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When J.R. Simplot met with Ray Kroc (McDonalds) and sold him on the idea of “consistent” frozen Idaho potatoes, the Simplot company was headed for big things. A second encounter with a guano (bat poop) salesman, led to an experiment that would inspire Simplot to build a large fertilizer business. And finally, Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Flo Jo) would help jump start the J.R. Simplot Games as one of the largest indoor high school track meets in the nation.

These are the stories told by Rick Phillips who personally knew J.R. Simplot and worked as his Manager of Public Affairs for the past 34 years before recently retiring. He gives a fun and insightful look into what built this company and how Mr. Simplot’s personal connection to people was his secret to success.

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Garrett Kleiner thinks more people should consider leaving traditional occupations in an office setting for a career in forestry. He loves being in nature and working with individuals to plan forest management. 

What may surprise some is that many forestry jobs are in the private sector. Garrett, a consulting forester with Inland Forest Management, explains how forestry works today and how it has advanced over the decades. He advocates for the next generation to take over, keeping our forests healthy and sustainable.

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Raising cattle to produce quality beef is a process that gets better every decade. New research provides valuable knowledge, but the tricky part is getting this new information to our American ranchers, who are some of the busiest workers around.

This is where Meranda Small comes in. As a Livestock Production Extension Educator with the University of Idaho, Meranda is constantly working with ranchers under Idaho's Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program which seeks to improve the competitiveness and profitability of Idaho beef producers and build consumer trust in the industry to expand markets for beef products in the retail and food service industries.

She shares how her own personal ranch lessons, good and bad, have also given her a basis to build a relationship with the cattle industry.

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For many years, Idahoans have been working to solve the puzzle of increasing water storage to provide for farms and city municipalities and to recharge the aquifer. The goal is to have more water storage built up to use across Idaho's water corridors.

Idaho's legislators recently passed Senate Joint Memorial 101 (SJM101) that asks federal agencies to study all options to increase long-term water capacity, including a study on the Teton Dam site.

State Senator Kevin Cook, from Idaho Falls, Idaho, takes us into SMJ101 and explains what it means, what it doesn't mean, and how people can be involved in the discussion.

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Sugar is such a critical commodity in this country that major steps are taken to protect its availability. Sugar works with other ingredients to provide taste, texture, and balanced acidity to the food we eat. However, sugar is commonly misunderstood, whether talking about its origin from sugar beet vs sugar cane, GMOs, or federal protections.

Samantha Parrott (aka Sugarbeet Queen) loves to tell people the story about this industry. As the Executive Director of the Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association, she takes us into the world of sugar.

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The waiting list to buy miniature donkeys grew so fast at Simple Little Farm that Garrett & Ruth Nilsson finally decided to primarily sell to families who could visit their farms and get to know these amazing companion animals. Their story is funny, where a random call to check on getting information on a miniature donkey quickly became a question of whether they would be interested in adopting an entire herd.

The Nilssons share a fascinating story of how these popular animals are carefully adopted into new homes and pastures based on who their new friends (donkey or horse) will be or which donkey friend is required to go with them on their journey.

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Trent Van Leuven thought he might be an ag economist until a chance encounter with an ag educator and a 700-mile drive changed everything. Starting his career during the recession of 2009, Trent has seen the blessings and challenges of being an ag teacher in Mackay, Idaho, a town with under 1,000 residents. He shares how many students thrive when connected to technical skills early in their lives and how schools can change lives by building programs that fit “hands-on” learners.

Trent was awarded the 2024 Idaho Teacher of the Year and used that opportunity in the state and in the nation to educate leaders about small-town schools.

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Paige Nelson didn't have the same class schedule as many of her fellow college journalism students. She came from preg-checking cows in her advanced beef reproduction class and smelled like manure, but she was determined to be an agriculture journalist. 

In this podcast, Paige tells stories of how her upbringing has led to a life as a mom, rancher, and freelance agriculture writer. She has a message for anyone who says, "I am just a farmer or rancher."

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Brody Harshbarger agrees that there is a place for apex predators like grizzlies and wolves, but from his experiences working with cattle and with Fish and Game, he shares that there is a growing need for common-sense management.

He shares how public perception has often been detoured away from science and actual apex predator recovery numbers, influenced by emotion and marketing that isn’t always accurate. The trickle-down effect of some apex predator policies has affected places like his hometown.

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Bryan and Mary Searle were just a young couple when they were invited to their first Farm Bureau meeting. Little did they know that they would stay for over 40 years. 

In this podcast, Bryan Searle, who has served as president of the Idaho Farm Bureau for the past 10 years, takes us down memory lane by telling us six stories. He talks about the early years of being on the board, technological changes, pivotal decisions, and his feelings for those who changed his life.