in the Heartland Website: gritandgraceintheheartland.com

Until next time, keep showing up with grit and grace.