Join me for this great episode with Zachary Gihorski, the Director of Government Affairs and Sustainability for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington D.C.! Zach has a background in production agriculture that gives him great perspective in his career where he advocates for producers from across the industry.  We discuss some of the unique challenges of working in agricultural politics, as well as some of the most common misconceptions people have about the industry. We also briefly discuss sustainability in the ag industry and how policymakers perceive it. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to learn more about careers in ag politics, or if you are interested in learning how you can best advocate for our industry!

Join me for this weeks interview with Stefan McDaniel from Kalmbach Feeds. As Chief Financial Officer for Kalmbach, Stefan gives us a great overview of the company, the products they produce, and what their mission is. We focus our conversation on finance and accounting in agriculture and discuss the different types of accounting careers that Kalmbach offers. Through listening to Stefen talk about different opportunities in accounting, it becomes apparent that no matter what your interests are, there is something out there for everyone.  As a company, Kalmbach does a great job of creating a key mission and set of core values to operate by. Stefan gives some great advice on how we must have clear expectations for our employees, and how providing both positive and negative feedback is essential for any team.

Check out this week's episode with Logan Scott, a crop consultant for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Central New York. Logan tells us about the different components of his job, as well as what he is working on throughout various parts of the year. We also discuss the generational gap in ag labor and how we can best recruit young people to work in the industry. Logan provides great insight on how we can best inform people of the jobs available in the industry and some of the challenges they may face in the early stages of their careers.

Check out this interview with Arthur Graves, the lead agronomist for T&S Crop Services out of Western New York. With a history in seed sales and teaching, Arthur talks with us about his experiences in the industry and how they led to his current position. We discuss how it is important to consider what you are good at and interested in when looking for a career. Arthur also provides unique insight into how his experiences as a professor and a coach have helped him in his current career.  We gain great knowledge and insight into how to uphold a positive reputation within the agriculture industry and some great advice on how important it is to build your network. I hope you enjoy this episode!

Join me for a quick episode about some recent changes in my life as well as some little changes that are coming to the podcast. We also highlight a few recent episodes that have some great advice for people working in the agriculture industry.

Join me for this great interview with Mellisa Harrop, who operates Meadow Creek Livestock with her family and works as the markets editor for Lancaster Farming! Mellisa brings a great perspective to the table, as she is not someone who grew up in agriculture, but has been able to become a crucial voice in the industry. She also provides a unique perspective as someone who served in the military and touches on some of the similarities between the military and agriculture lifestyles.  After learning about her livestock operation and career at Lancaster Farming, we had a great discussion about why it is important to not only share the story of agriculture but also explain to people that the agriculture industry is also a business. Often when sharing the ag story, we talk about our day-to-day farm tasks, and how the animals and crops come first, BUT it is also important that we share with people how at the end of the day we have to make money to continue operating.

Join me for this great interview with Brenden Winsor of Proactive Feedlot Management Services! Brenden has over 30 years of experience in the feedlot industry and gives great insight into the different components of the industry. We discuss some of the day-to-day operations and careers at feedlots, some of the specific challenges faced, and what his business is doing to tackle some of these issues.  We also dive into the importance of communication and respect within your team, and how it can affect your bottom line. Brenden provided some great advice at the end of this interview that really resonated with me. Most important was finding the right life partner who understands your goals and the sacrifices that have to be made when working in agriculture. Two was to understand that jobs in the ag industry are not 9 to 5, but when you put your heart into it you have the opportunity to learn and be successful every day. And last but not least, you are not going to like every job that you have, but if you work hard you can certainly learn something from every situation that you are in, whether it is good or bad.

In this episode, we talk with Janet Hanehan, a Territory Field Manager for SeedWay, serving Eastern New York and Connecticut. Janet grew up on a dairy farm and has many connections and experiences that allow her to provide great insight for anyone in the ag industry.  Throughout this interview, we discuss some of the internships Janet completed in college and what led her to her current career. We also dive into the importance of getting involved with organizations outside of your job, and how it can help build connections within your community, and potentially with your customers.

Join me for this great interview with Peggy Coffeen from the Uplevel Dairy podcast. Peggy spent her career in the dairy media and publication industry, helping share stories about dairy farms nationwide. Her podcast, Uplevel Dairy, is for dairy farm owners, managers, and advisors who are committed to profitability, sustainability, and excellence.  In this episode, we discuss some challenges that face owners and managers of dairy farms, especially when their farm is growing or transitioning. We also dive into why low turnover rates are so important in production agriculture, and how you can pinpoint a good career fit for yourself within the industry. Peggy recently launched a second podcast called Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders, for producers and professionals in the first 5 years of their dairy careers, who are driven and determined to make a difference in the industry. Be sure to check it out wherever you listen to podcasts!

