Live from Commodity Classic: The "Crunchy Agronomy" Crossover with Mary Pat Sass & Sean Nettleton

In this special episode of RhizometRX, recorded live at the 2026 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas! Faith and Mary Pat Sass (co-host of the Beyond the Crops podcast, founder of Grounded Journals) join Sean Nettleton (host of The Crop Cast).Together, the trio explores the fascinating parallels between human health and soil health—a concept they playfully dub "crunchy agronomy." They discuss how settling for "average" on a standard soil test is just like settling for "average" on a routine blood panel, and why feeding your crops unbalanced fertilizers is exactly like feeding a toddler Pop-Tarts: it just makes them want to graze for more snacks. Finally, Mary Pat shares the heart behind her business, Grounded Journals, and why physically documenting your farm's history and struggles is vital for future generations.Meet the Guests:Mary Pat Sass: Farm wife, content creator, co-host of the Beyond the Crops podcast, and founder of Grounded Journals—prompted memoirs designed specifically for farmers and ranchers.Sean Nettleton: Host of The Crop Cast and BW Fusion Agronomist. A regular voice on RhizometRX, Sean is passionate about marrying regenerative practices with conventional agriculture.In this episode, you’ll learn:The "Crunchy Agronomy" Connection: How Mary Pat’s personal journey toward better health and whole foods mirrors the shift toward better soil health and balanced plant nutrition.Average vs. Optimal: Why a standard soil test is like a basic trip to the doctor—it might tell you you're "average," but an Indicator soil test (like a comprehensive blood panel) tells you what you actually need to function at an optimal level.The "Pop-Tart" Effect: Why crops fed a steady diet of unbalanced synthetics constantly "snack" and fail to build resilient health, drawing a direct parallel to the way humans react to heavily processed foods.Regen Meets Conventional: Why you don't have to be an "all or nothing" farmer. Faith and Sean discuss how BW Fusion acts as a consulting bridge between regenerative ideals and the realities of conventional farming.Documenting Your Farm’s Legacy: Mary Pat shares the inspiration behind Grounded Journals. The group discusses why writing down your seasonal practices, market challenges, and field changes is one of the greatest gifts you can leave for the next generation.Resources & Links Mentioned:Grounded Journals: groundedjournals.co (Prompted journals for farmers and ranchers)Beyond the Crops Podcast: Hosted by Mary Pat Sass & Jenna OchsnerThe Crop Cast: Hosted by Sean NettletonX (Twitter): @FaithLois12\After You Listen: Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodesShare this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionalsJoin the conversation—send your questions, field observations, or feedback to [email protected].