Farmside Chat

Cotton is used in products we use every day such as clothes, sheets and towels. But did you know that it is also used in a myriad of other ways? On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall sits down with 5th generation Texas cotton farmer, Colin Chopelas about the unique uses of cotton, the impact of the farm bill and the sustainability practices he's implementing on his farm.

The avocado has increased in popularity in recent years, yet, it's still a mystery to many consumers. Is it a fruit or a vegetable? How long does it take to grow? How long does it take to ripen? How can you pick the best avocado in the grocery story? In this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall gets answers to these questions and more when he chats with Southern California avocado farmer Al Stehly.

Dairy farmers Bret and Johanna Bossard join President Zippy Duvall to talk about life on their farm in New York and their passion to educate the next generation about agriculture. As an ag teacher, Johanna shares a unique perspective about how lessons from the farm can be translated to the classroom.

Agriculture is a diverse industry with new technologies and innovation happening regularly. Today, an innovative farming practice called aquaponics is on the rise. Aquaponics combines hydroponics and aquaculture allowing for plants to be grown without soil and instead given nutrients by an aquatic animal. Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Tracy Nazarro, a Florida aquaponics farmer and owner of Traders Hill Farm. Tracy explains how her farm uses tilapia to help grow romaine lettuce without soil and much more on this episode of Farmside Chat.

On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Alabama farmers Daniel and Carla Trantham about their family farm, the challenges they experience and how young farmers and ranchers can impact the future of agriculture. Additionally, they were awarded the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award at the 2023 American Farm Bureau convention in Puerto Rico. The goal of the Young Farmers & Ranchers program is to surface, grow and develop young Farm Bureau members and provide them opportunities and experiences to strengthen their leadership and ensure effective Farm Bureaus.

Asking for help isn't something that comes naturally for everyone, but it is important to know that it is okay to not be okay. On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Ohio Farmer Brandon Fullenkamp to talk about why he has become an advocate for mental health. After experiencing his own struggles and seeking help, Brandon has become passionate about discussing the importance of mental health. He is now an advocate for farmers and ranchers across the country—sharing his story and the benefits of mental health services.

Becoming a leader and an advocate is a journey. The Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee is equipping women to be leaders and advocates for agriculture in their communities and beyond. On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with the Women's Leadership Committee Chair, Isabella Chism, about the training and leadership opportunities the committee provides for women throughout Farm Bureau, as well as the launching of a new campaign, Ag ConnectHER, centered around advocacy and empowerment.

Sharing agriculture's story with consumers is more important than ever. Through the power of social media, farmers have an opportunity to share their story like never before and 4th generation farmer Jon Dinsmore (aka The Green Screen Farmer) is doing just that. Each week he shows what life on his Yuma Valley, AZ farm is like with his hundreds of thousands of followers. On this episode of Farmside Chat, President Duvall chats with Jon about how he utilizes social media to reach consumers in new and creative ways.

Conservation and sustainability practices are a priority for first generation Wisconsin goat farmer Leslie Svacina. When Leslie decided to start her farm, she knew that caring for the land would be vital for its success, and the conservation programs offered through the Farm Bill were a vital tool in teaching her how to put those conservation and sustainability practices to use on her farm.

On this episode of Farmside Chat, Leslie chats with Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall about the role sustainability plays on her goat farm.

Find out more at FB.Org

A career in food and agriculture is meaningful and fulfilling, but few students are pursuing it. Agriculture Future of America (AFA) is determined to change this. With a missional focus solely on reaching the next generation of ag leaders, AFA is engaging and training college students across the country through its mentorship, professional development, and training programs.

On this episode of Farmside Chat Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with AFA President Mark Stewart about the many ways his organization is training the next generation of ag leaders and its importance to the future of agriculture.

For more visit FB.Org.