Coming Face-to-Face With Our Fears at the Homestead Festival

The biggest struggles we face coming to events are, one, we have a big homestead that we're running that needs someone day to day. Nobody knows the farm like we to do. So it's a big sacrifice to come and be away and prep or train somebody to take over. And anybody has kids knows too, it's also hard to disrupt that. It's not just like, oh, I'll go and everybody stay home. That's just not how we work as a family. We like and count on each other for just everyday thriving and surviving. And third, yes, sure, it's a business opportunity, but it also takes away from business. So I make movies, inspirational movies about homestead, about growing your own food. So if I'm traveling or want to have a— need a setup day to transition into the event, and then a setup day out and then back, That's 4 or 5 days gone that I'm not at my desk or able— I'm not at my farm to make an interesting movie about that.

A lot of the reason we're extra is because I want to feel good even when I'm not at home. So that means I can't eat out. I bring my own water. I bring my own pillow. I bring— you know, when we travel, generally we bring all our own food. Sometimes it's prepared food. It's just ingredients and we have to prepare it. Now we started bringing like all our kitchen equipment, so it's just a struggle of like keeping it, um, organized. Most people who travel will just like pack their clothes. I pack like half my house, which I realize is extra.

We're going to Rory Feek's Homestead Fest. That is a slash music fest slash homestead fest. A thing like this is a battery recharge. It's a, it's a recharge of your spirit to understand, oh, you know, there are a lot of people here who haven't, whatever, drunk the Kool-Aid.

Being at an event like this marries the best of homesteading. It's the inspirational part, and even someone who's been a a homesteader for any number of years, I still need to be inspired.

Coming to this event is more of like, I guess it's like a little break for us, and also I feel like it's a celebration for like everybody.

So it's really important for me to be here because there's so many people here who have made it to a place that I'm not at yet, who has information that I don't have yet, and I need that information. Like, I need those tools those resources in order to grow. Just to get the information in person and meet the people, like she said, behind the channels.

This is going to be extra special. It would appeal to somebody even if they don't homestead. Kevin Costner, the actor, is going to be there, and that's going to attract a big crowd. And folks are going to come in, enjoy the music, and why not go hear the homestead talk and maybe start growing a little bit of your own food. I really wasn't interested in doing another music festival. Have a bunch of bands out here playing, it didn't mean anything to me. Even if you could have a bunch of people in a field, a bunch of people in a field listening doesn't appeal to me. A bunch of people in a field learning, that really spoke to me.

You know, a lot of times I'll be like, I don't want to do this anymore. You know, like, I'm done with putting my life on the internet. You know, like, sometimes I just don't want to do it anymore, but then I remember the people who come through our line and meet us, and they tell us, like, what we've helped them in and how we've inspired them. And then I'm like, okay, maybe we should keep doing this because we've helped people. And I mean, isn't that the best thing to do in the world is to help people?

You know, I need a lot to get me off the farm. And sure, we get paid for these events, Is it as much as maybe we would make if we just stayed at home? Probably not. But tonight we're going to go to a networking party. What do you call this? Mixer. You could call it a mixer. And so I'm going to be there with the other speakers. I'm going to be there, rub shoulders again with Joel Salatin. Maybe Temple Grandin will be there. I've never met her. Porkrind, continue building that relationship with him. Melissa Norris, Rory himself. So just deepening that relationship because I'm old enough now to know Sure, I can be good at internet marketing and content creation, but I know long-term what's going to really get me there into a level of above success and into significance is the relationships I'm going to be able to build and the partnerships I'm going to be able to create. I didn't know who you were until H2O. Okay, cool.

We got a milk cow so we didn't have to buy chicken feed because farm economy.

I'm going more for milk cows than grass.

Yeah.

Let's not forget the audience. So I'm making movies every day. I'm talking to a camera. I'm like a child with an imaginary friend. So going to these events helps me grow up, helps me mature in what I'm saying, because I no longer have an imaginary friend. This camera, this lens, this is somebody who has desires, pains, struggles, family issues, and now I get to meet them. Now I make better movies than ever. So I might be stepping away Pound for pound, stepping away from some potential income there and making a trade, but in the long run, because I'm making these network connections and because I'm meeting and connecting with the audience, it's like taking a day of rest. You take a rest so that you can be energized and do better. Find the piece. There you go. There's a cat that wants to.

