195. Aaron Bradley on Culture Building and Sustainable Farming

How do you measure success on your farm? Today’s guest focuses on quality of life, building relationships, and efficiency in their farm business. Today on the podcast, we are hosting Aaron Bradley, Co-owner and Operator of Colfax Creek Farm, located in Bostic, North Carolina. Colfax Creek Farm was founded in 1901, and is currently comprised of fifth generation farmers. The farm’s mission is to raise the finest 100% grass-fed beef, pastured pork, and pasture raised poultry all while focusing on producing healthy foods, raising happy animals, and caring for the land. Listen to how Aaron and his wife keep this historic enterprise thriving! You’ll hear:  Aaron’s farming background 1:16 The characteristics Aaron looks for in a farm 15:06 The first changes Aaron made to the farm 17:56 The different enterprises Colfax Creek has on the farm 21:17 How Aaron built and maintains a good team 32:36 How Aaron unifies the team behind the vision of the farm 37:54 The profit share methods Colfax Creek is working on 41:25 How Aaron goes about marketing for the farm 45:19 Aaron’s favorite farming tool 55:02 Aaron’s advice for a new farmer 1.01:33 About the Guest: Aaron Bradley is a fifth generation farmer and the co-owner of Colfax Creek Farm and Colfax Creek Meat Co. He is passionate about making meaningful change in both our food and farming systems by learning beside, and educating both consumers and farmers.  Resources: Website: www.colfaxcreekfarm.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colfaxcreekfarm/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colfaxcreekfarm/    The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! At Agrigro, we know that in today’s modern agriculture, our efforts can deplete life or add life. When you look for ways to add life, it’s sustainable and makes everything work better. The result is enhanced plant and soil health for crops, gardens, and turf, as well as improved animal health and environment for livestock and wildlife. Our products are all-natural, easy to use, and friendly to the soil, the plant, as well as the grower. AgriGro’s® formulations deliver essential plant nutrition along with an advanced prebiotic concentrate, which significantly increases the multitude of beneficial native microbial species already residing in the production environment. Through these environmentally sound technologies, we’re adding life to crop production, livestock, home, turf, and wildlife markets. You don’t have to be dependent on crop production efforts that deplete life… Just Add Life with AgriGro®.

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If you’re looking to build a profitable farm that works, The Thriving Farmer Podcast is for you. Learn the latest tricks and strategies from successful farmers, strategize with in-depth interviews with leaders in the industry, and connect with stories of farmers just like you. With over 15 years of farming background, your host Michael Kilpatrick has the experience and authority to bring you practical advice, ask the hard questions, tease out the gold nuggets, and help share what it’s really like to build a truly profitable, sustainable farm. In the interviews, we focus on building farms that last, setting up your systems, knowing your customers, building your team, and treading that ever-challenging work/family/life balance.