Farming For Dummies

Emma from everywhere calls no place home because wherever there is dry wheat to be harvested IS home. This week we learn about custom harvest crews and how a convoy of combines, tractors, grain carts, semi trucks and trailers travels all across the country in search of dry wheat. We also get to hear Emma's story as a first generation farmer and how she got involved in agriculture with her Farm Tours and social media. If you've ever wondered what it's like chasing golden waves of grain from Texas to Montana, this episode is for you!

We hear all the time how impossible it is to start a farm from scratch, so today we decided to squash this myth once and for all. In this weeks episode we chat with Gavin Spoor, a first generation farmer from Missouri who started out with 6 acres of popcorn in college and worked his tail off to become a full fledged farmer. We had a chance to hear his story, learn what it takes to grow the perfect popcorn kernel and how aspiring farmers can get started. Turns out the answer is pretty simple. Dreams only work if you do. So pop a big bag of Spoor Farms popcorn, sit back and enjoy this inspirational episode.

This week we head to Noah's favorite state of Iowa to visit with Huey Boelen about growing Microgreens. Originally from the Netherlands, Huey shares his story of moving to America to run a dairy farm with his family and how he transitioned from poking cow placentas to cutting lettuce everyday. From seed selection, germination, harvest and delivery Huey walks us through their process and what makes these nutrient packed little bites of energy into a profitable business.

Everyone's familiar with popular pollinators such as honeybees and butterflies, but did you know mosquitoes and bats are also responsible for pollinating crops? This week we invited the Queen of Bees from the Empire State, Hannah with Hannah's Honeycomb on to give us the all the buzz on how important pollinators are to the food and drinks we consume everyday. You'll learn some amazing facts about honeybees and how you can play a part in helping native pollinators thrive in your area.

This week we're headed to Big Sky Country to learn all about bison (or is it buffalo?) from Jon at Roam Free Bison ranch in Montana. We had the chance to learn a little bit of bison history and how the dreams of a young child in Yellowstone Park came true. We also discuss the nature of the meat itself and what sets it apart from other forms of proteins. Buckle your seatbelt and stay in your cars because this episode is going to get wild!

In the exciting return of the Farming For Dummies podcast for season 2 we are kicking things off with the Queen of Chickens, Lisa Steele of Fresh Eggs Daily. We discuss the current chicken feed conspiracies, egg shortages and some of the most popular myths around chickens. 

Your favorite farmers are back on the mic for season two and he have so much ground to cover! Episode 1 of Season 2 drops March 14th!

In this exciting finale episode of season 1 , Tyler takes a deep dive into the rich history of mules. The mule today is mostly considered a novelty, but this beast of burden was once only rode by royalty in some nations. From mysterious beginnings and some pretty wild breeding programs, the mule slowly rose to prominence and once it hit the scene, those long ears would change the world forever. Join us as we explore the vast history of the mule and how it became the backbone of building civilization.

California is known for gold, sunshine, and beaches, but today we are going to add another word to that list and that is sweet potatoes! We had the opportunity to speak with Alexandra with Harvest Joy who told us all about how photographing produce lead her on a journey into the world of sweet potatoes. Baked, casseroled, or in a pie there is no bad way to enjoy these delicious roots. Grab your shovels, because you're gonna dig it!

Today we're headed across the pond, not for the fish and chips, but to learn all about farriers. Danny Gallagher from Cumbria England takes us into the exciting world of shoeing horses and the journey he took to becoming a farrier. We learned strait from the horse mouth why horses need shoes, if it hurts them at all and why a healthy hoof is so important. You'll see by the end of this episode why Danny has a colt following. 

New Mexico may not be the first state that comes to mind when you think of the dairy industry, but it is home to some of the largest dairy farms in the country and todays guest, Tara Vander Dussen. Tara is a fifth generation dairy farmer turned environmental scientist who is making waves in the industry for approach to sustainable dairy farming. Not only do we dive into some of the most controversial topics in the dairy industry, but we also take a look at why this industry gets painted in such a negative light. So for the second week in a row we invite you to pour yourself a glass of milk and enjoy this a-moo-sing interview!

