Dirt Road Discussions

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive into the world of agricultural education alongside Andrea Schumaker, the Assistant Dean for the Agricultural Sciences program at the College of Western Idaho (CWI).  There is a changing landscape in modern agriculture, with community college programs successfully building pipelines to supply the industry with skilled, knowledgeable professionals in precisi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Avery Claire Wrigglesworth, the daughter and wife who left her career in international finance to return to her childhood farm.  In 2019, Avery got a call from her father indicating a need to pass the responsibilities of their LaGrange, Georgia farm to the next generation. Avery and husband Marc made a leap of faith. They uprooted their lives and...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast, we sit down for an engaging chat with U.S. Senator Jim Risch. As a rancher himself, Senator Risch shares his life of being a Senator that spends most of his week in Washington D.C., but returns each weekend to Idaho.  Senator Risch gives his perspective on the resilience that is required to farm these days among tough market hurdles. He also shares his thoughts on...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what actually happens behind the scenes during a legislative session? In this episode of Dirt Road Discussions , we sit down with Braden Jensen and Dexton Lake, who work for the Governmental Affairs Team for the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation. They also like to refer to themselves as legislative advisors. Braden and Dexton pull back the curtain on the ins and outs of the...

Send us Fan Mail Why does your vote matter on the farm and beyond? On this episode of Dirt Road Discussions , Cam and Ott sit down with Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane.  With nearly two decades of experience protecting the integrity of our elections, Phil dives into his mission to make government more transparent and efficient. Join us for a timely conversation on the power of the individual...

Send us Fan Mail Dirt Roads make up 1/3 of all roads in the United States and they require more than a sprinkle of gravel and a steamroller to make them functionable and durable. Both chemists and engineers use crazy science to make that top layer of dirt more like concrete than the average dirt out in the farm field.  In this episode, Royal Marty, CEO of Substrata, offers a fascinating, easy-to-u...

Send us Fan Mail BONUS EPISODE: Those who rely on the Port of Lewiston for their livelihoods are trying to understand a 2026 order that came from a federal Oregon judge to increase water over the dams and lower water levels in some areas.  Scott Corbitt, General Manager of the Port of Lewiston, wants to see both fish and industry succeed on the Lower Columbia River Basin. In this interview, he exp...

Send us Fan Mail As energy demand surges across Idaho, what does it mean for the farmers and ranchers who depend on affordable, reliable power? We sit down with Eric Olsen, Partner at Echo Hawk & Olsen, to break down the growing strain on the grid, the rise of large energy users, and how it could impact irrigation, input costs, and the future of agriculture. It’s a conversation that connects p...

Send us Fan Mail Barley is sometimes known as the underappreciated crop, but to breweries across the nation, barley is essential. Laura Wilder, Executive Director of the Idaho Barley Commission, talks about how Idaho has become the #1 barley-producing state, helping give it the unofficial title as the “Beer State.” Laura gives us a look at how an ag commodity commission works—covering research, ma...

Send us Fan Mail Many people mistakenly think that cryptocurrency is just bitcoin. Actually, there are many different types of cryptocurrency. One recently developed is SPUD, a meme coin built for the agricultural community. SPUD was created by Cody Holm, 5th generation farmer from Southeast Idaho. Cody knows there are skeptics about crypto. In this episode he takes the opportunity to address misc...

Send us Fan Mail Mary Huff is the Director of Owyhee County Community Planning, as well as a rancher. She has a message for everyone to be involved with their local and state elected officials. From planning and zoning to farmland loss, Mary shares her real-world experiences.  She reminds us that people living in rural areas have a responsibility to speak up for rural issues. 

Send us Fan Mail Matt Dorsey, the President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, joins Cam and Ott for this episode of Dirt Road Discussions. They explore Matt's experiences as a farmer, his insights from traveling the state, and the importance of community and mentorship in agriculture. They also dive into the challenges facing farmers today, while emphasizing the resilience and optimism nee...

Send us Fan Mail Consumers can be overwhelmed as they walk through the aisles of the grocery store. Food has become a battleground where marketing labels and misinformation persuades people around their eating choices.  Michele Payn brings clarity and common sense to the conversations surrounding food, farming, and science. Whether it’s helping farmers and scientists communicate more effectively,...

