Barns + Farms w/side of Cornbread

HapBe Valley Equine & Wellness Farm: Being Over Doing, Horses as Mirrors, and Healing Retreats with Jennifer
Shayne visits HapBe Valley Equine & WellnessFarm to talk with Jennifer about building a 20-acre farm centered on “being over doing” with her husband, Jason. Jennifer shares how a Costa Rica equine-facilitated experiential learning retreat at age 50 gave her life clarity and inspired them to bring the work to the U.S., leading to purchasing their North Carolina property in March 2023.
She explains the farm’s offerings—women’s retreats, weekly small-group meditation with horses led by Jason, Reiki, one-on-one equine coaching, yoga, and “just being with the horses”—and how horses mirror authenticity, boundaries, and leadership.
Jennifer also tells the story of her horse Oliver, describes emotional breakthroughs witnessed at the farm, and ends with a brief cornbread and “lightning round” Q&A.
 
Find out more about Hap Bee Valley by visiting them online:
https://hapbevalley.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hapbevalley
https://www.facebook.com/hapbevalley?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=4Bphvk4881HOLSzj&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16v8UUE7b3%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr#
 
in person:
21 Noah’s ValleyLeicester, NC 28748
Show Notes:
00:00 Welcome to Hap Bee
00:27 Farm Purpose and Values
01:14 Costa Rica Retreat Breakthrough
04:12 Manifesting the Property
08:24 Naming Happy Valley
10:05 Meet Oliver the Horse
13:58 Meditation With Horses
16:11 Healing Stories and Magic
18:06 Finding the Slice of Heaven
19:58 Challenges and Horse Healing
21:05 How Horses Heal Us
22:07 Horses as Mirrors
23:17 Integration and Aftercare
24:13 Boundaries and Respect
25:18 Connection Over Control
27:23 Breakthrough Stories
29:54 Herd Healing Roles
31:22 Women and Sharing
33:31 Healing Redefined
34:05 Leadership Lessons
35:04 Business and Delegation
37:07 Herd Personalities
39:00 Cornbread and Farewell
 

In a “reverse podcast” episode of Barns and Farms with a Side of Cornbread, Shayne Hollifield is interviewed by longtime friend and branding/social media expert, Kristin Sargent. Shayne shares her background before real estate—court reporting, food service, and family life—and how those experiences taught her to read people, manage reactions, and build relationships.
She describes years of “survival mode,” her faith-led decision to enter real estate at age 50, working as Mary Noble Braden’s assistant before licensing, and launching Noble & Company Realty as partners three weeks before COVID hit.
Shayne explains her focus on land, farms, and legacy properties, emphasizing conservation, stewardship, and farmers’ voices as key motivations for her podcast. Community connections in Black Mountain and Lake Greenwood, the importance of relationships, and the role of local food and farming take the lead - Expect candid reflections, practical real estate insights, and a warm, southern perspective.
She highlights meaningful episodes (including Harmony Mountain Equine's Pete Dillingham), values genuine social media, sets boundaries by not answering calls after 7 p.m., and shares personal priorities—God, family, building a new barn, and time at the lake.

Porch Sitting with Stephanie of Spice Holler Farms: No-Till Soil, Peppers, and a Life Beyond the Bakery
 
Host Shayne Hollifield chats on the porch with Stephanie of Spice Holler Farms in Barnardsville about how gardening with her dad shaped her work ethic and love of land. Stephanie describes a varied path through animal science, environmental design, photography, and opening Sugar Bakery after a turbulent flight prompted her to pursue what she loved; she shares challenges of sourcing from farmers, keeping staff, and ultimately selling the bakery to an employee. After traveling in an Airstream, she and her husband settled on a field property in North Carolina and learned farming through trial and error, scaling back beds and using cover crops. She explains her no-till approach, soil health biology, using “weed tea,” and how plant health connects to human gut health and fiber.
 
