The Back 40 is where I share thoughts on leadership, communication, and the real conversations shaping agriculture today.

Just like the back 40 acres of a farm is often where the real work happens, this space is meant for honest perspective, lessons learned, and practical insights for those navigating leadership in agriculture.

My hope is that what you find here encourages thoughtful dialogue, stronger teams, and more confident voices across our industry. And if something you read sparks an idea, a question, or a conversation you’ve been meaning to have, I’d love to hear from you.

All Posts

Fire in the Belly vs. Burnout: What gritty leaders need to know

What’s a common theme I see? I’m glad you asked. The people who care the most, push the hardest, and stay committed the longest are often the ones who reach burnout first. Passion and perseverance are strengths, but without awareness and boundaries, they can become liabilities. When Grit Turns To Grind In agriculture and rural leadership especially, grit is almost a requirement. We work long hours, shoulder heavy responsibility, and feel loyal to our teams, families, and com

Laura Daniels

7 days ago2 min read

Ask what makes you come alive

Find Laura on Instagram @ hitch.pin

Laura Daniels

Sep 6, 20181 min read

The first step

The first step in growing your business and yourself is the hardest. Maybe you are one of those creative ideas people. Some of those ideas would fall into the now trendy category of ‘side hustle’. Maybe you dream of adding value to the high-quality milk you produce, or using that old barn for something cool. Maybe you dream of starting your own company because you can paint, or are really great at accounting, or the town really needs a good café, and you can cook! New ideas r

Laura Daniels

Sep 3, 20182 min read

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: The risk and the reward

Laura Daniels and her family put it all on the line to pursue their dreams of being Wisconsin dairy farmers.

Laura Daniels

Aug 31, 20181 min read