#45 – Curtis Mahnken and Eric Zirbes (USMC)

We are thrilled to announce a partnership with Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) and the Vets In Ag Podcast! This is the first episode in a three-part series which showcases partnerships between FVC and organizations offering programs in agriculture tailored for military veterans. We will interview stakeholders within the organization as well as military veterans who participated in its programs.

Our first episode features Curtis Mahnken, an Extension Economist with the Center for Farm Financial Management (CFFM) at the University of Minnesota and Eric Zirbes, a Marine Corps veteran, 5th generation farmer, and owner/operator at Zirbes Family Farms in Melrose, Minnesota.

In this episode, we cover everything from transitioning farm records from pen and paper to digital to how to find niche markets for products based on market trends and your own personal passions.

For more information about the Center for Farm Financial Management’s Virtual Business Management Program, contact Curtis Mahnken at [email protected] or visit https://z.umn.edu/VFBM-Interest. The pilot program is available virtually to qualified veterans and members of Farmer Veteran Coalition for only $100.

Eric Zirbes and the Zirbes Family Farms beef can be found on Facebook or online at www.ez5angusbeef.com.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Agreement No. 2022-70416-37277.