Rachann talks with Todd Johnson, horse trainer and owner of JBIT Ranch in Berryville, Virginia, and inventor of Quikstem, a revolutionary new way to replace valve stems on cars, trucks, and all types of farm equipment. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Phil Gruber of Lancaster Farms, an agricultural newspaper based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon? Rachann talks with Ron Broderick of Friendship Hot Air Balloon Company about the annual Carroll County Hot Air Balloon Festival. You can take that ride, and enjoy vendors, music, and good food! www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Lady Jane is Rachann's German Shepherd/Lab mix who loves to go play with her friends at day camp. She gets really sad when she has to stay in the house with Rachann!Autor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann and Marta discuss the book “Merle’s Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog” by Ted Kerasote, a heartwarming and insightful love story that explores the unique bond between humans and dogs. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Erin Gilmore, a well-known local photographer who can be seen at equine events throughout Maryland and Virginia. From her website eringilmorephotos.com, "My specialty in equestrian photography stems from my many years as an equestrian journalist and photographer, and during my career I’ve been lucky enough to stand ringside at th…

Some pups, whether they are older dogs or young puppies, have trouble with going up and down stairs! Rachann gained a new understanding and appreciation of the problem with her recent accident and surgery. Stairs are difficult when your body doesn't work right!Autor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann's guests are Val and Cheryl of Little Long Ears, a non-profit donkey rescue. They talk about the difference between donkeys, mules, and horses, and about how caring for them is different. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

It's July, and it's hot!!! Did you know that horses, like people, sweat, but our dogs and cats do not? Rachann teaches us what to do when our horses get overheated, from applying cool water to giving electrolytes. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann recently took a road trip from Upstate New York all the way to Florida! She talks about traveling, regional accents and signs, restaurants and food, and much more. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

It's HOT!! Remember the days before air conditioning? Rachann talks about the evolution of AC in cars and in her old farmhouse.Autor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Joanne Dawson about her new movie, Cream of the Crop, a largely autobiographical story filmed at her farm and other locations around Cecil County, Maryland. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Dog groomers do a brisk business! Dogs need grooming, some breeds more than others. Rachann reminisces about her Bichon, Fiona, and her wild hairdos on Independence Day races.Autor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Melinda and Kate from the Front Line Coalition that teaches human CPR and first aid, as well as pet CPR, first aid, and pet safety classes through Pet Tech. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann discusses travel skills for your pets. Traveling with dogs can be challenging, but if your dogs have learned travel skills, it makes things much easier.Autor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Doug Zepp about the Christmas tree farm and what it takes to grow and maintain various fir and pine trees for sale at Christmas. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Maryland Horse Council President recently traveled to Ireland with the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks to learn about the sport horse industry and how it compares to how we do things in Maryland. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

It's that time of year for fireworks! Rachann talks about ways to help your pets get through what can be a very traumatic time for them when the fireworks go off.Autor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Emily Gamber, a Carroll County farm daughter and former Mariah- Belle Manor Kennel employee, about her upbringing and her educational journey and vocational search that ultimately took her to the US Navy. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann has a dog, LJ, that gets so excited this time of year when the lightning bugs start to appear. LJ likes to catch them and crunch them ... but apparently, they don't taste very good!Autor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann Talks with Miriam Amanda Smith about what goes into training new nurses; the education involved, 2- and 4-year courses to become a registered nurse, masters programs to become a nurse practitioner, and PhD programs to specialize. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann and John Nunn talk with representatives from Lilo Collections, Tempi Designs, and County Saddlery, vendors at the Dressage at Devon Event. All three companies design and make equine related products, from leather goods, jewelry, and belt buckles, to high end saddles made in England. Don't miss these fascinating conversations! www.raisingcon…

Rachann talks with Alice Raskins about the Main Street Farmer's Market and all that they offer. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with her friend Angie about growing up on a midwest farm, something the two have in common. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

On a recent visit to Ocean City, Rachann visited the Life Saving Museum and learned a lot about the history of the resort, how it was founded largely due to women, how a 1933 hurricane cut through the island and formed an inlet separating Ocean City from Assateague Island, and so much more. www.raisingconnections.com…

The Carroll Kennel Club recently held its annual Dog Show. Rachann talks with her daughter Rhiannon about their memories of the dog show, then she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into putting on a dog show. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

After spending 20 years in the Navy, David Mayer found himself wondering what to do with the rest of his life! He had learned from his grandfather how to "fix stuff" so he opened Mr. Fixit and has spent the next 20 years helping people with their projects. He also went to college to earn a degree in business management. www.raisingconnections.com…

Rachann and Marta discuss the books of James Herriot, a real English veterinarian who wrote novels about his veterinary adventures in the countryside. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Stacy Ventura of Bee Blends located in Ellicott City, Maryland about the clean, natural, organic products that she makes and sells in her store. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Neil Agate, former president of the Maryland Horse Council about the changes he's been involved with, including the acquisition of The Equiry, and the creation of the Maryland Equine Transition Service program. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

