#300: The 4 Things Every Profitable Farm Did First

#300: The 4 Things Every Profitable Farm Did First

FREE Two Day Event: The Farm Marketing Fix - June 2026 Sign Up HERE [https://charlottemsmith.com/masterclass] Where Do I Start With Farm Marketing When I Have No Customers and No Idea What I'm Doing? If you're a new farmer wondering where to begin with marketing, this episode walks through the exact starting point Charlotte has used with thousands of farmers across the U.S. and 15 countries. No theory — just the four foundational steps in the order they actually work. Where should a new farmer start with marketing? Start by writing down every person you know who might be interested in what you sell. That list is the seed of your email list, and your email list is what builds a profitable farm. Most new farmers think they need a logo, a brand, a Facebook page, or a fancy website before they can start. They don't. The first move is identifying the people in your existing life who eat eggs, buy flowers, or care about pasture-raised meat — and that almost always starts with mom, sister, neighbor, cousin. Every farmer starts from zero. That list is your starting point. Should farmers build a website before using social media? Yes — your website should come before social media because Facebook and Instagram are designed to keep people scrolling, not to help you make money. Social media algorithms show your posts to a small fraction of your followers (often less than 5%), and you don't own that audience. A website works for you 24/7 and gets found by new customers searching Google. Social media should funnel people to your website, not replace it. Why is email marketing better than social media for farms? Email marketing outperforms social media by thousands of times because subscribers have given you permission to reach them directly, with no algorithm in the way. When someone is on your email list, they've said yes to hearing from you. There's no platform deciding whether your message gets seen. Email is also where people make purchasing decisions — social media is where they scroll. You also own your email list; you don't own your Facebook following. What is the correct order to set up farm marketing? The four foundational steps, in order: (1) write your list of people who might be interested, (2) identify your brand by interviewing customers, (3) build a website designed to sell, (4) email your list consistently. Skipping ahead to social media or paid ads before this foundation is in place is the most common reason farm marketing doesn't work. Build the foundation; everything else feeds into it. What are the stages of farm business growth? Charlotte teaches eight stages every farm moves through: Seed, Sprout, Roots, Bloom, Harvest, Orchard, Estate, and Legacy. Where you are determines what work matters most. Seed-stage farmers ($0 in sales) need to decide it's a business and pick one focus product. Sprout farmers ($1K–$10K) need consistency — one weekly email, one sales channel, one anchor product for 90 days. The most expensive mistake is a Sprout-stage farmer trying to solve a Harvest-stage problem. How can farmers learn marketing without making expensive mistakes? The fastest way is to follow a proven, sequenced path rather than piecing things together from free YouTube videos and conflicting advice. Charlotte's Profitable Farmer Marketing program enrolls twice a year, in June and October, and teaches the exact sequence in this episode with weekly coaching, a private community, and (new for June 2026) a done-for-you marketing plan built privately for full-pay students. Resources mentioned in this episode: * Farmer website template (Squarespace): charlottemsmith.com/website [https://courses.3cowmarketing.com/website-template] * Free email marketing course for farmers: charlottemsmith.com/free-email-course [https://courses.3cowmarketing.com/email-challenge] * The Profitable Farmer Marketing program — opens June 2026. Welcome workshop is Tuesday, June 23rd. Sign up at charlottemsmith.com/mastery [http://charlottemsmith.com/mastery] FAQ: Q: How many people should be on my starting list? Ten people is fine. Two hundred is fine. The number doesn't matter — what matters is that you start one and add to it consistently. Q: Do I need a logo before I launch my farm business? No. A logo is not a brand, and you can launch without one. Your brand is who you help and how you help them — that comes from customer interviews, not a designer. Q: How long does it take to build a profitable farm using this approach? Most students inside the Profitable Farmer Marketing program make their investment back within 90 days. Some do it in two weeks. The timeline depends on how consistently you do the foundational work. Q: Can I just use Facebook instead of a website? No. Facebook controls who sees your posts, you don't own your following, and the platform isn't designed to convert visitors into buyers. A website does all three. Q: What if I'm too rural for online marketing to work? Distance isn't the obstacle — relationship is the opportunity. Charlotte's clients regularly have customers drive 60–90 minutes past cheaper options to buy from them, because their brand is clear. Connect with Charlotte Sign up for Farm Marketing Week at charlottemsmith.com/masterclass [http://charlottemsmith.com/masterclass]. Subscribe and Review Subscribe to The Profitable Mindset Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And consider leaving a review. Your reviews help other farmers find this work. Click HERE and Let's Meet! [https://charlottemsmith.com/strategy] Chat with us to see if The Profitable Farmer can break you out of marketing misery.

