Jackson and Amanda Drost are raising crops, cattle, and kids—while working off-farm and keeping their marriage strong. From late-night shop talks to T-ball games and cover crops, the Drosts show how modern farm families find balance in the chaos.

Montana solar entrepreneur Ralph Walters flew to Washington, D.C. to defend the tax credits that fueled his family‑run company’s explosive growth. As he met with lawmakers, he argued that a sudden rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act incentives would crush small installers and stall America’s push for energy independence.

Rob Taylor, co-owner of Revelton Distillery in Osceola, Iowa, blends a deep love for his community with a commitment to sourcing local. From partnering with nearby farmers for corn and rye to helping out with harvest, Taylor keeps his roots close. His “tree ring” sourcing philosophy starts in Osceola and expands outward only when necessary. It’s all about building relationships, boosting rural economies, and crafting whiskey with purpose.

After losing her husband to cancer, Iowa farmer Jolene Riessen has faced the hard questions about pesticide use head-on. With firsthand experience, a scientific family background, and deep care for her community, she challenges the oversimplified blame placed on agriculture. In her words: “Farmers don’t want to harm anyone—we grow safe, nutritious food.”

Connor McMahon of Full Draw Vineyard is on a mission to connect with a new generation of wine drinkers. With wine sales dropping 6% in 2024 compared to 2023, this Iowa native turned California vintner is challenging traditional perceptions of wine by making it more approachable, less intimidating, and ultimately more enjoyable for younger consumers. Through travel, conversation, and a laid-back philosophy, he is redefining how millennials and Gen Z engage with wine, one sip and one story at a time.

When American corn prices sank in the early 2000s, Tyler Bruch saw more than a crisis; he saw a turning point. Rather than stay rooted in Iowa, he ventured abroad, eventually working across 15 countries and four continents. This global journey reshaped his understanding of agriculture, revealing the power of collaboration over competition. As co-founder of Boa Safra Ag, Bruch now channels that perspective into helping farmers across the U.S. turn challenges into strategic opportunities.

Blake Hurst, a Missouri farmer and former president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, shares how rising tariffs under Donald Trump's trade policy are creating costly uncertainty for growers. Hurst relies on imported potting soil from Canada and plastic pots from China—materials that are increasingly vulnerable to fluctuating tariffs. He argues that the unpredictable nature of these trade shifts makes it difficult to plan, threatening the sustainability of his family businesses. Hurst challenges the idea that tariffs help American farmers, calling the policy economically harmful.

Tariff skeptics are plentiful these days. Chad Tentinger is not one of them. As a lifelong Iowa cattleman and ag entrepreneur he believes higher tariffs could give American beef producers a fighting chance in global markets. Tentinger argues that “Trump 2.0” tariffs could help balance unfair trade practices that disadvantage U.S. farmers. With deep roots in cattle production and ag infrastructure—from barn building to beef processing—he says it's time for reciprocal trade and smarter long-term policies to protect family farms and promote American-made products.

This week we sit down with Scott Bozzo—California’s 2025 Farm Manager of the Year and president of Macotera Ag Group—to unpack the staggering $17 billion loss in California farmland value. From SGMA-driven water restrictions to rising bankruptcies and struggling commodity prices, Bozzobreaks down what's driving the downturn, why some land still holds value, and where investors should look next.

Jim Farrell, a veteran agricultural and financial executive, believes that current interest rates between 4% and 5% strike a healthy balance for the U.S. economy—especially in agriculture. Drawing on his experience as a director of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Board during the Great Recession, Farrell supports the Fed’s independence from political influence and warns against a return to artificially low rates. He argues that while past policies like quantitative easing were necessary at the time, they also contributed to inflation, rising asset prices, and widening wealth inequality. For rural communities, he says, economic stability comes not from extreme rate cuts, but from balance.