Farmside Chat

Poinsettias are a staple for many homes and businesses throughout the holidays. On today's Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Alabama poinsettia grower, Hank Richardson about all things poinsettias and why they have become synonymous with the holiday season. 

Onions are a staple in many kitchens, but what goes into growing the perfect onion?  On this episode of Farmside Chat, President Duvall speaks with 12th generation farmer Molly Torres about her family farm operation and what makes Elba, New York the ideal location to grow some of the world's best onions.

Do cranberries really grow in water? What are the different varieties? We answer all of your cranberry questions on this episode of Farmside Chat. Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with 5th-generation Wisconsin cranberry farmer Amber Bristow about her passion for growing cranberries and how she shares her farm story on social media through her @cranberrychats Instagram account and the Forwa...

Honor, duty and sacrifice are just some of the life lessons that service members learn first-hand while serving their country. On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Montana rancher and veteran Nick Courville about his time in the military and how it prepared him for a career in agriculture.

The memories and connections consumers make when visiting a farm have a lasting impact. On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Arizona farmer Sharla Mortimer of Mortimer Farms. Sharla discusses her passion for ag education, why her farm prioritizes agritourism, the impact that has made on her community and why other farmers should consider opening their far...

Whether you are a football player or a farmer, preparation and determination is part of the job. On the latest episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with former Iowa Hawkeye and New York Jets football player turned farmer Matt Kroul. He shares about his journey from the football field to the farm and how his years as a football player prepared him for a career in agric...

Idaho is known for potatoes. But what makes Idaho an ideal state to grow a potato? On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Idaho potato farmer Klaren Koompin about why Idaho is uniquely positioned to grow potatoes, the process of growing and harvesting potatoes and its many nutritional benefits.

Sustainability is at the heart of what farmers and ranchers do—it is simply just what they do. On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with PepsiCo Vice President of Sustainable Agriculture, Global Sustainability, Rob Myers and PepsiCo Senior Director of Government Affairs, Dan Christenson about their collaboration with farmers to help further sustainability effo...

There are many species of crawfish located throughout the United States and it is often thought of as primarily bait, but in certain areas of the country it is used in many other ways. On this Farmside Chat episode, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Louisiana crawfish farmer Joey Olivier about his farm and the ins and outs of crawfish farming. 

Grazing on public lands has many benefits—it helps reduce the risk of devastating wildfires, slows the spread of invasive weeds, and increases the health of wildlife habitats. On this episode of Farmside Chat, President Duvall chats with 5 th  generation cattle rancher, Ben Menges about the importance of grazing and why it is a vital practice on his ranch.

Cotton is used in products we use every day such as clothes, sheets and towels. But did you know that it is also used in a myriad of other ways? On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall sits down with 5 th generation Texas cotton farmer, Colin Chopelas about the unique uses of cotton, the impact of the farm bill and the sustainability practices he's implementing on his...

The avocado has increased in popularity in recent years, yet, it's still a mystery to many consumers. Is it a fruit or a vegetable? How long does it take to grow? How long does it take to ripen? How can you pick the best avocado in the grocery story? In this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall gets answers to these questions and more when he chats with Southern California...

Dairy farmers Bret and Johanna Bossard join President Zippy Duvall to talk about life on their farm in New York and their passion to educate the next generation about agriculture. As an ag teacher, Johanna shares a unique perspective about how lessons from the farm can be translated to the classroom. 

Agriculture is a diverse industry with new technologies and innovation happening regularly. Today, an innovative farming practice called aquaponics is on the rise. Aquaponics combines hydroponics and aquaculture allowing for plants to be grown without soil and instead given nutrients by an aquatic animal. Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Tracy Nazarro, a Florida aquaponics farmer and...

On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Alabama farmers Daniel and Carla Trantham about their family farm, the challenges they experience and how young farmers and ranchers can impact the future of agriculture. Additionally, they were awarded the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award at the 2023 American Farm Bureau convention in Puerto Rico. The goal o...

Asking for help isn't something that comes naturally for everyone, but it is important to know that it is okay to not be okay. On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Ohio Farmer Brandon Fullenkamp to talk about why he has become an advocate for mental health. After experiencing his own struggles and seeking help, Brandon has become passionate about discussi...

Becoming a leader and an advocate is a journey. The Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee is equipping women to be leaders and advocates for agriculture in their communities and beyond. On this episode of Farmside Chat, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with the Women's Leadership Committee Chair, Isabella Chism, about the training and leadership opportunities the committee provides for...

Sharing agriculture's story with consumers is more important than ever. Through the power of social media, farmers have an opportunity to share their story like never before and 4 th  generation farmer Jon Dinsmore (aka The Green Screen Farmer) is doing just that. Each week he shows what life on his Yuma Valley, AZ farm is like with his hundreds of thousands of followers. On this episode of Farmsi...

Conservation and sustainability practices are a priority for first generation Wisconsin goat farmer Leslie Svacina. When Leslie decided to start her farm, she knew that caring for the land would be vital for its success, and the conservation programs offered through the Farm Bill were a vital tool in teaching her how to put those conservation and sustainability practices to use on her farm.    On...

A career in food and agriculture is meaningful and fulfilling, but few students are pursuing it. Agriculture Future of America (AFA) is determined to change this. With a missional focus solely on reaching the next generation of ag leaders, AFA is engaging and training college students across the country through its mentorship, professional development, and training programs.   On this episode of F...

8 th  Generation row crop farmer and ag influencer, Zoe Kent (a.k.a. Farm with Zoe), reaches hundreds of thousands of followers through social media. In this episode, she joins President Zippy Duvall to talk about how her online presence has helped her share her ag story with not just farmers and ranchers, but consumers too. 

On this episode of Farmside Chat Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Michigan asparagus farmer Jamie VanDerZanden Fekken. Located in the "Asparagus Capital of the World", Jamie's family has a passion for growing asparagus. She details the journey from seed to harvest and even sprinkles in her favorite asparagus recipes.

Where does food come from? What is the process of growing food? On this podcast episode, author Shannon Anderson chats with Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall about her book chronicling the journey of young girl determined to grow her own strawberries.   "I LOVE Strawberries," is the fifth printed title from Feeding Minds Press. The book is available for purchase directly from  Feeding Minds Press...

During the 2021 Farm Bureau Virtual Convention, Land O' Lakes CEO Beth Ford joined Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall for a Fireside chat to discuss the most pressing challenges and priorities facing agriculture such as the farm labor, the supply chain, trade and climate-smart farming.   This podcast episode originally aired on February 1, 2021.

On this episode of Farmside Chat Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall chats with Georgia farmers Jake and Jimmy Carter of Southern Belle Farm. When faced with a question of what to do with their farm many years ago and developers knocking on their door, the Carter family decided to open the gates of their farm to the community with a mission to educate consumers about agriculture and bring families...