Fill Your Plate NOW

What happens nutritionally during the earliest stages of life can help shape health for years to come. In this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, we sit down with Dr. Christina Valentine , a board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist, registered dietitian, and nutrition scientist who has spent more than 20 years caring for some of our most vulnerable babies and studying how nutrition can support...

When it comes to nutrition, it seems like we're constantly being told what not to eat. Cut this out. Avoid that. Take this supplement. Don't take that one. And with so much information—and misinformation—coming at us every day, it can be hard to know what the science actually says. What foods should we be adding to our diets? When should food come first, and when can supplements legitimately help...

Romey Romero, co-owner and co-host of Rosie on the House , Arizona's longest-running home-improvement radio show, joins Fill Your Plate Now to talk about Arizona agriculture, desert homesteading and putting farm-fresh food on the family table. Romey helped launch the show's monthly "Farm Fresh" Hour, which spotlights Arizona farmers, ranchers, nurseries and urban growers. He also lives the lifesty...

In this episode, Katie Bambacht, Vice President of Nutrition Affairs at National Dairy Council, and a registered dietitian and credentialed school nutrition specialist, explores milk's evolving role in school meals—from its nutritional benefits and changing consumption habits to the renewed conversation around whole milk. She shares insights on the latest research, student preferences, practical c...

On this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, Julie Murphree and Tammy Baker welcome Ashlee Mortimer, CEO of Mortimer Farms in Dewey, Arizona, as the family farm moves into the fall festival and winter season. Ashlee shares what's new on the farm during pumpkin season and the cooler months, from pick-your-own pumpkins and the corn maze to farm-park attractions, animal encounters, and the market and deli...

Fill Your Plate Now sits down with Sherry Saylor, a recently retired Buckeye-area farmer, longtime school counselor, and national Farm Bureau leader whose life has connected the farm, the classroom, and the community. Sherry grew up in South Carolina and married Rick, a third-generation Arizona farmer. In the mid-1970s, she moved to the Buckeye farm and learned row-crop farming—cotton, wheat, barl...

 On this episode of Fill Your Plate Now , we sit down with Michelle Dudash, RDN — award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist, Le Cordon Bleu–certified chef, and author of Clean Eating for Busy Families and The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook . Michelle brings a rare combination to the table: professional chef training plus a registered dietitian's science-backed approach. The result is food t...

On this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, farm girl Julie Murphree and Nutrition Ninja Tammy Baker sit down with Cassy England, a fourth-generation Arizona farmer in Pinal and Pima Counties. Cassy shares her family's story that began in 1932, how she returned to the land after college, and what it takes to manage roughly 6,500 acres of cotton, alfalfa, wheat, barley, corn, and oats in the desert. Li...

Idaho farmer and former National Pork Producers Council president Dave Roper joins Fill Your Plate Now from his multi-generational family farm in Kimberly, in Idaho's Magic Valley. Roper raises hogs in a farrow-to-finish operation alongside cattle and irrigated crops such as potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, and alfalfa. He also owns MVP LLC Environmental Services, a custom manure-handling and nutrien...

Join Colleen Sloan, a pediatric Physician Associate and Registered Dietitian with over 15 years of experience, as she delves into the world of child nutrition. In this episode, Colleen discusses the critical importance of good nutrition during childhood and addresses common challenges families face, such as dietary myths and the important role of dairy in growth and development. Discover practical...

In today's conversation, we'll explore the role of dairy throughout the lifecycle—from infancy and childhood to adulthood and healthy aging. Joining us is Lauren Peña, a registered dietitian nutritionist with a master's degree in organizational leadership whose career has been dedicated to advancing nutrition education, promoting healthier communities, and translating evidence-based nutrition scie...

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company has become a leader in craft beer by proving that great beer starts with great local ingredients. Since opening in 2013, the brewery has embraced Arizona's agricultural community, partnering with local farmers, ranchers, dairies, and food producers to create beers and menu offerings that celebrate the state's rich and diverse landscape. From locally grown fruit a...

Water is the lifeblood of the desert—but conversations about Arizona's most precious resource are often buried in statistics, policy debates, and impersonal headlines. In this episode of  Fill Your Plate Now , we sit down with Arizona Farm Bureau's Julie Murphree and Arizona Milk Producer's Tammy Baker to unpack their powerful mini-documentary  Growing Home: Arizona  and discover why they chose to...