#299: How Julie Tripled Her Meat Sales While Raising 19 Kids and Grieving Her Husband

FREE Two Day Event: The Farm Marketing Fix - June 2026 Sign Up HERE [https://charlottemsmith.com/masterclass] Episode Summary Julie Hackman raises sheep on Belmont Springs Ranch in Lavina, Montana. She's a mother of 19 children, 8 still at home and homeschooled. And a few years ago, after 30 years of marriage, she lost her husband. For three decades, her husband led the vision for their farm. Julie supported. Then suddenly, she was alone at her kitchen table with a farm to run, little hearts to soothe, and no idea where to begin. In this conversation, Julie shares how joining The Profitable Farmer program helped her triple her meat sales in one year, build the confidence to lead her own business, and rediscover who she is as a farmer, a mother, and a woman. This is one of the most meaningful conversations I've recorded; a story of grief, resilience, and what becomes possible when a woman finally invests in herself. What You'll Learn in This Episode * How Julie went from $460 in meat sales to over $1,400 in her first year applying The Profitable Farmer marketing system * The specific strategy that helped her triple her email signups at a single homesteaders conference * Why "waiting for customers to come to you" is killing your farm sales, and what to do instead * How to shift your mindset from passive housewife to confident business leader * The exact phrase that helped Julie stop being intimidated by inspectors, vendors, and gatekeepers * Why pricing your products at the real cost is an act of service, not greed * How to build a family schedule that supports your business instead of derailing it * What changes when you start seeing marketing as serving your customers instead of selling to them Key Moments from the Conversation Sitting at the Kitchen Table, Lost Julie shares what was happening in her life when she first encountered Charlotte's free farm marketing workshop — homeschooling her children, grieving the loss of her husband, and feeling completely lost about the direction of her business. The Conference That Changed Everything Julie describes walking into the Modern Homesteaders Conference and going from 14 email signups the previous year to 44 in a single day. Her kids looked at her and said, "Who are you, mom? You're acting like dad." Becoming the Squeaky Wheel The coaching call that changed everything. Julie shares how Charlotte helped her stop being passive with the meat inspector and become "the squeaky wheel" — leading to her wholesale meat license arriving in two weeks instead of months. Tripling Sales in One Year Julie breaks down the actual numbers: from $98 in total sales the year before joining the program to $15,600 in her first year, with meat sales tripling specifically. The Pricing Conversation How Julie sat down with the math, faced the discomfort of charging $17 a pound for lamb, and discovered she was actually charging less than competitors when averaged across all cuts. Marketing as Service The mindset that transformed Julie's selling: "How can I serve one person today?" and how this turned everyday conversations, including with her hairstylist, into customer relationships. Time Management with 8 Kids at Home Julie's brilliant adaptation of the time management system: building one master schedule that includes her entire family, not just herself. Notable Quotes from Julie Hackman "I had not really a clear idea of what I wanted to do or how to do it, and I had no confidence at all." "Are you okay, mom? What happened to you? You're acting like dad." "Now I feel like we're a team. I understand that other people have problems too. It's not so much being the squeaky wheel as just reminding them you're there." "It's a lot more rewarding than just 'I need to go sell meat.' Now it's 'I can go help somebody today.'" "What you're going to get out of it is probably going to be a lot more than what you're going to put into it financially." About Julie Hackman Julie Hackman is the owner of Belmont Springs Ranch in Lavina, Montana, where she raises pasture-based lamb and