GROUNDBREAKERS: Stories Of Rural Innovation!

Smarter by Design: Building Better Cattle Flow with Larry Deges

“Good cattle flow doesn’t happen by accident. It’s designed that way.” This episode is both a masterclass in facility design and a story of evolution — how Larry’s years in feedyard design and his work with dealers across the U.S. have shaped smarter, more efficient systems for ranchers of every size.
 
Key Message:
* Scaling wisdom down — how feedyard design shapes small-system efficiency.
* The core of the episode — designing for behavior, not blueprints.
* Lessons learned the hard way — and what made them stick.
* Innovation meets instinct.
 
Great Quotes:
“Every bad design starts with someone guessing how cattle move.”“You’ve got to walk the ground before you ever draw a line.”“CattleLine™ was built to make good design more accessible — not to replace it.”
 
 
 

Smarter by the Yard

This episode explores how MJE is using its 450+ piece heavy equipment fleet to learn, train, and improve performance on real-world jobsites — with an emphasis on operator development, data-informed decision making, and field-tested changes that drive safety and cost savings. But it’s not just a highlight reel: Ryan opens up about what’s been tough, what we’re still figuring out, and what others in the industry can learn from our experience.
Key Messages
The Smarter by the Yard campaign isn’t about fancy tech — it’s about usable insight.
We’ve made mistakes, found inefficiencies, and learned a lot the hard way.
Our operator training system is practical, structured, and focused on safety first.
We’re building tools and processes others can learn from — even if they’re starting small.
Transparency matters — we’re still improving, and we don’t have it all figured out.
https://mjellc.net/why-we-test-a-better-way-to-build-smarter-by-the-yard-mje/ 
 
https://mjellc.net/careers/ 
 
 

Built To Serve: Western Ranch Supply's Legacy of Grit, Growth, and Staying Connected Across the Miles

On this episode of Groundbreakers: Stories of Rural Innovation, we sit down with Joe Carl, Sales Manager at Western Ranch Supply.    
During today's episode, they will discuss how communication, trust and relationships drive innovation - even across hundreds of miles of rural landscape.
 
In our conversation, Joe will share about:
Building the Business:  The Roots of Western Ranch Store
Joe's Carl's Role:  Working Across the Map
The MJE Partnership: Communication that Works
Business That Lasts:  Why Communication Is a Competitive Advantage
They will wrap things up with discussing Western Ranch Supply investing in the next generation and what is ahead for Western Ranch Supply.
 
This was an exciting and fun conversation, and we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did.

Leading with Care: Animal Welfare, Mentorship, and Industry Insite with Dr. Dave Sjeklocha

On this episode of Groundbreakers: Stories of Rural Innovation, we sit down with Dr. Dave Sjeklocha, DVM, a respected veterinarian, consultant, and President of AABP.  He was recognized as Consultant of the Year by the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and Zoetis.  
During today's episode, they will cover everything from animal care and the evolution of the industry to rural mentorship and cattle care innovation.
 
In our conversation, Dr. Sjeklocha will share about:
A Life in Livestock and Veterinary Practice
Mentorship & Legacy in the Livestock Industry
Animal Welfare in Practice - no Just Theory
Innovation & the Future of Cattle Care
They will wrap things up with discussing Dr. Sjeklocha's "why" behind the work he has done all these years and the on principle that helped guide his career in veterinary consulting.
 
This was an exciting and fun conversation, and we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did.

Building the Future: Meet the EntreManure: Aaron Jantz

On this episode of Groundbreakers: Stories of Rural Innovation, we sit down with our fearless leader, Aaron Jantz, CEO, to learn more about his journey from a kid answering phones on a party line to leading one of the Midwest’s most trusted agricultural construction companies.
Aaron opens up about growing up in the business his father, Max Jantz, built from scratch—recalling summer days spent in a skid loader, drilling post holes at just 12 years old. That early hands-on experience now shapes his leadership style, as he guides MJE’s teams to build smarter, cleaner, and stronger cattle facilities, dairies, and feedyards.
In this candid conversation, Aaron shares:
How MJE designs feedyards and dairies for maximum manure capture
What it takes to balance tradition with innovation in rural construction
Why concrete isn’t forever—and how to pour smarter
What RCC (Roller Compacted Concrete) could mean for the future of livestock facilities
The secret to retaining top talent in a tough industry
With insights into digester technology, regulatory pressures, and the power of trust in leadership, Aaron offers a masterclass in forward-thinking construction—all while staying true to the values that built MJE from the ground up.

