Club Cultivate

In this episode of the Club Cultivate Podcast, Whitney Whitaker sits down with Monica Hild of Four Back Photography for a highly tactical conversation on livestock photography, specifically photographing and marketing sheep for online sales.
Monica shares how she went from a science-minded animal health background to becoming a go-to sheep photographer, and breaks down the fundamentals every breeder and photographer needs to know, from camera settings and gear to ethical editing, picture-day prep, and why good imagery directly impacts livestock sales.
Whether you’re a breeder taking your own photos or a creative looking to improve your livestock photography skills, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
How Monica learned livestock photography through trial, error, and real business need
Why understanding light and camera fundamentals matters more than expensive gear
When auto settings work and when you must shoot manual
Monica’s recommended camera gear for livestock photography
How to photograph sheep so they read accurately and sell honestly
What ethical editing looks like (and where the line should be drawn)
Why professional photography builds buyer trust and credibility
How breeders and photographers can better plan for picture day and sales timelines
The importance of evaluating livestock, not just taking a “pretty” photo
Guest Information
Monica Hild
Instagram: @fourbackphotoWebsite: fourbackphotography.comFacebook: Four Back Photography
Resources
Book: While You Were Out by Meg Kissinger
Connect
Follow along for weekly conversations with host, Whitney Dahmer as she visits with creatives in the agriculture and western industries!
Instagram: @clubcultivate
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s working to grow their skills in this space.

Summary
In this episode of the Club Cultivate podcast, host Whitney Whitaker welcomes Joelynn Rathmann, a seasoned livestock photographer, to share her journey and insights into the world of photography within the livestock industry. Joelynn recounts her early fascination with photography, sparked by livestock shows in her childhood, and how she navigated her career path through various internships and experiences. She discusses the evolution of livestock photography, the importance of understanding livestock anatomy, and the balance between artistic expression and client expectations. Joelynn emphasizes the significance of building trust with clients and the emotional impact of photography on both the subjects and the audience.
Keywords
livestock photography, Joelynn Rathmann, Club Cultivate podcast, creative journey, photography tips, livestock shows, animal photography, career advice, photography evolution, client relationships
Notable Quotes
"You can teach anybody to take good pictures, but you cannot teach anybody how to understand livestock.""The second that you think that you are better than anybody at anything, you have lost.""It's important to learn by doing, watching, and asking questions.""You have to treat every participant like they are a grand champion, regardless of their actual placement.""The hardest part about backdrops is having that person trust you in a 30-second interaction.""You need to take those bad days as lessons, not as excuses to leave.""We're all supposed to be on the same team in this industry.""The people you impact and the relationships you build are what keep you going.""Stop trying to impress people; be yourself and find your own style.""You have to keep growing; it's the only way the industry will move forward."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Joelynn Rathmann01:06 Joelynn's Early Journey in Photography04:41 Working with Show Champions08:38 Learning the Craft of Photography09:50 Understanding Livestock vs. Photography Skills12:32 Navigating Flattering Angles in Photography13:19 Challenges in Livestock Photography13:28 Backdrop vs. On-Farm Photography15:21 Building Trust with Clients17:29 Customer Service in Photography18:25 Creating Memorable Experiences in Photography20:19 The Emotional Impact of Photography22:34 Navigating Competition in the Photography Industry27:32 The Future of Photography and Video at Shows29:58 Lessons Learned and Advice for Aspiring Photographers

Whitney shares the exact system she uses to plan her year as a creative business owner—using a simple Google Sheets framework to turn big goals into monthly and weekly action.
In this episode, we cover:
Why goals matter (and how they help during chaotic seasons)
Starting with a 5–10 year vision and working backwards
Choosing your “Core Four” pillars for the year
The difference between income goals vs. performance goals
Building a yearly calendar so nothing gets missed
Turning the yearly plan into monthly + weekly execution
The “rocks, pebbles, sand” analogy for real prioritization
Why “non-negotiables first” is a game-changer for consistency
Want the template?DM Whitney on Instagram and she’ll share the Google Sheets template. Check out the Club Cultivate YouTube Channel to follow along visually too!

