Working in Ag

Brenden Winsor of Proactive Feedlot Management Services

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. 
 

Janet Hanehan: Territory Manager for Seedway

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. 

Who Do You Want to be a Hero To?

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! 

Applying the Working Genius Model to Agriculture

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! 

The Spanish Speaking Labor Force in American Agriculture

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! 

Hiring and On-Boarding in Agriculture

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! 

A Deeper Look at the Grain Trading 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.

Utilizing Your Creative Skills in the Ag Industry!

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. 

Tonya Van Slyke: Executive Director of NEDPA

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. 

Independent Thinkers, Over Information Regurgitators

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.