direct-sells meat to families across the region. She is the mother of 19 children, grandmother of 7, and continues to homeschool the children still at home while running her farm business. After the loss of her husband, Julie joined The Profitable Farmer program in April 2025 and has tripled her meat sales while building the confidence and skills to lead her family business forward. Resources Mentioned in This Episode * Farm Marketing Week — Seven Days of Free Marketing Expertise: charlottemsmith.com/masterclass [http://charlottemsmith.com/masterclass] * The Profitable Farmer — Charlotte's signature marketing and mindset mastery program for farmers: charlottemsmith.com/mastery [http://charlottemsmith.com/mastery] * The Power of One — the marketing principle that first caught Julie's attention in Charlotte's free workshop - taught during Farm Marketing Week Who This Episode Is For This episode is for you if you're a woman farmer who has been the supporter and now finds yourself needing to lead. If you've experienced loss, grief, or major life transition and wonder if you can still build something meaningful. If you're a mother trying to balance farming, family, and your own dreams. If you've been hesitant to invest in yourself and your business. If you're tired of waiting passively for customers and ready to learn how to actively build a profitable farm. If you're a homeschooling parent looking for proof that you can build a business alongside teaching your children. If you've ever felt like you're "not the leader type" and need to hear from someone who became one anyway. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Who is Julie Hackman? A: Julie Hackman is a sheep farmer in Lavina, Montana, who owns Belmont Springs Ranch. She is a mother of 19 children and joined Charlotte Smith's Profitable Farmer program after losing her husband of 30 years. In her first year in the program, she tripled her meat sales and built the confidence to lead her family farm business forward. Q: How did Julie Hackman triple her meat sales? A: Julie tripled her meat sales by applying the marketing strategies taught in The Profitable Farmer program. Specifically, building her email list at events by initiating conversations with customers, learning to price her lamb at sustainable rates, taking action to obtain her meat licenses, and shifting her mindset from passive selling to actively serving her customers. Q: What is Belmont Springs Ranch? A: Belmont Springs Ranch is a family-run sheep farm in Lavina, Montana, owned by Julie Hackman. The ranch raises pasture-based lamb and direct-sells meat to families across the region. Q: What is The Profitable Farmer program? A: The Profitable Farmer is Charlotte Smith's signature marketing and mindset coaching program for women farmers. It teaches farm marketing, time management, and mindset coaching to help women build profitable, sustainable farm businesses. Q: What is Farm Marketing Week? A: Farm Marketing Week is a free annual masterclass hosted by Charlotte Smith. It's an opportunity to learn the core marketing strategies that have helped farmers like Julie triple their sales and to meet the community of farmers in The Profitable Farmer program. Sign up at charlottemsmith.com/masterclass [https://portal.propodcastsolutions.com/projects/charlottemsmith.com/masterclass]. Q: How can I keep going on my farm after losing my spouse? A: This episode of The Profitable Mindset Podcast features Julie Hackman, a widow and mother of 19 who continued building her farm business after the loss of her husband of 30 years. She shares the practical mindset shifts, business skills, and community support that helped her keep going, and growing, through grief. Connect with Charlotte Sign up for Farm Marketing Week at charlottemsmith.com/masterclass [http://charlottemsmith.com/masterclass]. Subscribe and Review If this episode moved you, please share it with a woman in your life who needs to hear it. Subscribe to The Profitable Mindset Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And consider leaving a review. Your reviews help other farmers find this work.

