Fill Your Plate NOW

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...

On today's episode, we're joined by Dr. Kristin Ricklefs-Johnson, Director of Nutrition Research at the National Dairy Council. Dr. Ricklefs-Johnson leads research initiatives focused on childhood health, precision nutrition, and women's health—helping shape the science behind dairy's role in overall wellness. In this conversation, she breaks down the latest research and, more importantly, transla...

Samantha Barncastle, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance, is an attorney with 17+ years in water law and natural resources, a multigenerational farm kid, and a farmer's wife in New Mexico's Mesilla Valley. In this powerful episode of Fill Your Plate Now, Sam shares her journey from the youngest attorney licensed in New Mexico to leading the fight for Western irrigated agriculture—the re...

Join us on Fill Your Plate Now for an incredibly fun and informative conversation with Arizona's beloved chef, and cooking instructor Jan D'Atri! In this episode, Jan shares her infectious joy for cooking and dives deep into her most popular class topics with practical, game-changing tips you can use immediately in your kitchen. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced home cook, Jan's warm, en...

Join us on Fill Your Plate Now for an incredibly fun and informative conversation with Arizona's beloved chef, and cooking instructor Jan D'Atri! In this episode, Jan shares her infectious joy for cooking and dives deep into her most popular class topics with practical, game-changing tips you can use immediately in your kitchen: Why garlic is her ultimate passion — and the one mistake that makes h...

Men's Health Nutrition Adviser and high-performance mentor Dezi Abeyta, RDN, joins hosts Julie Murphree and Tammy Baker to talk real talk about food, family, culture, and performance. Dezi shares powerful lessons from his abuela's kitchen, why you have the ability to train like an elite athlete, and practical ways to fuel your body and your life without extreme diets or giving up the foods you lov...

In this must-watch episode of Fill Your Plate Now, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Danny Munch breaks down the brutal reality facing U.S. farmers and ranchers heading into 2026. From the "Tale of Two Farm Economies", splitting winners and losers by region and commodity, to USDA's latest net farm income projections that remain under heavy pressure, Danny delivers the unfiltered economic t...

In this landmark episode of Fill Your Plate Now — the first time we've welcomed an Arizona winemaker to the show — we sit down with Emil Molin, founder, owner, and executive winemaker of Cove Mesa Vineyard in Arizona's stunning Verde Valley AVA. Join us as Emil shares his remarkable journey: retiring, diving into viticulture and enology studies, launching an ultra-premium family winery with his wi...

Discover how the Arizona Department of Agriculture safeguards and nourishes Arizona families every day! In this eye-opening episode of Fill Your Plate NOW, hosts Julie Murphree and Tammy Baker sit down with Paul Brierley, Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture, to dive deep into the department's vital work. From statewide nutrition perspectives to protecting our food supply, Paul shares...

Dr. Christian Poulos, MD, joins Fill Your Plate Now to break down no-nonsense men's health and nutrition: Prioritize protein + veggies to crush fat loss, skyrocket energy, optimize your health, and build lifelong habits—even with a packed schedule. Perfect for busy dads, execs, and high-achievers ready to level up without gimmicks. Watch now for simple, evidence-based strategies that deliver real...

Dive into the heart of Arizona ag with Shawn Wood, First Vice President of Arizona Farm Bureau, Buckeye farmer, and land broker. She shares personal stories from her multi-generational family farm and actionable insights on safeguarding family farms, and knowing the right time sell.   Resources for Shawn Wood Shawn Wood's LinkedIn | Arizona Farm Bureau Leaders Additional Resources Tammy Baker Link...

In this episode of Fill Your Plate NOW, hosts Julie Murphree and Tammy Baker sit down with Micheale Hafez, Vice President of Product Development at Shamrock Foods and Shamrock Farms. Dive into the exciting world of dairy innovation as Micheale shares how her team listens to customers, draws inspiration from trends and feedback, and works tirelessly to develop delicious, high-quality products that...

Join hosts Julie Murphree (the farm girl) and Tammy Baker (the Nutrition Ninja) for a down-to-earth chat with Mark Freeman, the Mayor of Mesa, Arizona—and a proud, still-active yeoman farmer with deep roots in the Valley's ag heritage. Mark shares stories from his family farm legacy (dating back to Mesa's founding days!), how he balances running a major city with growing fresh crops, why local agr...

In this eye-opening episode of Fill Your Plate Now, hosts Tammy Baker and Julie Murphree talk with Jacklyn Reynolds, Sustainability Analyst at United Dairymen of Arizona to discover how Southwest dairy farmers are leading the charge on sustainability. From innovative water reuse and recycling systems that conserve precious resources in arid regions, to cutting-edge methane digesters that capture e...

In this lively episode, hosts Julie Murphree and Tammy Baker sit down with Rob Sharkey, the one and only Shark Farmer! As a fifth-generation Illinois grain farmer, podcast host of the wildly popular Shark Farmer Podcast, SiriusXM Rural Radio voice, and ag advocate, Rob brings his signature honest, humorous, and sometimes sarcastic take on modern agriculture. We dive into the realities of running a...

From Field to Closet: The Story of 5th Gen Cotton Company is one of resilience and innovation. Join us on Fill Your Plate as we sit down with the passionate fifth-generation cotton farmers behind 5th Gen Cotton Co., a family-powered brand straight out of West Tennessee. These two multi-generational farming families have teamed up to take traceability and sustainability to the next level, growing p...

The Fill Your Plate NOW podcast, hosted by farm girl and Arizona agriculture advocate Julie Murphree alongside the "Nutrition Ninja" Tammy Baker, dives deep into the world of real food, farming, and smarter nutrition for everyday life. In this episode, the dynamic duo breaks down the groundbreaking 2026 Dietary Guidelines and the dramatically, but science-based inverted Food Pyramid—now prioritizi...