From the fertile fields of Aurelia, Iowa, Tanner Winterhof has emerged as a steadfast advocate for farmers, amplifying their voices and empowering them through education and innovation. As a content creator and co-host for the “Farm4Profit Podcast,” he’s dedicated his career to providing farmers with the knowledge, resources, and support they need to navigate the challenges of modern agriculture. With a deep-rooted passion for the land and a commitment to sustainable practices, Winterhof is reshaping the narrative surrounding farming and fostering a sense of community within the agricultural space.
Tanner Winterhof’s journey in agriculture began on a swine and row-crop farm in northwest Iowa, where he developed a profound connection to the land and a firsthand understanding of the trials and triumphs of farming. These early experiences instilled in him a deep appreciation for the hard work, resilience, and dedication required to sustain a successful farm. This personal connection to agriculture fuels his unwavering commitment to supporting farmers and promoting their stories.
Recognizing the need for a platform to educate and engage with farmers, Tanner Winterhof co-founded Farm4Profit LLC in December 2014. The “Farm4Profit Podcast” quickly emerged as a powerful tool for education and empowerment, providing farmers with valuable insights, practical strategies, and a sense of community. Through engaging interviews with industry experts and thought leaders, Winterhof and his team tackle a wide range of topics, from financial management and business strategies to sustainable practices and emerging technologies.
Tanner Winterhof’s podcast is rooted in his belief that farmers deserve access to reliable information and a supportive network. By curating a diverse lineup of guests and fostering open and honest conversations, he creates a space where farmers can learn from one another, share their experiences, and find inspiration. The “Farm4Profit Podcast” serves as a beacon of knowledge and a catalyst for positive change within the agricultural community.
At the heart of Tanner Winterhof’s mission is the drive to help farmers achieve profitability while embracing sustainable practices. Through the “Farm4Profit Podcast,” he shares practical tips and strategies that empower farmers to make informed decisions and adapt to the ever-changing agricultural landscape. From financial management and market analysis to soil health and conservation practices, Winterhof equips farmers with the tools they need to thrive in a competitive industry.
Tanner Winterhof recognizes that sustainability isn’t just an environmental imperative, but also a key component of long-term profitability. By highlighting success stories and innovative approaches, he inspires farmers to adopt sustainable practices that benefit both their bottom line and the health of the land. Through his advocacy for sustainable agriculture, Winterhof is reshaping the narrative surrounding farming and promoting a more holistic and responsible approach to food production.
Beyond his work on the “Farm4Profit Podcast,” Tanner Winterhof actively engages with the agricultural community, fostering collaboration and the sharing of knowledge. He understands the power of community and the importance of building strong networks within the industry. Through participation in leadership development programs and board service, Winterhof cultivates connections and leverages his expertise to contribute to the growth and development of organizations dedicated to supporting farmers.
Tanner Winterhof’s commitment to community engagement extends to his listeners as well. He actively seeks feedback and input from his audience, ensuring that the “Farm4Profit Podcast” remains a valuable resource that addresses the needs and concerns of farmers. By fostering a sense of belonging and creating a space for dialogue, he encourages farmers to share their stories, challenges, and successes, creating a supportive community that transcends geographical boundaries.
With his commitment to education, sustainability, and community engagement, Tanner Winterhof is reshaping the narrative surrounding farming and empowering farmers to navigate the challenges of modern agriculture with confidence and resilience.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Typically, it starts off with getting an early start on emails or quick business responses before breakfast. Our kids then wake up and we make sure they get off to school. After the house is empty, the day becomes anything but typical. Sometimes it begins with partner phone calls and Zoom meetings, while other days I can be found on the farm. Either way, the mornings typically are reserved for virtual meetings, phone calls, or exploratory thinking while completing farming tasks. Each day sees its fair share of multitasking to keep the business and family farming operation both running at the same time. As the evening approaches we do our best to all have supper together as a family and tackle whatever comes our way together.
How do you bring ideas to life?
They usually start off by getting shared with my wife or close friends. This can be used as a gauge of “realness.” After the initial step of vetting, I can reach out to a network of professionals or audience members to receive feedback on improvements. Once the feedback has been received, I just have to muster up the faith to go after the creation practice and make it happen!