In this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, we welcome back Sam Barncastle of the Family Farm Alliance to dive deep into the urgent need to modernize aging Western water infrastructure that family farms depend on. From 50 to 100+ year-old dams, reservoirs, canals, and conveyance systems to the critical role of both engineered and natural infrastructure (aquifers and watershed management), Sam breaks d...

Join us on  Fill Your Plate Now as we sit down with Nancy Caywood, a third-generation farmer at Caywood Farms near Casa Grande in Pinal County, Arizona. With roots tracing back to land acquired around 1930, Nancy blends her background as an elementary teacher (BA from ASU) and holder of a Master's in Agricultural Education (University of Arizona) with hands-on farm life.  In this episode, Nancy sh...

Join hosts Tammy Baker and Julie Murphree on  Fill Your Plate Now  for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Michelle Schack—Arizona dairy veterinarian, mom, social media educator known as The Dairy Doc, and co-founder of DairyKind. Dr. Schack shares the story behind her new children's book,  DairyDoc's Discovery Goggles: Milk from Cow to Carton , which takes young readers on an exciting journey thro...

Join us on Fill Your Plate Now for an inspiring conversation with Ben and Ashley Menges — a young, hardworking ranching couple in southern Arizona who are raising both a family and a herd of cattle with grit, heart, and deep-rooted values. From balancing life with young kids on the ranch to navigating the daily realities of cattle production in the arid Southwest, Ben and Ashley share what it trul...

Join Fill Your Plate Now for a critical conversation with Dr. Ryan Wolker, DVM, Arizona's State Veterinarian. Recent confirmed cases of New World Screwworm in Texas and New Mexico have put the spotlight on this parasitic fly, but Dr. Wolker makes one thing crystal clear: this is a food security issue, not a food safety issue. NWS endangers livestock herds, wildlife, pets, and could impact food sup...

Discover the real story behind dairy cow care with Dr. Kandice Runyon, DVM, Director of Animal Wellbeing at United Dairymen of Arizona (UDA). In this insightful episode of Fill Your Plate Now, the Ontario Veterinary College graduate and experienced dairy production medicine specialist shares her journey from growing up around Canadian family farms to international training in New Zealand, New Mexi...

Discover how Arizona's incredible climate powers our state's agriculture. With over 300 days of blazing sunshine, mild desert winters, and diverse microclimates, the Grand Canyon State grows fresh vegetables when the rest of the country is frozen. From Yuma — the Winter Lettuce Capital of the World — supplying 90-100% of U.S. leafy greens in peak winter months, to robust harvests of dates, pecans,...

Join us on a captivating journey into the heart of agriculture and dairy farming at Desperado Dairy.  In this podcast, we sit down with Casey and Andrea Dugan, proud owners and a 4th-generation dairy family, as they share the triumphs and tribulations of operating Desperado Dairy. Discover the intricate and rewarding life on the farm, where caring for their beloved cows, dedicated workers, and pas...

Join us on "Fill Your Plate Now" for an inspiring conversation with Jackie Newgent, RDN — a classically trained chef and registered dietitian who beautifully unites professional cooking with cutting-edge nutritional science. As the author of multiple award-winning cookbooks, a contributor to Health.com, and former chef instructor at New York City's Institute of Culinary Education, Jackie brings un...

Join us for a delightful and inspiring episode of Fill Your Plate Now with 9-year-old Carey Dobson and his mom, Alex, a Northern Arizona ranching family with deep roots in Arizona agriculture. In this entertaining interview, young 4-H member Carey shares his favorite (and least favorite!) ranch chores, a hilarious calf escape story, and how he bravely wrote and delivered his own speech to win the...

We sit down with Sierra Anthony — meat scientist, owner of Butcher Solutions, LLC , and a force of nature in the meat industry. Growing up on a grain and cow-calf farm in rural Ohio, Sierra discovered her passion for meat science in college and never looked back. She's coached collegiate meat judging teams, earned her master's researching innovative carcass fabrication, and now travels the country...

In this inspiring episode of Fill Your Plate Now, we welcome Jerry Brown, Director of Public Relations for St. Mary's Food Bank. With 17 years at the organization, and more than 20 years prior as a respected Valley sportswriter covering the Suns, Coyotes, and Diamondbacks, Jerry brings a unique perspective to the fight against hunger. Our farm gate to your plate focus, dives deep into the importan...