From Pharmacy to Ranching! With Natalie Kovarik

This episode is brought to you by: The Barnyard Language Podcast @Barnyardlanguage !  Stop by and tell them Val sent you!

Guest information: Natalie Kovarik

Find her on her website www.Nataliekovarik.com or Instagram @nataliekovarik

Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode of the Dairy Hour podcast, host Val Lavigne sits down with Natalie Kovarik, a former pharmacist turned cattle rancher and social media influencer. Growing up on a cattle ranch in Montana, Natalie never anticipated leaving her pharmacy career to pursue a life centered around agriculture and online advocacy. Now based in Nebraska, she has successfully built a personal brand that resonates with thousands of followers in the agriculture community.

Natalie shares her unique journey from Montana to Nebraska, the pivotal moments that led her to leave a stable career in pharmacy, and how she leveraged social media to bridge the gap between agriculture and consumers. As co-host of the Discover Ag podcast with Tara Vander Dussen, Natalie talks about how they’ve shifted their focus to discussing trending topics in agriculture, and the importance of staying connected with consumers.

Throughout the episode, Natalie opens up about the challenges she faced, the courage it took to embrace entrepreneurship, and the various ways she has diversified her income—including brand partnerships, YouTube revenue, business retreats, and more. She hopes her story will inspire others in agriculture to be brave and take bold steps toward their passions.

Key Takeaways:

• Natalie Kovarik's roots in Montana's cattle ranching set the stage for her passion for agriculture.
• She transitioned from a career in pharmacy to becoming a social media influencer, sharing her journey and insights with a broad audience.
• The Discover Ag podcast, co-hosted with Tara Vander Dussen, evolved from focusing on social media to discussing current trends in agriculture.
• Natalie emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between agriculture and the general public.
• Diversifying income streams is crucial, with opportunities in brand partnerships, YouTube, events, speaking, online courses, and podcasting.
• Courage and confidence are key to leaving a stable career and pursuing entrepreneurship.
• Natalie’s legacy is one of bravery, inspiring others to take bold steps in their own lives.

Sound Bites:

• "I just didn't realize people were so disconnected from ranching and farming."
• "I really think we should stop with the direct-to-consumer beef business and pivot to a personal brand."
• "Different ways, but again, kind of all centered around that message."
• "We need to keep building stronger bridges as time goes on."
• "There's something very contagious about Tara when you meet her in person."

Chapters:

• 00:00 – Introduction and Background
• 19:01 – Realizing the Disconnect in Agriculture
• 21:34 – Transitioning to a Personal Brand
• 23:23 – Supportive Partners and Taking the Leap
• 24:20 – Navigating the Challenges of Social Media Influencing
• 24:48 – Diversifying Income Streams
• 25:45 – Bridging the Gap
• 26:42 – Meeting Tara and Starting Discover Ag
• 28:07 – Transitioning to Trending Topics
• 35:08 – Leaving Pharmacy and Pursuing Entrepreneurship
• 46:02 – The Power of Bravery

Keywords: Dairy Hour podcast, Natalie Kovarik, cattle ranch, agriculture industry, social media influencer, pharmacy career, personal brand, brand partnerships, YouTube revenue, entrepreneurship, Discover Ag, bravery