Shining Bright | The FarmHer Podcast

Meet FarmHer Melissa O'Neil! Melissa is CEO of Iowa's largest homeless shelter, Central Iowa Shelter & Services, in downtown Des Moines. Melissa embodies the Christmas spirit all year round by dedicating her life to those in need and encouraging others to do the same.

Listen in how Jen Welch at The Crowded Acre takes local bacon (and more) from pig to plate with a nose-to-tail dining experience in her farms own food truck. During this episode, Jen shares how farmers can be successful on small farms and how the Welch family has grown up alongside The Crowded Acre's chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, and more. Note: The Bearded Lady has closed since filming this show, but the hard work, determination, and love that went into it remains.

In pride month and every month, we at FarmHer believe being yourself is the best self you can be. Be who you are. And love who you want to be. Whether you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community or need advice on how to be a better, more supportive ally, this Nationwide Everybody Eats podcast is for you because love is love.  Both of our guests are “Cultivating Change", literally as members of the Cultivating Change Foundation. Cultivating Change Foundation's mission is “valuing and elevating LGBTQ+ agriculturists through advocacy, education, and community.” Our guests, Lydia Noyes, and Skyler Allison do just that. Take a listen as we learn more about their FarmHer journey, what they do for the foundation, and their advice on being a supportive member or ally to the LGBTQ+ community. 

Steak, cheeseburgers, and ribs... oh my! On this episode of our podcast, travel to Texas to meet women of Grrls Meat Camp! From ranching to butchery, they cover it all. On this FarmHer Talks episode, we visit the Manterola family at the Bar W Ranch cattle pens. Then head to Jake's Salon to meet Grrls Meat Camp founder, Kate Hill and make charcuterie. It's one meaty episode you don't want to miss! 

Have you ever wondered, how do farms last for generations? Catch a ride with April Hemmes as she shares about her century farm. This FarmHer teaches us how she has kept her family farm alive and going. 

From pigs to pies, Iowa FarmHer Cristen Clark goes from feeding pigs to baking pie at her food blog, Food and Swine. Join this mother of two as she shows and shares her love for family, farming and cooking. Then, learn her tips on the best pear pie and pie crust you've ever tasted.

In this episode, Marji visits city-girl-turned-ranchher Krystina at Cook Pig Ranch, a pasture-based pig farm raising premium pork in southern California. The ranch is located in the Cleveland National Forest and designed after pig raising methods based in Iberico, Spain. This unique farm design allows the Cook family to raise a more flavorful pork product while raising their family on the farm.

In this episode, we're getting to know Amy Heitland of Westfork Ranch in Sheffield, Iowa. Learn about her day from cleaning stalls to riding. Then, meet Amy's family that helps on the farm and hear how personal tragedy has shaped the Westfork Ranch program. 

On November 15, 2021, Marcia Bunger was named Administrator for the Risk Management Agency. On this BRAND NEW episode of FarmHer Talks, we discuss her journey from humble beginnings as a small girl living on a fourth generation farm in rural South Dakota to becoming the first member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and the first woman to serve as RMA Administrator. 

Liz Hunt is the head of Sustainable and Responsible Business for Syngenta. She has a background in horticulture and focuses every day on how to help farmers and landowners be more sustainable. Learn more about Liz and her journey in agriculture!

Today's farming in Frostproof, Florida looks a bit different than it did years ago. In this episode, join Marji and FarmHer Shayla McCullers and her family on the Crooked Lake Ranch as we gather up a herd of cattle using low stress handling methods, cowboys on horses and a mud buggy!

Annie's Project is an education program made for farm women, which has now spread to 38 states and US Virgin Islands with over 19,000 graduates. In fact, Annie's Project is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year! And Women's History Month is the perfect time to celebrate! Learn more about Ruth Hambleton, who inspired her to start the program, what they do, and how she helps women like you daily.

Stock show life is the foundation of Lexi Marek's upbringing in agriculture. From the Iowa State Fair show ring to the Miss Iowa pageant stage, this young FarmHer has a way of inspiring everyone she meets and is a driving force within the future of agriculture. In this episode, join Lexi at the show barn and meet her show pig. Then, learn what judges look for in a show pig and check out Lexi's favorite fair food.

It's finally March and that can only mean one thing: it's Women's History Month! At FarmHer, we meet women every day who are making history. Whether that's through interaction on social media, an in-person meeting, or even a podcast interview. To kick our favorite month off, we brought in one extraordinary FarmHer who is so much more than just a FarmHer. She's an entrepreneur of over twenty small businesses in different industries, mother to four other FarmHers who all happen to be named Mary, wife to a rancher she works right alongside, teacher to many, creative content creator, and more. I mean really, the list could keep going all day. Meet Mary of Five Marys Farms!

