Koby Rickertsen, ALC

Land isn't just dirt. For many families, it represents generations of history. More importantly, it reflects stewardship, responsibility, and the memories created by those who worked the land before us. As a result, every acre carries a story that extends well beyond a property line. That simple idea became the foundation of one of my favorite conversations on The American Land Seller Podcast. In this episode, I sat down with Jenna Searcey, a Texas REALTOR, landowner, agricultural manager, and owner of Charles Baker Insurance in Munday, Texas. Jenna's family has called Knox County home since 1887, and her perspective on land comes from generations of living and working it, not simply selling it. While we certainly discuss the Texas land market, water, insurance, and rural real estate, the heart of this conversation is much deeper than buying and selling property. It's about legacy. Watch the Full Episode Key Takeaways Land Is More Than Dirt One statement from this conversation continued to come up throughout the interview. Land is more than dirt. For many families, especially across rural America, land represents far more than acreage or market value. Instead, it represents family history, careful stewardship, financial security, and memories that have been built over generations. In many cases, it also reflects the values and sacrifices of those who came before us. Because of that, selling land is rarely just a financial decision. Jenna shared how growing up on family land dating back to 1887 shaped her understanding of what ownership really means. That perspective allows her to connect with sellers who are often making one of the most emotional decisions of their lives. Selling land is rarely just another transaction. It's often the closing of one chapter while helping another family begin their own. Stewardship Is More Important Than Ownership Throughout the conversation, Jenna repeatedly returned to the idea that great landowners see themselves as stewards rather than simply owners. Whether someone plans to keep property in the family or eventually sell it, every decision made today affects future generations. In practice, that means caring for the soil, protecting water resources, managing wildlife habitat, planning for succession, and thinking beyond today's balance sheet. Ultimately, every decision should improve the property for the next generation rather than simply maximizing today's return. It's a philosophy that resonates with landowners across the country. Why Water Drives Land Value in Texas One of the biggest differences between regions is what ultimately creates value. In Jenna's part of Texas, water sits near the top of that list. We discussed groundwater conservation, irrigation, soil composition, cotton, wheat, peanuts, and the responsibility landowners have to preserve these resources for future generations. Additionally, water influences nearly every management decision a landowner makes. Whether the property is used for farming, ranching, wildlife habitat, or future development, understanding available water resources is essential to protecting long-term value. Without water, even great soil has limited potential. Understanding where water comes from, how it's managed, and how it affects long-term productivity is one of the most important parts of evaluating rural property. Real Estate Doesn't End at Closing Jenna brings a unique perspective because she also owns Charles Baker Insurance, an agency that has served rural Texas since 1955. That allows her to help clients think beyond the purchase itself. Protecting farm equipment. Insuring pivots and irrigation systems. Managing liability. Helping producers protect the investments they've spent years building. Real estate and insurance aren't separate conversations. For landowners, they're often part of the same long-term plan. Relationships Still Matter Technology has transformed nearly every aspect of the real estate business. Relationships haven't. Jenna explains why local knowledge remains one of the greatest assets a land professional can offer. First, it's about knowing the people. Next, it's understanding the history of an area and how it has developed over time. Finally, it's recognizing opportunities long before a property ever reaches the open market. Understanding local customs, agriculture, water, and county records simply can't be replaced by technology alone. That's one of the reasons both of us are so passionate about the REALTORS® Land Institute and continuing education within the land industry. Advice for Families Who Inherit Land Many Americans will someday inherit farmland, ranchland, or recreational property. Jenna offered practical advice that every family should consider. First, take time to understand exactly what you've inherited. Next, assemble a team of trusted professionals who can guide both legal and financial decisions. In addition, consider liability protection through the appropriate business entities. Finally, have succession conversations early and create an estate plan that reflects your family's long-term goals. Most importantly, recognize that decisions made today can affect generations to come. About Jenna Searcey Jenna Searcey is a Texas REALTOR® with the Sunset Realty Team at City Real Estate in Munday, Texas. She specializes in farm, ranch, and rural properties and manages agricultural land throughout the region. Her family's roots in Knox County date back to 1887, giving her a lifelong appreciation for agriculture, conservation, and rural communities. Jenna also owns Charles Baker Insurance, a family-owned agency serving Texas families, farms, ranches, and businesses since 1955. Her background in both real estate and insurance allows her to help clients protect not only their investments but the legacy those investments represent. She is currently completing her Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation through the REALTORS® Land Institute. Connect with Jenna Jenna Searcey Sunset Realty Team City Real Estate Munday, Texas Phone: 940-203-3154 Email: jenna@jennasearcey.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennasearceycityrealestate Charles Baker Insurance: https://charlesbakerinsurance.com Listen to More Episodes The American Land Seller Podcast features conversations with land brokers, landowners, investors, appraisers, auctioneers, farm managers, educators, and industry leaders from across the country. If you enjoy discussions about farms, ranches, recreational properties, conservation, land investing, and rural America, be sure to subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Every property has a story. Every landowner has a legacy. And every episode is another opportunity to learn from the people shaping the future of land. Thanks for listening, and as always, make it a great day!

