Michigan AF Podcast

Jeno Rivera is part of Urbandale Farm in Lansing, as well as Director of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholars Program at Michigan State University. She is a former high school ag teacher and professor in the MSU Residential College for Arts and Humanities.  She roller skates, forages everywhere, and owns every tool on earth.  Listen as she talks about: Sewing, making her own soap, and her farming plan...

Kevin Robson grew up and still works on his family’s farm, called Robson’s Greenhouse, which started in 1929.  He also works for Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance as an Agribusiness Specialist, and he is the Executive Director of the Michigan Blueberry Commission.  He loves spending time at his family cottage on Higgins Lake, embracing the positive aspects of the Millennial stereotype, and supporting...

Taylor Truckey is the Farm Engagement Manager at AgVend.  She at first thought she wanted to work in another area, but her hobby farm and 4-H background convinced her she wanted to work in agriculture.  She is helping pay off her student loans by running her own photography business, and she’s planning a big celebratory trip when she reaches her goal next year.  She enjoys hiking with her dog, doi...

Dede Beck of Uncle John’s Cider Mill is running a business that has the goal of giving people of all ages to do something together. She works in accounting, merchandising, hiring, training – you name it, all for the 50,000 visitors that come each fall weekend. She, her husband Mike, and daughter Lauren enjoy skiing in the offseason, bicycling on the road or trails, and racing up sand dunes just fo...

 Elizabeth Taylor is the Ag Relations & Communications Manager at Michigan Sugar. She’s in charge of a long list of events and programs, but her most recent exciting project is Cream & Sugar, a gourmet ice cream shop opening in Bay City. She likes being with her family on Lake James, running and lifting heavy weights, and working with farmers.   Elizabeth talks about:    The Munger Potato...

Adam Dietrich is an apple and cherry farmer in Conklin. After starting as a pre-med major at Michigan State University, it took six months until he decided he wanted to work on his family’s farm. He switched over to horticulture, engaged in research, and has now been back on the farm for eight years. When he’s not checking on apples or working with Farm Bureau, he kayaks, hikes, and travels intern...

 AgroLiquid President Troy Bancroft discusses AgroExpo - going on Aug 13 & 14 in St Johns - what to expect at the show, his agricultural past, why he thinks farming education is valuable, and what he's personally looking forward to in 2019.    theagroexpo.com agroliquid.com Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our website at...

Dru Montri runs Ten Hens Farm in Bath with her husband, Adam. She’s also the Director of Government and Stakeholder Relations for Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and College of Veterinary Medicine. She enjoys watching her two daughters compete in sports, getting her hands in the dirt, and making horticulture a part of her daily life. Listen as Dru talks abo...

Brian Lesperance of Fenn Valley Vineyards left his career in technology to start a second one at a winery. His wife Gwen, whose family started the business in 1973, their two daughters, and Brian love riding around the farm and enjoying nearby Lake Michigan.  Brian skis in the winter, cycles in the summer, and prepares meals – sometimes successfully, sometimes not – year round.  Brian talks about:...

Andrew Chae of Fisheye Farms is an urban farmer in Detroit.  He grows a variety of vegetables in a farm-to-chef business that provides for local restaurants.  He’s a skateboarder, enjoys Brazilian music, and loves the first-generation farm he and his family have built together. Andrew talks about: His firecracker dad - with many examples - and talented mom The organic farm experience he and Amy (w...

Matt Stutzman is a soybean, corn, and wheat farmer from Adrian.  When he’s not farming, he’s spending time with his wife Maria and their three young children.  He serves on state and national boards, has traveled all over the world (he even floated in the Dead Sea), enjoys fixing and improving machines, and is glad he went to Eastern Michigan University – not only because he liked it, but because...

Mark Daniels and his wife Miranda manage Bonnie Plants in Ithaca, which is a greenhouse operation that grows 175 different vegetable and herb transplants.  Mark enjoys watching his sons play football, spends time chasing escapee goats, and loves going to his cabin in Sterling where he pretends they don’t have cell service.   Listen as Mark talks about: How the goats help them get rid of any extra...

Scott Maust is an egg farmer who also races sailboats.  When he’s not on a boat, he’s figuring out how to best take care of chickens in new housing (heated floors!) and working with a team to give them the best nutrition.  Born and raised in Pidgeon, Scott runs Farm Crest Foods with his family. Listen as Scott talks about: The life-changing decision he made after listening to a loud muffler The ra...