Manufacturing: it might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of FarmHers but for FarmHer Heather Bruce- it has been her whole life! Heather is the CEO of Osmundson Manufacturing, a worldwide leader that sells its parts to original equipment manufacturers, farm stores, and other distributors throughout North America, Australia, Russia, China, Vietnam, and even more countries. She is the fifth generation of this family-owned company. Her growing company prides itself on community involvement, the continuation of growth, and a family-focused work-life balance.

Where are our past, current, and future FFA members?! This podcast is for all the officHers! Listen in as we chat with Peg Armstrong-Gustafson, Iowa's first female state FFA president and female national officer candidate. Women like Peg pave the way for women like you!

Did you know July is Ice Cream Month?! On this episode of FarmHer Talks, we discussed dairy in the most delicious way. Marji is joined by Stacey Noe who has not only built her career in the ag industry but has a new venture full of dairy goodness.

In honor of Dairy Month Marji joined two very different Dairy farmers on this week's episode of FarmHer Talks. From a sixth-generation Maryland cow dairy to a Washington microgoat dairy, she traveled coast to coast to get the details on two different sides of the industry. Meet the women of the Brooms Bloom Dairy in Maryland and then across the country to the infectiously positive Rachael of the Lost Peacock goat micro-dairy.

We hear the word "art" and don't take into consideration how broad it is. From the FarmHer beginnings of photography to the Des Moines Metro Opera, it is all art. And it shows us the world through a different lens. Just like in agriculture, you may not think you are a part of it but it enriches your everyday life. And the Des Moines Metro Opera is taking the agriculture world by storm with its world premiere of A Thousand Acres on July 9, 2022. Learn more about the event and how art tackles the tough issues in agriculture on this episode of FarmHer Talks.

At FarmHer, we LOVE pollinators that's why Marji decided to chat with Keri Carstens, an expert on the subject. She'll explain the status of pollinators in our country, how we got here, what role modern agriculture plays, and what the future holds, on this episode of FarmHer Talks.

Have you ever felt like you needed a fresh start? On our most recent episode of FarmHer Talks, Marji chatted with a duo who have given their family farm a new lease on life. Meet Shelby Watson Hampton and Susan Watson White, the niece and aunt behind some of Maryland's finest wines.

In Celebration of Beef Month in May, host Marji and co-host Lexi will talk with Elin Parker Ganshchow, a RanchHer and Entrepreneur raising grass fed cattle at the base of the Sangre De Cristo mountains in Colorado. The conversation goes from cattle production to how to make the best roast beef ever.

The secret is out and we are so excited to gather back together for the first FarmHer post-pandemic event, Be Bold by FarmHer presented by Nationwide on May 20, 2022, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa. One of the main goals of GatHering (do you see what I did there?) is to rekindle connection. Connection seemed to be somewhat lost during the pandemic times. What better to kick off post-pandemic celebrations than connecting with my favorite people: YOU! So what is happening at Be Bold? Why we are passionate about gathering back together? And how you can still be surrounded by other inspiring women by joining our event virtually too? I connected and discussed it with a familiar face, Krista Soda!

To continue the discussion about what sustainability is for you, me, and all of the people who produce AND eat our food, we are going straight to the top. Marji talks about the S-word (aka sustainability) with Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh, the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, on our most recent Everybody Eats FarmHer Talks. From a standpoint of diversity and inclusion, she is the right voice to have at the table for sustainability in agriculture. Listen in to how she handles sustainability at the USDA, personally, and for the future of agriculture. 

It's International Women's Day AND March is Women's History Month! and like always, we're celebrating women and their ambition to make an impact in today's world. I talked to Shannon Hauf, a woman who leads by example in agriculture by having a desire to always grow and evolve. She supports women every day in her role at Bayer Crop Science as Senior Vice President and Head of Seed Production Innovation and challenges you to ask, what are you doing to support women?

FarmHers know sustainability means something different in all aspects of life. For Kasey Bamberger, third-generation Bryant Ag Owner in southwest Ohio, it's sustaining her business, self, and family legacy. That legacy started generations ago with her great-great-grandparents and the purchase of their farm at a sheriff's auction during the Great Depression. Talk about sustainable farming! Now, she dives into every day with a cup always overflowing attitude and an eagerness to learn that keeps that sustainability alive.

