Dirt and Bull

On this final episode of Season 2 of Dirt & Bull, we sit down with Rebecca White for a thoughtful conversation on how genetics, technology, and decision-making are shaping the future of agriculture. Rebecca brings a clear, farmer-first perspective to the discussion, focusing on how innovation should serve producers rather than overwhelm them. As the season wraps, the conversation reflects on where ag has been and where it’s headed, grounded in practicality rather than hype.

On this episode of Dirt and Bull, we sit down with Alecia Stuaan for a candid look at what it really means to build a career in agriculture as a woman who grew up in the thick of it. Raised on a 2,500 acre row crop and livestock operation in southern Iowa, Alecia didn’t just grow up around farming, she lived every inch of it. Welding at ten, planting at twelve, running the combine at seventeen, she entered the industry with a depth of experience that most people never see. But as she shares, knowing your stuff doesn’t stop the stereotypes from coming. It just means you’re ready when they show up.

In this episode of Dirt and Bull, Chris sits down with Tillery Sims, a fifth-generation Texas farmer whose story stretches across West Texas, the Permian Basin, and a lifetime of adapting to the realities of modern agriculture. From her family’s roots in Terry County to the unexpected pivot into the energy sector, Tillery opens up about the challenges that pushed her family off the farm, the bankruptcy that reshaped their future, and the skills they carried with them into new careers, new industries, and new influence. Her story reflects the grit and reinvention that defines rural families navigating change on the High Plains.

In this episode, we sit down with Jacqui Fatka, Lead Economist for Farm Supply and Biofuels at CoBank, to break down one of the most complicated and consequential topics in agriculture today, the evolving economics of ethanol, renewable diesel, and the clean fuel production credit known as 45Z. Jacqui brings decades of policy, market, and biofuels experience to the table, offering a grounded look at where we’ve been, where we stand, and how these incentives could reshape rural America over the next decade.

In this episode of Dirt and Bull, the team sits down with Cassidy Johnston, a first generation rancher who built her career from scratch across some of the toughest country in the West. With experience in Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico, Cassidy brings a clear, grounded perspective on what ranching actually takes — and why the industry often struggles to blend tradition with modern business practices.

In this episode of Dirt & Bull, we sit down with Pierre van Aswegen of RAVAH|TECH to explore how executives and innovators are shaping the future of carbon markets in agriculture. With global experience and a deep understanding of farm-level economics, Pierre offers a grounded look at how carbon intensity data is transforming from a buzzword into a tangible revenue opportunity for producers. His mission is clear: empower farmers by making data work for them.

In this episode of Dirt & Bull, the team dives into the changing world of U.S. biofuels with industry veteran Mick Henderson, a leading voice in ethanol production and carbon innovation. With decades of experience, Mick offers a grounded look at how corn-based ethanol has evolved—and where it’s headed next.

In this episode of Dirt & Bull, the team sits down with Natalie Roy of AgriSafe, an organization dedicated to supporting the health and safety of farmers and ranchers across the country. Natalie shares her journey from growing up on a small farm in New Hampshire to becoming a national leader in agricultural health advocacy, bringing public health and agriculture together in powerful ways.

On this episode of Dirt & Bull, the team sits down with Timothy Kercheville of Festina Lente Farms, a farmer, mentor, and consultant whose philosophy of “hasten slowly” has guided more than a decade of work creating financially and ecologically sustainable farms. Timothy shares how community-supported agriculture (CSA) can extend far beyond a subscription box—reaching into schools, homesteads, and communities to build systems that both feed people and support local economies.

In this episode of Dirt and Bull, the team sits down with Brandon Travis to talk about one of the fastest-changing intersections in agriculture: energy. From large-scale solar projects to on-farm renewables, Brandon shares what it looks like when farming and energy production come together—and how producers can position themselves in this growing space.