AG & Culture

College football is back — but what does it have to do with agriculture?

Turns out, a lot more than you might think.

In this episode of the AG & Culture Podcast, Mike Usry and Phillip McWhirter dig into the agricultural roots of college football, from the land-grant universities that helped build some of the biggest programs in the country to the literal research fields that became iconic stadiums.

They explore the story behind Kyle Field at Texas A&M, the agricultural traditions woven into schools across the SEC and beyond, the science behind the turf players compete on, and why tailgating may be one of the biggest celebrations of American agriculture hiding in plain sight.

Then the conversation turns to college football today.

NIL deals. The transfer portal. Players getting paid. The disappearing line between college football and professional sports. Mike and Phillip debate whether the changes are finally giving athletes what they deserve — or slowly eroding some of the tradition, loyalty, and community that made college football different in the first place.

Along the way, they swap stories about SEC tailgates, Georgia football, LSU fans, Mike’s playing days, $100 handshakes, regional food traditions, and why Saturdays in the fall have become such a massive part of American culture.

Because college football has never been just about football.

It’s about the land, the food, the schools, the traditions, the people — and the communities that gather around them.

In this episode:
• How land-grant universities helped shape college football
• The agricultural origins of Kyle Field and Texas A&M football
• Agriculture’s influence on SEC traditions and mascots
• Turfgrass research at universities like Georgia and Oklahoma State
• Why food and agriculture are inseparable from tailgating
• Stories from Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Auburn and other college football programs
• NIL, the transfer portal and the professionalization of college athletics
• Whether modern college football is losing some of its culture
• Why community may ultimately matter more than the game itself

Welcome back to football season — and to the strange, deeply agricultural story behind one of America’s biggest traditions.

#CollegeFootball #Agriculture #SECfootball #CollegeFootball2026 #NIL #TransferPortal #GeorgiaFootball #UGA #TexasAM #Tailgating #AmericanAgriculture #AgAndCulture

When most people think about agriculture, they think about crops, livestock, equipment, and food production. But what if the most important thing agriculture produces isn’t food at all?

In this episode of AG & Culture, Mike Usry and Joseph Boehm discuss the future of farming, why agriculture is fundamentally about people, and the growing challenge of attracting the next generation of farmers. From mentorship and stewardship to patience, faith, and the realities of modern farm life, this conversation explores what makes agriculture unlike any other industry.

They discuss:

• Why farming teaches lessons you can’t learn in a classroom
• The role of mentorship in agricultural success
• Why fewer young people are entering farming
• The financial challenges facing new farmers
• How agriculture develops patience, resilience, and faith
• Why many people are rediscovering the value of growing food
• The responsibility today’s farmers have to pass on their knowledge
• Why the future of agriculture depends on the next generation

Whether you’re a farmer, homesteader, rancher, gardener, agriculture professional, or simply someone interested in where your food comes from, this episode offers a powerful perspective on the people who make agriculture possible.

Subscribe to AG & Culture for conversations on regenerative agriculture, soil health, farming, food systems, sustainability, livestock production, and the future of rural America.

What has the modern food system gotten right—and what has it cost us?In Episode 19 of the AG & Culture Podcast, Mike and Joseph recap their three-part “Big Food” series and discuss the biggest lessons learned from their conversations about processed food, nutrition, gut health, cortisol, stress, community, and the future of food production.The modern food system has created unprecedented access to food, allowing consumers to enjoy year-round variety, global food choices, and affordable nutrition. But convenience may come with hidden tradeoffs.In this episode, we discuss:🌱 The benefits and drawbacks of the modern food system🥗 Why many Americans are overfed but undernourished🧠 The connection between stress, cortisol, digestion, and overall health🍎 Processed foods vs. whole foods👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Why the loss of community around the dinner table matters🏪 How grocery shopping habits influence nutrition🐄 The growing movement toward local food systems and direct-from-farm sourcing💪 Why diet has a greater impact on health than most exercise programs🌎 Whether the future of food is heading in the right directionFrom food quality and healthy eating to local agriculture and personal responsibility, this episode explores how consumers can make more informed decisions about the food they eat and the lifestyle they live.If you’ve ever wondered how processed foods affect your health, why stress impacts digestion, or what role local agriculture plays in the future of food, this episode is for you.