In this episode of Club Cultivate, Whitney sits down with Alyssa Walsh, founder of Sweet Briar Creative, to talk about building a creative business in the ag industry. From starting a simple college portfolio to running a full-time branding and video studio, Alyssa shares how she’s refined her services, protected her time, and built a brand that actually works for her life and her clients.
In this episode, we talk about:
How Alyssa went from AgCom student to full-time creative business owner
The evolution of Sweet Briar Creative from “try everything” to clear offers and buckets
Why she stepped away from ad design to focus on branding, brand books and video
What makes a strong brand beyond the logo—fonts, colors, tone, and consistency
Using brand pillars to show up with intention on social instead of posting just to post
Hiring support, setting boundaries, and structuring your week as a creative entrepreneur
A simple 30-day exercise for taking one small step toward a big goal every day
Connect with Alyssa
Website: sweetbriarcreative.com
Instagram: @sweetbriarcreative
Connect with Whitney / Club Cultivate
Instagram: @clubcultivate

In this episode of Club Cultivate, Whitney sits down with Tanner Kersey-Lopez, a California native and Oklahoma State University alum whose career path has taken him from the show ring to the world of agricultural public relations.
Now an Account Supervisor at Bader Rutter, Tanner shares his journey through FFA, OSU’s ag-comm program, grad school during COVID, and into the fast-moving world of agency life—where collaboration, creativity, and communication meet.
They dive into what “earned media” really means, how agency teams function behind the scenes, the balance between billable hours and creative flow, and how to build a career that aligns with both passion and purpose.
Highlights:
Why Tanner switched from animal science to ag comm—and never looked back
What agency structure really looks like (and why specialization matters)
How PR, social, and creative teams collaborate in big ag agencies
The truth about time sheets, boundaries, and self-accountability
Tips for young professionals on asking better questions, finding mentors, and taking risks
Grace, growth, and the reminder that nothing is permanent

In this week’s episode, Whitney sits down with photographer and creative, Cade Childers of C3, to talk about carving out a career in the livestock marketing world—without growing up in ag or holding an ag comm degree.
Cade shares how he went from a sports family and a biochemistry/microbiology path aimed at medical school to running C3, a creative business based in Edmond, Oklahoma, that travels the country photographing show pigs and building marketing pieces for ag operations.
They dive into the realities behind the backdrop shots: the pressure of picturing high-dollar pigs, learning Adobe as a self-taught creative, setting boundaries in a 24/7 industry, and why networking and consistency may matter more than the initials behind your name.
HIGHLIGHTS:
How Cade went from “sports kid” to first-generation showman and eventually a full-time creative in the pig world
Why he walked away from a planned career in medicine after earning degrees in biochemistry and microbiology
The pros and cons of being completely self-taught in design and photography (and his honest take on ag comm degrees)
What makes a strong baby pig or backdrop photo, and how tiny details in feet, angles, and heads change everything
The balance between free work, paid work, and knowing when it’s time to start valuing your time differently
Burnout, boundaries, and why your phone doesn’t need to be on 24/7—even in the livestock industry
How mentors and networking (from Dusty Oldenburg to Jackie Lackey) helped shape C3
Cade’s advice for young creatives trying to find their lane and build a name in a crowded space
CONNECT:
Follow C3 / Cade Childers
Follow Club Cultivate on Instagram

In this week’s episode, Whitney sits down with Lexi Marek Beeler—owner of L & B Consulting and founder of Hey Sister—to dig into the reality of social media and entrepreneurship in agriculture: choosing platforms that fit your goals, building a brand without burning out, and running a business from a rural main street.
Lexi shares how an eighth-grade smartphone and a family show-pig operation led to running social for major ag accounts, why she left salaried roles to start her own shop, and how moving home to Iowa reshaped her work, systems, and definition of success.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Personal brand foundations: what you stand for, and giving yourself permission to evolve
Platforms that matter (and why ten posts/month can beat posting daily)
Practical consistency: monthly content calendars, simple systems, and realistic goals
Stories vs. posts vs. reels: when face-on-camera wins—and when a photo is enough
Email lists for ag businesses: why you should own your audience (even with limited time)
Freelance math: “know your numbers,” land two anchor clients, then jump
Agency, in-house, or solo? Picking paths, setting boundaries, and protecting the joy
Small town ≠ small thinking: building community, collaboration, and real relationships
Whether you’re running a seed-stock page from the farm office, freelancing for ag brands, or debating a leap into solo work, this conversation is packed with practical steps—and permission to keep it simple.
CONNECT:Follow Lexi | L&B Consulting | Hey SisterFollow Club Cultivate 

