Welcome to Episode 180 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we share Iowa Farm Bureau’s priorities for the 2025 state legislative session, a new program that helps aspiring and beginning farmers get started with livestock, and a new program to help address the critical shortage of veterinarians in rural Iowa. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Contact your county Farm Bureau.
• Read more about Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2025 state legislative priorities.
• Learn more about the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers’ new Building Your Livestock Legacy Program.
• Learn more about Iowa Farm Bureau’s new Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Incentive Program.
• Learn about more scholarships and grants through Iowa Farm Bureau.

Welcome to Episode 179 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson discusses agriculture’s challenges and opportunities in 2025, and motivational speaker John O’Leary shares the inspiring story of how he overcame seemingly impossible odds (surviving burns on 100% of his body, when doctors gave him a 1% chance of living). No matter what obstacles you’re facing in 2025, John O’Leary has helpful advice for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s Ag Market Outlook Meeting Series in February.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s Acres of Opportunity Conference, February 15 in Cedar Falls.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s “How to Write a Pre-Harvest Marketing Plan” webinar, January 16.
• See other upcoming Iowa Farm Bureau events and webinars.
• Learn more from motivational speaker John O’Leary at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

Welcome to Episode 178 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, economist and Vice President of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dr. Jason Henderson analyzes the current macro economy and offers farmers insights for 2025. Later in the episode, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall shares agriculture’s national policy priorities for 2025 and explains why farmers can advocate for themselves more effectively through Farm Bureau.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Contact your local county Farm Bureau.

Welcome to Episode 177 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is also Part 3 of our special three-part series with three farmers who are receiving Iowa Farm Bureau's 2024 Young Farmer Leadership Award: Nate Hofmann of Linn County, Kaitlyn Porter of Franklin County, and James Hepp of Calhoun County.

Part 1 (released December 2) features Nate Hofmann.

Part 2 (released December 5) features Kaitlyn Porter.

Part 3 (released December 9) features James Hepp.

Register to join farmers like Nate, Kaitlyn and James at Iowa Farm Bureau's 2025 Young Farmer Conference, January 17 and 18 in Des Moines!

Welcome to Episode 176 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is also Part 2 of our special three-part series with three farmers who are receiving Iowa Farm Bureau's 2024 Young Farmer Leadership Award: Nate Hofmann of Linn County, Kaitlyn Porter of Franklin County, and James Hepp of Calhoun County.

Part 1 (released December 2) features Nate Hofmann.

Part 2 (released December 5) features Kaitlyn Porter.

Part 3 (released December 9) features James Hepp.

Register to join farmers like Nate, Kaitlyn and James at Iowa Farm Bureau's 2025 Young Farmer Conference, January 17 and 18 in Des Moines!

Welcome to Episode 175 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast, which is also Part 1 of our special three-part series with three farmers who are receiving Iowa Farm Bureau's 2024 Young Farmer Leadership Award: Nate Hofmann of Linn County, Kaitlyn Porter of Franklin County, and James Hepp of Calhoun County.

Part 1 (released December 2) features Nate Hofmann.

Part 2 (released December 5) features Kaitlyn Porter.

Part 3 (released December 9) features James Hepp.

Register to join farmers like Nate, Kaitlyn and James at Iowa Farm Bureau's 2025 Young Farmer Conference, January 17 and 18 in Des Moines!

Welcome to Episode 174 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, the director of Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation offers farmers tips for strategically managing their income taxes and reminds farmers of a new federal law with costly consequences. Later in the episode, Iowa Farm Bureau economist Dr. Christopher Pudenz discusses the impacts of European climate regulations and offers Iowa farmers a chance to study those impacts firsthand, as participants in a 2025 Market Study Tour of Brussels and the Netherlands.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2024 Iowa Farm Income Tax Webinar (Nov. 18) or view the recording.
• Avoid steep fines and other penalties by filing your farm’s beneficial ownership information (BOI) with the U.S. Treasury Department by Jan. 1, 2025.  To learn more about this requirement, visit calt.iastate.edu or fincen.gov.
• Apply for Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2025 Market Study Tour of Brussels and the Netherlands.
• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting and County Leadership Conference.

Welcome to Episode 173 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, we cover the wide range of programs and services Iowa Farm Bureau offers farmers and rural entrepreneurs who want to diversify their businesses or take them to the next level. We also share some helpful tips farms and small ag businesses can use to create their own standout brands and marketing strategies, from an award-winning marketing agency. Finally, we discuss the Farm Bureau Health Plan, a great choice for Iowans who need an affordable alternative to costly individual health coverage.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Register for Iowa Farm Bureau’s four-day Marketing + Branding Workshop Series, Nov. 13 – 14 and Dec. 4 – 5 in West Des Moines.
• Learn about Iowa Farm Bureau’s Grow Your Future Award.
• Learn about the most recent (March 2024) Acres of Opportunity Conference – an agenda for next year’s conference will be available in early 2025.
• Learn about Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Program and the Young Farmer Conference.
• Learn about Renew Rural Iowa, including free, half-day sessions for rural entrepreneurs in Manchester (Nov. 19) and Montrose (Dec. 13).
• Learn more about the Farm Bureau Health Plan.

Welcome to Episode 172 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Brian Waddingham of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers shares timely reminders for livestock farmers who may face DNR or EPA inspections. Later in the episode, we chat with Zac Preston, a young farmer from Warren County who’s helping create opportunities for his peers across the state, as chair of Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Advisory Committee.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

•    Contact the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers by calling 800-932-2436 or visiting SupportFarmers.com.   •    Save the date for Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2025 Young Farmer Conference: January 17 – 18, 2025. Registration will open in early December. You can follow updates from the Young Farmer Program via their webpage (IowaFarmBureau.com/YoungFarmers), their Facebook page, and their Instagram page.  

Welcome to Episode 171 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Story County brothers Jason and John Maxwell share the journey that led to them becoming Iowa’s 2024 Conservation Farmers of the Year. Later in the episode, Iowa State University Extension behavioral health expert Dr. David Brown reminds farmers of steps they should take to care for their mental health needs during the stressful harvest season. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Read more about 2024 Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year award winners John and Jason Maxwell.
• Learn more about Iowa’s conservation progress at ConservationCountsIowa.com.
• Iowa Concern website and hotline.
• Farm stress resources, including free, one-on-one, ongoing counseling for Iowa farm families, through Personal Assistance Services.