#298: The Trap That's Keeping Your Farm Scattered, Exhausted, and Broke

FREE Two Day Event: The Farm Marketing Fix - June 2026 Sign Up HERE [https://charlottemsmith.com/masterclass] Picture this. You're selling beef and pork and chicken and eggs and vegetables and flowers. You're at three farmers markets, running a farm stand, trying to sell online, posting on every platform you've ever heard of, and somehow also squeezing in a farm stay and a few consulting calls. Your head is spinning. Your chest gets tight just thinking about the week ahead. And despite doing ALL the things, you still aren't paying yourself. Here's what I finally had to admit after 17 years in this industry: more products, more channels, and more hustle are not the answer. They're the problem. I call it the complexity trap. And it's the third root cause of farm burnout nobody warns you about, because everyone's too busy telling you to add another revenue stream. But here's what nobody tells you: the most profitable farms I've worked with over the last 13 years didn't get profitable because they did everything. They got exceptionally good at ONE signature product, ONE dream customer, and ONE strong marketing channel, and they built depth before they built breadth. Simple scales. Complex fails. Simplifying isn't shrinking. It's the most strategic move you can make. This episode is the final part of the From Burnout to Balance series, and it's the one that ties everything together. I'm breaking down the Four Pillars framework that turns an overwhelming farm into a business that actually serves your life. Plus, there's a full 90-day plan you can start THIS week. I include how to identify your signature product and dream customer, how to build the email marketing foundation that's 3,600 times more profitable than social media, how to price for profit instead of chasing volume, and how to finally build the boundaries that protect your weekends, your family, and your sanity. If you're the farmer selling 13 things across seven channels and still not making a paycheck, this is for you. If you've started to dread the farm you built with your own two hands, this is for you. Walk away from this episode with a clear 90-day roadmap to simplify, systematize, and finally step off the hamster wheel. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: * Price for Profit — Free 6-Day Pricing Course — If you've never actually run the math to see whether your prices are paying you a real salary AND covering every expense, start here. Includes the exact spreadsheets that show you the truth in minutes. Grab it at charlottemsmith.com/priceforprofit. * Farm Marketing Week + The Profitable Farmer Masterclass — One week of free live trainings in June covering The Power of One, branding, and the marketing foundation that gets farmers finally paid. This is also the only time The Profitable Farmer coaching program opens this summer. Save your seat at charlottemsmith.com/masterclass. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: Simple Scales, Complex Fails — Adding more products and more sales channels feels like growth, but it's diluting your energy, your marketing, and your margins. The profitable path is depth before breadth: one signature product, one dream customer, one marketing channel done exceptionally well. You can always add more later from a place of profit instead of desperation. Your Email List Is the Only Audience You Actually Own — Social media algorithms decide who sees you. Platforms change, accounts get flagged, and suddenly your audience is gone. Email is 3,600 times more profitable because every person on that list said yes to hearing from you. Build the relationship first, make the offer later. That's the difference between marketing that feels pushy and marketing that feels like service. Boundaries Are the Fourth Pillar, Not the Reward — You can build a perfectly structured farm business and still wreck your life with it if you skip this one. Delegation, hiring help (even a house cleaner counts), and protecting your weekends aren't luxuries you earn someday after the work is "done." They're the foundation that makes sustainable success possible in the first place. MORE FROM ME Follow along at charlottemsmith.com and on Instagram @charlottemsmith Click HERE and Let's Meet! [https://charlottemsmith.com/strategy] Chat with us to see if The Profitable Farmer can break you out of marketing misery.