SPECIAL GUEST: Anna Munzenmaier

https://www.instagram.com/amunz0419

Cortisol, Stress & The Hidden Link Between Food and Disease | Food Industrial Complex Pt. 3 | AG & Culture Podcast Ep. 18

What if the biggest health threat in modern society isn’t just food… but stress itself?

In Episode 18 of the AG & Culture Podcast, Mike Usry and Anna Munzenmaier continue the Food Industrial Complex series by exploring the relationship between cortisol, chronic stress, inflammation, gut health, processed food, and modern disease.  

This episode takes a deeper look into how today’s fast-paced culture keeps people trapped in a constant “fight or flight” state — and how modern food systems, additives, toxins, poor sleep, stress, and highly processed diets may all be contributing to widespread health problems.

Anna shares her personal experience with adrenal burnout, Candida overgrowth, gut health struggles, and the role stress played in breaking down her immune system — while also discussing practical ways people can rebuild resilience naturally.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• What cortisol is and why chronic stress matters

• Fight or flight vs rest and digest explained

• How modern life keeps people in constant stress mode

• The relationship between stress, inflammation, and disease

• How processed foods and additives impact cortisol and gut health

• Why the microbiome is often called the body’s “second brain”

• Gut health, Candida overgrowth, and leaky gut explained

• How antibiotics can disrupt healthy gut bacteria

• The connection between food, stress, autoimmune issues, and inflammation

• Why diversity in diet and microbes matters for health

• Fermented foods, probiotics, and rebuilding gut health naturally

• The role of modern food systems and pharmaceuticals in chronic illness

• Why slowing down and reducing stress is essential for healing

• Practical ways to improve health through nutrition and lifestyle changes

The conversation also explores how modern culture prioritizes speed, productivity, and convenience — often at the expense of long-term health and resilience.

Key Takeaway

Modern society has normalized:

• chronic stress
• processed food
• inflammation
• sleep deprivation
• and constant stimulation

But the human body was never designed to live in survival mode 24/7.

As discussed throughout the episode:

“Food can either support healing… or contribute to disease.”

And sometimes, the healthiest thing a person can do is simply:

slow down.

SPECIAL GUEST: Anna Munzenmaier

https://www.instagram.com/amunz0419

What if the modern food system isn’t just affecting our bodies… but our culture, relationships, and way of life?

In Episode 17 of the AG & Culture Podcast, Mike Usry sits down with a special guest: strength coach and nutrition expert Anna Munzenmaier to continue the Food Industrial Complex series — diving deep into processed foods, convenience culture, nutrition, inflammation, and the hidden cost of cheap food.  

This episode explores how modern society became obsessed with speed, efficiency, and convenience — and how that shift may be disconnecting people from:

• real nourishment
• family meals
• intentional living
• and even their own health

Anna shares her personal story of turning down a fitness modeling opportunity involving anabolic steroids, her philosophy on food and health, and why she believes the quality of what we eat directly affects the quality of our lives.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• Why cheap food may actually be the most expensive choice long term

• Processed food culture and the rise of convenience eating

• How preservatives and additives impact the body

• Why many people today are “full but not nourished”

• Fast food, inflammation, and chronic disease

• The relationship between stress, cortisol, and digestion

• Why eating slowly and communally matters for health

• Food as medicine vs food as poison

• The connection between the microbiome and overall health

• Why genetically modified and highly processed foods can disrupt gut health

• The emotional and spiritual side of meals and family dinners

• Why local food, farmers markets, and whole foods are making a comeback

• Cheap calories vs nutrient-dense foods

• The hidden health costs of modern convenience culture

• Why slowing down may be one of the healthiest things we can do

The episode also explores biblical themes around food, stewardship, and intentional living — connecting ancient wisdom with modern health challenges.

Key Takeaway

Modern society optimized food for:

• speed
• convenience
• shelf life
• and profit

But in the process, many people lost connection to:

• nourishment
• community
• rest
• and the slower rhythms human beings were designed for.