If you have pets, dogs, cats, or horses, you need to clean up after them--scooping the litter box, scooping the yard, and scooping the stable and barnyard. Rachann is fascinated with all sorts of manure, even bat and bird guano!Autor: Rachann Mayer

​In 2019, the Community Ecology Institute purchased a 6.4-acre organic farm in Columbia, Maryland. They have protected this land from housing development and are restoring the farm using regenerative agriculture, a vibrant place of common ground where diverse people come together to learn through hands-on experiences about how to lead happier, heal…

Mariah-Belle Manor Kennel is a busy place with doggy day care, day camp, and boarding. Rachann finds the humor amidst the busy-ness. In this episode of Raising Connections, she shares some her favorite Living Life Tails Up podcasts, which can be found weekly wherever you hear your podcasts. www.raisingconnections.com…

How much food goes to waste in your household? Rachann talks with Riley from Imperfect Produce, a company that's working to help end food waste and build a better food system for everybody. They work with farmers all across the country who have misshapen, ugly, and surplus produce, Imperfect Produce sources that produce and ships it to families. ww…

Rachann recently visited the annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival at the Howard County Fairgrounds, where she talked with vendors ranging from potters, wool and fiber producers, to alpacas. Listen and learn about the different kinds of animals that produce fibers, the uses of different kinds of wool, and so much more! www.raisingconnections.com…

Ellicott City is a historic small town in Howard County, Maryland. Donna Sanger owns Park Ridge Trading in Ellicott City and on July 30, 2016, after being open for only 3 months, lost everything to a flood. She reopened in the original spot in February 2017, then lost everything again to another flood on Memorial Day Weekend 2018. Donna recounts he…

Rachann talks with Zac Rissmiller, partner with his cousin Mike McKelvin, from 1623 Brewing Company in Eldersburg, Maryland. Mike wanted to open a brewery in Carroll County and he called on his cousin Zac, living and working in Colorado, for help. The name 1623 Brewing came from the distance between the cousins, 1623 miles! For more of their story,…

Do dogs rest? Of course they do! They play hard and need to release stress. Did you know that a group of dogs in the kennel will sleep, but there is one that will stay awake to watch over the rest? When we sleep, humans, dogs, and all other animals, our brains are relaxing and processing information.…

On this episode, Rachann talks with a panel of women from the Maryland Horse Council and the Maryland Equine Transition Service about the functions of each organization. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Jackie Coldsmith of Tierra Blooms Flower Farm in Taneytown about her business and how she got there. After studying environmental science at Hood College, Jackie traveled to Central America to study forest ecology and was introduced to subsistence culture. Inspired by her travels, she started growing produce to sell at local farm…

Toyn Brusco is the CEO of South Mountain Creamery in Middletown, Maryland. He talks with Rachann about marrying a farmer's daughter and falling in love with agriculture. They started with a dairy farm, then opened the Creamery selling milk, butter, ice cream, and eggs. Visit www.southmountaincreamery.com. www.raisingconnections.com…

Rachann talks about the time her dog, LJ, wanted a piece of cereal that she was eating. Unfortunately, LJ really didn't like the Frosted Mini Wheat and spit it out. Are there some things that your pet absolutely won't eat?Autor: Rachann Mayer

Jane Sigler and Kim Egan talk with Rachann about the recently ended 2024 Legislative Session in Maryland. They explain what bills have to go through in the legislature to be passed ... or not. They discuss the equine-related bills that the Horse Council supported, and if they passed into law. www.raisingconnections.com…

Do you know what a shedquarters is? In Rachann's world, it's a shed on the grounds of Mariah-Belle Manor Kennel that is a combination office, recording studio, and a place to sit and comtemplate.Autor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Karen Scott, a volunteer at The Retreat at Beckleysville, a therapeutic riding program and part of the Maryland Horse Discovery Centers network. The program offers lessons to people of all ages and abilities, including those with special needs. Find out how you can volunteer! www.raisingconnections.com…

Do you struggle to bathe your dogs? Carroll County native Tom Zipprian is the co-inventor and co-owner of Aqua Paw, a new stress-free way to bathe dogs which was featured on the TV show Shark Tank. Tom talks with Rachann about Aqua Paw and how it works, either outdoors with a water hose, or indoors in the shower. They discuss how to get a business …

Rachann talks with Ron Pilling with the Jesse Clump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program on the Eastern Shore. The Save-a-Shore Farmer Program helps people in rural Maryland areas that are involved in farming including not just farm families, but others who have daily contact with farmers, recognize risk factors and warning signs of suicide, an…

How important is body language to people and animals? Most animals are very attuned to body language, between their own species and others, including humans.Autor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Karen Baker, director of The Humane Society of Carroll County, about the HSCC shelter and Animal Control, two components of the Humane Society. They also discuss many events that are scheduled in the coming months. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer

Rachann talks with Linda Johnson about her farm in New Windsor, Maryland, Garden Gate Farm. She cross-pollinates and raises a variety of flowers and vegetables, and sells heirloom seeds on Etsy. www.raisingconnections.comAutor: Rachann Mayer