Yeah, there you go. Oh my goodness, I love a little boy. Can we take off your clothes so you don't destroy them? Yeah. Do you have a bib? I don't.

I didn't bring one.

I need to, I need to start using the bib now that he's eating and he wants to eat on his own. You want to eat strawberries? Who is that? Who is that? Let's take off your clothes. You want pieces?

Yeah.

They don't work.

You like that?

They having a hard time going up. Mm, now you do you. Good boy. Yay, good job!

This is how I prepare for a talk. I feel like I've been preparing 15 years for this talk because I've been putting in the work. So the talk's done, I just have to structure it. So really, I do an outline. I do it— did it off the first chapter of my book, Flaggin' Homes That You Can Too. I go in and I write an outline, and then I write it again. And as I'm writing the outline again, I think of maybe better stories to tell for each point.

Okay, you said yesterday in the car, you were like Just say the question, say the answer, and then tell our experience. Yeah, but see, like, what are some of the top reasons? Like, my reasons are different than other people's, so what are the top reasons?

Just name as many as you can think of and you have. Well, and maybe it's just your experience there. Okay, there are many reasons to do this and everybody's is different, but our reason is we like to be together. And then that might jog your memory and you might say, oh, okay, well you might not be happy with the school system, right? Or you might want them to get a different kind of education than what's out there, right?

Okay, so I looked up socialization, and this is the— this is the definitions: the activity of mixing socially with others. So that's what we all— that's what we always think when they ask, what about socialization? I don't think it is, because then it's— and then the second one is the process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to to society.

I know. So maybe, maybe you address— yeah, the socialization question as we know it, and then say, hey, and by the way, did you know what socialization really means?

Yeah.

And you can talk about, well, that's one reason we want to get out, because— yeah, we don't necessarily want to conform.

Yeah.

How are you feeling today? How's your health? Actually, I feel— I have good days and bad days. Thank God today is a good day. I had a good day yesterday and I'm feeling good today. My feet are not bad. My back's a little tweaked. The bed was super soft. Yeah, see, that's one thing about traveling. The bed was super soft. I knew laying down in it, I'm gonna be stiffer tomorrow. But I am feeling good, energized. I do have better energy to about 10:30 in the morning, and then, then it's kind of like, okay, I'm just running through the gears here, I'm just running through the motions. Uh, like riding a bike, you know how to do it. That's the same way with vlogging. But I think here there's an energy that, that keeps me fueled or distracted. Maybe it's a adrenaline. Because tonight I'll be hashing through everything I said to people in line, everything I said to associates, everything I said on stage, and I'll be hashing it out and thinking, oh, you shouldn't have said that, or you should have said this. So I'll have this adrenaline rush, and then I'll have this— I wouldn't dare say PTSD moment, but it's kind of like, what is that, Rebecca? Like, I'm so hyped.

Well, that's the end.

It's hard. You don't just crash. I don't.

Yeah, you're still having all that adrenaline pump through you.

Is that what it is?

I think so.

Yeah. I have concerns going into this event because I'm— it might surprise people to know that I'm actually introverted. I'm not extroverted. I do better in front of a camera or on stage even. I don't know, maybe, maybe it's because the camera doesn't pop walk back. I don't know. I would be nervous that somebody would be disappointed after meeting me. Even sometimes, as hard as I try, especially on the Grady Market Farm tour, I must have gotten better at it, but I would be myself and people would say, are you tired? You look tired. And I'm thinking to myself, that's the, that's the worst. That's the, that's the worst, is somebody that would— not, not that they're being rude, but to them to think I'm tired. I was just kind of being myself right there. I'm afraid some people will get the wrong impression that maybe I hate them or don't like them, or I don't like standing here in line. They'll say, you must be tired, you must get— this must get old. It never gets old that somebody come and say, you've made a difference in my life, you've changed my life, we're homesteading because of you.

I'm anxious about my talk because I'm speaking and it just feels like a different crowd. Justin and I have primarily done like homesteading events. You know, this year we did do like the Big Ag event with Kubota, and so that was like kind of out of our wheelhouse. But other than that, I'm not too nervous.

