15 Minutes With a Farmer

Kenny Reinke took top soybean honors at the University of Nebraska's Testing Ag Performance Solutions competition. See how he got there and why he says it's important to slow down and pay attention to the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Farm Credit's Natasha Cox shares what matters most right now, from managing cash flow and controlling costs to making smart investment and transition decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fifth-generation dairy farmer Molly Elgin McWilliams says teamwork, innovation, and saying yes keep her family's operation viable in challenging times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Indiana farmer Vane Clayton had a successful career at John Deere before becoming CEO of four different software companies. Now he's back in the tractor on his own farm and is helping others in their time of need by volunteering with Farm Rescue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program from Rural Minds helps farmers recognize the warning signs of a mental health crisis, start conversations, and build resilience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ohio farmer Zoe Kent grows corn and soybeans while sharing the real work of farming with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Indiana farmer and member of the United Soybean Board Executive Committee Don Wyss explains how export diversification, premium markets, and new uses can build demand and help farmers survive tight margins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Siblings Abigail and Kenneth Wolf share how growing up on a farm helped them win Baking Championship: Next Gen. a competition show on the Food Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amy France explains how her path into farming shaped her role at chair of the National Sorghum Producers Board, translating agriculture to lawmakers and opening new markets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Cherry is an Indiana farmer who recently finished his second year as president of the Indiana Corn Growers Association and is a member of NCGA’s Biofuels Action Team. We met up at Commodity Classic to talk E-15, cover crops, and basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aubrey Gallegos is a former vegan who’s now raising sheep, chickens, and turkeys on a small farm in eastern Washington, marketing meat and hides directly to consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rusty Olson shares how balancing organic and conventional acres and knowing his numbers transformed his farm and mindset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Melanie Bloom explains why ag education matters for all students and how farmers can support local programs and classrooms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrea Haritos shares how agritourism helps offset her farm's expenses while creating space for learning, connection, and healing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Washington rancher Will Bowdish explains how multi-species cover crops, rotational grazing, and cooperative beef marketing improve soil health, water management, and farm profitability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wisconsin beef producer Dorothy Harms shares how the Farmer Angel Network connects farmers with mental health support, community, and trusted resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt and Jenna Splitter run a sustainable, data-driven grain operation on the High Plains of Kansas. Their story also includes special relationship with a mentor that led to a farm transition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kathryn Christie is a Michigan farmer, children's book author, and founder of a platform to promote, educate, and advocate for agriculture through library, school, and community programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we look ahead to 2026, the 'Can Their Problem Be Solved?' columnist shares steps every farm should take, the mistakes he sees over and over, and how families can make decisions that preserve the farm and keep everyone on speaking terms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Instead of 15 minutes with one farmer, today's episode features one-minute highlights from 15 of our most popular farmer interviews from 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica Fleming wears a lot of hats: ag credit analyst, farmer, and Illinois Agri-Women vice president leading a nationwide search for female farming dynasties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As farms expand and diversify, family ties can face new pressures. Iowa farmer Dwight Mogler shares how communication and shared values help his multi-generational farm family stay united through growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After her husband passed away suddenly, Jeri Tulley left her corporate job to be home with her kids and ranch with her dad. Annie's Project helped her find her footing in agriculture, and now she's serving on its advisory committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Idaho alfalfa fields to TikTok feeds, Saydee Longhurst blends ag education and storytelling to make farm life relatable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Extension forester Jacob Williams explains how farmers can grow ginseng, goldenseal, mushrooms, and other high-value crops under existing timber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Farm coach Mike Downey shares how communication, teamwork, and proactive planning help families pass the farm to the next generation without losing relationships or momentum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin Butts is putting lessons learned in the Navy and as a chef to work at Black Wind Farm in upstate New York. See how he’s practicing regenerative farming, building community, and supporting fellow veterans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After his family’s multimillion-dollar operation went bankrupt, Jace Young redefined what legacy means. Now he helps farmers build lasting opportunities through financial clarity and mindset shifts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Krista Swanson compares the current financial climate to the 1980s: costs are high, margins are tight, and the pressure is real. Still, she says, farmers have reason to be hopeful about the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Missouri farmer Ryan Britt shares how no-till, cover crops, and smart grazing are building soil health and boosting ROI. His conservation-first approach is shaping a stronger, more resilient farm for the next generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This CPA-turned-farmer shares practical tips every farmer can start using today. He explains why scale matters for farm succession, how his business system helps manage growth, and the surprising ROI of technology and logistics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iowa State University agronomy student Isabell Olsasky is turning her FFA journey and an elite global agriculture internship into the foundation for a future in ag research and leadership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inspired