The Millennial Ag Podcast

This week, we're diving into a topic we rarely cover: poultry. Dustin Winston from StoneX Group joins Valene to talk about a brand-new egg risk management program, the first of its kind in the poultry industry. Together, they explore how this contract works, why it’s needed now more than ever, and what sets egg markets apart from beef and dairy. From the economic impact of avian influenza to pricing volatility and energy costs, Dustin shares insights into why risk management is critical for producers, especially in today’s unpredictable landscape.

They also talk about how supply chains, trade, and biosecurity are shaping egg production, and how tools like over-the-counter (OTC) contracts give producers options they’ve never had before. Whether you're deep in poultry or just ag-curious, this episode offers a fresh look at a part of the protein industry that often flies under the radar.

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

Connect with Dustin:

• Visit StoneX Group website
• Follow on LinkedIn

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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO

This week we’re bringing you a special episode featuring Valene presenting at The Utah Society of Professional Engineers Continuing Education Conference. Val was asked to share her expertise and created a timely and insightful discussion around bridging the gap between agriculture and engineering.

As an agricultural engineer and co-host of the podcast, Valene takes the audience on a deep dive into how engineering principles are shaping the future of ag, from confined animal feeding operations and irrigation infrastructure to urban-rural development challenges. She explores how technology, water management, manure handling, and regulatory permitting all play a role in modern ag systems, especially as pressures on land, labor, and resources continue to grow.

Whether you're an ag professional, student, or someone curious about how feedlots are designed, what a nutrient management plan entails, or why drone technology and robotics are influencing field practices, this episode offers a thorough and engaging primer.

With decades of on-farm experience and professional engineering expertise, Valene brings clarity, humor, and depth to a subject that’s critical for ag’s future.

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

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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO

This week, we’re kicking off June Dairy Month with returning guest, Erica Louder, this time in her new role with the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

Erica joins us to share insights from her recent farmer mission trip to Guatemala, where she helped connect American dairy producers with one of Central America’s growing dairy markets. We talk about how U.S. dairy exports are making a difference globally, what makes Guatemala a strategic partner, and how local dairies and U.S. products complement each other rather than compete.

From the challenges of infrastructure and trade policy to surprising culinary experiences (think banana peel feed and back-to-back steak dinners), Erica gives us a firsthand look at how global dairy partnerships work—and why they matter. She also highlights the importance of farmer engagement in export discussions and how today’s decisions are shaping the future of dairy markets worldwide.

This episode is full of eye-opening facts, cross-cultural connections, and a hopeful look at the global future of agriculture.

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

Connect with Erica Louder:

• Email Erica at [email protected]
• Visit the U.S. Export Dairy Council website
• Follow USEDC on LinkedIn
• Follow @USdairyexporter on X

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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO

Welcome back. As we wrap up May, we're closing out our Mental Health Series and celebrating May as National Beef Month with a lively, informative episode featuring one of our favorite guests, Dr. Phil Bass.

Dr. Bass, meat scientist and professor at the University of Idaho, joins us to talk all things beef, from how carcasses have grown significantly over the last 20 years to the cutting-edge ways the industry is optimizing energy use, improving efficiency, and rethinking carcass utilization. We cover how packing plants are adapting to today’s realities, how beef on dairy has impacted the supply chain, and even the emergence of “ancestral blends” in retail products.

We also dive into the biology of cattle, the potential limits of carcass size, and what research is showing about cardiopulmonary challenges in high-growth animals. It’s a fun, fast-paced, science-meets-agriculture conversation full of humor, insight, and practical knowledge. 

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

Connect with Dr. Phil Bass:

• Visit University of Idaho’s 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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• It’s Not a Cow by Dr. Phil Bass
• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO

Welcome back to the Millennial Ag Podcast and our annual May Mental Health Series—where we bring raw, real, and important conversations to the forefront of agriculture.

This week, we welcome a familiar voice behind the scenes—Erik Blaser. His wife Megan was a guest in last year’s mental health series, and now it’s Erik’s turn to join us. As a fourth-generation dairy farmer, Erik has lived the demanding, often all-consuming life that many in ag know too well. But in this conversation, he opens up about how quietly losing himself, grappling with addiction, and walking away from his family’s farm became the catalyst for a deeply personal journey of healing.

Erik speaks candidly about his mental health challenges, the transformation he found through counseling, and how he’s learned to rewire his thought patterns, build emotional awareness, and find joy in more than just his work. We talk about the stigma men in agriculture face when it comes to being vulnerable—and how owning your story and seeking support can change your entire life.

Whether you’ve faced your own dark season, know someone who has, or just need to hear from someone who’s walked through it and come out stronger, this episode will speak to you.

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

Connect with Erik:

• Visit his 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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Dial 988 for the 988 Crisis Lifeline - call or text nationally for immediate crisis support
• Mental Health First Aid 
• NAMI - has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country, providing local support and resources. Supports telehealth, lobbies for mental healthcare, provides education and support
• ruralminds.org - mental health information sheets, suicide webinars/resources, tips - founded by a dairy farmer in upstate NY
• Farm Bill- provides support for Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network in the midwest that connects farmers/ranchers to resources
• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO

Welcome back to the Millennial Ag podcast and another episode in our May Mental Health Series where we dig deep into the real stories and struggles of emotional wellness in agriculture.