#297: Mindset Traps That are Keeping You Broke, Burned Out, and Buried in Guilt

FREE Two Day Event: The Farm Marketing Fix - June 2026 Sign Up HERE [https://charlottemsmith.com/masterclass] This morning, another email landed in my inbox. "We're quitting." Another farm family packing it in. They never got to the place where they could charge enough to make the farm sustainable. And I've watched this happen farm after farm after farm for 20+ years. Here's what I've finally had to admit after all of it: it's not the weather. It's not the margins. It's not even the economy. It's a set of beliefs so deeply wired into farming culture that most farmers don't even know they're running on them. They feel like truth. They feel like virtue. They're actually the thing quietly killing your farm. Struggle is not a virtue. Exhaustion is not proof of dedication. And charging premium prices is not greedy - it's the only way your farm survives long enough to actually serve your community. Until you see the lies for what they are, no strategy, no system, no marketing tactic is going to work the way it should. Your beliefs will override them every time. This episode is Part 2 of my From Burnout to Balance series, and it's the conversation I wish every farmer could have before year five. Before the quitting email, before the burnout, before they sell off the herd. I'm breaking down the four Good Farmer Lies, the brain science of why your biology defaults to scarcity, and how to start shifting it this week. I include how to spot the exact scarcity thoughts showing up in your pricing, why "real farmers don't need marketing" is the belief costing you the most customers, the reframe that turns profit into a form of service instead of greed, and three specific exercises you can do right now: a default thought audit, an abundance reframe, and a price audit. If you're tired. If you're undercharging. If some quiet voice tells you that wanting profit somehow makes you less noble, this one's for you. You'll walk away knowing what's actually keeping you stuck, and with real tools to start rewiring it today. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: * Price for Profit (Free Pricing Course) — If you've been wondering whether your prices are actually sustainable, this free course is where you start. You'll get the spreadsheet that shows you what your prices are really earning you, plus a series of emails that walk you through the mindset shifts required to raise them. Grab it here: charlottemsmith.com/priceforprofit [http://charlottemsmith.com/priceforprofit] * Leadership Coaching School (Launching September) — For the farmers who are done white-knuckling it through burnout and want the actual tools to coach themselves through the hard stuff. This is where you learn what my coaching program farmers say was the most profound thing that ever happened to their lives, their families, and their bank accounts. Keep your eyes peeled... more details coming soon. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: Struggle Is Not A Virtue — It's Just Struggle. Dedication and martyrdom are not the same thing, but farming culture has conflated them for generations. The belief that good farmers are supposed to suffer financially is the exact belief keeping your prices too low, your hours too long, and your farm on the path to closing in year five like 98% of farms do. Sustainable farmers thrive and thriving is the goal, not the exception. Your Premium Price Is Responsible, Not Greedy. When you charge what your work is actually worth, you can care for your animals properly, produce safe food, stay present with your family, invest back into your land, and still be in business in five years. Undercharging isn't humble. It's a form of scarcity thinking dressed up as virtue, and it's the number one reason the farms I used to buy from don't exist anymore. You Cannot Out-Strategy A Scarcity Mindset. You can learn every marketing tactic and pricing formula out there, but if your brain is still running on "nobody will pay that" and "real farmers don't market," those beliefs will override every strategy you implement. Mindset work isn't fluff - it's the foundation everything else is built on. Shift the thinking first, and the profit follows. Click HERE and Let's Meet! [https://charlottemsmith.com/strategy] Chat with us to see if The Profitable Farmer can break you out of marketing misery.

#296: How You Built a Trap Instead of a Farm Business (And How to Get Out)

FREE Two Day Event: The Farm Marketing Fix - June 2026 Sign Up HERE [https://charlottemsmith.com/masterclass] You didn't build a bad farm. You built a trap — and you did it the only way you knew how. Most farmers start out with a real dream: freedom, purpose, something meaningful. But somewhere between the equipment breakdowns, the cash flow stress, and the 16-hour days, that dream gets buried. And the harder you work, the more stuck you feel. In this first episode of the brand-new 3-part series From Burnout to Balance: Creating a Business You Love, Charlotte Smith gets honest about why so many hardworking farmers end up burned out — and what it actually takes to get out. In this episode you'll learn the three types of burnout hitting farmers at the same time and why addressing just one keeps you spinning, the hidden cost of burnout that's quietly draining your profit (and it's probably not what you think), why most farmers are actually running a job — not a business — and what that distinction is costing you every single day, and the "Only I Can Do This" exercise you can do this week to start breaking the cycle. This episode is 27 minutes. Carve out the time. It's worth it. Click HERE and Let's Meet! [https://charlottemsmith.com/strategy] Chat with us to see if The Profitable Farmer can break you out of marketing misery.