G'Day mate! We are headed down under to meet Australia's most famous dairy farmer, Big Farmer Andy! Andy takes us on a journey, learning about his family's history, the breed of dairy cows he raises and how the Australian dairy industry differs from the United States. Andy's fun loving spirit, passion for cattle, and over-arching message will definitely put a smile on your face and have you pouring a big ol' glass of milk!

Tip your hat to cowboy next to you because today in Texas we're learning all about the extension agency. Stephen Janak is an extension program specialist with Texas A&M Agri-life and a second generation extension agent who tells us all about the rich history of the extension service, the resources they have to offer, and if there's anything they can't do! Whether you are in agriculture or not, the extension service has a program or resource that you can benefit from. If you're stuck and don't know where to turn, this episode is for you.

Join our journey through history as we explore how an inedible plant became one of the most widely grown crops in the entire world. From its humble beginnings in central Mexico, corn has played a huge role throughout world history as a food source and even in religion. We'll explore how selective breeding led to thousands of corn varieties, the classification of corn types, and some of the unique ways we use corn today! Sources Used: https://www.britannica.com/plant/corn-plant https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rethinking-corny-history-maize-180971038/ https://www.lhf.org/learning-fields/crops/corn/#:~:text=Corn%20comes%20from%20a%20wild,the%20corn%20we%20know%20today. https://www.britannica.com/plant/teosinte https://www.nativeseeds.org/pages/teosinte https://www.seriouseats.com/popcorn-history-movie-theaters#:~:text=Corn%20was%20probably%20cultivated%20as,cobs%20studded%20with%20puffed%20kernels. Music Used: Suavemente - Alysha Sheldon Unsolved - Mythical Score Society In the Amazonas - Kikoru Excavation at the Amazon - Trace Way Nights in Mexico - Alysha Sheldon Bluegrass Boogie - The Undertowns Caravan Trails - Sight of Wonders Acoustic Ornaments - Codey Randall Tumbleweed Town - River Run Dry

The stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas! That's right, we are headed back to the Lonestar state where we are joined by Braxton and Raven of Dolce Holistic Horsemanship. Whether it's sharing their life's on social media, training horses using a natural method, or inviting everyone to their ranch for the pumpkin and ponies events, they are always having a good time! In this episode we learn about their training approach and why it is so effective. As well as their own history and how they got to where they are today. So tighten up your cinch and get your heels down in the stirrups, because this is a good one!

Grab your Red Raider shirt because we are headed to the panhandle of Texas, a place so flat you can watch your dog runaway for 3 days. Today we are Joined by Lubbock Native, Dr. Vikram Baliga. When he isn't debunking gardening myths on the internet, he is working in his family's peach orchard or at the Texas Tech greenhouse. When it comes to season extension there is a lot to learn, and Dr. Baliga is just the person to teach us. Just like leafy greens love a greenhouse, your gonna love this one.

Grab your maple syrup and poutine, because we are headed to Canada eh. On this episode, we got the opportunity to sit down with Hayden Fox, a Canadian hay farmer and social media personality. He educated us on the different types of hay, what it's uses are, how they grow it, and of course, what type of vehicle you should (or should not) use to pick up hay if you want to avoid being the main character in one of his videos. This is a fun one, full of laughs and education!

The stars and stripes are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas! That's right, we're back in the Lonestar state to talk with Lindsey Williams, sheep farmer and Herd dog trainer. In this episode Lindsey, the Lonestar shepherdess, shares her inspiring story of healing, becoming a farmer, and of course the bond between her and her dogs. We learn that herding is so much more than just a dog chasing livestock, it's a usable tool on the farm, and creates an incredible bond between a shepherd and their dog. This inspiring story is one you won't want to miss!