In this week’s episode, Whitney sits down with Dr. Ruth Inman—founder of Ruth Inman Creative Services and soon-to-be Inman Collective Marketing Group—to talk about building a modern ag marketing agency from the ground up — from strategy and brand development to the business skills creatives need to earn a seat at the table.
Ruth shares how a career spanning higher ed, extension communications, and agency leadership prepared her to launch and grow a full-service shop serving agribusiness and mission-driven organizations—and why aligning work with family priorities ultimately drove her leap into entrepreneurship.
HIGHLIGHTS:
How Ruth went from teaching ag communications at Oklahoma State to leading digital and paid media—and finally launching her own agency
The rebrand to Inman Collective Marketing Group and what’s changing as she hires and scales in 2025
Undergrad vs. master’s vs. PhD: what each truly teaches (how vs. why) and when an MBA might make more sense
Agency, in-house, or freelance? Why Ruth’s answer is “yes—do all three” to accelerate learning and leadership
Relationships and reliability in a niche industry: why trust and follow-through outrun any portfolio
Differentiating your services: knowing what you do well—and when to collaborate with specialists
Practical upskilling without grad school: curating feeds, targeted workshops, and systems that compound
Ruth’s take on risk, timing, and building a business that fits real life (kids, show pigs, and all)
Whether you’re a creative in the ag space, a small business owner, or weighing grad school vs. real-world experience, this conversation is packed with clarity, next steps, and encouragement.
CONNECT:
Follow Ruth Inman Creative: Instagram | Website Follow Club Cultivate: Instagram

In this week’s episode, Whitney sits down with Robyn Amthauer, owner of Stella Sutton Design, to talk about the creative side of the livestock industry — from ad design and branding to building a business rooted in agriculture and authenticity.
Robyn shares how she turned her creative curiosity into a full-time career after years in corporate marketing, and how she balances business, motherhood, and managing a successful club lamb operation with her family in Iowa.
HIGHLIGHTS:
How Robyn went from corporate marketing at Cargill to running her own design agency
The value of relationships and consistency when building a brand in agriculture
Her honest perspective on pricing, creativity, and burnout in freelance work
The tools and programs she swears by (and her thoughts on the Canva vs. Adobe debate)
How she finds inspiration, blends her family life with her career, and keeps creativity alive
Whether you’re a creative in the ag space, a small business owner, or someone looking to take the leap from corporate to entrepreneurship, this conversation is packed with wisdom and relatability.
CONNECT:
Follow Stella Sutton Design: Instagram | https://www.stellasuttondesign.com/ | Facebook
Follow Club Cultivate: Instagram

DESCRIPTION:
Whitney sits down with Brandi Buzzard to talk about building an honest, effective voice in agriculture—online and off. From a hobby ranch upbringing to leading communications at national breed associations to full-time entrepreneurship, Brandi shares how she found her lane: educating grocery shoppers about how food is raised, telling better stories, and standing firm in science. We dig into content strategy, brand partnerships, and what “balance” really means when family, rodeo, and ranch life are also on the calendar.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Finding your voice: letters to the editor, early blogging, and why storytelling beats stats alone
Advocacy vs. “influencing”: keeping science, integrity, and audience trust at the center
Platforms with purpose: Facebook for long-form stories, Instagram for trends, blog + AcresTV for depth
Content ideas: remixing non-ag trends, writing for consumers, and handling hot-button topics with facts
Metrics that matter: views, engagement, growth, and honest readouts for brand partners
Brand deals without selling out: only promoting products you actually use and believe in
Real life logistics: planning (loosely), seasons of work, and Brandi’s “glass balls vs. rubber balls” framework
CONNECT:
Follow Brandi: Instagram @brandibuzzard • Blog/FB: Buzzard’s Beat • Watch on AcresTV
Follow Club Cultivate: Instagram @clubcultivate 
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