From Classroom to Cotton Fields: Nancy Caywood on Multi-Generational Farming, Water Resilience, and Connecting Consumers to Agriculture

from Fill Your Plate NOW · host Julie Murphree and Tammy Baker

Join us on Fill Your Plate Now as we sit down with Nancy Caywood, a third-generation farmer at Caywood Farms near Casa Grande in Pinal County, Arizona. With roots tracing back to land acquired around 1930, Nancy blends her background as an elementary teacher (BA from ASU) and holder of a Master's in Agricultural Education (University of Arizona) with hands-on farm life. In this episode, Nancy shares the story of her family's multi-generational cotton and alfalfa/hay operation, how she created the award-winning FARM SMART ag-literacy program in California that reached over 100,000 people, and why she launched the popular Caywood Farm Tours in 2011 after retiring from teaching. Discover what visitors find most eye-opening during hayrides, equipment demos, and the "Cotton's Long Journey from Seed to Bale" presentations — even when fields are fallow. Nancy opens up about today's toughest challenges: persistent drought, reduced irrigation water from the Gila River system, flood irrigation realities, and the difficult decisions around fallowing fields. Yet she remains hopeful, discussing conservation practices, the critical role of policy and infrastructure improvements, and how Arizona Farm Bureau involvement (including Women's Leadership and the Go Team) helps farmers advocate effectively. She also explores family succession with son Travis and the grandkids stepping up, her philosophy of farming with purpose, common consumer misconceptions about agriculture, and the power of music, fun, and personal connection in bridging the gap between farms and families. Whether you're a consumer, educator, or fellow ag advocate, this episode is packed with inspiration on why agricultural literacy matters and how the next generation can keep family farms thriving. Tune in for stories of resilience, education, and the heart of Arizona agriculture! Resources for Nancy Caywood | Caywood Farms Caywood Farms Website | Farm Bureau Article | Facebook | LinkedIn. Additional Resources Tammy Baker LinkedIn | Julie Murphree LinkedIn | AZ Milk Producers Website | Arizona Farm Bureau

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 23, 2026

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From Classroom to Cotton Fields: Nancy Caywood on Multi-Generational Farming, Water Resilience, and Connecting Consumers to Agriculture

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