Send us Fan Mail Winter months in rural Idaho may lack a Friday night football game, but locals are discovering Skijoring: a sport where competitors ski behind a galloping horse, navigating jumps, grabbing rings, and trying not to break any bones. It has been described as rodeo adrenaline for participants and crowds, only you need a warm coat. Shailee and Sage Lish got hooked on skijoring from fri...

Send us Fan Mail 100th Episode! The Dirt Road Discussion crew literally hit the road to travel to Sun Valley for 10-minute interviews with a lineup of ag experts attending the Idaho-Oregon Grain & Oilseed Convention. They each share a personal message on the status and future of farming in the Northwest.   Erin Hansell-Heideman 2026 President, Oregon Wheat Growers League   Kyle Wangemann Vice...

Send us Fan Mail In 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens left a landscape of devastation. Decades later, that volcanic soil has become the foundation for a farm that produces products that become our holiday boughs, wreaths, garlands, and centerpieces. In this special holiday episode, we sit down with Troy Turnbull, VP of Northwest Operations at Continental Floral Greens. He takes us behind the...

Send us Fan Mail Leslie Edgar grew up in a large family Kuna, Idaho, where her parents emphasized the importance of hard work and education. Back then, she probably never knew that her life would take her to multiple states only to return as the J.R. Simplot Endowed Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho. What a journey. In this podcast, Dean Edgar breaks...

Send us Fan Mail While most farmers are trying to get their crop out of the ground by October 15th, Geoffrey and Jana Yockey are working to get their garlic seed in the ground before winter hits. The funny part is that they hope its a frigid winter with lots of snow covering their precious crop. Years ago, the Yockeys returned to Jana’s hometown from Florida to continue her family's five-gene...

Send us Fan Mail She was a girl who grew up singing at church in her Amish community. He was a boy that grew up in Texas listening to Metallica. A chance encounter at a Nashville event would create the country duo sensation of Lance and Lea. In this podcast, Lance and Lea talk about what it is like to be on the road, mapping out performance dates across the country, and writing music along the way...

Send us Fan Mail Should land be used for farming or houses? Maybe the better question is, how do we plan for the future so people can still build neighborhoods and businesses without taking up all the farmland that grows our food? Keri Smith's thought she wanted to be a graphic designer until she answered a job in the local newspaper looking for an entry-level position taking notes for the la...

Send us Fan Mail Adam Ratliff, known as the Armchair Engineer, knows that when the topic of dams in the Pacific Northwest comes up, people start talking. Whether it is the topic of salmon recovery and breaching or the need for hydroelectric power and agriculture, Adam has studied how both good information and misinformation have spread, making it hard for many to understand. Adam discusses a host...

Send us Fan Mail Three years ago, Ashlie Sutton's family was frantically working to get potatoes out of the ground before a potential frost killed the crop. From the spud truck, she started posting on social media about the plight of farmers in her valley. It captured the attention of people all over the country, which led her to launch a personal campaign to thank farmers. If that wasn'...

Send us Fan Mail Blake Manley is most invigorated when he helps students realize that there is an entire world of high-paying jobs in the trades, specifically forestry. As the originator of Manley Jobs, Blake piloted an idea during COVID to produce YouTube videos that shine a light on occupations that are not commonly considered by high schoolers. It turned out to be a huge success, being used in...

Send us Fan Mail Nancy Riegler loves and lives with camels. She runs the Oasis Camel Dairy Farm in Ramona, California with her husband Gil. Her stories of meeting Gil, discovering camels, learning how to milk camels, and many other antics are told in this interview.  You won’t want to miss this hilarious episode that had us laughing from start to finish. 

Send us Fan Mail Mike Simpson noticed in the newspaper one day that only one person was running for two seats on the city council, so after talking to his wife, he decided to try politics for the first time. Unfortunately, a few others also noticed, and he had his first race. Turns out, he was elected to the city council by only 8 votes. Who knew that this young man would later become Idaho's...