This week, we’re joined by Terryn Drieling—formerly known for her platform Faith Family and Beef—who has rebranded and refocused her work around mental health in rural America. Terryn brings her lived experience, raw honesty, and powerful insight to this conversation, sharing how her journey with grief, emotional suppression, breast cancer, and personal healing led her to the principle that “good movement draws good movement.”

Together, we talk about the cultural barriers in agriculture that keep people from addressing their mental and emotional health—especially the deeply rooted idea that showing emotion is a sign of weakness. Terryn opens up about how doing the inner work has not only changed her life and relationships, but also how it’s inspired her to disrupt the status quo and lead others, especially rural women, into deeper healing and connection.

This conversation is full of truth, courage, and hope. If you’ve ever felt stuck in survival mode or wondered how to help someone you love without “fixing” them, this episode is for you.

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

Connect with Terryn:

• Follow on Instagram @terryn.drieling
• Follow on Threads
• Visit her website
• Listen to Good Movement Draws Good Movement Podcast

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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Dial 988 for the 988 Crisis Lifeline - call or text nationally for immediate crisis support
• Mental Health First Aid 
• NAMI - has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country, providing local support and resources. Supports telehealth, lobbies for mental healthcare, provides education and support
• ruralminds.org - mental health information sheets, suicide webinars/resources, tips - founded by a dairy farmer in upstate NY
• Farm Bill- provides support for Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network in the midwest that connects farmers/ranchers to resources
• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO

Welcome back to the Millennial Ag podcast as we continue our annual May Mental Health Series—an honest, raw, and real look into the mental and emotional wellbeing of those living and working in agriculture.

This week, we’re doing something different. It’s just us—Val and Katharine—opening up about our personal warning signs when our mental health is slipping. We talk candidly about the quiet red flags we’ve come to recognize in ourselves: things like mindless scrolling, emotional eating, avoiding our loved ones, or suddenly not wanting to do something we usually enjoy.

We explore the tools and strategies that help us course correct—movement, fresh air, connection, and sometimes professional help like therapy or medication. And we talk openly about the stigma that still lingers around those options, especially in rural communities.

If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed, burned out, or just “off” and unsure why, we hope this conversation feels like a breath of fresh air and a reminder that you are not alone.

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

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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Dial 988 for the 988 Crisis Lifeline - call or text nationally for immediate crisis support
• Mental Health First Aid 
• NAMI - has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country, providing local support and resources. Supports telehealth, lobbies for mental healthcare, provides education and support
• ruralminds.org - mental health information sheets, suicide webinars/resources, tips - founded by a dairy farmer in upstate NY
• Farm Bill- provides support for Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network in the midwest that connects farmers/ranchers to resources
• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO

We are back with the first episode of our annual May Mental Health Series, a cornerstone of the Millennial Ag Podcast. Each year, we dedicate the month of May to honest, heartfelt conversations about mental health in agriculture.

We’re welcoming back a recurring guest, Dr. Nora Feldpausch, for what might be her fourth appearance (but who’s counting?). Nora is a psychiatrist with deep ties to agriculture and she brings her unique blend of medical expertise and lived experience to help listeners navigate the often invisible pressures of rural life.

In today’s episode, we dive into the mental health landscape in agriculture today—from the weight of constant uncertainty, to the emotional toll of always being "on," to why it's so easy to feel like you’re the only one struggling. With humor, grace, and zero judgment, we unpack real-life challenges and offer tangible tools and resources (listed below) to help ground, recharge, and reconnect.

This episode is packed with hard truths, hopeful takeaways, and more than a few laughs. Whether you’re feeding cows, planting fields, or just trying to make it through the day—this one’s for you.

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

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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Dial 988 for the 988 Crisis Lifeline - call or text nationally for immediate crisis support
• Mental Health First Aid 
• NAMI - has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country, providing local support and resources. Supports telehealth, lobbies for mental healthcare, provides education and support
• ruralminds.org - mental health information sheets, suicide webinars/resources, tips - founded by a dairy farmer in upstate NY
• Farm Bill- provides support for Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network in the Midwest that connects farmers/ranchers to resources
• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO

In today's episode, Valene and Katharine reflect on their recent episodes of significant agricultural issues, and how this episode is going in a bit of a different direction as they cover the importance of laughter and mental health in agriculture.

Both Katharine and Valene share therapeutic laughter techniques. They cover how these techniques can help manage stress and emotional release. You’ll also hear some jokes to get you giggling. 

There is value in finding humor in stressful situations and everyday life so keep that laughter going and push through anything!

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

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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Millennial Ag Podcast Episode 195: “Show Me Your Butt!” - On Calving Season with Valene
• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO

On today's episode, Katharine and Stuart MacLennan discuss their experience at the Western Dairy Management Conference in Reno, Nevada. The conference, occurring every two years, brought together industry leaders to discuss various aspects of dairy operations.

Stuart highlighted the significant global market opportunity for US dairy, noting the industry needs to increase production by 40% over the next 20-25 years. He emphasized the $8 billion investment in new processing infrastructure, demonstrating industry preparation for future growth.

The discussion focuses on workforce management and culture. After watching a presentation at the conference, Katharine and Stuart felt inspired by the importance of respect, leadership, and self-awareness in managing teams. 

Overall the conversation covers the potential of US agriculture, particularly in addressing global food security challenges and the opportunity to influence sustainable food production practices worldwide. This episode will be filled with great information and motivation!

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

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
• Follow us on TikTok @millennial.ag

Resources & Links:

• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Our sponsor, AGPRO