Finding Strength, Health, and Identity on the Ranch

Spring is slowly arriving across the Heartland, even if cloudy skies and rainy mornings are hiding the sunshine. For ranch families, though, the season moves forward no matter the weather. Calving season has begun, tractors will soon return to the fields, and long days are once again part of daily life.

In this episode of Grit and Grace in the Heartland, Mary and Leah welcome Nebraska rancher Marla Stallbaumer to talk about life on a multi-generation operation, raising a family in agriculture, and rediscovering personal identity along the way.

Marla grew up just outside her hometown and always felt the pull to return after college. Luckily, her husband Curtis shared that same dream. Together they built their life around farming and ranching, merging their family backgrounds of cattle and row crops into one operation.

Like many farm families, their days are full of shifting roles and responsibilities. March is especially intense. Cows that spent the winter on cornstalk fields have been brought closer to home, calving season is beginning, and everyone is on high alert. Heifers, which are first-time mothers, require frequent checks throughout the night, while experienced cows usually handle things on their own. With cameras in the barn and family members covering different groups of cattle, the work becomes a team effort.

Marla and Curtis raised four children, each with their own interests and strengths. Their sons grew up immersed in the operation, though their paths diverged. One followed his analytical mind into engineering, while another returned home with a deep instinct for working with cattle. Their daughters are charting their own agricultural paths as well, one studying ag business and the other interested in precision agriculture.

Watching children grow into their own identities is one of the greatest rewards of farm life, but it also brings important conversations about the future. Multi-generation operations often struggle with transition planning, especially when families avoid difficult discussions about leadership, finances, and succession. As Marla and Leah discuss, open communication is essential. Families must balance love, fairness, and business realities while preparing the next generation.

For Marla, another important realization came during a quiet moment in the pasture. Surrounded by responsibilities as a mother, wife, and ranch partner, she realized she had lost sight of herself. Her health had declined, her stress was mounting, and she knew something had to change.

That moment sparked a personal transformation.

Marla began focusing on nutrition, mindset, and caring for her own well-being. The results were dramatic, not just physically but mentally. She discovered that prioritizing her health allowed her to show up stronger for her family and their operation.

Now she helps others do the same.

Farmers and ranchers often carry enormous stress. Market volatility, long hours, financial pressure, and the weight of family legacy can all take a toll. Many in agriculture neglect their health, skip meals during busy seasons, or delay medical care until problems become severe.

Marla encourages people to start with simple, manageable habits.

Stay hydrated.
Eat regularly throughout the day instead of skipping meals.
Fuel your body with protein and whole foods that support energy and focus.

Small changes, repeated consistently, can make a powerful difference.

Perhaps the most important lesson from Marla’s journey is that caring for yourself is not selfish. Healthy farmers and ranchers are essential to healthy farms and ranches. When people feel stronger physically and mentally, they are better prepared to handle the challenges that agriculture inevitably brings.

Her daughters are already noticing and adopting those habits, proving a simple truth Marla shared during the conversation.

More is caught than taught.

The stories shared in this episode remind us that agriculture is about far more than crops and livestock. It is about families, resilience, identity, and the courage to grow.

And sometimes growth starts with something as simple as taking care of yourself.

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