Grab your armadillo eggs and straw hats, because we are headed back to Texas. We are joined today by Trey Rutherford of Rutherford show goats to take a deep dive into the show goat industry. We take a glimpse back 30 years ago when boer goats first started showing up In the show ring, and then bring it to present day to discuss what makes a good show goat, how Trey runs an award winning breeding program, and the way his family is involved every step of the way. Community is the name of the game when it comes to show goats, and The Rutherford's have sure built a good one!

Grab your umbrella and a cup of coffee because today we are headed to Washington to learn all about Canning. Jordyn and Kay of Portage View Farm aren't your average homesteaders. They've taken a whole new approach with their in-law dynamic and education forward content. Not to mention they both share a passion for growing food and preserving it. In this episode we get two outlooks, the seasoned canning veteran, and the rookie on a mission. This one will blow your lid off, unless of course, you use your pressure canner.

Grab a Coca-Cola and a bag of peanuts because today we're headed to Georgia to learn all about gardening and how tools from the past are key to solving modern problems. Greg shares his story of how he built his business from garden tools, seeds, and social media to provide everything you need to successfully grow food for yourself at home. Don't listen to this episode if you're still fighting the urge to garden. It'll push you over the edge.

In todays episode, we are introducing a new segment called “To The Root Of It”. In this segment, we will explore the vast history of an important piece of agriculture. This weeks topic is the plow. A groundbreaking piece of equipment that forever changed farming and how we feed the world. Join us at the very beginning with 2 sticks and some sand and eventually we'll meet some Romans, Thomas Jefferson, John Deere, and the iconic steel plow. Despite some controversy in the 1930's, this revolutionary tool has quite the story to tell.

Get ready for some good BBQ and Lone Star flags as we head out to west Texas to learn all about growing Milo from Farmer Dan Sell. Farming with little to no rain is tough, but Dan walks us through the process of growing milo and why it is the perfect crop for his environment. We learned why some people call it sorghum and others call it milo, why they get excited at first frost, and what this crop is used for. If you like homeschool farmers and specialty crops, this episode is for you. 

Pour yourself a tall glass of Kool-Aid because today we're headed to Nebraska to learn all about those delicious butt nuggets we all enjoy for breakfast from our very own Eggspert Noah Young. Noah takes us on a journey through his life and what eventually led him to a career in agriculture and a developing passion for poultry. In this episode Noah takes a crack at explaining how a chicken lays an egg, what dictates egg color and flavor and how to best store your eggs at home. Whether you like your eggs scrambled or fried, this episode is for you!

Grab your sunglasses and ranch as we head to the deserts of Yuma, Arizona. Otherwise known as the winter lettuce capital of the world. Today we interview Jon Dinsmore to learn all about the complete life cycle of a lettuce plant and what it takes to grow food safely on a large scale. Did you know they have to worry about coyotes pooping on your food? Jon also talked about water conservation in the desert, industry advocacy and what it takes to be a good steward of the land. If you enjoy a fresh salad or dad jokes this episode is for you!

We're waxing down our surfboards as we head to the sunshine state of California, but not to learn about surfing. Instead we had the chance to visit with carrot producer Zach Wortiska to learn all about growing carrots. We got to learn where baby carrots come from (Noah's first birds and the bees talk) as well as what it takes to plant and harvest carrots that you buy at the grocery store! If you carrot all about this delicious root vegetable, this episode is for you! Also want to thank FeedSpot for ranking us in the Top 30 Best Farming Podcasts this week! https://blog.feedspot.com/farming_podcasts/

There's only two good things from Iowa: Casey's Pizza and Murray McMurray hatchery. Today we had the chance to talk with the CEO and Co-Owner of Murray McMurray, Tom Watkins. Tom takes a crack at the incubation process and tells us all about how they successfully hatch over 110,000 eggs at any given time. He casually mentions moving 30,000 chickens to his house to avoid the bird flu and blows Tyler's mind with hatching tips. From chickens and turkeys to waterfowl and game birds, they never put all their eggs in one basket. If you like chicks, this episode is for you!