If you've followed Ironhorse Land Company for very long, you know our passion has always been land, not homes for sale in town. Farms. Ranches. Recreational properties. Acreages. Development ground. Land is where we started, and it will always be at the heart of what we do. But from the day we opened our doors, something kept happening. Our land clients would ask me the same question. "Do you know someone who can help us sell our house?" Or... "Can you help us buy a home before we close on the farm?" Sometimes it was a family buying their first acreage. Sometimes it was someone downsizing after selling the family ranch. Other times it was an investor looking for a home to complement their land portfolio. For a while, we referred that business out. And every time we did, it bothered me a little more. We were handing our best clients to someone else for half of their real estate life. Those conversations were never separate from our business. They were a natural extension of it. That's why we built Homes by Ironhorse. The Same Values, Just a Different Front Door Homes by Ironhorse isn't a new company. It's a new division of Ironhorse Land Company, created to serve buyers and sellers of residential properties with the same approach we've always taken with land. That means: Honest advice before sales pitches. Strong marketing that actually tells the story of a property. Professional photography and video. Clear communication. A focus on relationships, not transactions. Whether we're marketing 2,000 acres or a three-bedroom home, our goal is the same. Help people make good decisions and represent them with professionalism. We are not building a luxury brand. We are building a legacy brand. That means doing the work the right way, every time, for people we plan on knowing for a long time. Two Markets Everyone Else Overlooks Here's the truth about residential real estate in our part of the country. If you own a home in a small town, your marketing options are thin. Most homes for sale in rural markets get a few phone photos and a sign in the yard. Not because the agents don't care, but because the tools and the talent aren't there. Your home deserves better than that, no matter the price point. And if you own a high-end property, a lakefront home, an acreage estate, a recreational retreat, the opposite problem shows up. Plenty of agents will take the listing. Very few have the professional photography, drone work, video, and buyer network to actually market it at the level it deserves. Homes by Ironhorse was built to close both gaps. We already have the horsepower. The drone pilots. The videographers. The websites that draw serious buyers. The client relationships at the upper end of the market. We built all of it for land, and it works just as well for homes. So the house on Main Street gets the same marketing discipline as the ranch down the road. And the lake home gets represented by people who know how to tell its story and reach the buyers who can afford it. Same standard. Every property. That's the whole idea. Who's Leading It I didn't build this division to run it myself. My work is land, and that's not changing. Homes by Ironhorse is led day to day by someone to be named soon. They will bring the residential expertise this division is built on, and they will hold it to the same standard we hold everything else. Our agents across the footprint, people who live in the towns they serve, are carrying it into their own communities. You'll get the same thing from them that our land clients have come to expect from us. Straight answers, real marketing, and someone who picks up the phone. Built for the Communities We Serve Most of our clients don't think in categories. They don't wake up and say, "Today I need a residential broker." They say things like: "We're moving back home." "We found the acreage we've always wanted." "It's time to sell the house and simplify." Real estate is about life changes, not property types. Our agents live in the towns they serve. They're at the coffee shop, the ballgame, and the county fair. Homes by Ironhorse gives them the tools to represent their neighbors at a level small markets rarely see, while we continue to specialize in the land business we love. Thank You To everyone who has trusted us with your farms, ranches, acreages, and investment properties, thank you. Your trust is the reason we can grow like this, thoughtfully and on our own terms. Homes by Ironhorse is simply the next step in serving our clients even better, and we look forward to helping even more families find the place they'll call home. Koby Rickertsen, ALC Founding Partner and CEO, Ironhorse Land Company

Doug Bear on Iowa Land, Peoples Company, RLI Iowa, and the Future of Rural Living What exactly is an Agrihood, and why is it generating so much excitement in rural real estate? In this episode of The American Land Seller, host Koby Rickertsen sits down with Doug Bear, a multi-state land broker with Peoples Company and the 2026 President of the Realtors Land Institute Iowa Chapter. Licensed in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas, Doug has built a reputation for helping landowners navigate complex decisions while serving clients throughout the Midwest. During this conversation, Doug shares his perspective on Iowa's land market, discusses the work being done through RLI Iowa to strengthen the land profession, and introduces one of Peoples Company's newest and most exciting concepts, an innovative Agrihood development designed to connect people with agriculture and rural living. The conversation also turns toward the next generation of land professionals. Doug shares practical advice for new agents entering the business, explains why relationships and education matter more than ever, and discusses one of the biggest issues facing farm families today, transitioning land ownership from one generation to the next. Whether you're a landowner, investor, broker, or someone passionate about agriculture and rural America, this episode offers practical insight from one of the Midwest's respected land professionals. Watch the Full Episode What You'll Learn Doug's outlook on today's Iowa farmland market. The mission and impact of the Realtors Land Institute Iowa Chapter. Why Peoples Company is investing in innovative Agrihood developments. The opportunities and challenges facing today's land brokerage industry. Advice for new land professionals looking to build a successful career. Why succession planning should begin years before ownership changes hands. How education, professionalism, and relationships continue to shape the future of land brokerage. Key Takeaways One of the strongest themes throughout this conversation is that successful land brokerage is about much more than buying and selling farms. It requires education, trusted relationships, long-term thinking, and the ability to help landowners navigate decisions that often affect multiple generations. Doug also offers an interesting look at how Agrihoods are changing the way people think about rural communities, bringing agriculture and residential living together in new ways while preserving many of the values that make rural America unique. For anyone considering a career in land brokerage, Doug's advice is refreshingly practical. Learn the business, build relationships, continue your education, and focus on serving people well over the long term. About Doug Bear Doug Bear is a land broker with Peoples Company, licensed in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas. He specializes in agricultural real estate and works with landowners, investors, and farm families throughout the Midwest. Doug currently serves as the 2026 President of the Realtors Land Institute Iowa Chapter, where he helps advance professionalism and education within the land brokerage industry. Learn more about Doug Bear: https://peoplescompany.com/team/doug-bear Learn more about the Peoples Company Land Investment Expo: https://expo.peoplescompany.com/ Listen to More Episodes The American Land Seller brings together many of the leading voices in agricultural real estate, land investment, conservation, ranching, farming, and rural development. Each episode is designed to provide practical conversations and real-world insights for landowners, investors, REALTORS®, and anyone passionate about land. Visit AmericanLandSeller.com to explore more episodes, or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening, and as always, make it a great day!