So right now I'm going through a time of, well, where do we go? I'm always thinking about where do we go? What's next? What got me here is not what's going to get me there. So I always feel like I have to be changing. And I'm in this, how do we vlog? Do we vlog? How much do we vlog? Do we, do we do educational? Do we involve the kids more in our shows and this and that? And so perhaps this will help clarify. And you never know that moment. You never know until you're up on the stage telling this amazing story of this and this happened. Well, something could happen this weekend that 10 years from now I'm saying, oh, and this happened and that was the catalyst that got me here. They got me here, they hit me here, and now here I am. You know, I don't know what that is. So I just know that this, this will present many opportunities like that.

Well, I've never heard Temple Grandin talk, so I'm super excited about that. Just the fact that we get— I get to like see her in action and like hear what she has to say. I'm excited about that, but I'm also really excited about the vendors. I'm excited to just like walk up and down and just kind of see who they are.

Folks come to these events that I'm at, they, for many times just to meet Rebecca and I, and they'll come through the line and they're like shaking and nervous. And Rebecca and I don't get it because we know we're totally normal and we want to be like, I'm normal. I just went pee in the porta-john. I just fussed at my kids 2 hours ago. I'm a normal person. But I get it because if I I got to meet Kevin Costner, I'd be shaking too and wouldn't know what to say. And maybe I should have thought about that. I mean, if he's gonna have a meetup, and I'm gonna be in the line with everybody else. You get nervous doing this? Yes.

Lucky me, I get to go first and get it over with.

You have to sit anxious through lunch. Yeah, you won't be able to eat nothing. I know I won't.

Well, I called Jeremiah on the way here. I said, I'm so anxious. He said, what do you think is gonna happen?

I know, right?

The worst thing could happen is like pee your pants on stage.

We're gonna throw store-bought tomatoes at you.

That's not what happened. That would be the worst thing that could happen.

Be a new level of disappointment on the stage. You guys doing all right this morning? Very good.

You excited?

All right, I'm going to be that annoying guy that's going to make everybody stand up. Everybody stand up. Yes, I'm that annoying speaker. Stay standing if you are growing something. It could even be chitlars. So you guys are all growing something. Okay, stay standing up if you have chickens. Sit down if you don't have chickens. I'm getting to know you guys. I'm getting Okay, how to see if you're— or stay standing if you're growing something fuzzy, hairy, mammal. Oh, it went good. I thought it went good. I was feeling it, man. I only lost my spot 2 or 3 times, but people were forgiving. Yeah, yeah. Did you say it was worth being nervous? No, it's never worth it being nervous. You always feel okay at the end, like you delivered and like you were a servant. I felt like I delivered good content, so I'm pretty happy.

I'm feeling nervous. Like, I was fine until we walked in here and all these people are here.

You guys excited? You know who I am? Justin Rhodes. Well, there would be no Justin Rhodes without Rebecca Rhodes. Give it up.

All right, all right. Well, today I'm going to talk about homeschooling on the homestead. Is that what everybody's here for? Okay, okay, good. I I was super nervous before I talked, and then I got up there and I was just so anxious. I held the microphone like death grip, like in this, like I didn't move it. And then right before the Q&A, I was like, oh, my arm hurts so bad. And so then even trying to like get the grip of the microphone off, like to give it to the other hand, was like hard because my hand was like so tense around it.

I was like, oh my goodness.

So I'm like, did I give value to people?

I don't—

I think that I did okay. Justin says that I thought you did great.

You're getting better and better at this. Hey, I took a picture. I was so proud of you. I took a picture and it seemed like everybody was engaged. And what they think— what I think they really liked, you said you, you were saying this one thing. I don't even think if you were trying to joke, but you were just so— when you talked about socialization, you were just so real and raw and just to the point. That's why I think people love you and loved it, because you're just who you— that's who you are.

Yeah, I was standing up there thinking, why do people ask me to do this? Like, I don't know if I'm helping at all. I think that's my biggest thing, is that I don't want to get up there and just say something that people already know.