They discuss peppers, cornbread preferences, starting small for new growers, using databases and ChatGPT to track crops and harvests, and her desire to share more and connect with restaurant owners.
 
You can reach Stephanie or just follow her journey at:
IG: @spiceholler
https://www.facebook.com/spiceholler
www.spiceholler.com
 
Always remember to thank a farmer!
 
Show Notes:
00:00 Porch Sitdown Intro
00:31 Garden Roots With Dad
01:22 Finding Her Farm Path
02:13 Art Science And Curiosity
03:06 Hawaii Turbulence To Bakery
04:28 Sourcing Direct From Farmers
05:45 Bakery Reality And Staffing
08:02 Selling The Bakery
09:09 Airstream Life On The Road
11:20 Choosing North Carolina Land
12:07 Learning To Grow From Scratch
13:47 Profitability Food Security
15:01 Scaling Back With Cover Crops
16:42 Farming As A Research Project
17:57 Living on Family Land
18:18 Neighbor Steve and Farm Life
19:29 Why No Till Works
20:14 Soil Microbe Networks
22:14 Weeds as Soil Healers
23:35 Lessons From Farming
24:09 Gut Health and Fiber
24:49 Self Care and Simplicity
25:47 Meals and Cornbread Talk
27:08 Pepper Growing Obsession
28:28 Advice to Start Growing
29:19 Redefining a Rich Life
30:31 Garden Spaces and Repurposing
31:14 Field Office and Crop Planning
32:25 AI and Harvest Tracking
34:07 Closing Thanks and Next Steps
 

Shayne Hollifield sits down with Chris Dunbar, owner of Big Ivy Beef in Barnardsville, North Carolina to discuss how he preserved local farmland and built a regenerative beef operation while keeping family at the center of the business.
They cover cattle breeds and finishing methods, animal welfare and sustainable practices, the local butcher shop and farmers market sales, and upcoming farm-to-table dinners and community events.
Learn how important it is for farmers to steward the land in Western North Carolina as we see more and more farms disappear, and one family of farmers who plan to work this land the best way possible until it's someone else's turn.
 
You can find Big Ivy Beef at your local farmer's markets here in Western North Carolina (we're partial the The Black Mountain Tailgate where we met Chris's wife!) 
"Honest meat, grown with respect for the animal, the land, and the people who do the work. At Big Ivy, you don’t have to wonder where your food came from—you can see the pasture, meet the farmer, and know exactly what you're bringing to the table."
 
Sign up for farm updates on their website:https://www.bigivybeef.com/
and you can follow them on FB and IG @bigivybeef 
 
 

Host Shayne Hollifield interviews Susan "Susie" Welch about her journey from the Marine Corps Lioness Teams to somatic equine healing. The episode explores combat experiences, motherhood, trauma held in the body, and how Mustangs Zion and Zephira helped Susie— and other veterans—rebuild trust, find rootedness, and create a veteran program focused on land stewardship and community. Personal stories, therapy alternatives, and a touch of Southern cornbread round out the conversation.

Shayne Hollifield visits Blue Heaven in Key West where owner Richard shares the restaurant’s storied history, famous visitors, and family recipes. The episode highlights Hemingway-era lore, live-music memories with Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney, and beloved dishes like cast-iron cornbread, banana bread, and the legendary key lime pie.
 
Learn more about Blue Heaven or just head on down to Key West and visit yourself!
👉https://blueheavenkw.com/
Buy Kenny's book 👉 here:
And Jimmy Buffet's 👉 Blue Heaven Rendezvous can be heard on Spotify!
 

