The Millennial Ag Podcast

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

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

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!

In today’s episode, we are discussing corporate cowgirls and the importance of community for dairy women. We know that finding a supportive community to network and have important discussions with can be challenging within the dairy business as many dairy women live in rural areas. That’s why our guest, Bec Pfeffer and the Dairy Girl Network, are working to fill the evolving needs of women in the industry. Bec is sharing her experience and insight on the importance of networking for community and career advancement, how Dairy Girl Network is working to improve inclusiveness for women and young families in the industry, what you can expect to see from DGN at the World Dairy Expo, and the importance of embracing early career experiences for new corporate cowgirls. 

Bec Pfeffer has always revolved her life around the ag industry. Helping on family farms, 4-H, FFA, Holstein Association… you name it. Her enthusiasm grew as she studied at the Pennsylvania State University, where she graduated with a degree in agribusiness management and a minor in international agriculture. While there, she participated in the Dairy Science Club, Alpha Zeta co-ed fraternity, THON Dance Marathon and the dairy Judging team. Through connections made at school and internships she has found opportunities to work at Cargill as a U.S. Dairy Marketing Specialist, Bader Rutter as a Senior Account Executive and then Account Supervisor for the Zoetis dairy and cattle accounts, Zinpro as their Global Content Marketing Manager, and most recently at Maola Local Dairies, owned by MDVA, as a Brand Manager.

Resources & Links:

• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology
• Mark your calendars for the Dairy Girl Network National Conference, Nov 5th-7th, 2024

Connect with Bec:

• Follow her on Instagram: @dairygirlnetwork
• Follow Dairy Girl Network on Facebook 
• Follow Dairy Girl Network on LinkedIn
• Check out the Dairy Girl Network 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 it is just us, Valene and Katharine, sharing our thoughts as we reflect back on our conversation with Barons author, Austin Frerick. The two of us still have questions after our interview with Austin and we are diving into those questions today. If you have not listened to episode 174 and episode 175, we highly encourage you to do so before tuning into this episode. 

We are committed to having tough conversations and addressing hard topics and realized we had a lot to think about after our interview with Austin. In this episode, we are discussing problems and possible solutions for the current system, the role of Check Offs in agriculture, the importance of having a safe space for hard conversations within the ag industry, food security and sustainability, and how farmers must adapt to market demands. 

Resources & Links:

• Check out Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry
• 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

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

We are back with part two of our two-part episode with Austin Frerick. Today, we are continuing our candid conversation on systemic issues within the agriculture industry and how these issues impact small farmers and consumers. Together, we are discussing the monopoly of markets, the illusion of choices for consumers, the impact of agricultural policies, social media’s role in the food narrative, and the importance of community and sustainability in agriculture. 

Austin Frerick is an expert on agricultural and antitrust policy. He worked at the Open Markets Institute, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Congressional Research Service before becoming a Fellow at Yale University. He is a 7th generation Iowan and 1st generation college graduate, with degrees from Grinnell College and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. 

If you haven’t listened to part one, be sure to go listen to the eye-opening insights Austin shared in episode 174.

Resources & Links:

• Check out Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry
• Check out The Milkweed dairy publication, mentioned in part one
• Our sponsor, Peacock Technology

Connect with Austin:

• Email Austin at [email protected]
• Follow him on Instagram: @AustinFrerick
• Follow him on X/Twitter @AustinFrerick
• Follow him on Facebook 
• Check out 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

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

Today is part one of a two-part episode; we are discussing systemic issues in the agriculture industry and how robber barons are impacting the ag industry as a whole. We are joined by a very special guest, Austin Frerick, who tackles some important and little-discussed issues within the food and agriculture industry. Austin is an expert on agricultural and antitrust policy and recently published his debut book, Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry. Together, we have a candid conversation and take a clear-eyed look into the lack of transparency in USDA checkoff programs, the struggle of smaller farms, the disparity in food prices, and the USDA's alignment with corporate interests over supporting small farms. 

Join us next week as we continue this conversation with part 2. 

Austin Frerick is an expert on agricultural and antitrust policy. He worked at the Open Markets Institute, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Congressional Research Service before becoming a Fellow at Yale University. He is a 7th generation Iowan and 1st generation college graduate, with degrees from Grinnell College and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. 

