Rural Route for April 16, 2026 Avrery Zahn is providing a tremendous service and Gov Economic Development folks try to use him.

REBUILDING AGRICULTURE WITH RECYCLED INNOVATION AND RELENTLESS DETERMINATION On this hard-hitting episode of Rural Route, Trent Loos welcomes Avery Zahn, founder of Zahntech, for a powerful conversation about innovation, independence, and the uphill battle facing American entrepreneurs. Zahn breaks down his groundbreaking work turning 100% recycled waste—plastics, tires, and even carpet—into durable fence posts built for real-world ranch use. With production speeds slashed from 14 minutes to just 6, this is the kind of efficiency that could reshape agriculture. But the story doesn’t stop at innovation. Zahn exposes the frustrating reality of trying to grow a business that actually helps the environment. After years of chasing support from South Dakota’s economic development agencies, he reveals how his project—capable of cutting landfill waste by up to 99%—was repeatedly rejected. Instead of backing down, Zahn chose to move forward without government funding, refusing to sacrifice control or integrity. This episode delivers a bold look at American grit, the fight for rural innovation, and the real cost of doing things the right way in today’s system.RURAL ROUTE13 SeasonsPlayingAPRIL 20262026-04-17 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 12026-04-16 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 22026-04-15 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 32026-04-14 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 42026-04-13 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 52026-04-10 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 62026-04-09 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 72026-04-08 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 82026-04-07 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 92026-04-06 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 102026-04-03 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 112026-04-01 RURAL ROUTEEpisode 12