OUTdrive

Busy people know how to get things done and our guest today is one busy woman working in agriculture. As a wife, mother, farmer and director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Chris Chinn is leading the way in the state's largest industry. Most people would be amazed at the number of initiatives the department has going at any one time and this time of year, it gets even busier as the Missouri State Fair expands from about 25 people to over 900 to greet and serve fairgoers. Chris and her family have been involved in agriculture her entire life and she sets a shining example as an advocate for farmers and ranchers around the state, not to mention all the other things she has on her plate.

Listen in to get familiar with the Department of Agriculture and its programs, some of the challenges faced by farmers today, how Chris appreciates the family feel of the ag industry and some of the innovative ways the state is telling the story.

The opportunities for women working in agriculture are tremendous and the Missouri State Fair has opened the door for many over the years. This year's fair theme is Where Traditions Grow, and one of the traditions the fair opens with each year is its queen contest.

Today's guest is Elsie Kigar, an impressive young lady who currently reigns as the Missouri State Fair Queen. Having grown up and worked on her generational family farm, shown cattle from a young age, and rolled out a farm-to-fork beef business during the pandemic, Elsie has laid a solid foundation for a career in agriculture. As the State Fair Queen, she has also had the opportunity to represent the fair and advocate for agriculture throughout the state, speaking at events, judging contests and growing in her role. Listen in for insight into life on the farm, how being queen has shaped her as a purpose-driven woman, how to reach young people of her age and some of the traditions she and her family enjoy each year at the fair.

Missouri has a rich history of winemaking and in fact has been credited with helping to save the French wine industry. Today, there are nearly 130 wineries, hundreds of grape growers and thousands of jobs in this growing industry, right here in our state. To help make it grow, the Missouri Wine and Grape Board works with wineries and growers to promote Missouri wines. The person in charge of marketing for the board is our guest, Annette Alden. Annette's background in agriculture started at an early age, growing up on her family farm. She discovered marketing in high school and has never looked back, landing her "perfect job" with Missouri Wines in 2016.

Listen in for insight into Missouri wines and how they are marketed, including their recent competition and their presence at the Missouri State Fair. We also discuss her role as a woman in agriculture and how important it is to her, and we close with information about a new Missouri Wines program that is just rolling out.

Every year at this time, our advertising agency is busy putting the finishing touches on the marketing campaign for the Missouri State Fair, one of our oldest clients. We love the fair and all the traditions that make the fair what it is, which is what inspired the theme for this year's 11-day event, held August 10-20 in Sedalia. The theme is Where Traditions Grow and you can listen in as our guest Kari Mergen, the Marketing Director for the fair, shares some of the traditions and reasons why people come to the fair year after year. She also discusses what's new at the fair, along with some of the marketing strategies we're using this year to attract fairgoers.

It's almost a perfect scenario in marketing when you're at a place where the story practically tells itself. Great brand with history and reputation. Great people with a real passion for what they do. Great products that you just can't get enough of. Our guest today is proud to be in that place. Listen in on my conversation with Aaron Oelger, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Hodgdon Powder, a major manufacturer of smokeless powder for the ammunition industry. Aaron shares his thoughts on what's working in strategic marketing, the importance of knowing your customer, the value of authenticity, what it takes to be a good marketer, and more.

There are a lot of cool things going on in our schools today that many people might be surprised to hear about, like robotics. Innovation is driving technology and our local high school is leading the way with a nationally recognized robotics program that gives students the opportunity to create and compete on a global level. Through other new programs, like Queen City CAPS, students will be able to work hand in hand with regional manufacturers, health care organizations and businesses to do real world projects and find a career that best fits their skills and interests. Much of this has been led by teacher, coach and mentor Michael Wright. Listen in as he shares the story of how Team Scream came to be, some of the experiences they've had in just a few short years, how students work together in a team approach, and more!

It's always interesting when business models change to meet our changing world. A great example is real estate where the online auction platform has transformed the industry. Listen in to my conversation with Justin Hubbs, a Real Estate District Manager with BigIron Realty. BigIron burst on the scene in our region over the past few years and Justin shares his insight on what it takes to grow a successful business, how storytelling has played an important role in their marketing mix and how from his perspective, land is more than an asset, it's a legacy.

Technology is driving marketing today, just like it is in almost every industry. Over the last 30 years, our society has experienced a revolution in the way digital marketing has emerged and developed. Chris Young has lived it firsthand, as a computer salesman, a businessman, a digital director for an ad agency and today as the Web and Digital Marketing Director at the University of Central Missouri. Learn about some of the tips and tools Chris and his team use to accomplish their website and marketing goals. We also discuss the "why" behind digital marketing, what makes a great digital marketer and what it takes to grow a successful business.

You know, sometimes we get a bad rap out here in the country that we're behind the curve in the use of technology and innovation, but honestly, nothing could be further from the truth. Our guest today is proof of that. Taylor Moreland is the founder and owner of a Missouri company called Agri Spray Drones that manufactures and markets drones for agricultural applications. What was once accomplished primarily with crop dusting can now be done efficiently and effectively with large, commercial drones that fly right over the top of a field, applying chemicals to the parts of the field that need it. Taylor and his team believe in empowering rural America with new opportunities and they are building a company to do just that.

Listen in to hear Taylor's story about starting and growing their business and how they're not only making innovative products for the ag industry but marketing them in innovative ways as well.

Agriculture is the biggest industry in Missouri and its importance to feeding the world is enormous. In addition to growing crops for food and fiber, storage and distribution are vital tasks in the process. Our guest today has been producing for nearly 50 years grain bins that enable farmers to store their produce until they're ready to sell. Bub Caldwell is the President of W. B. Young, Missouri's premier grain handling specialist since 1959.

In this episode, Bub shares the story of how W. B. Young was founded, his evolving role over the years, and how he has grown the business by paying attention to what's going on in the world, building relationships and taking care of his customers and employees. He also describes how he is transitioning his business and rewarding his loyal employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and how that works.