In this soul-stirring episode of Barns + Farms w/ Side of Cornbread, Shayne Hollifield welcomes Pete Dillingham of Harmony Mountain Equine, a lifelong horseman whose deep connection with animals—and people—is shaped by the philosophy of Natural Horsemanship. Titled “Harmony Over Force,” the conversation explores Pete’s transition from traditional horse training methods to an intuitive, trust-based approach that centers on communication over control.
As Pete opens up about what led him to this path, listeners are taken into the heart of horse-human relationships: how both species learn, how personalities influence training, and how the way we interact with horses mirrors how we show up in our daily lives. From childhood memories that sparked his passion, to hard-earned lessons in patience and presence, Pete shares how this style of horsemanship has taught him as much about himself as it has about the animals he trains.
The episode also highlights the unique beauty and utility of Western North Carolina (WNC) as a haven for equine professionals. Pete discusses why this region—with its rolling hills, temperate climate, and tight-knit horse community—is ideal for Natural Horsemanship and equine property ownership.
Coinciding with the release of this episode, Pete’s own horse training property in WNC is now for sale—a rare opportunity to own a piece of Western North Carolina horse country and Harmony Mountain Equine and continue the legacy of connection, trust, and respect.
If you’re drawn to a more compassionate way of working with animals—or simply want to hear from someone who’s found wisdom through the quiet language of horses—this episode is not to be missed.
 
Find out more about Pete Dillingham and his Horse Training and Boarding property here:
https://www.facebook.com/dillpete/
Find the listing for this Equestrian paradise:
https://nc-realty.com/listing/CAR4274634/442-blantyre-church-road-horse-shoe-nc-28742/
Commercial listing link:
https://nc-realty.com/listing/CAR4274664/442-blantyre-church-road-horse-shoe-nc-28742/

In this soulful episode of Barns + Farms w/side of Cornbread, we’re pulling up chairs, pouring sweet tea, and diving into a conversation that celebrates real women, real grit, and a whole lot of grace. We’re joined by powerhouse voices from Thrive WNC Women’s Entrepreneur Network—Amy Steele and Sarah Stokes—alongside special guest Meg Montgomery, a whole-animal butcher at Foothills Butchery in Black Mountain, NC.
Together, we unpack what it truly means to build each other up as women in business, especially in the heart of Southern Appalachia. From networking events to meaningful mentorship, the Thrive WNC Women’s Entrepreneur Network is cultivating a space where female founders and dream-chasers can grow, collaborate, and thrive.
With Meg at the table, we also dig into what it’s like being a woman in the traditionally male-dominated field of butchery—and how she’s carving her path (literally and figuratively) with strength and skill.
 So grab your slice of cornbread, settle in, and join us for this nourishing episode.
👉 Learn more about Foothills Butchery: ⁠Foothills Butchery⁠👉 Follow Thrive WNC Women's Network: I⁠nstagram - ThriveWNCwen

🎙️ Episode 5: The Legacy and Evolution of Packa’s Place – A Story of Family, Farming, and Community
In this episode, we return to Horse Shoe, NC to Packa’s Place, where the 6th-generation of a remarkable farming family continues to honor their roots while embracing the future. Named after their grandmother, Packa, this farm carries a legacy of innovation and connection—starting with the unique heritage of raising and processing Beefalo (intrigued? Listen and find out just what Beefalo is!)
But Packa’s Place became more than a farm—it’s a thriving hub of agritourism, community, and creativity. What started as a pandemic-driven idea for a pumpkin patch has flourished into something much bigger. Today, the farm is alive with artisan markets, food trucks, local beer, and seasonal events, all designed to bring people together.
Join us as we dive into their journey—how they’re preserving history while adapting to the modern world, the challenges and triumphs of running a multi-generational farm, and their light-hearted vision for the future. It’s a conversation about passion and the power of community.
🎧 Tune in and get inspired by the story of Packa’s Place!

Cornbread. It's more than just a comfort food. It's a history, and for many of us, a it’s even more. It’s a feeling, a nostalgia, and a connection to our past.
 Today, we're diving deep into what cornbread means to different people—from nostalgia and family traditions to the flavors that define a region.
We'll hear from the Noble & Company Real Estate Team about their personal connections to cornbread, and then we'll sit down with a local chef who shares how cornbread ties into his roots, his cooking, and our community. So grab a plate, get cozy, and let’s talk all things cornbread!