I was, of course, nervous that I might disappoint somebody as they meet me personally, but going through the line yesterday, not one person said, "Are you tired?" or "You must be tired." So that's my sign of, okay, Justin, you were smiling, you were open, you were open with this, and they weren't disappointed in any way. So if that's any kind of measure, I did pretty good. I wanted to see if Justin was exactly how he was on screen. And he lived up to that. He is, yeah, authentic.

Yeah, I thought he was going to be taller. What about personality? They're wonderful. So he's super kind and encouraging. Rebecca's super down to earth and friendly, and it was just nice to see them in person and their smiles. And it's just really nice to meet people in person. We are really thankful for him and so friendly. That's just a great great all-around family. Oh, it was fabulous. He's a normal guy. It was great. I loved his speech also when he was talking. So it was great.

People would come through the line and they would say, "Oh, thank you for your show. I appreciate it. We get this and this out of it." And I would say to them, "Well, what do you like about the show?" And one thing that was interesting to me, out of 10 people, this is what I got: 8 of them said, "Oh, we really like the family." We like watching the kids. We like watching you guys interact. Two of them said, I can really identify with the health journey. I'm going through something similar, blah, blah, blah. One said, I really enjoy seeing all the systems, all the different ways of doing things. And so for me, oftentimes perhaps I think about what's our project today, and I make movies around that project. And so coming away from this, it's like, that's okay. I think that that is good. I think that I don't go make movies just about the family because I think if the family is not doing something productive together, then we're aimless. So I think it's good that we have an aim and a mission and people can relate to that whether they're growing food or not. I like making movies about family. This is a perfect situation for me, uh, to go back and try to take that feedback. And still, I think ultimately what I figured out is people are coming for the chickens, but they stay for the family. It may be what attracts people in the first place because they might not Well, they wouldn't know who I am, but then they're like, oh, this is interesting. Oh, this is a lifestyle. Oh, this is a story. Today I'm speaking on the Rooted Life, cultivating health and wellness by growing your own food. And I'm so thankful that Justin is here. He brought his whole family with him. He's a wonderful guy. I knew he was talented. I knew he was gifted at speaking, at making video, at marketing, at sharing, and I knew he loved people, but I didn't know what kind of guy he was until about a year ago. I started getting to spend some good time with him, and he's really, really a good man making good decisions for his family, and I'm really proud of him, and I'm really happy he's here today. Y'all welcome Justin Rhodes.

Thank you so much, man.

You guys are excited. I want to know, we got some crazy chicken ladies in the house? Okay, we're gonna find out. We crashed yesterday at 3, just totally ran out of gas. To prevent that from happening tonight, which is gonna be a late night, well, we didn't— we're, we're just pacing ourselves and we're not showing up. We're not showing up till— well, I'm gonna do a podcast with somebody at 1:30, then my, uh, talk's at 3, and then we're gonna meet people, so that'll be like 4. Although we would maybe want to go and hang out, look at the booths, listen to some talks. We have to say, "Don't do that. Rest, get energized, get charged up so that you can go strong and deliver a good speech, talk with folks, and then enjoy ourselves at a concert." Hey, Teddy. Kevin Costner is here. I'm listening to him on the Tim Ferriss podcast. He talked about Dances with Wolves, and he said that's a journey story. He said it's not so much of a plot story. And so you didn't really know what the character wanted. You didn't know where the character was going, but he said people were happy to go along the ride. And so apparently that's a journey structure. I've been stuck inside the plot structure, and that's maybe why I'm stuck on, oh, we got to have a project, and that's what the character wants. Where vlogging actually is more of a naturally a journey, and hopefully people, people are going to be happy to go along for that journey if it's interesting. So I can relax in that, not necessarily thinking, oh, I've got to have this plot, gotta have this goal, I've gotta have this, uh, these obstacles, I gotta have this, uh, what happens if we don't get it, where's my guide, you know. No, I can go on this journey and folks find interest in the different interesting things we do in a day, but also the change. This week's mission: go to Homestead Fest and support and build friendships with Roy Feek deliver 2 speeches, join my team in our first ever booth, and mingle with other content creators and get to know our fans. Oh, and maybe meet Kevin Costner. We remained true to ourselves. I kept my eyes and ears open for lessons and opportunity and walked away a much richer man. Life rarely turns out the way you expect. This time it turned out better.