Sorghum State Podcast host Maddy Meier sits down with Lanier Dabruzzi, Director of Nutrition and Food Innovation for the Sorghum Checkoff, to explore why sorghum is stepping into the spotlight.

The conversation also highlights a major innovation: IQF (individually quick frozen) sorghum. From the market gap it fills to why foodservice and CPG (consumer packaged goods) teams are calling it a game-changer, they unpack what makes IQF sorghum uniquely flexible, and uniquely challenging, to work with.

On the science front, Lanier shares details about a groundbreaking human clinical trial studying traditional white and sumac sorghum varieties. They discuss the health questions researchers aim to answer and how these insights could drive broader consumer recognition and farmer profitability.

Tune in to hear what’s fueling excitement at the intersection of science, food, and agriculture—and why sorghum is one grain to watch.

Sorghum State Podcast host Maddy Meier sits down this month with Lanier Dabruzzi, Director of Nutrition and Food Innovation for the Sorghum Checkoff, to explore why sorghum is stepping into the spotlight.

The conversation also highlights a major innovation: IQF (individually quick frozen) sorghum. From the market gap it fills to why foodservice and CPG (consumer packaged goods) teams are calling it a game-changer, they unpack what makes IQF sorghum uniquely flexible, and uniquely challenging, to work with.

On the science front, Lanier shares details about a groundbreaking human clinical trial studying traditional white and sumac sorghum varieties. They discuss the health questions researchers aim to answer and how these insights could drive broader consumer recognition and farmer profitability.Tune in to hear what’s fueling excitement at the intersection of science, food, and agriculture—and why sorghum is one grain to watch.

This episode of The Sorghum State Podcast is packed with updates! Hosts Maddy Meier and Adam York explore the critical role of Oklahoma's Tulsa Ports in boosting efficiency for both bulk and value-added Kansas sorghum exports, proving that the Sorghum State is not so "land-locked" after all. 

You'll also hear more about a farm-to-fork collaboration as K-State student chefs learn about sorghum's potential, bringing the crop to premium plates.

Plus, Adam and Maddy share details on the upcoming commodity commission elections in Districts 4, 5, 6, as well as for the upcoming Sorghum Connection Winter series, which returns to a community near you this December.

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Interested in getting involved? Join the KSP and NSP family today at a level that’s right for you: sorghumgrowers.com/join.

For more information on the upcoming Kansas commodity commission elections, visit: https://ksgrainsorghum.org/filing-now-open-for-kansas-grain-sorghum-commission-candidates/.

This month on the Sorghum State Podcast, Maddy Meier and Adam York dive into all things sorghum market advancement, starting with the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission’s FY26 budget. From supporting research and education to wrapping up the original Collaborative Sorghum Investment Program (CSIP), the Commission is keeping Kansas growers equipped for today while investing in tomorrow’s innovations.

Maddy and Adam also recap the Sorghum Connection Field Day Series, which brought more than 170 attendees across three Kansas locations together for hands-on demos, ag insights, and farmer-to-farmer learning. Even if you missed the summer events, the Winter Series is coming in December, offering more chances to get boots-on-the-ground insights straight from the experts.

Finally, Maddy and Adam take listeners global, covering recent trade team visits from nearly 15 countries and the 2025 Export Sorghum Conference in San Antonio. From ethanol plants and research plots to family farms and consumer products, these delegations got a firsthand look at what makes Kansas sorghum a standout commodity, from livestock feed to renewable fuels. These efforts aren’t just showing the world the value of Kansas sorghum, they’re creating new opportunities for growers in the global marketplace.

Sorghum State Podcast co-hosts Maddy Meier and Adam York guide listeners through a milestone moment for the next decade of sorghum improvement in Kansas: the acceleration of the Collaborative Sorghum Investment Program (CSIP 2.0). Together, they trace the history of the farmer-led initiative from 2016 and explore how it leverages resources for sorghum improvement while opening up the effort over the past 16 months to bolster the program into the future—with enhanced backing from leaders in Topeka.


Listeners will hear from four producer leaders shaping the future of the crop: Brant Peterson, Stanton County; Kevin Kniebel, White City; Shane Ohlde, Palmer; and Andy Hineman, Dighton. These producers break down how CSIP 2.0 fits into long-term challenges and innovations with benefits of the investments returned directly to rural Kansas economies and water savings.


From behind-the-scenes association strategy at the Kansas Statehouse to boots-on-the-ground farming insights from the fields of Kansas, this episode explores why this milestone matters to producers—and how Kansas Sorghum today helps lead the charge for the next generation of sorghum producers tomorrow.

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Interested in getting involved? Join the KSP and NSP family today at a level that’s right for you: sorghumgrowers.com/join

Welcome back to the Sorghum State Podcast! Hosts Maddy Meier and Adam York bring listeners The State of the Sorghum State. From a $5.8 million public-private investment earlier this spring into the Collaborative Sorghum Investment Program (CSIP)—advancing research in drought tolerance, nutrient efficiency, and forage yield through 2036—to growing international interest in U.S. sorghum for pet food, momentum is building, where a recent trade team traveled to Kansas to evaluate sorghum’s potential as a high-value ingredient in global pet nutrition. Add to that sorghum’s rising profile in school meals and the return of the Sorghum Connection field days this August, and it’s clear Kansas sorghum is stepping into the spotlight this summer. 

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Find more details on the 2025 Sorghum Connection Field Day series here.

Confidence grows with action In part two of our special series on Women’s Leadership in the Sorghum Industry. Host Maddy Meier is back with Amy France (National Sorghum Producers), Kim Baldwin and Macy Mueller (United Sorghum Checkoff Program), Kelsey Baker (Kansas Sorghum Producers), and Verity Ulibarri (U.S. Grains Council). 

This powerhouse panel picks up right where we left off on the importance of collaboration across organizations—from navigating trade disruptions to celebrating collective wins, the conversation highlights the resilience, strategy, and leadership that’s moving the sorghum industry forward. 

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Learn more at www.ksgrainsorghum.org, and be sure to stay connected with us by following us (@KansasSorghum) on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn for updates and industry news.

In this special two-part series, Sorghum State Podcast host Maddy Meier shines a spotlight on a few of the many inspiring female leaders within the sorghum industry: Amy France, Chairwoman, National Sorghum Producers; Kim Baldwin and Macey Mueller, Board Members, United Sorghum Checkoff Program; Kelsey Baker, Treasurer, Kansas Sorghum Producers; and Verity Ulibarri, Chairwoman, U.S. Grains Council and former Sorghum Checkoff Chairwoman. 

In part one, these women reflect on the unique perspectives they bring to the table as female leaders in agriculture. From navigating industry-wide challenges to building strong connections between state and national sorghum organizations, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and real talk. Stay tuned for part two!

 Learn more at www.ksgrainsorghum.org, and be sure to stay connected with us by following us (@KansasSorghum) on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn for updates and industry news.

Big opportunities are emerging for U.S. sorghum in India! In Part 2 of this deep-dive episode of The Sorghum State Podcast, Reece Cannady (USGC) joins Maddy Meier & Adam York to further discuss India’s ethanol blending mandate & grain supply; the 5 million metric tonne market potential; and how farmer investments are driving export growth.

Don’t miss this look into global sorghum markets & farmer-led expansion! 

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📲 To stay connected, follow us @KansasSorghum on social platforms or visit our website at www.ksgrainsorghum.org.

#Sorghum #AgExports #Ethanol

Part 2 is here! Tune in as hosts Maddy Meier and Adam York continue the conversation with the U.S. Grains Council’s Reece Cannady on the game-changing opportunities for U.S. sorghum in India’s expanding market.

With strong collaboration between Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, USGC, and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, U.S. sorghum is making waves in India’s growing demand for coarse grains. Find out how trade missions and strategic market development are paving the way for farmers back home.

📲 Follow @KansasSorghum on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn for updates and industry news.
www.ksgrainsorghum.org