Join me for this great episode with Kacee Bohle where we discuss how to apply The Working Genius framework within agriculture. Kacee operates a coaching business for people working in agriculture to help them grow both personally and professionally. Through her Agriminds Program, she teaches those in agriculture how to tap into their talents, feel confident in their decisions, and level up in work and life.  The Working Genius is a model created by Patrick Lencioni, which allows us to have a language behind the parts of work that are most fulfilling to us as individuals. Throughout this conversation, Kacee and I discuss how we can apply this model in the agriculture industry, and how we can utilize this concept to support our employees!

Join me for this great conversation with Katie Dotterer of AgvoKate! We discuss the Spanish-speaking labor force in American Agriculture, dive into Katie's business, and learn how she is bridging the gap between English and Spanish speakers in agriculture. With a background in dairy farming and teaching, Katie has combined two things she is passionate about and is working to solve a huge problem that we face in production agriculture here in the United States. Learn about some of the challenges facing our Hispanic labor force and how we can best manage and work on operations that have both Spanish and English speakers. If you want to learn more about Katie's business, check out her website, agvokate.com!

Sometimes when we think about bringing new people onto the team it can be daunting because it means we will have to teach them how and why we do things a certain way, but it is also important to consider the opportunity that comes with having a fresh set of eyes and a new way of thinking being present within your operation. Join me for this episode as we talk about some different concepts to consider when hiring and onboarding new staff in the ag industry!

In this episode, we talk with Paige Stevenson who is currently working as a Product Manager for Bunge. She explains the ins and outs of the grain trading industry and the logistics of how grain makes its way from the farm to large food production companies. With experience working for many different companies, Paige gives us a unique perspective as to what it is like to work for a non-profit, startup, or a larger corporation. We discuss the importance of being consistent and willing to learn, especially when starting a new job.

In this episode, we talk with Katie Flanagan who works as a marketing associate for SUNY Cobleskill and has her own photography and graphic design business called East Meets West Creative. Growing up surrounded by agriculture, Katie was looking for a way to use her creative skills within the industry and found graphic design to be a good fit. Throughout this conversation, we talked about the importance of quality marketing and strong brand features. Katie explains some key factors that you should consider when designing content for your business. We also dive into Katie's advice on some important factors to consider when starting your own small business.

In this interview, we talk with the Executive Director of the Northeast Dairy Producers Association, Tonya Van Slyke. Tonya explains how NEDPA supports dairy farms and what some of the most pressing current issues are within the industry. Tonya touches on how important it is to continuously focus on environmental stewardship by providing a unique perspective on how we can support and guide farms in their sustainability efforts. We identify that one of the biggest challenges when working for an industry-supporting organization, and many other parts of agriculture, is that sometimes you can put a ton of effort into something and not see the results you were hoping for in the end.

In this episode, we talk with Ezra Swope from Huvepharma about the products they offer and how they support the industry. Ezra gives great input on how the industry is always changing and we need to stay flexible and adapt. We discuss how we can make the next generation independent thinkers, rather than just information regurgitators.

Join me for an individual episode as we discuss county fairs, and how we can best utilize our time educating the public about agriculture and supporting youth in the ag community. I also highlight three previous episodes that I would recommend checking out if you haven't already!

On this episode, we talk with Kathryn Bosley about her experience growing up working and showing in the dairy industry. Kathryn advocates for the dairy industry on her social media pages as The Cow Nerd and encourages people to focus on what they are most passionate about. She is currently a graduate student and research assistant at the University of Minnesota focusing her research on milk fatty acids and genetics. After graduating, Kathryn hopes to continue on in education to get her Ph.D. and eventually become a professor of dairy science. Check out the Cow Nerd Instagram Page!

Join me for this quick episode discussing the concept of a business board meeting to stay in touch with your team! If you would like us to discuss a specific topic, or have an idea for an interview, reach out to workinginag@gmail.com.

Join us for a great conversation with Dr. Ashley Marshall, a professor of dairy science at SUNY Morrisville in Central New York. We dive into Dr. Marshall's experiences and how she gained her passion for the dairy industry and teaching. We discuss the importance of adapting to new methods and technologies while remembering that the animals' health should be at the core of everything we do. As a professor Dr. Marshall provides excellent perspective as to what she looks for in students, and what translates into someone who can be successful in the work force.