Episode 5 of the AgricultHER podcast series with Sherri Sanders
There's a photo of my middle child, Rhett, as a newborn, sound asleep in a Pack 'n Play in my office. Not in a nursery. Not at home. In my office. Because that's where the work was happening, and I had a business to build.
That photo tells you everything you need to know about why I do what I do at SMART Reproduction. It wasn't about choosing between being a mom and being a business owner. It was about showing my kids, Kendall, Rhett, and the youngest, that you can build something meaningful, something that matters, and that sometimes the hustle looks like a microscope on one side of the desk and a baby monitor on the other.
But here's the thing: this isn't just about me. It's not even just about my family. It's about building something bigger than all of us, something that feeds families, strengthens food security, and proves that American livestock genetics can compete on a global stage.
The Big Picture: Why Livestock Genetics Matter
Let's zoom out for a second.
By 2050, the global population is expected to hit 10 billion people. That's a lot of mouths to feed. And while everyone's talking about plant-based proteins and lab-grown meat, the reality is that livestock, especially small ruminants like sheep and goats, are going to play a critical role in feeding the world.
Why? Because goats and sheep can thrive in places where cattle can't. They're efficient converters of forage into protein. They require less land, less water, and they're culturally significant in many parts of the world where food security is already a challenge.
But here's where genetics come in: not all goats and sheep are created equal. The difference between a mediocre breeding program and an elite one can mean the difference between a herd that barely sustains a family and one that transforms a community's economic future.
That's what we do at SMART Reproduction. We're not just selling semen straws or embryos. We're exporting genetic potential, animals that grow faster, produce more milk, resist disease better, and ultimately help producers feed more people with fewer resources.
It's Personal: The Legacy I'm Building for My Kids
Now, let's bring it back home.
When I'm up at 2 a.m. prepping a shipment to Colombia or troubleshooting a logistics issue with a client in Mexico, it's easy to ask: Why am I doing this?
The answer is simple. I'm doing it for Kendall, Rhett, and their sibling.
I want them to grow up knowing that their mom didn't just talk about innovation, she lived it. I want them to see that hard work isn't a punishment; it's a privilege. I want them to understand that building something meaningful requires sacrifice, grit, and the willingness to have a newborn napping in your office because the work matters too much to wait.
But more than that, I want them to see that legacy isn't about what you accumulate, it's about what you leave behind.
SMART Reproduction isn't just a business that I built from the ground up on a farm in Arkansas. It's a blueprint for what's possible when you refuse to accept the status quo. It's proof that you can be a mom, a scientist, a CEO, and an exporter all at once, and that none of those roles diminish the others.
Building Systems That Outlast You
Here's something I've learned from scaling this business while raising three kids: if the business can't run without you, you haven't built a business, you've built a job.
And that's not a legacy. That's a treadmill.
One of the most important lessons from the research on building lasting businesses is this: legacy is about transferability. It's about creating systems, processes, and a culture that can operate, grow, and improve even when you're not in the room.
For me, that means:
- Documenting everything. Standard operating procedures for lab work, export logistics, client communication, all of it. If it's only in my head, it disappears when I do.
- Building a team. I can't do this alone. And frankly, I don't want to. I want people around me who are smarter, more talented, and more passionate about specific pieces of the business than I could ever be.
- Creating brand value beyond myself. Clients need to trust SMART Reproduction, not just Brittany. That means delivering consistent quality, honoring commitments, and building relationships that transcend any one person.
This isn't just good business strategy. It's how you build something that outlasts the lab, outlasts the long nights, and outlasts you.
The Compound Effect of a Thousand Daily Decisions
Legacy isn't built in a single grand gesture. It's built in the small, daily decisions that most people never see.
It's choosing to answer a client's email at 10 p.m. because they're eight time zones away and it's business hours for them.
It's double-checking a pedigree before shipping genetics because someone's livelihood depends on getting it right.
It's saying yes to speaking at a conference or hosting a farm tour even when you're exhausted, because visibility matters and the industry needs more women's voices.
It's having a newborn in the office, a one-year-old in a carrier beside the microscope, and a preschooler "helping" you tag animals: because this is real life, and real life doesn't wait for perfect timing.
Every one of those decisions compounds. And over time, they create something regenerative: a business that doesn't just extract value but creates it, a reputation that opens doors, and a legacy that inspires the next generation.
The Heart of It All
So why do I do this?
Because I believe American livestock genetics are the best in the world, and I refuse to let logistics, red tape, or outdated systems keep them from reaching the producers who need them most.
Because I believe that women belong in agriculture: not just as participants, but as leaders, innovators, and decision-makers.
Because I believe my kids deserve to see what's possible when you work hard, stay curious, and refuse to settle.
And because at the end of the day, this work matters. It feeds families. It strengthens economies. It builds food security in places where it's desperately needed.
That's the heart of the hustle. That's the legacy I'm building. And that's why, even on the hard days, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
A huge thank you to Sherri Sanders and the White County University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service for creating the AgricultHER podcast and giving women in agriculture a platform to share their stories. If you haven't checked out their incredible work supporting producers and communities, I encourage you to visit their website and see how they're making a difference across Arkansas.
Ready to Be Part of the Legacy?
Whether you're a breeder looking to improve your herd, an international client seeking elite American genetics, or a partner interested in building something bigger together, we'd love to hear from you.
Explore our online catalog of premium sheep and goat genetics: Browse the Catalog
International clients, let us know how we can serve you: International Client Interest Form
USA (Domestic) clients, we're here to help: USA Interest Form
Interested in strategic partnerships? Let's talk about how we can work together to strengthen livestock genetics worldwide. Partnership Inquiry
Quick takeaway (and what to do next)
Whether your program is focused on Boer goat, dairy goat, or sheep, building a legacy means pairing great people with great systems—and using the right tools (like artificial insemination and embryo transfer) to responsibly multiply elite genetics for export. That’s what this AgricultHER story is really about: showing up, doing the work, and leaving the industry better—especially for women in ag.
This is the final post in our five-part AgricultHER podcast series. Thank you for following along on this journey. Here's to building legacies that outlast the lab, one daily decision at a time.