Along with our friends at Nationwide, we are on a journey to better understand the "S-Word", or as you might know it: sustainability. Yes, we are digging into sustainability in a whole new way because it carries a different meaning and connotation to each of us. It depends on who we are, what boots we wear on a daily basis, our background, our families, our businesses….you name it. To break it all down, I had a discussion about what sustainability means to three women from three different parts of agriculture: Julie Kenney, the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and a FarmHer right here in Iowa, Hannah borg, a FarmHer raising chickens in Nebraska, and Casey Cox, a FarmHer from a diverse family farm in Georgia. These women are professionals, business owners, growers, and consumers who each have their own take on the "S-Word".

Everywhere I turn someone is talking about sustainability. In agriculture, and well… in just about everything.  Farming, food, building, transportation, like I said, everywhere!  I don't know about you, but I find it hard to understand exactly what this confusing and overwhelming S-word means to me.  So, in true FarmHer Style, I decided to dig in.  I gathered the FarmHerd to talk about what sustainability means to us, as women, as business owners, as growers, and as consumers.

 A hot topic in agriculture right now is CBD. But what truly is it? When I think of CBD many questions come to mind. What is the difference between CBD and marijuana? What's legal and what's not? How is it grown? Who is growing it? Where?…you know, all the burning topics centered around this up-and-coming product. In honor of January being CBD month, expert hemp FarmHer, Peggy Coffeen, joined us. She is on a mission to share her knowledge about CBD and the products she grows, makes, sells, and uses. As a mother, wife, business owner, and FarmHer, she knows stress. Which is what inspired her CBD journey to begin with.

Meet Sarah Scharlau, fifth-generation FarmHer at Pleasant Valley Tree Farm. Her farm is the perfect place to create country Christmas memories. In this Nationwide Everybody Eats episode, we will learn about the traditions her farm offers, what traditions are unique to her family, and all about her family farm or as I like to call it: Winter Wonderland!

We are celebrating Veterans Day! Veterans Day is actually November 11 and we want to honor all that have served in our great nation. I had the opportunity to meet two extraordinary people who happen to be veterans and... farmers! Not only did they serve our country overseas, but they also serve every day in their local community and in the agriculture industry in general by using a regenerative-agriculture approach to their farm.  Meet married couple and Army veterans, Brittney and Kris of K & B Liberty Farms. Their story is not like any other I've ever been able to tell.

Jolene Palmer and her family didn't know what to do after the loss of her husband. Luckily, the farming community came together and made their harvest an unforgettable experience and celebration of her husband, Mike's life. On this Nationwide Everybody Eats episode see how Jolene and her daughters are paying it forward and are the true epitome of farmers helping farmers. 

When it comes to transition planning, it is never too early to start the conversation. Luckily, Land As Your Legacy helps farmers do this. Marji chats with Lauren Glovac, Relationship Manager with Land As Your Legacy, on this Everybody Eats Nationwide podcast to discuss her program and how it can help your farm family now.

From busy days to meal planning, FarmHers make the best of what they can. See how Food Bank of Iowa Chopped contest is doing the same thing for those who are food insecure on our latest Everybody Eats Nationwide podcast. On this episode, we chat with a FarmHer mom on her hacks for making the best of the busy days. Then we go live at the Food Bank of Iowa Chopped- Hot Dish Edition contest from this year's Iowa State Fair. 

Why am I here? This is a question that Angela Dawson, unfortunately, has heard too many times on her journey to becoming the black indigenous reclamation FarmHer behind 40- Acre Co-op. Breaking barriers is nothing new for Angela. Farming is in her blood, and after a break from agriculture, she knew reclamation farming was the next step in her future.

Are you or someone you know born into a generational family farm? Do you and your family know what will happen to the farm if tragedy were to strike? On this HitchPin sponsored FarmHer Talks, Marji chats with three ladies who have successfully been through the good, the bad, and the ugly of farm transition planning with their families. HitchPin helps farm families be innovative and this conservation is right up that alley. First, we'll meet with Amy and Beth Macrcoot, the sister duo behind Marcoot Jersey Creamery in Illinois. Then we'll talk with Erin Leifker, Chief Experience Officer at FarmHer who was raised on her family farm and now owns it alongside her husband. Join us for this conversation centered around farm transition planning and why it is so important to have with your family. https://bit.ly/3xXrOtN

In pride month, and every month really, we at FarmHer believe you do you. Be who you are. And love who you want to. This is a month of advocacy and celebration when the LGBTQ+ community from across the world comes together and celebrates the freedom to be themselves.  Whether you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community and want to make a difference or be your true self in the agriculture community, or need advice on how to be a supportive ally, this Nationwide Everybody Eats podcast is for you because love is love. 

It's #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth! Join in the conversation as we talk to Sara Coen, a licensed mental health therapist from Iowa about what we can all do to help ourselves and others when it comes to being emotionally healthy on this week's episode of FarmHer Talks. 

This week on FarmHer Talks we're diving into a deep topic centering around safety on the farm. We’ll start with Sam Goldberg, producer of the feature-length film, Silo on his why and how and what he hopes we all can learn from his film to celebrate the film being released worldwide today, May 7th. Find it in a theater near you! Then we’ll hear from Marilyn Adams, a FarmHer who has lived out this horrible tragedy.

As the number of people in agriculture grows smaller but the footprint to feed grows larger, it is imperative that people put themselves out there by participating in leadership roles. People like Sue Tronchetti. She wears a number of hats, including FarmHer, small business owner, and leader on many boards in the agriculture industry. Learn more about her journey, tips on how to get involved, and the valuable lessons learned on this Nationwide #EverybodyEats FarmHer Talks episode. 

On this episode of FarmHer Talks, we are focusing on mental health, an issue that is becoming a problem in agriculture. Within the agriculture industry, suicide rates have increased by 40% within the last two decades. Together, we all can elevate this conversation and bring awareness to the topic. Join Marji as she talks to Adrienne DeSutter about how you can help and the hope she has for rural communities and the agriculture industry.

Marji doesn't like tomatoes and never has. But leave it to FarmHer Jennie Smith of Butcher Crick Farms in Iowa to get her to try a few varieties and change her mind. Listen in to this episode of FarmHer Talks where Marji and Jennie discuss varieties of tomatoes, how to plant them, successful growing methods, and of course, the best way to eat them!

When the unexpected happened, Taylen Abarr and her farming community pulled together to make the best of an unfortunate situation. Listen in as we talk to Taylen about the farmers who created a harvest day when her family needed help the most on this Everybody Eats Nationwide sponsored episode of FarmHer Talks.

This week on FarmHer Talks, we are having some Wisconsin fun! Marji is talking with a few FarmHers that she met on the road, who have done things their way and are winning in that space. Meet Lisa Kivrist and Kriss Marion, the Soil Sisters! Both are FarmHers, entrepreneurs, political activists, and all-around fun people. 

This podcast is for the unstoppable work-from-home moms! Listen in as we head to Chelsie's Chatter on FarmHer Talks to chat with Holly Spangler, a work-from-home pro! She gives all her tips and tricks for working from home and how having her children around the farm all day was truly a blessing in disguise.

Every single part of agriculture is essential.  As we kick off National Farmworker Awareness Week (March 25-31, 2021), we revisit an important conversation with Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel with Proteus, Inc. To continue our look at the ways that food makes it to our plates, we’re taking a look at the people who are often behind the scenes on farms, but front and center to making sure the food gets to our table are the farmworkers. There are 2.5 million agriculture laborers working day in and day out to plant, care for, harvest, process, pack and ship the food from the fields to the store.

As we continue the conversation around farming and all of its complexity, I wanted to highlight a side of agriculture we don't often hear about: Media. We all rely on media to break down the subject of agriculture and inform ourselves and others. Media can teach farmers how to effectively and efficiently get our food from farm to table. When I think of agriculture media, one name comes immediately to mind: Sara Wyant. She is a pioneer for all women, not only in agriculture but also in the media industry. 

We're talking about diversity in the workplace on this episode of FarmHer Talks. Listen in as Marji chats with Claudia Schabel, President of Schabel Solutions. She works with businesses to diffuse the dangers of unconscious bias from overlooked potential to outright trainwrecks. 

Little girls with dreams become women with vision. We're celebrating Women's History Month! Listen in as Marji chats with three strong and intelligent women, Lexi, Carly, and Cristen about women who made history. From governors to the creators of beer, medical syringes, and dishwashers, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

It’s FFA week and we are celebrating fifty-one years of women being a part of the organization. Listen in to FarmHer Talks as Marji chats with Jennifer Maruszewski of FMC and Caitlin Remington an FFA advisor at Bondurant Schools. Then we keep the National FFA Week party going with singer Tenille Townes and Molly Ball of National FFA. Hear about their journeys since then and how they are helping the next generation still today. 

This week on FarmHer Talks we're diving into a deep topic centering around safety on the farm. We’ll start with Sam Goldberg, producer of the feature-length film, Silo on his why, how, and what he hopes we all can learn from his film. Then we’ll hear from Marilyn Adams, a FarmHer who has lived out this horrible tragedy on this week's FarmHer Talks.