Groundbreakers Host Ethan Cantrell is Joined by Jill Wahl, Lead Estimator at MJE & Marketing Director for Channeling Hope Foundation

Welcome to the Groundbreakers Podcast, where innovation meets agriculture. Hosted by Ethan Cantrell, Groundbreakers brings you captivating stories from the agricultural sector, focusing on the high plains and beyond.  Today Ethan sits down with Lead Estimator for MJE, Jill Wahl.  Ethan and Jill will talk about her background and how she ended up at MJE.  Jill will share with you what a Lead Estimator does at MJE and some of the factors they consider when working on an estimate for a project.  Ethan and Jill will both discuss their appreciation for MJE's family-based model for their employees and the support they give to their employees and their communities.  Jill will also share her passion for the Channeling Hope Foundation serving as the Marketing and Communications Director.  This was an awesome episode to be a part of and we hope you enjoy it.

Groundbreakers Host Ethan Cantrell is Joined by Former Bullfighter "Lightning" Larry Deges

Welcome to the Groundbreakers Podcast, where innovation meets agriculture. Hosted by Ethan Cantrell, Groundbreakers brings you captivating stories from the agricultural sector, focusing on the high plains and beyond.  today Ethan sits down with Larry Deges, affectionately known as "Lighning Larry."  Ethan and Larry will take a trip through Larry's upbringing and how he found his way into the rodeo world and the lessons he learned from the ring. The two guys will then transition to a more serious note and Larry's expertise in customized cattle working facilities and life as a Family Man.  As expected, when you have a former bullfighter there is plenty of excitement in this episode and we hope you enjoy it.

Host Ethan Cantell is Joined by Bradley Burchfield with OKBrand Fencing Products to Talk About Your Fencing Needs

Welcome to the Groundbreakers Podcast, where innovation meets agriculture. Hosted by Ethan Cantrell, Groundbreakers brings you captivating stories from the agricultural sector, focusing on the high plains and beyond.  today Ethan sits down with Bradley Burchfield with OKBrand Fencing Products to discuss all your fencing needs.  These two talk about everything from the biggest challenges facing ranchers today; to the role that trust and reliability play in maintaining strong relationships.  They will wrap up the episode by sharing some advice they would give ranchers looking to maximize the value of their fencing investment.  We hope you enjoy the episode.

Ethan Cantrell is Joined by Special Guest Dr. Audrey King to Discuss how to Bridge Communication in Agriculture

Welcome to the Groundbreakers Podcast, where innovation meets agriculture. Hosted by Ethan Cantrell, Groundbreakers brings you captivating stories from the agricultural sector, focusing on the high plains and beyond. Joining Ethan today is Dr. Audrey King, an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Communications at Oklahoma State University.  Ethan and Dr. King will start the episode by going back to Dr. King's roots and her connection to MJE's hometown.  She will also discuss how social networking and branding work and how that can improve public perception in the Ag industry.  She will close the episode by summarizing insights on communication, public perception, and rural renewal.  We hope you enjoy the episode.

Ethan is Joined by Dr. Tera Barnhardt to Talk About Diverse Representation and More!

Welcome to the Groundbreakers Podcast, where innovation meets agriculture. Hosted by Ethan Cantrell, Groundbreakers brings you captivating stories from the agricultural sector, focusing on the high plains and beyond. Joining Ethan today is Dr. Tera Barnhardt, a Veterinarian and Social Media Influencer.  Ethan and Dr. Barnhardt will open the podcast by discussing Dr. Barnhardt's background and what it's like navigating a Male-Dominated industry.  They will also cover the Importance of Diverse Representation in Agriculture and how she manages the work/family life balance.  Dr. Barnhardt will close the issue by sharing the impact of social media and sustainable innovation in the cattle industry.  We hope you enjoy the episode.