by her Idaho ranching roots, Jessie Jarvis is on a mission to share authentic ag stories and connect people with careers in agriculture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drew Cox is both a Missouri farmer and a commercial crop lender, and says each role makes him stronger in the other. In this episode of 15 Minutes with a Farmer, he discusses family legacy, generational transitions, and the lessons he’s learned from working on both sides of agriculture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today my guest is Emma from 'Ag with Emma'. On her social media platform, Emma shares the real everyday stories of agriculture, bridging the gap between farmers and the public in a way that's relatable and true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guests today are Alex and Paul Mitchek, 20 year old twin brothers from Eastern Colorado. After losing both their parents during their senior year of high school, the brothers took over the farm and they're working together to find new ways to carry on their family's legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blake Miller is a financial advisor who grew up in Atlanta, but has started his own cattle operation from scratch. He shares his story of learning the cattle business from a neighbor and offers financial tips for farmers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clayton Lind grew up in California and didn't know anything about agriculture before moving to Iowa and going to work for a farmer. These days, he's sharing ag stories with the world through his own media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Hopkins, a seventh generation producer and 30 year extension agent who was recently named Virginia farmer of the year joins us to discuss his farm's history and conservation efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roger Wenning is an Indiana farmer who has been focused on soil health since the 1980s, boosting his topsoil and his yields. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ross Chastain is best known for being a race car driver, but he's also an eighth generation watermelon farmer who strives to promote agriculture on and off the track. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff Corle is a farmer who, after making the difficult decision to get out of the dairy business and sell his beloved cows, found himself struggling. He picked up his guitar and wrote a song called empty barn, which went viral and became an anthem for farmers grieving the loss of their own farms. Today, Jeff performs, shares his story and offers hope to other farmers across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Todd Hanton is a 4th generation farmer from Goodwin, South Dakota. We met up at commodity classic to talk about the value of quality employees, how diversification and efficiency play a role in Hanton's bottom line and the former president who signed his homesteading great grandfather's deed. #AgPodcast #FarmingPodcast #FamilyFarm #4thGenerationFarmer #FarmBusiness #FarmEfficiency #FarmDiversification #AgLeadership #RuralAmerica #HomesteadingHistory #FarmWorkforce #AgHeritage #CommodityClassic #FarmStories #PodcastForFarmers #ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcasts #PodcastDiscovery #AgCommunity #MidwestFarming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we're joined by Ron and Lilli Kreider of Kreider Farms—a family operation with 90 years of history and a future-focused mindset. They open up about their journey toward American Humane Certification, how they prioritize sustainability, and why employee culture is just as important as crop yields. The Kreiders also share how they use social media and farm tours to foster transparency in agriculture, and what it takes to transition a multi-generational farm to the next era. #AgPodcast #FarmingPodcast #SustainableFarming #FamilyFarm #RegenerativeAg #AgLeadership #FarmLife #MultigenerationalFarming #AgTransparency #FutureOfFarming #HumaneFarming #AgStorytelling #FarmToTable #AgEducation #FarmBusiness #WomenInAg #PodcastForFarmers #ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcasts #PodcastDiscovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Keugel, a third-generation farmer from Kentucky, shares his journey through farming, family dynamics, and the challenges of modern agriculture. He discusses the importance of family in farming, the thrill of achieving high yields, and the complexities of financial management in the agricultural sector. Scott emphasizes the need for farmers to understand their numbers and manage their finances effectively to ensure sustainability and success in farming. #AgPodcast #FarmingPodcast #FamilyFarm #3rdGenerationFarmer #ModernFarming #AgFinance #FarmBusiness #KnowYourNumbers #FarmSustainability #HighYieldFarming #FarmFamily #AgLeadership #FarmingChallenges #KentuckyFarming #FarmManagement #PodcastForFarmers #ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcasts #PodcastDiscovery #AgCommunity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Crave is general manager and operating partner for Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese. With the help of 11 family members across three generations and 85 full-time employees, the Craves milked 2,200 cows and farmed 3,300 acres in southern Wisconsin. Thanks to sustainability efforts, including an anaerobic digestion system, the farm produces enough power for its entire operation plus 300 area homes. #AgPodcast #FarmingPodcast #DairyFarming #FarmsteadCheese #SustainableFarming #AnaerobicDigestion #RenewableEnergy #FamilyFarm #WisconsinDairy #AgInnovation #FarmSustainability #FarmLeadership #MultigenerationalFarm #AgBusiness #FarmToTable #CleanEnergy #PodcastForFarmers #ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcasts #PodcastDiscovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Koehne is a first generation corn, soybean and specialty crop grower from Greensburg, Indiana. He shares the challenges of breaking into farming without a family legacy, the joys of bringing his son into the operation and the importance of representing agriculture on industry boards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Watney is a North Dakota farmer and 12-time president of the North Dakota Farmers Union. He joined me for a discussion about technology on the farm, his decision not to seek a 13th term, and the Washington, DC, restaurant franchise started by the North Dakota Farmers Union.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim Deal is a Minnesota sugar beat grower who joined me for a conversation at Commodity Classic. Earlier this year, Tim testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture on behalf of the American Sugar Beet Growers Association, educating farmers about the challenges facing fellow farmers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rudy Balala from Maui, Hawaii, became a seasonal worker on a pineapple plantation at age 14. Today, he is the general manager of Maui Gold Pineapple. Rudy explains the process of growing pineapple and discusses the differences and similarities to traditional row crop farming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices