Show season is upon us, and Roger High of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (and a noted livestock judge himself) joins several members of the Ohio Ag Net team for a unique discussion about the trends - both differences and similarities - between commercial and show livestock. Ohio Ag Net's Jeff Reese and Joel Penhorwood, each with unique experience in the show world from a feed and showing perspective, join OCJ's Matt Reese for this talk about the convergence between the world of market vs. show.

How do judges walk the line between the two standards? It's a topic with many opinions, and we dive into a few of them in this episode. Tune in!

In this thought-provoking episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, host Matt Reese is joined by Ty Higgins of Ohio Farm Bureau and Melanie Wilt of Shift•ology Communication and Clark County Commissioner.

Together, they dive into the concept of echo chambers—what they are, how they affect us, and the implications for agriculture, media, and beyond. From a tragic community crisis in Springfield to Chihuahua anecdotes and family holiday debates, the trio explores how differing perspectives shape our understanding of the world.

They also offer insights on how agriculture can better communicate across divides in an era dominated by curated information and social media algorithms. It's a challenging yet constructive conversation about the importance of stepping outside our comfort zones.

Do you know who Ohio's "corn model" is?

According to Matt Reese in this week’s Ohio Ag Net Podcast, that model is Tyler Drewes of Wood County, a corn producer and the president of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association. Matt and Tyler catch up at the 2025 Celebration of Ohio Corn & Wheat on Feb. 4 to discuss crop genetics, grower adaptability, and year-round E-15.

Featured audio includes:

• Matt talks with both the corn and wheat winners of the 2024 Yield Contest. In the Ohio corn yield contest, Kent Edwards of Erie County achieved the highest yield with 344.82 bushels per acre. Meanwhile, in the wheat contest, Aaron Stuckey of Fulton County topped the charts with 140.1286 bushels per acre. Matt asks both of them for their tricks of the trade, especially during the challenging 2024 growing season.
• Dale Minyo speaks with Mike Ralph of Marion County, a corn and soybean farmer who serves on the Ohio Soybean Council Board of Trustees. The two discuss reducing greenhouse gas emissions through biodiesel and renewable fuels, as well as the rise of soybean oil across the United States.

In this week's Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Matt Reese catches up with newly-elected Ohio Farmers Union President Bryn Bird. They talk cross-country moves, diverse vegetable production, and family farming. Bird also shares what the union is advocating on behalf of farmers for, including strengthening regional food systems and farms.

Featured audio includes:

• Dale Minyo catches up with the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture Brian Baldridge at the Ohio Beef Expo.
• Joel Penhorwood meets with the President of the Ohio Auctioneers Association Darby Walton at the Ohio Beef Expo.
• Dale stops by the Farm Credit Mid-America office in Brown County to talk with Rudi Pitzer Perry during Patronage Week. 

The Commodity Classic brings together some of the biggest names in agriculture, and this episode takes you on a virtual tour of the trade show floor. Ohio Ag Net’s Dusty Sonnenberg and Joe Everett catch up with industry leaders to hear the latest on everything from crop protection and seed innovation to ag lending and equipment advancements. Whether it’s new technologies, financing options, or the latest in biologicals, this episode has something for everyone in ag.

We kick off the podcast in an in-depth discussion with Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association's Tadd Nicholson

Featured interviews include:

• Dale Ireland, Syngenta
• Gail Stratman, FMC
• Jared Cox, Meristem
• Pat Clay, Valent
• Tara Durbin, Farm Credit
• Tim Hennessy, Phyco Terra
• Todd Jeffries, Seed Genetics Direct
• Tony White, Bayer
• Kim Tutor, BASF
• David Brennan, Case IH
• Andrew Luzum, Corteva

The annual Commodity Classic is a big deal for agriculture, bringing together voices from across the industry to talk about what lies ahead. In this episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast, Farm Director Dusty Sonnenberg brings you insights from the recent Commodity Classic 2025, featuring updates from a wide range of key agricultural commodity organizations. From market trends and trade discussions to sustainability efforts and transportation challenges, this episode covers it all.

Featured interviews in order of appearance:

• Jed Bower, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)​
• Tyler Drewes and Jared Cox, Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association (OCWGA)​
• Caleb Ragland, American Soybean Association (ASA)​
• Rusty Goebel, Ohio Soybean Association (OSA)
• Jerry Bambauer and Tom Fontana, Ohio Soybean Council (OSC)
• Tom Verry, Clean Fuels Alliance America​
• Janna Fritz and Jim Sutter, U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC)​
• Phillip Good and Brent Gatton, United Soybean Board (USB)​
• Mike Steenhoek, Soy Transportation Coalition

Planting season is just around the corner, so listen to this episode for a one-stop place to hear what issues farmers face that could impact your crops in the field.

Pork, pork, and more pork on this week’s Ohio Ag Net Podcast!

Getting updates from the recent Ohio Pork Congress, Matt Reese talks with Ohio Pork Council President Nathen Schroeder from Putman County and Josh Scramlin with the National Pork Producers Council for an entertaining and insightful discussion on all things impacting hog farmers.

Additional interviews include:

• A conversation with Cheryl Day, executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Council
• Jim Albaugh, the OPC Pork Industry Excellence Award winner
• Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ comments to press at the Commodity Classic

This week, the Ohio Ag Net Podcast brings you coverage from Ohio Farm Bureau’s Ag Day at the Capital, where Matt Reese catches up with Ohio Farm Bureau Trustee Vince Untied of Muskingum County and Evan Callicoat, OFBF Director of State Policy. More insights from the event come from Whitney Bowers, OFBF Director of State Policy and Grassroots Engagement.

Also featured, Dale Minyo talks with Erica Hitzhusen of GrowNextGen SECO and Kristen Ward of Farm Credit Mid-America on the importance of risk management. Plus, Joel Penhorwood hears from key voices at the signing of the new Airable Research Lab at Shawnee State University, a significant step in Ohio’s agricultural innovation.

In this week’s episode, hosts Matt Reese and Joe Everett sit down with Clint and Joe Nester of Nester Ag, LLC in Williams County to discuss how excess soil fertility can be depreciated for tax savings after purchasing farmland.

Also in this episode:

• Joel Penhorwood catches up with Wendy Osborn of Ohio Corn & Wheat to recap the latest corn and wheat yield contest winners.
• Matt talks with Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge and Darke County Commissioner Matt Aultman about the devastating impact of high path avian influenza in western Ohio, including an update on the human case of bird flu in Mercer County.
• Jenna Reese shares insights from the Ohio Forestry Association.