Sharon Ostrowski and her family run SharKar Farms, (pronounced Share Care), an all-vegetable 10-acre farm in China, Michigan.  Sharon jokes that everything is grown in China, and she makes this a reality by offering “weird” vegetables like a cucumber/watermelon type, Michigan artichokes, and 20+ varieties of tomatoes.  She says she’s raised her seven children the same way she raises her plants – f...

Mike Noll lives in the southern thumb with his wife Jordan and four children, where he farms with his dad and brother.  Not only do they milk cows, but they raise beef, corn, wheat, soybeans, sugar beets, alfalfa, and dry beans.  He coaches, serves on several boards, and takes to heart the advice of former Michigan Farm Bureau President Wayne Wood: try to leave everything a little better than when...

Darwin Eisenga is a potato farmer with 25 years of experience, and in his spare time, he loves tractor pulling competitions.  He just traveled to Indonesia to visit his daughter, he has a son in college, a son on the farm, and a wife that works alongside him.  His advice for people dealing with bugs on their potatoes?  “Just buy them from us.”      Listen as Darwin talks about: How technology has...

Jennifer Wortz and her family raise chickens in Branch County for Miller Poultry.  Their four children are learning the responsibility of taking care of 40,000 animals at once!  Jennifer and her husband travel, go to their kids’ activities, and eat chicken prepared in a variety of ways – including with their teenager’s special hot sauce recipe.  In this podcast, Jennifer also addresses the serious...

Scott Powell is the nursery manager at Dutchman Tree Farms in Manton.  Just before the dissertation for his PhD, Scott chose to go into business with his wife Laura’s family.  He’s had a great time working with nine family members, an entire crew of workers, and wearing a tie only once – at a wedding.  He and his family just went to Spanish school in Guatemala, compete in rodeos, and continue to b...

Not only was Laurie Isley raised on a farm, married a farmer, and has a farm of her own, but she also loves educating people about them.  After a long career teaching agricultural education and advising for FFA, she moved on to teaching adult education and serving on the Soybean Checkoff Board. She travels extensively, but she also loves relaxing by her pond with a good book. Listen as Laurie disc...

Mat Stutzman of St Joseph County is both a poultry and crop farmer.  He and his wife are raising four young kids while working along many other family members.  He also works in high school sports media, and he does video outreach with his church. Listen as he talks about: The upcoming solar energy project for their broiler barn How farmers are doing the best they can when it comes to community re...

Even though she didn’t work on her family’s farm when she was growing up, a love of science and a curiosity about how things worked led Stephanie Kipp home.  She grows potatoes, peas, green beans, corn, and wheat as the fourth generation on her Edmore farm.  She’s also the chair of the Potato Research Committee, and in her spare time, she and her husband take care of their son and a “hobby” herd o...

Luke Marion started MIgardener to give inspiration and information to people gardening.  He and his wife Sindy garden 365 days a year, including growing their indoor coffee and citrus trees.  Together, they have grown into a retail location, an online store, and a strong social media presence.  He is passionate about gardening, Michigan, and fresh food – whether he’s catching it or growing it. Lis...

Vicki Zilke and her husband Tom own two businesses – Zilke Vegetable Farm and Zilke Farm Kitchen in Milan.  At their farm market, Vicki repeatedly heard from customers that they had great intentions on making healthy, tasty dinners for their families, but they had a lot of barriers.  So, the Zilkes opened a grab-and-go meal kit store … and are celebrating its year anniversary! Listen as Vicki talk...

Andrea Boughton of Marshall raises Angus cattle, corn, and soybeans.  She’s the president of Calhoun County Farm Bureau and spends a lot of time educating students about ag.  She also works for the Department of Defense (Northrop Grumman) as an operations lead, crews for hot air balloons, and recently traveled to the Ukraine and India.     Listen as she talks about: How farming is more than just f...

Bryan Heffron of Heffron Farms Market raises cattle and crops and sells direct-to-market, in four retail stores, and online.  His wife Katie also owns a pie fundraising business.  They are the parents of three young children and are entering the sports phase of life, also known as the drive-your-kids-everywhere time. Bryan talks about: Sneaking out to hunt and fish … for anything that will bite Th...