Episode 19

full
Published on:

9th Jan 2025

Raising Five Kids & Dexters in Northern Arizona with Shohni Christensen

In this engaging conversation, Shohni Christensen shares her journey of transitioning from a suburban lifestyle to running a farm in Arizona with her husband and five children. The discussion covers the challenges of raising livestock, the dynamics of parenting, and the integration of homeschooling with farm life. Shawnee emphasizes the importance of community support, learning through experience, and the chaotic yet rewarding nature of managing a family and a farm. In this engaging conversation, Shohni from KB Farm & Pantry shares her experiences of parenting while managing a farm. The discussion covers the challenges and joys of raising children in a farming environment, the importance of community support through 4-H, and the valuable lessons learned from showing animals. Shohni emphasizes the significance of patience, teamwork, and the shared learning experiences that come with farm life. The conversation also touches on the struggles of parenting teenagers and the need for open communication and understanding within the family.

Follow Shohni and her family Online Below

We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air.

 You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch.

If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

Takeaways

  • Shohni has five kids and raises various livestock.
  • The farm is named after her kids' initials: K and B.
  • Farming in Arizona presents unique challenges, especially regarding water rights.
  • Predators like coyotes and wolves pose significant threats to livestock.
  • Shohni and her family jumped into agriculture without prior experience.
  • Community support and friendships have been crucial for learning.
  • Homeschooling allows flexibility for the kids to engage with farm life.
  • The family works together to manage the farm and homeschooling.
  • Shohni describes her life as a 'hot mess' but embraces the chaos.
  • Parenting multiple children close in age creates a unique dynamic. Building a supportive community is crucial for new farmers.
  • Showing animals teaches kids valuable life skills.
  • Patience is essential in both parenting and farming.
  • Learning together strengthens family bonds.
  • 4-H provides a welcoming environment for beginners.
  • It's important to set realistic expectations for kids in competitions.
  • Older kids can be great mentors for younger ones in 4-H.
  • Farm life offers unique learning experiences for children.
  • Open communication is key to resolving parenting challenges.
  • Finding joy in the process is more important than winning.

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction to Shohni and Her Farm
  • 03:03 The Dynamics of Raising Kids and Livestock
  • 05:52 Challenges of Farming in Arizona
  • 08:49 Predator Issues and Animal Safety
  • 12:00 Transitioning into Agriculture
  • 15:01 Learning Through Experience
  • 17:55 Involvement of Kids in Farming
  • 20:57 Homeschooling and Farming Synergy
  • 24:10 Balancing Family Life and Farming
  • 26:50 Reflections on Parenting and Chaos
  • 33:26 Navigating Parenthood and Farm Life
  • 34:41 Building Community Through 4-H
  • 37:51 The Joys and Challenges of Showing Animals
  • 39:12 Learning Together: Kids and Farm Responsibilities
  • 51:30 Parenting Struggles on the Farm
  • 54:59 Finding Balance and Patience in Parenting
  • 58:34 Cussing and Discussing: Real Life Challenges
Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Barnyard Language

About the Podcast

Barnyard Language
Real talk about running farms and raising families.
Real talk about running farms and raising families. Whether your farm is a raised bed in your backyard or 10,000 acres and whether your family is in the planning stages or you've got 12 kids, we're glad you found us!

No sales, no religious conversion, no drama. Just honest talk from two mamas who know what it's like when everyone is telling you to just get all your meals delivered and do all your shopping online, but your internet is too slow and you've got cows to feed.

About your host

Profile picture for Caithlin Palmer

Caithlin Palmer