Grab your cowboy hat and spurs because we're headed to Winnebago! We are going to learn all about the sport of rodeo and its deep ties to agriculture from the greatest bull rider of all time, Dale Brisby. Do you ever wonder what it's like to hop on the back of a 2,000 pound animal that wants to eat you for breakfast? What it takes to be a real cowboy? Or the ties between rodeo and agriculture? Tighten up your cinch because Dale is going answer all this and more on a wild ride that lasts far more than 8 seconds. Dale Yeah!

Grab your beach towel and sunscreen because we're headed to the ocean...oh wait. He's not actually a shark farmer, just one of the greatest agriculture communications experts in the business and he lives in Illinois. In this episode we talk to Rob Sharkey, a farmer, journalist, and host of a variety of radio, podcast and tv shows! Everyone in agriculture has a story to tell and Rob has made it his goal in life to use his platform to give farmers a voice to share their stories of inspiration, innovation, and triumph. If you have an interest in learning how to better communicate your story this podcast is for you. Just give a listen! You have no-fin to lose!

Make sure you've got your sunscreen on because today we're heading to sunny Florida to talk about growing peanuts! We talked to peanut farmer Jim McArthur about what it takes to grow delicious peanuts for candy bars, peanut butter sandwiches and apparently the oil you fry a turkey in at Thanksgiving! Not only that, but we also had a chance to talk to Jim's twin brother Randy and hear the world premiere of his new hit single "Daddy's Dime".

Grab your didgeridoo and Vegemite as we head Down Under to Australia to learn all about the camel dairy industry. Yes, you read that right. In this episode we talk to Yasmin Brisbane about milking camels, the history of her family farm, and learn some fascinating facts about camels! Have you ever wondered how many teats are on a camel, what camel milk tastes like, or how Australia came to have the world's largest camel population? Yasmin answers all these questions and more in this exciting 2 humped camel size episode.

Put on some George Strait and cowboy boots because we're heading to Texas to interview our very own Tyler Froberg! Tyler grew up in the dirt and learned a wide range of skills throughout his journey in agriculture. One of those skills is running a CSA for a number of years. In this episode Tyler breaks down what community supported agriculture actually looks like and how to make it feasible for growers and consumers alike!

Join us in sunny Ohio as we talk to show queen extraordinaire Lacie Evans about show cows! Everyone knows cows are used for meat and dairy, but did you know there's a whole sector of cattle that is just for showing off in a ring? In this episode, Lacie gives us an inside look at the world of show cows and what it takes to raise a Grand Champion bovine.

Grab your popcorn (Oh shucks! He doesn't grow that kind of corn) as we head to Nebraska to hear from farmer Noah Hubbard and learn everything there is to know about planting corn. Turns out, it's a lot more complicated than throwing a few seeds on the ground and praying for rain.

Grab a slice of momma's apple pie as we sit down with Katy Thornton to pick her brain on all things apples. We'll get in cider information on how the SugarBee apple came to bee and what it takes to grow a good apple. We hope you enjoy this fruitful conversation as we head into the orchard!

Grab your bag of chips and some Vernors as we head to Michigan to learn from potato crop expert, Marcia Cripps. Marcia will break down what it takes to grow a good potato and how they turn that into the chips we all love!

Fire up the grill and put on some Reba McEntire because we're going to Oklahoma to talk about beef prices with 5th generation rancher, Gatlin Didier AKA "Darrell Bibbins". Gatlin breaks down the meat packaging process and explains who actually sets the price for your meat at the grocery store. We also talk about Gatlin's impact on social media and the importance of using his platform to promote agriculture.

Farming for Dummies is an exciting new educational podcast about agriculture. Each week hosts Noah Young & Tyler Froberg will interview an expert Agriculturalist about a unique aspect of farming and break it down in a way that Dummies like us can understand! If you want to know How to Milk a Cow, What's a Grain Bin, or Why Your Steak is so Expensive, the Farming for Dummies podcast is perfect for you.