We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emily Matzke a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

As someone who did not grow up in agriculture, but now spends my days intimately raising the food we eat I value the importance of connecting our community to the people who produce our food, fuel and fiber. I got my start in agriculture because someone opened the door for me and welcomed me into this tight knit community. Because one person made me feel welcome, I began a career and lifestyle I didn’t know was possible. I went from not having a single clue about agriculture or how we produce our food to that now being my life blood.

Emily, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Emily Matzke, a full-time content creator, farmer, and entrepreneur passionate about sharing the reality of agriculture and rural life while building a thriving direct-to-consumer beef business. I didn’t grow up on a farm, but today, my fiance and I continue our family’s legacy of raising cattle and working the land in Wisconsin. I share my journey across social media, YouTube, and our farm’s business, Prairie Raised Beef, to connect people to where their food comes from and inspire them to support family-run farms.

My path into farming and content creation was a natural evolution of my upbringing. My grandparents had a dairy farm, but sold our cows when I was really young. I lost my tangible connection to agriculture, but found my way back to it through different agriculture experiences provided to me growing up. My fiance’s farm has been in his family since 1865, where I see firsthand the importance of responsible animal care, sustainable land management, and the hard work it takes to produce high-quality food. At the same time, I’ve always had a love for storytelling and social media. Over time, I merged my passion for agriculture with my growing expertise in digital content, building a personal brand that showcases the behind-the-scenes life of a farmer, business owner, and advocate for agriculture.

I wear multiple hats—farmer, business owner, and content creator. Here’s what I focus on:

Prairie Raised Beef – Our family farm sells high-quality, locally raised beef directly to our community. We focus on providing nutrient-dense, delicious beef from animals raised with care and respect. We make it easier for families to access farm-fresh beef, whether it’s individual cuts or bulk bundles.
Content Creation & Brand Collaborations – I create engaging, authentic content about farm life, agriculture, and rural living, sharing it on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. I partner with brands that align with my values, particularly those in farming, outdoor gear, and lifestyle products.
YouTube & Storytelling – My fiance and I run the New Age Custom Farming YouTube channel, where we document our farming seasons, cattle care, and custom farming work. We also highlight tractor pulling, a passion of ours. We’re currently working on a documentary-style video showcasing our farm’s history and our family’s deep roots in agriculture.

My content and business focus on bridging the gap between farmers and consumers. Many people today are disconnected from where their food comes from, and I’m here to change that by showing the realities of raising cattle, working the land, and running a farm business.

What sets me apart is my genuine, unfiltered storytelling—I don’t just show the highlight reel; I share the long days, the tough decisions, and the real work that goes into producing food. My audience connects with me because I’m not just a spokesperson for agriculture; I’m actively living it every day.

For Prairie Raised Beef, we offer something you won’t find in the grocery store—beef that’s raised with care, right here on our family farm, and delivered directly to customers. We solve the problem of accessibility by making it easy for people to purchase farm-fresh beef and know exactly where their food comes from.

I’m proud of the community we’re building—both online and locally. Whether it’s through social media, our YouTube channel, or Prairie Raised Beef, I’ve been able to connect with people who want to learn more about farming, support small businesses, and be part of something bigger. Seeing people come back for our beef, hearing from followers who’ve gained a new appreciation for agriculture, or inspiring someone to pursue a career in farming—those moments remind me why I do this.

I’m also incredibly proud of our growing online presence. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about impact. I want my content to educate, entertain, and inspire people while showcasing the beauty of agriculture and the hard work behind it.

What I Want People to Know About Me & My Brand
I’m deeply committed to agriculture and sharing the real side of farming. I want people to understand the dedication and care that goes into producing food.
Supporting small farms matters. When you buy from Prairie Raised Beef, you’re not just getting high-quality meat—you’re supporting a family farm that’s been around for generations.
I love creating engaging content that resonates with people. Whether you’re here for farm life, beef buying tips, tractor pulling, or just to follow the journey, I strive to create content that’s both informative and fun.
My goal is to keep growing and expanding. I’m working on scaling Prairie Raised Beef, increasing our social media impact, and taking on bigger projects like our documentary and brand partnerships.
At the end of the day, I want my platforms and business to inspire people—whether it’s to learn more about agriculture, support local farmers, or simply pursue their own passions.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I always say that social media is like a muscle – the more you flex it, the stronger it will be. Social media can be uncomfortable and challenging, but the more time and energy you put towards it the easier it is to create and share. For tangible advice, consider the core messages you want to share and create a rough content calendar that you can rely on to help you when sharing your social media so you don’t have to use creative energy each day – this will help you stay consistent, on brand and make it easier each day.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As farmers we face challenges every single day – from the weather not cooperating, fluctuations in the commodity markets that dictate our income, risks of raising livestock and much more – truly the list could go on and on. But, as farmers we choose each day to pull on our work books and use our time and energy to produce food, fuel and fiber.

This past winter tested me – not just as a farmer, but as someone trying to build a business and grow on social media at the same time. It was so cold. The kind of cold where your fingers go numb instantly, your eyelashes freeze, and you start questioning all your life choices. The wind was brutal, and every morning, I’d step outside knowing I was about to fight with frozen water lines, sick calves, and just overall chaos.

On top of that, I was trying to be consistent with posting content and growing Prairie Raised Beef. But when I was exhausted, covered in calf slobber, and running on caffeine and sheer willpower, the last thing I wanted to do was pick up a camera and be “on” for social media. There was an afternoon when I was standing in the barn, sleep-deprived, staring at my camera and thinking, “Do I really have to film this? Like, does anyone even care?”

But then I looked around. The calves were curled up in fresh bedding, steam rising as they breathed into the cold air. The sun was shining through our curtains, casting that golden glow that makes winter almost bearable. And I realized—this is exactly what people need to see. Not just the cute farm moments, but the real, gritty side of it. The frozen hands, the stress, the long hours, but also the beauty of it all—the fact that we choose this life every day because it’s more than just a job.

Farming is our lifeblood. It’s what we were put on this earth to do—to provide care and compassion, not just for our animals but for the people who depend on us for food. There’s something deeply fulfilling about knowing that the work we do—no matter how exhausting or frustrating—feeds families, brings people together, and connects them to something bigger than themselves.

So, I hit record. I filmed my afternoon, shared the reality, and posted it. People loved seeing what actually goes into this life. Resilience isn’t just pushing through; it’s showing up, even when it’s hard, and finding a way to make it meaningful. Some days are exhausting. Some days make you want to scream into the void. But at the end of the day, there’s no place I’d rather be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://prairieraisedbeef.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilymatzke/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066267294835
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NewAgeCustomFarming
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/PrairieRaisedBeef