From City Streets to Iowa Farmers: The Hilbert Brothers’ 1st Generation Farming Journey

Welcome to Barn Talk! Today’s episode is all about fresh starts and relentless hustle, featuring Grant and Spencer Hilbert—the Hilbert brothers. These first-generation Iowa farmers have built their operations from the ground up, documenting every step on YouTube and even branching into farming simulation gaming and ag software development. Sawyer and Tork sit down with Grant and Spencer to talk about their journey: growing up in the suburbs, turning YouTube revenue into land purchases, learning through trial and error, and how they’re now selling beef direct-to-consumer through Farmer Grade. The brothers share hard-won lessons on business, investments, and staying disciplined—plus insights into diversification and innovation in today’s tough agricultural landscape. If you’re curious how two young guys are rewriting the farming playbook, proving that it’s possible to break in with the right mindset, grit, and some outside-the-box thinking, this episode delivers the goods. Pull up a chair—the barn is open and all the secrets are coming out.