What’s one trend that excites you?
Companies looking to use more micro-influencers to deliver their brand message. Rather than using professional actors, actually using semifamous people who actually use their product or service to tell their story. This provides some valuable insight and spreads the wealth around a little more.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Creating and maintaining to-do lists. By keeping the lists organized and up to date, I can quickly see which tasks are the highest priority and complete those first. It also gives a feeling of self-accomplishment when checking tasks off the list.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Slow down and be thorough with your actions. Sometimes I can get caught up in working quickly to try and exceed expectations, while completing in a more thorough manner would still exceed expectations in a quality-versus-quantity measurement.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
That there is such a feeling of having a fear of falling rather than a fear of heights. If one can be comfortable at high places while having their feet on a firm platform or proper restraints, then they are not afraid of heights. However, if they are on a slippery or moving surface, they can have a fear of falling.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Say the word “what” after someone makes a comment or asks you a question. This will prompt them to repeat what they just said, which gives you the opportunity to think twice as long for a quality response or answer. This is especially important while talking with a spouse in a position in which you wish not to upset them.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
This is something I could use more work on. Sometimes I become quiet and unable to perform. This is when I revert back to my to-do list and what I had deemed a priority previously. Sometimes you have to be able to ask for help. Help can come in the form of identifying priorities, delegating tasks, or in other fashions.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Our company takes a multiple-pronged approach to obtaining new customers. We, of course, like referrals as the No. 1 source of any new customers. Referral customers are typically much easier to convert from prospect into customer due to the positive influence they’ve had from another one of our great clients. However, sometimes we as a company get discovered through our social media or other media platforms from companies that want to work with us. Those organic leads are certainly nice because they already are interested in the services that we provide. We also do a little bit of advertising to try to catch the attention of other potential clients. They are a little bit more difficult to convert but are still looking for the service. Otherwise, the advertising wouldn’t have caught their attention to begin with. We also will identify through strategic meetings, internal companies, or businesses that we want to work with when a new customer is acquired through cold-calling and solicitation, it feels much more rewarding. However, it is the least cost-effective way to obtain a new client. All in all, it is essential for our business to utilize a mixture of all those methods of acquiring new clients or partners as we continue to build our company.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Working with micro-influencers as an agent or sales team. Most are busy creating their content, which started as a hobby, and don’t have the time to build proposals. Create a firm that works with these individuals to help them with marketing packages, proposal packets, lead tracking, invoicing, and follow-ups.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Working with micro-influencers as an agent or sales team. Most are busy creating their content, which started as a hobby, and don’t have the time to build proposals. Create a firm that works with these individuals to help them with marketing packages, proposal packets, lead tracking, invoicing, and follow-ups.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
The Google Sheets program is a main source of organization of tasks for me. This allows me to budget, schedule, organize, and delegate to other team members all while tracking the changes and enhancements. Not to mention it’s a free resource for those to use. To-do lists, schedules, quotes, billing, etc., can all be included.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
“The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast.” Craig does a good job of being able to relate his experiences as a leader of a very large church and communicate to you how you can be a better leader. He does a good job of repeating important messages and keeping his episodes short for effective consumption. Then, if you subscribe, he will also share his leadership guide, which will help implement the messages in his shows.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Lioness. I don’t typically watch TV outside of sports. This show has the ability to command attention and distract me from whatever else was happening that day.
Key learnings
- Effective Time Management: Creating and maintaining organized to-do lists is a fundamental habit for productivity. Prioritizing tasks based on urgency allows for a focused and efficient workday.
- Innovative Communication Strategy: Utilizing the word “what” after someone speaks prompts them to repeat their statement, providing more time for thoughtful responses. This simple communication strategy enhances dialogue, especially in sensitive situations.
- Diverse Customer Acquisition: Embracing a multipronged approach to customer acquisition — including referrals, organic leads through social media, advertising, and strategic meetings — is crucial for sustained business growth.
- Balancing Quality and Quantity: The advice to slow down and be thorough, even when working quickly, emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity. Taking the time to deliver a thorough job ultimately exceeds expectations.