From Hopper Mishap to Farm Advocate: 25 Years of Wisdom on Surviving Farming's Hidden Dangers

Welcome back to Barn Talk! In this episode, Sawyer and Tork welcome a very special guest—Jeff Crotwell from Easter Seals Wisconsin’s Farm Program. Jeff’s story starts on a dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin, where an accident changed his life at just 16 years old. Rather than letting it hold him back, Jeff turned his experience into an opportunity to help others in the agricultural community. He now dedicates his work to supporting farmers who have suffered injuries or face physical challenges, helping them adapt so they can stay on the land and keep farming. In this heartfelt episode, Jeff shares what it was like to grow up farming the hard way, how farm life can sometimes make us numb to everyday dangers, and the split-second decisions that can alter the course of a life. The conversation dives deep into farm safety, real-life stories of farm accidents, the challenges (and pride) of asking for help, and all the meaningful work the Easter Seals Wisconsin Farm Program does to get farmers back in the game. Whether you’ve ever loaded square bales in a stifling haymow, climbed a grain bin in the dead of winter, or just love a great story of perseverance and giving back, this episode will remind you why community matters—and why no farmer should have to face hardships alone. Tune in for inspiration, practical information, and more than a few laughs along the way. Shop Farmer Grade 👇🏻 https://farmergrade.com/  SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST ➱ https://bit.ly/3a7r3nR   SUBSCRIBE TO THIS’LL DO FARM ➱ https://bit.ly/2X8g45c  LISTEN ON: SPOTIFY ➱ https://open.spotify.com/show/3icVr4KWq4eUDl7Oy60YMY  APPLE ➱ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/barn-talk/id1574395049 Follow Behind The Scenes👇🏻 ● This’ll Do Farm Instagram ➱ https://bit.ly/30KPBNk   ● Barn Talk TikTok ➱ https://bit.ly/3qciekS   ● Sawyer’s Instagram  ➱ https://bit.ly/3BtX0n4   ● Tork’s Instagram ➱ https://bit.ly/3LGZJxS     00:00 Grow Our Podcast: Share & Review 08:20 First Job Realization 15:03 Supporting Iowa Corn Checkoff 16:48 Unexpected Farm Accident Insight 22:05 "Construction, Accessibility, and Golf" 30:52 Silage Choppers and Farm Safety 35:59 Farm Support and Guidance 38:37 Individualized Farm Equipment Solutions 43:41 "Decreasing Inheritance Donations Challenge Nonprofits" 49:21 "Support Easter Seals Wisconsin" 55:32 Unauthorized Bin Lid Incident 59:00 Lessons from CEO and Dad 01:03:48 "Seek Help; Get Involved" ------------------------------- ⚠NO FINANCIAL ADVICE / DISCLAIMER⚠  The Information discussed and shared on Barn Talk is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, or success for any particular purpose. The Information contained in or provided from or through this podcast is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice, or any other advice. The Information on this podcast and provided from or through our content is general in nature and is not specific to you, the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this podcast without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional, professional broker or financial advisory. Understand that you are using any and all Information available on or through this website at your own risk. RISK STATEMENT– The trading of Bitcoins, alternative cryptocurrencies, NFTs, individual stocks, etc. has potential rewards, and it also has potential risks involved. Trading may not be suitable for all peo... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices