In this extraordinary episode, Millennial Ag takes you across the pond to the lush pastures of England, marking our first-ever recording on foreign soil. We are honored to bring you the powerful story of Mike and Donna Bowe, second-generation dairy farmers whose journey is a testament to resilience, pride, and unshakable determination. We're joined by our first-ever guest co-host, Stuart MacLennan, CEO of Peacock Technology, who introduced this incredible opportunity to tell an extraordinary story. 

Mike, a soft-spoken yet profoundly wise dairyman, and Donna, his steadfast partner, take us back to one of the darkest times in their lives and the UK dairy industry: the devastating foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2000. With raw emotion and breathtaking honesty, they recount the heartbreak of seeing their farm brought to its knees, and how they found the strength to rebuild.

“We took chances,” Mike says—a simple yet powerful statement that encapsulates their courage to pivot and innovate in the face of despair. Their story isn’t just about survival; it’s about transformation, adaptability, and the deep-rooted pride they carry for their heritage.

Donna’s unwavering support shines through as she helps Mike tell their story, highlighting their shared belief in the future of their farm. The Bowes’ humility is matched only by their excitement for the next generation, as they prepare to pass the reins to their children and grandchildren.

This episode is a moving exploration of the highs and lows of dairy farming, the love of their land and industry, and the legacy of family. Tune in to hear how Mike and Donna turned devastation into opportunity, and why their story resonates far beyond the borders of England.

Don’t miss this deeply inspiring conversation with two farmers who prove that taking chances, even in the hardest of times, can lead to extraordinary success.

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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We're less than a week away from Christmas, and in amongst all the festivites and anticipation of rest and relaxation, we wanted to share a reminder for another important end-of-year tradition: end-of-year planning. 

We welcome back Valene's dad, Bill Lickley this week. A former ag banker, Bill takes us through the usual necessary financial steps to wrap up a year well. All solid and timely advice, but we especially appreciate how he takes the first approach to the work. 

Begin with gratitude. Look back on your year and celebrate the highs, and reflect on the lows, and be sure to take a moment to be grateful to be able to be a part of an industry, job, community that you (hopefully) love. As Bill reminds us, it's all too easy to dwell on the hard times, the things that went wrong, or the things you wanted to happen that didn't, so be sure to pause for a moment, and remember all the wins, highs, and good that happened too. 

We also especially love the second half of the episode. As Bill finishes walking us through the financial end-of-year planning aspects, he turns to end-of-year personal planning. His advice is the same: begin with gratitude. Then, start planning where you want to be this time next year. What are your individual and family goals? Go beyond finances, and consider what do you want to do for fun in the coming year? What milestones do you want to hit? Consider all that, and then start making a plan to get there. Like Bill says, it's much easier to get to where you want to be if you have a solid idea of where you're coming from. 

This is an easy episode to listen to, and an easy one to take so many good points away from and put into practice without too much hassle. Enjoy it with a glass in one hand, and your notebook and pen in the other. 

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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Hard to believe, but the holidays are almost here! In this week's episode, Valene talks about how holidays impact beef markets. She gives us a good overview of how things generally work this time of year, but also weaves in some new developments in the industry. 

Beef packers are announcing big layoffs over the next two to three months, and it's got Val wondering if the incoming administration's stance on immigration is the cause. She discusses some of the nuances that these announcements are making clear, and how it could impact the markets and industry overall in the coming year. This is a great episode to chew on over the coming weeks, as we prepare for the end of the year and what excitement early 2025 is going to bring to agriculture. 

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, we’re joined by Lt. Governor Scott Bedke to explore the story behind Idaho’s groundbreaking water agreement.

This historic deal brought together senior and junior water users, two groups with conflicting interests, to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the state. The journey was far from straightforward. Senior water users stood firm in their rights, while junior users—critical to Idaho’s economy—were seen as “too big to fail.”

Yet, through long days, hard conversations, and a shared commitment to Idaho’s future, a middle ground was found. Lt. Governor Bedke highlights how Idaho’s farmers played a pivotal role in the process. Recognizing the stakes, they united with a common goal: to preserve and protect Idaho’s water resources for generations to come.

 Collaboration, compromise, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves defined the process, proving that even the toughest challenges can be solved when people work toward a shared purpose. This episode is a testament to the power of community, leadership, and vision in safeguarding the lifeblood of Idaho’s agriculture and rural communities.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about water stewardship, perseverance, and the lessons learned along the way.

Resources: facebook.com/IdahoLtGovernor 

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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In a short and sweet episode to wrap up our election coverage, we discuss what we've been thinking about in the week since America cast its votes. What does a second Trump Administration mean for American agriculture? We dive into what we've been pondering, touching on economic and trade policy (what's going to happen with tarriffs?) immigration policy, right down to Cabinet and other appointments. Tune in to this episode to hear what's been on our minds, and then get in touch to let us know where you're at with the election results! For now, we're turning off the politics to enjoy the upcoming holiday season, but we'll be back after the inauguration to jump right into what the eventual appointments and policies shake out to be. Stay tuned!

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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You knew it was coming...we had to talk US elections before the you-know-what hits the fan. We're delighted to welcome back Tanner Beymer, Executive Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen's Association. Tanner joins us anytime there's a ballot in sniffing distance, and he doesn't disappoint in this episode. In fact, he more than delivers. He gives us an exellent overview of not just the presidential race, but down-ballot races in both parties and what it all may mean in whatever the makeup of Congress may be after November 5th. He also shares with us some Hail Mary attempts by current administration regulatory agencies to shove through new rules and regs that could cause a lot of concern for agriculture in general, and producers in particular. It's a fun episode, because Tanner disregards the doom and gloom of the last two years of campaigning, and shines a light on why the world truly won't end on November 6th, no matter the outcome of the races. He shares some sage wisdom in that regard, and leaves us with a story of past agricultural efforts to protect ourselves and our industry that turned out in our favor. Finally, he shows off his auctioneering skills, which provides a welcome distraction from the next few days to come. Enjoy, and believe Tanner - the world will still be standing come next Wednesday. Lady Liberty has a lot of life and fight in her yet. 

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the National Cattlemen's Beef Association: www.ncba.org

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag

• Check out our website

• Email us at [email protected]

• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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We are very excited for this week’s episode! The two of us were actually able to meet up in person to record an episode about one of Katherine’s favorite subjects: what’s going on in the dairy industry. Katherine just got back from the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin so we are diving into some of the important things that are lighting the dairy industry on fire right now.

It is such an exciting time to be in the dairy industry for several reasons! From consumer trends to what heifer calves are going for to new technology, we are seeing things that we haven’t seen before in dairy. In this episode, we are diving into the changes in the market dynamics and milk prices, how cow numbers are impacting the industry, and how the current market can create opportunities for dairymen. We’re also discussing some of the new technologies that are available and what this technology could mean for dairy farmers.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the World Dairy Expo

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag
• Check out our website
• Email us at [email protected]
• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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In today’s episode, we are discussing a critical issue the production animal agriculture industry is currently facing, the ballot initiative in Denver regarding a slaughter ban. Joining us today to share insight into what is going on with this initiative is J.P. Dunn of Protect The Harvest. Together, we are digging into what this initiative is, who is behind it, and why it is so critical that the ban does not go through. We are also discussing the difference between animal rights and animal welfare, the economic impact of the slaughter facility being targeted, how the political landscape affects agriculture and this ballot initiative, and how you can get involved to stop the ban.

J.P. Dunn farms at the southern tip of Callaway County near Jefferson City, MO with his wife and two youngest sons. He comes from a farm equipment business background, but has worked in the commodity world and in agricultural business development. Dunn currently serves on the Missouri FFA Foundation board, is a youth leader at FPCJC, advises the MPBA, and is the Director of Policy for Protect The Harvest.

Resources & Links:

• Read the REDI@CSU report on the proposed ordinance 
• Check out the Stop the Ban website

Connect with J.P.:

• Follow him at [email protected]
• Check out the Protect the Harvest website

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag
• Check out our website
• Email us at [email protected]
• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode! 

This week, we have a very special guest joining us. Valene’s husband John is with us today for “Whiskey Hour.” John is a farmer and rancher and the co-owner of Midas the cow dog. Together we dive into the realities of farming in a challenging environment, particularly focusing on growing crops in the desert landscape, as well as the important role irrigation canals play into productive farmland.

As harvest time approaches, we thought it would be the perfect time to look at some common topics regarding crops. We are discussing the various corn maturation periods, what they mean for yield potential, how farmers select which to plant, and the differences between GMO and non-GMO corn and the challenges they present. John is also sharing some insight into the highs and lows of farming and the importance of building strong relationships and community in the agricultural lifestyle.

Resources & Links:

• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag
• Check out our website
• Email us at [email protected]
• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

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In today’s episode, we are taking a look at using social media to engage with those outside of the Ag industry. Social media can be a great tool to foster understanding and relatability with those who may be removed from agriculture. Joining us to share all about using social media in the Ag industry is Tucker Brown of R.A. Brown Ranch. Tucker is sharing why he started utilizing social media, the opportunities he has been presented with, and why it’s important to adapt your communication to reach your target audience. He also discusses how he engages the consumer with his content, how he handles misconceptions about the Ag industry, ways he is staying relevant, and how he gets his content to reach outside of those in Agriculture.

Tucker Brown is a 6th generation rancher at R.A. Brown Ranch, where he is dedicated to preserving his family's legacy in agriculture. With a passion for bridging the gap between producers and consumers, Tucker has amassed a large social media following by blending entertainment with education, offering insights into ranch life and sustainable practices. He is also a strong advocate for keeping the ranch in the family and the family in the ranch. He and his wife Karley are now raising the upcoming 7th generation of the ranch, Rayley and Brooklyn Brown.

Resources & Links:

• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Mark your calendars for the 50th Annual Golden Opportunity R.A. Brown Ranch Sale October 8-9, 2024

Connect with Tucker:

• Follow him on Instagram: @tuckerbrownrab
• Follow him on Tiktok @tuckerbrownrab
• Follow him on YouTube
• Follow him on Facebook
• Check out the R.A. Brown Ranch website

Connect with Valene & Katharine:

• Follow us on Instagram @millennial_ag
• Check out our website
• Email us at [email protected]
• Follow us on X/Twitter @millennial_ag

Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode!