Pull Up A Bale with Amber Bristow: Cranberries, Community and Courage
Dairygalval
Now, let’s Pull Up a Bale with Amber Bristow (@cranberrychats) to talk Cranberries, Community and Courage! Amber is a fifth-generation cranberry grower from Wisconsin, and her story about cranberries, community and courage is one that beautifully blends tradition, family, and resilience. In this episode, Amber opens up about life on a cranberry marsh, balancing motherhood while managing a farm, and how social media became her platform for sharing the realities - and the beauty - of agriculture.
This episode of Pull Up a Bale is powered by the 1st American Dairy XPO! Happening November 5th & 6th at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Vermont – grab a free breakfast, tour the 200-company dairy innovation tradeshow, meet Olympian and dairy producer Elle St. Pierre, and take in the Dairy Delivers Classroom. Get full details, discount coupons, and pre-XPO tickets at AmericanDairyXPO.com.
Pull Up a Bale Podcast is hosted by dairy farmer, homeschooling mom, and agvocate Val Lavigne. This podcast invites farmers, ranchers, educators, and everyday rural changemakers to pull up a bale and share what’s really going on, the challenges, the purpose, the grit, and the heart behind the work. From legacy and leadership to motherhood, mental health, and the power of storytelling, this show is a seat at the table for voices that often go unheard — and it’s all about building community through conversation.
Listen to Pull Up a Bale Podcast now on your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube!
Pull Up A Bale with Amber Bristow: Cranberries, Community and Courage
Now, let’s Pull Up a Bale with Amber Bristow (@cranberrychats)! Amber is a fifth-generation cranberry grower from Wisconsin, and her story about cranberries, community and courage is one that beautifully blends tradition, family, and resilience. In this episode, Amber opens up about life on a cranberry marsh, balancing motherhood while managing a farm, and how social media became her platform for sharing the realities—and the beauty—of agriculture.
We dive into the unique challenges of farming alongside family, the importance of mental health awareness in high-stress jobs, and why community support is everything in agriculture. Amber also shares her belief in the value of education and gaining experience beyond the family farm—a lesson every aspiring farmer needs to hear.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to grow cranberries, how to juggle life as a mom and a farmer, or how social media can be used for good in agriculture, this conversation is for you. You’ll also love Amber’s fun facts about animals, her candid advice to young farmers, and her mantra: “Trust the wait.”
Key Takeaways: Social media is a powerful tool for transparency and connection in agriculture. Working with family is rewarding, but not without its challenges. Mental health matters—especially for those who feed the world. Farming isn’t just a job; it’s a legacy worth preserving.
Grab your favorite drink, Pull Up a Bale, and listen in to this real, raw, and inspiring conversation.
Listen now atwww.pullupabale.com or wherever you get your podcasts and don’t forget to subscribe and share with a friend who loves agriculture stories!
Whether you’re in the barn, in the cab, or taking a break between chores, you’ll feel right at home.
Want to start sharing your own ag story? Visit dairygalval.com join the email list and grab Val’s free download: “Top 10 Ideas for Sharing Your Story.”
Stay tuned for new episodes launching soon on your favorite podcast platform!
This episode runs on @WonderCowColostrum! Shop here or use code DAIRYGALVAL to save!
On this week’s episode of the Pull Up A Bale Podcast, host Val Lavigne (@DairyGalVal) sits down with California dairy farmer Justin Leyendekker, known on Instagram as @jfley1287. Justin brings a powerful blend of family legacy, innovation, and agricultural passion to the mic as he shares the story behind his 2,000-cow operation and the meaning behind the memorable name, Hoppy Cows Dairy.
In this episode of Pull Up a Bale Podcast, host Val Lavigne sits down with Samantha Allen to talk Farming, Flowers, Family and Faith. Samantha is the farmer, mom and creative force behind Lane House Florals.
Social media is a powerful tool for transparency and connection in agriculture.
Listen now at www.pullupabale.com or wherever you get your podcasts and don’t forget to subscribe and share with a friend who loves agriculture stories!
Want to start sharing your own ag story? Visit dairygalval.com join the email list and grab Val’s free download: “Top 10 Ideas for Sharing Your Story.”
This episode runs on @WonderCowColostrum! Shop here or use code DAIRYGALVAL to save!
