IL CORN TV

From early conservation efforts in the 1980s to winning the Illinois Leopold Conservation Award, farmer and author Dan Sanderson joins host Shane Gray to share how conservation practices, virtual fencing, and his book Grounded transformed his farm and perspective.

Episode Highlights:

1:51 - Early Conservation: Lessons from the '80s
5:38 - Dan's Conservation Journey Begins
6:23 - The Transformative Soil Health Academy
7:41 - Rethinking Soil: From Dirt to Organism
8:49 - The Ethic of Cover Cropping
9:08 - Real-World Lessons from Cereal Rye

Tune in to hear how conservation, stewardship, and soil health are shaping the future of farming.

Learn more about Dan:

Website: https://www.pasture-grazed.com/

Follow IL Corn TV:
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📩 Want to be a guest on IL Corn TV? Contact: [email protected]

Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, rate it, and share it with someone who’s passionate about soil health and sustainable farming.

#SoilHealth #Farming #ILCornTV #Conservation #SustainableAg #covercrops #farmmanagement

In this episode of IL Corn TV, farmer and board member Shane Gray sits down with Charlie Arnot, CEO of the Center for Food Integrity, to explore how farmers can build real trust with today’s consumers. From the power of storytelling to the challenges of a post-truth world, Charlie shares what it takes to connect, engage, and communicate with meaning.

What’s Inside: 

0:49 – Inside the Center for Food Integrity
2:07 – Why trust matters more than science alone
3:58 – Building credibility in a post-truth world
5:24 – The storytelling edge in agriculture
6:05 – How consumers view ag technology
7:36 – What most people don’t know (and why it matters)
8:08 – Listening for shared values
8:46 – Final take: listen more, speak less
9:02 – Not To Be Corny

🎧 Follow IL Corn TV for more stories from the heart of Midwest ag.

More at: The Center for Food Integrity: https://foodintegrity.org/

LookEast Website: https://lookeast.com/people/charlie-arnot/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LookEastBuildsTrust/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmacharlie/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/charlie_arnot?lang=en


Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert 

#ILCornTV #FoodIntegrity #FarmersAndConsumers #AgCommunication #BuildingTrust #NotToBeCorny

Join intern Jenny Abbott and Lorelei as they share what it’s like spending a summer with IL Corn. From a trip to Washington, D.C., to fun “corny” questions about superhero corn powers, tractor yachts, and popcorn in space, this lighthearted conversation brings fresh perspectives on agriculture from the next generation.

In This Conversation: 
0:00 – Meet intern Jenny Abbott & Lorelei
0:47 – Why it’s fun working at IL Corn
1:12 – If corn had a superhero power…
2:00 – Turning tractors into yachts (and other farm daydreams)
2:27 – Do corn plants really have best friends?
2:50 – What secretly comes alive on the farm (Toy Story style)
3:27 – Corn-shaped spaceships & popcorn in space
3:49 – The weirdest cafeteria food at college
4:46 – Surprising corn facts they didn’t know before
5:21 – Final reflections on summer at IL Corn
🎧 Your front-row seat to Midwest ag—follow IL Corn TV for more stories that matter.

Follow Illinois Corn:
🌐 https://ilcorn.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ILCorn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilcorn/#
Twitter/X: https://x.com/ilcorn?ref
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ilcorn

Sign up for updates: https://ilcorn.formstack.com/forms/sign_up_youtube_alert

#ILCornTV #CornInterns #FutureOfAg #AgCommunications #FarmLife #CornyQuestions #NotToBeCorny

From the film set to the heartland, world-traveling producer Maren Klakegg shares her incredible story. In this episode of IL Corn TV, Maren talks about her journey as a foreign exchange student in Illinois, her initial impressions of "corn country," and how her experience with a farming family gave her a new appreciation for rural life and the people who live it.

Inside This Episode:
0:50 - A Filmmaker's Background
3:00 - From City to Cornfield
4:45 - A New Way of Life
6:34 - Discovering a Shared Passion
8:10 - The Gift of a New Family
9:14 - Not To Be Corny

Tune in to hear how a world-traveling film producer found a new perspective in rural Illinois.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marenklakegg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/klakegg95



📧 Get notified when new episodes air: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📩 Sponsorship or partnership inquiries? Contact: [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who loves local stories!


#GlobalAg #CultureExchange #RuralAmerica #FarmStories #ILCorn TV

A family farm thrives on a blend of tradition and innovation. In this episode of IL Corn TV, we hear from Missy Friestad, a fourth-generation farmer who's proving that wisdom isn't just measured in years. 

Missy shares how she's bringing modern technology to her family's operation, the powerful connections she's built through social media, and what it's truly like to work with a grandpa who saw the start of it all.

Inside This Episode:
0:50 - A 72-Year Farming Legacy
2:07 - Tackling the Generation Gap
4:35 - Lessons from the Family Farm
5:00 - Tara's Corn Corner
5:20 - Becoming a Voice for Ag
6:55 - The Rise of Women in Ag
8:46 - From Horses to iPads
10:00 - Not To Be Corny

Discover how a blend of old-school wisdom and new-age tech is shaping the future of farming.

Follow Missy and her sister to discover more
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/centralsisters.il/

Tiktok
https://www.tiktok.com/@centralsisters.il


📧 Get notified when new episodes air: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📩 Sponsorship or partnership inquiries? Contact: [email protected]

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who loves local stories!

#AgTech #GenerationsInAg #FarmWisdom #FemaleFarmer #ILCorn TV

Learn how the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center is shaping the future of renewable fuels. 🌽 From ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel, discover the breakthroughs that could transform farming and energy worldwide.

