28. From Pharmacy to Farm Finance: Holly Haralson's Journey to Empire Financial Services

Written By Jonathon Haralson

Holly Haralson

In this episode of Your Ag Empire, we're flipping the mic and putting Holly Haralson in the guest chair. Holly is the COO of Empire Ag and the driving force behind Empire Financial Services. Her journey from pharmacist to farm finance expert is anything but ordinary.

We unpack the pivotal moment that shifted her career, how a traumatic experience led her to refocus her life, and the surprising similarities between reading prescriptions and reading profit-and-loss reports. Holly shares the origin story of Farm Assist, its evolution into Empire Financial Services, and what producers are still getting wrong when it comes to managing their books.

This episode covers:

  • How trauma led to clarity and a new purpose

  • What pharmacists and bookkeepers actually have in common

  • The early days of Empire Ag and the hole Holly saw in ag financial services

  • What financial strategy looks like when it’s actually working

  • How Figured helped build better break-evens for real decision-making

  • Why there's power in knowing your numbers year-round, not just at tax time

  • The challenge and reward of building a remote financial services team rooted in rural values

Whether you're a farmer trying to get bank-ready or a professional wondering if it's too late to pivot careers, Holly's story proves there's a way forward—and it starts with clean books and a clear head.

Learn more at youragempire.com/financialservices or connect with Holly on Instagram @holly_haralson.

Jonathon Haralson

Jonathon Haralson, a sixth generation farmer by heritage, and he started farming his own operation from scratch in 2009.

Growing up, Jonathon’s family raised cattle, wheat, hay, and grew pecans. He grew up, alongside his brother, watching his Grandfather and Dad work from sun-up to sun-down on the family farm and grow yard. As time passed by, the market volatility became greater and the banking stress became greater, and Jonathon witnessed the fall of his family’s farming operation when he was just a child. He saw his dreams of continuing to build his family’s farming empire disappear as he watched his family’s equity and land auctioned off piece by piece. It’s something Jonathon never wanted to see happen to another family.

By the grace of God, Jonathon now educates farmers and ranchers about commodities, so they can spend more time out in the field and with their families.

https://youragempire.com
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27. Feeding Cattle, Managing Risk, and Raising Boys: Jordan Morris on Building a Legacy from the Ground Up