Episode 37 - Hunters, Farmers, and Conservation: Why Agriculture and Hunting Must Stand Together

Hunting, ranching, and farming share the same fight, and losing one could mean losing them all. Conservation in America doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It lives on working lands, cattle ranches, timber tracts, and family farms where wildlife and agriculture intersect every day. In this conversation, Kenia Link sits down with Travis Thompson to break down the deep connection between hunting, fishing, ranching, and farming and why protecting one often means protecting them all. From Osceola turkey hunting in Florida to Midwestern farmland whitetails, the discussion explores how working landscapes support thriving wildlife populations. Hunters often overlook the role ranchers and farmers play in maintaining habitat, while agricultural communities sometimes underestimate how much sportsmen contribute to wildlife management and rural economies. Travis explains how conservation easements, hunting leases, and wildlife corridors keep land productive while keeping it wild. The conversation also tackles predator management, crop damage from deer and hogs, and the economic incentives that make hunting access valuable for landowners. But the discussion goes deeper. Kenia and Travis unpack how animal rights activism increasingly targets both hunting and animal agriculture, from trapping and predator control to cattle ranching and fishing practices. They explain why hunters, anglers, and farmers must recognize the shared pressure coming from anti-hunting and anti-agriculture movements. This conversation is about more than policy or politics. It’s about understanding where food comes from, respecting wildlife, and protecting the land that makes hunting, fishing, and farming possible in the first place. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star review and SUBSCRIBE on Apple or Spotify Check out Fred’s work at Congressional Sportsmen Foundation:  Check out The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast:  Check out the IOTR website: International Order of T. Roosevelt | Protect At-Risk Wildlife Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19zGf29wGZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Follow us on X: https://x.com/iotrofficial?s=21&t=SzcoQxiDPMWvFcFPurrzNw Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iotr_official?igsh=dXp5b284dXJpOXlq&utm_source=qr