Resources & Links:

• Check out Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry

Connect with Austin:

• Email Austin at [email protected]
• Follow him on Instagram: @AustinFrerick
• Follow him on X/Twitter @AustinFrerick
• Follow him on Facebook 
• Check out his website

Check out The Milkweed dairy publication, mentioned at the beginning of the 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

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

Today, we are covering the challenges of finding balance within the agriculture lifestyle. We often hear about work-life balance and self-care, but prioritizing these things within a farming family can be difficult. That’s where our guest, Megan Blaser, comes in! Megan is a certified Health, Life, and Transformational Coach and she is joining us today to share some insight on the importance of evaluating what truly matters to you and how to actually make these things a priority in your day-to-day life. We also dive into the importance of having difficult conversations and dreaming about the future, how anchors can help you achieve your goals, and how to find opportunities for joy so you can feel more fulfilled.

Megan Blaser is a devoted farmer's wife, a mom of two energetic boys, and a Student Success Coach at a community college. Alongside these roles, she’s the founder of Blaser Life Enhancement. With a rich background as a 4-H Extension Agent, a Masters in Adult Education and Training, and multiple certifications in health and life coaching, Megan brings a unique blend of expertise to the table. She's channeling her experience back into agriculture, addressing the vital need for coaching services to help farmers, their families, and spouses manage the demands of a challenging lifestyle. 

Resources & Links:

• Work with Blaser Life Enhancement
• The Eisenhower Matrix

Connect with Megan:

• Follow on Instagram @coachmeganblaser 
• Check out her website
• Join her Facebook Group: Blaser Life Enhancement
• Join her Facebook Group: Farm Wife Life: Harvesting Happiness
• Email her at [email protected]

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 host a guest very near and dear to our hearts. Katharine's dad John joins the podcast for what else? Politics. Katharine and John have ongoing conversations about politics, their observations, disagreements, and how their experiences are coloring what they're thinking. Despite the fact that John wishes Katharine would have a "more honorable hobby, like truck driving" (his words), it's a shared topic of interest, and often, of mutual disgust. John gives us his thoughts on what some of the policies floated by the presidential candidates could mean for agriculture (think 100% tariffs and price controls on groceries) as well as sharing his experiences over the years and how they are coloring his current thinking on how he's going to vote. We talk a lot about ag labor, how foreign powers might retaliate or respond to huge increases on tariffs, and what we can do as individuals in our own communities to try and get the best outcomes for our shared interest in the agricultural industry. 

Tune in for a well-informed and well-rounded guest who isn't afraid to laugh a little and consider situations and scenarios from perspectives that differ from his own, no matter if they're a little uncomfortable. 

And Dad - we really are sorry about your grill brush. 

As always, like, subscribe, share and review!

www.millennialag.com

[email protected]

Instagram: @millennialag

Facebook: Millennial Ag

Twitter: @millennialag

Don't forget to review us! It really does help our ratings, and we really appreciate your feedback.

Love, Katharine and Val

We welcome Stuart MacLennan to the podcast this week. Stuart is CEO of Peacock Technology, and one of the most passionate and forward-thinking advocates for the adoption of advanced technology to drive agriculture headlong into sustainable, long-term success. Stuart touches on all the current pain points in agriculture - scarcity and rising costs of labor, soaring input costs, the pressure from outside forces and more. Stuart believes that precision technology should return a 3:1 payback for any farm, no matter its size. He also champions the dignity of labor, making sure that employees are engaged in their work, and driving home the point that technology provides opportunities for those people to develop their skill set and reach levels of satisfaction that further guarantees an operation's success. The idea of sustainability isn't something that Stuart simply gives lip-service to. He's thought long and hard (and continues to) about how to merge technology and the human element to coalesce the need for profitability, economic success, and environmental stewardship into a sturdy foundation. You won't want to miss this episode, that provides plenty of food for thought long after the conversation ends. 

As always, like, subscribe, share and review!

www.millennialag.com

[email protected]

Instagram: @millennialag

Facebook: Millennial Ag

Twitter: @millennialag

Don't forget to review us! It really does help our ratings, and we really appreciate your feedback.

Love, Katharine and Val