As discussed throughout the episode:

“Food can be medicine… or food can be poison.”

Has modern food become more about convenience than actual nourishment?

In Episode 16 of the AG & Culture Podcast, Mike Usry and Joseph Boehm begin a new 3-part series on the Food Industrial Complex by unpacking how industrialization changed the way we grow, buy, prepare, and think about food.  

From preservatives and processed foods to fast food culture, monocropping, and the loss of family meals, this episode explores the hidden tradeoffs behind the modern food system — and why many people today feel overfed but undernourished.

Mike shares his perspective on how convenience culture, industrial agriculture, and speed-driven living have reshaped both public health and society itself.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• How industrialization transformed the food system

• Why corn and soy became dominant in American agriculture

• The origins of modern processed food culture

• Convenience vs nourishment in modern eating habits

• Why food today is optimized for shelf life and profit

• The role of preservatives in processed foods

• Fast food culture and its effect on public health

• Why many people today are “full but not nourished”

• The connection between stress, cortisol, and processed foods

• The decline of family meals and communal eating

• Why local food and slower living are making a comeback

• Monoculture farming and modern lettuce production

• Food recalls, salmonella outbreaks, and industrial farming practices

• Why healthy, nutrient-dense food naturally costs more

• The relationship between soil health, food quality, and public health

Mike also discusses the emotional and cultural side of food — arguing that one of the greatest losses of the modern food system isn’t just nutritional… it’s relational.

Key Takeaway

Modern food became faster, cheaper, and more convenient.

But somewhere along the way, society lost part of its connection to:

• food
• family
• farming
• and the slower rhythms that once centered culture around the table.

As Southland says:

“We feed the soil that feeds the food that feeds the family.”

Are farm bankruptcies really skyrocketing… or are headlines missing the bigger picture?

In Episode 15 of the AG & Culture Podcast, Mike Usry and Joseph Boehm break down the recent headlines claiming that farm bankruptcies increased 46% — and unpack the context, economics, and realities behind the numbers.  

This episode explores the financial pressures facing modern farmers, the role of debt and industrial agriculture, and why farming is far more complicated than the internet often makes it seem.

From fuel costs and fertilizer prices to government subsidies, equipment debt, and vertically integrated farming systems, Mike explains why many farmers feel financially squeezed — while also pushing back against sensationalized “collapse of agriculture” narratives.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• The truth behind the “46% increase” in farm bankruptcies

• Why headlines can be technically true but emotionally misleading

• Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy explained

• Why restructuring doesn’t always mean a farm is failing

• The difference between clickbait economics vs reality

• Rising fuel, fertilizer, and equipment costs in agriculture

• Why modern farming has become heavily dependent on debt

• How government subsidies and corporate contracts shape farming

• The hidden pressures facing Midwest grain farmers

• GMO seed contracts and input dependency

• Why farmers often can’t repair their own equipment

• The similarities and differences between today and the 1980s farm crisis

• Why many farmers continue farming despite razor-thin margins

• The psychology and lifestyle behind agricultural life

Mike also discusses the growing disconnect between urban America and agriculture — and why people outside farming often misunderstand the realities of food production and rural life.

Key Takeaway

The situation in agriculture is nuanced.

There are real pressures on farmers today — but headlines alone rarely tell the full story.

And despite the economics, many farmers continue because farming is more than a business:

it’s a lifestyle, a calling, and a connection to something deeper.

Why do golf courses stay green, lush, and healthy… while so many homeowners struggle with patchy, unhealthy lawns?In Episode 14 of the AG & Culture Podcast, Joseph Boehm sits down with special guest Phillip McWhirter to break down the difference between professional turf management and typical homeowner lawn care — and what everyday homeowners can learn from golf course superintendents. From lawn maintenance habits to organic turf solutions, this episode explores why golf courses operate differently, why most lawn problems are recurring, and how soil-first lawn care can produce longer-lasting results.Topics Covered in This Episode• Why golf courses look healthier than most residential lawns• The difference between homeowner lawn care vs professional turf management• Why golf course superintendents think like chemists• Common lawn problems homeowners repeatedly face• Why many lawn issues return every year• The problem with relying only on fertilizer• Why overusing chemical fertilizers creates long-term issues• How seasonal fungi and pests affect lawns• Why golf courses are proactive while homeowners are reactive• The role of soil health in long-term turf performance• Organic lawn care vs traditional chemical programs• How carbon-based products improve turf quality• What C-FIX is and how carbon-treated chicken manure works• Why organic fertilizers don’t create “immunity” issues in soil• How to improve lawn color, density, and overall health naturallyPhillip also explains why many homeowners are hesitant to transition to organic lawn care — even when better long-term solutions exist — and why the shift is often easier than people think.Key TakeawayHealthy lawns don’t come from dumping more fertilizer on the grass.They come from understanding the system underneath it — the soil, biology, moisture balance, and long-term health of the turf.Golf courses don’t stay beautiful by accident.They stay beautiful because professionals pay attention to the details most homeowners overlook.

Soil Conditioners Explained: Why They Don’t Work (And How to Use Them Right) | AG & Culture Podcast Ep. 13

What is a soil conditioner, and why do so many people use them incorrectly?

In Episode 13 of the AG & Culture Podcast, Mike Usry and Joseph Boehm continue their lawn care series by breaking down one of the most misunderstood tools in soil health: soil conditioners.  

Most homeowners expect fast, visible results—like fertilizer—but soil conditioners work differently. They target what you can’t see: the foundation of your lawn.

This episode explains what soil conditioners actually do, why they’re critical for long-term lawn health, and the biggest mistakes people make when using them.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• What a soil conditioner is (and how it differs from fertilizer)
• Why carbon is the most overlooked nutrient in soil
• How soil conditioners improve soil structure, compaction, and water retention
• The role of microbes in unlocking nutrients for plants
• Why soil conditioners don’t deliver instant results
• The biggest mistake homeowners make when using soil conditioners
• Why poor soil conditions limit product effectiveness
• Can you over-apply soil conditioners?
• How watering habits affect root growth and soil health
• Why most lawn care companies don’t use soil conditioners
• Southland’s soil conditioner products (Genesis, Omega, Revival)
• How humic and fulvic acids improve nutrient uptake
• Why soil conditioners enhance fertilizer efficiency instead of replacing it

Mike explains that soil conditioners are not a “quick fix”—they’re a long-term investment in soil health, helping rebuild the microbial ecosystem that supports strong, resilient grass.

Key Takeaway

Soil conditioners aren’t the paint—they’re the foundation.

If your lawn isn’t improving, the issue may not be what you’re applying… it’s what’s happening beneath the surface.

Why Most Lawn Programs Fail (Even Expensive Ones) | AG & Culture Podcast Ep. 12

Why do so many lawns struggle… even when homeowners are spending thousands on lawn care?

In Episode 12 of the AG & Culture Podcast, Mike Usry and Joseph Boehm kick off a new series on lawn care, soil health, and turf management by breaking down one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry: most lawn programs are built on the wrong foundation.  

From brand-new neighborhoods to established lawns, this episode explains why grass often looks good at first—but declines over time—and what’s really happening beneath the surface.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• Why homeowners’ expectations for lawns are often unrealistic
• How modern neighborhoods are built on poor, compacted soil
• Why topsoil is removed during construction—and why that matters
• The problem with monoculture lawns (Bermuda, fescue, zoysia, etc.)
• Why most lawn care programs focus on fertilizer instead of soil health
• The truth about NPK fertilizers and short-term results
• Why over-fertilization is a growing problem in the U.S.
• How fertilizer runoff contributes to environmental issues
• Signs of an unhealthy lawn (thin grass, pests, disease, weak growth)
• Why insects target weak grass
• The difference between treating symptoms vs fixing root causes
• Why soil biology is the foundation of a healthy lawn
• The role of soil conditioners, humic substances, and carbon-based products

Mike explains that most lawn programs are designed for speed and volume, not long-term soil health—leading to fragile lawns that require constant inputs just to maintain appearance.

Key Takeaway

If you want a better lawn, stop focusing only on the grass.

Healthy lawns are built from the ground up—starting with soil biology, structure, and long-term system health, not just fertilizer applications.