Inside This Episode:

0:50 - The NCERC Mission
3:19 - Scaling Up Sustainable Aviation Fuel
5:06 - Corn's Future Beyond Ethanol
6:29 - A Legacy with Illinois Corn
7:27 - The Ongoing Partnership
9:40 - Not To Be Corny
10:20 -Final Message


Discover more about National Corn to Ethanol Research Center here:
Website: https://www.siue.edu/ncerc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064364093863/search/?q=ncerc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yan-zhang-52090599/

🎧 Like what you hear? Follow IL Corn TV for more local stories from Illinois farmers and communities.

📧 Get episode alerts: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📺 Watch the full show on YouTube: @ILCornTV
📩 For partnerships or sponsorships: [email protected]

#IllinoisCorn #Ethanol #SustainableAviationFuel #NCERC #CornFarmers #Biofuels #RenewableEnergy #IllinoisAgriculture #Farmers #CornToEthanol

What started as a simple winemaking hobby turned into Star Union Spirits, a thriving distillery in Peru, Illinois. Host John Klemm sits down with co-owner Bob Windy to talk about their journey and the role Illinois-grown corn plays in every bottle.

Highlights from the Episode:
00:22 — Meet Bob Windy & the story behind Star Union Spirits
01:18 — From backyard winemaking to running a full distillery
02:02 — Why they chose Peru & the historic Westclox Factory
02:21 — Growing from brandy into whiskey, vodka & gin
02:46 — Using Illinois corn: inside the distilling process
04:20 — Challenges with distribution & expanding the brand
05:04 — How they pivoted during the pandemic with hand sanitizer
05:38 — Spotlight on their 75/25 light whiskey
06:09 — Preserving history at the Westclox Factory
08:06 — Supporting local farmers & building community ties
08:37 — Creating a Midwest-style absinthe
09:18 — Not To Be Corny: Spirits with “good timing”
09:48 — Wrapping it up

Discover more about Star Union Spirits:
Website: https://www.starunionspirits.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starunionspirits/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/1875185836048293/star-union-spirits/

🎧 Like what you hear? Follow IL Corn TV for more local stories from Illinois farmers and communities.

📧 Get episode alerts: https://bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

📺 Watch the full show on YouTube: @ILCornTV
📩 For partnerships or sponsorships: [email protected]

#ILCornTV #StarUnionSpirits #IllinoisCorn #CraftDistillery #IllinoisFarmers #LocalGrains #DistilleryLife #SupportLocal #MidwestWhiskey

Inland waterways quietly power ag exports, but they’re aging fast. Lindsay Croke talks with Thomas Heinold of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the high stakes of lock and dam maintenance, billion-dollar backlogs, and the crews working nonstop to keep grain moving.

This episode covers:
0:30 – Why locks and dams matter to ag
2:36 – Barge shipping by the numbers
4:00 – Who keeps the system moving
5:08 – Repairs, rust, and river damage
6:11 – The funding gap explained
7:25 – What Congress needs to know
9:15 – Not to Be Corny
10:30 – Final thoughts

🎧 Follow IL Corn TV for more stories from the heart of Midwest ag.

Learn more: mvr.usace.army.mil

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockIslandDistrictUSACE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usacerockisland/?hl=en
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/usacerockisland?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjhw-jbFajkJTGCDDlXCZ3Q 

Sign up for updates: bit.ly/ilcorntvalerts

#ILCornTV #USArmyCorps #RiverInfrastructure #GrainShipping #FarmEconomy #MidwestAg #LocksAndDams #NotToBeCorny

💰 Liquidity Flows, Rate Cuts & The Future of Housing

Markets are shifting fast as liquidity tightens, the Fed debates rate cuts, and housing demand battles affordability challenges. From consumer spending resilience to labor market soft spots, KP unpacks the contradictions shaping the economy right now.

It’s a landscape of contrasts: strong balance sheets vs. softening jobs, rising CapEx in AI vs. slowing global trade, and mortgage momentum vs. inflation pressure.

📊 With Jackson Hole around the corner, the Fed’s next move could set the tone for bonds, housing, and equities—and KP breaks it all down live from the road.

Episode Highlights:
00:00 - MBA updates: trigger leads, GSE merger, credit scores & guarantees
02:41 – Congrats to John Hedlund: new MBA Vice Chairman (2026)
03:27 – Market outlook: NAHB confidence, housing starts, applications & Fed minutes
04:31 – Jackson Hole preview: Powell, tariffs, and market-moving risks
06:36 – Stocks, bonds & crypto: liquidity shifts and institutional trading flows
09:58 – Treasury yields explained: 2-year vs 20-year vs Fed Funds
10:28 – Hawkish cuts & dot plot scenarios for the September Fed meeting
12:40 – Money supply, tariffs as taxes & liquidity drain explained
14:28 – Housing impact: affordability if rates drop to 6%
14:59 – CFPB updates, regulatory shakeups & state-level enforcement
15:44 - Live from NAMMBA Connect: diversity in lending & leadership highlights
17:14 - Existing home sales, builder confidence & treasury yields update
18:28 - Jackson Hole expectations: Powell’s tone & market reactions
23:03 - Consumer spending slowdown vs. CapEx surge in AI
24:06 - AI boom: CapEx, productivity, and risks of job losses
25:00 - Physical AI & robotics: Tesla, humanoid robots, and the future of work
27:00 - Final thoughts: liquidity, tariffs, markets & preparing for Powell

🎧 Stay smart. Stay ready. Stay informed.
https://linktr.ee/kptalksdollarsandsense

#MortgageNews #FederalReserve #HousingMarket #Refinance #InterestRates #Inflation #Markets #GlobalTrade #AI #KPTalksDollarsAndSense #FinanceUpdate