Michigan AF Podcast

Meet Jennifer Lewis, a dairy farmer from Jonesville with a husband, three grown kids and three grandkids. Her family also raises corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and blueberries. She shares about: What she offers as a 4-H club leader and volunteer Changes she’s making in her blueberry business A hobby she enjoys but hasn’t had time for in three years The interesting challenges winter of ’78 brought to h...

Jodi DeHate is a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) Technician based in Missaukee County. She grew up on a dairy farm, but now she and her husband raise fruits and vegetables and she milks cows every other Sunday. Listen as she talks about: How she got started raising five acres of produce Creative ways she’s built a business with used materials Hunting and fishing with h...

Nick Schweitzer raises about 20 varieties of apples with his family in West Michigan. Learn more about him and: Jobs on the farm outside of apple harvest Why he’s the ultimate planner How apples are stored for optimum fruit quality all year long A career choice with a shocking seasonal twist Unique features of his region and one way his family mitigates risk for frost A future change he and his wi...

The Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Restaurant is celebrating 130 years of being in business! Amy Zehnder Grossi is a fourth-generation restaurateur and joins our podcast as a winner of the 2018 Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT restaurant award. Hear about: 1,200 seats in a restaurant focusing on family-style chicken dinners and German entrees, plus bakery specialties Where the restaurant gets its fresh po...

Elaine Bristol works for the Michigan Ag Council during the day, but at night she transforms into a shepherd! Elaine, a fifth generation Michigan State Spartan, raises sheep with her family. Listen as she tells about how she ignored her instincts on a flight, the joy on people's faces at Disney World, the beauty of a dead end sign and how many wool items of clothing she sports daily. She cove...

Meet Annie Link, a multi-generational dairy farmer who milks about 2,000 cows and raises crops in West Michigan. Her family’s farm started in 1915 when Annie’s great-grandfather married the farmer’s daughter. She and longtime friend (and podcast host) Carla visit about: The inspiration behind hosting tours for neighbors and other visitors A business transition that allows for more community engage...

Ben Smith is a husband and father of four. He works with his father- and brother-in-law to grow wine and juice grapes, corn and soybeans in southwest Michigan. He also serves as the Executive Secretary for the Michigan State Horticultural Society. Get to know him and the roles he balances, covering: The main things he’s working on like one of the largest specialty crop shows in North America; comb...

Meet Ben Tirrell, whose family has owned the same farm for more than 100 years. They raise sheep and beef cattle, plus corn, soybeans and wheat. He shares about a variety of topics including: What he can tell about a farmer’s personality right out of the gate A few unique challenges of farming near the city Favorite family traditions with his two daughters How he spends time when he’s not working...

Meet Tony Stefani, husband and father of four, who works with his dad to grow cut-your-own Michigan Christmas trees. He and Carla visit about: What it’s like to work all year for a business open nine days What you should do when you visit a U-Choose/U-Cut farm A family Thanksgiving tradition The different scents of tree varieties (you may remember this from last year’s Harvest Hangout with Tom Tre...

Meet Zack Snider, a young farmer who raises pigs, turkeys, corn and soybeans with his family in West Michigan. He talks with us about: The most surprising thing about him (spoiler: it’s not far from having a seasonal werewolf running around the house) The difference between male and female turkeys A skill he has had since perhaps before he could walk A remodel project he’s working on Neat technolo...

Meet Sam Krhovsky, a farmer who has corn, soybeans and wheat, plus a roadside stand. Off the farm, Sam was an agronomist and is now a sales manager for DEKALB®/Asgrow. Listen in as she talks with us about: How her plans shifted from wanting to be a physical therapist What she enjoyed most about the other side of the Mississippi River The most beautiful places she’s traveled Her favorite Michigan e...

Meet Brian Pridgeon, a seventh generation pig farmer who also seasonally grows corn, soybeans and wheat with his brother, dad and uncle. He shares lots of laughs with Carla about topics including: The obvious connection between a master’s degree in communications and raising pigs Where he met a woman who said yes to being a farmer’s wife A life-changing experience post-Thanksgiving three years ago...

Meet Allyson Maxwell. She is a corn, sugarbeet, soybean, wheat and seasonal pumpkin farmer raising two boys and a farmdog. Whew! She makes a minute to chat about: How a healthy garden became a 12-acre business venture Why sugar differed where she grew up in Kansas City, Kansas Food labels, including what is a GMO? How about genetic modification vs. plant breeding vs. genetic engineering? Should yo...

Meet Nicole Heslip, a farm broadcaster with dairy farm roots in southwest Michigan. She talks with us about being a media professional among these other topics: A farm growth story of her family’s first-generation farm and agribusiness Applying to college to chase her dream to become a state FFA officer The worst job she had related to spreadsheets An anniversary when she and her husband laughed s...

Meet Carla Schultz, a livestock and crop farmer working alongside her husband, four kids and her parents in Michigan’s “thumb” region. Try to keep up as Carla (and Carla!) plow through the topics of: Teaching young people about careers as hydrologists & plant scientists beyond raising animals What she likes to do for fun Her honest kids and toning down a competitive spirit The meal that’s a go...

Meet Kristi Keilen, a fourth-generation dairy farmer, who milks 450 cows three times a day and raises crops like corn, soybeans and wheat, with her husband and their three-year-old son. Kristi and Carla have a fast-paced conversation about: How much help is a three-year-old on the farm? What cows eat, straight from a dairy nutritionist What she does for fun Outfits she and her son live in Home arc...

Meet Maria Brown, a writer for a local newspaper and a magazine freelancer, plus a grain farmer with her husband and kids. She visits with us about: What she enjoys writing about Additional things she and her husband grow beyond corn, soybeans and wheat A blossoming career writing about moderately successful gardening Other jobs she would consider dabbling in The food their household agrees on Whe...

Meet Kyle McCarty, a technical fourth-generation farmer who works alongside his dad and uncle on 400 acres. Aside from working fulltime and completing wood projects, he talks with us about: A look-back at analyzing business options like when to sell their dairy cows Bringing new life to the farm with their mom-and-baby-cow-pair (cow/calf) business venture An explanation of greenchop, fresh food at...

Meet Amanda Carey Goodfellow, a farmer who works alongside her dad and grandfather on about 1,000 acres and who milks 180 cows using robot milking machines. She takes a break in the field with us and talks about: An in-depth visual description of her robots that milk cows Remodeling a home and barn and getting married all in a year How she blows of steam when the day’s work is stressful What a fun...

Meet Julie Darnton, an MSU Extension educator who works in community food systems, interfacing with community members to recognize the value of buying local products. Julie works with farmers markets, institutions and the public. She tempts your tastebuds in this interview and enthusiastically covers: Food choices that exist through simply purchasing options Being prideful of our Michigan hometeam...

Meet Katie Eisenberger, a teacher and budding farmer who was raised on a dairy farm who’s now helping students and her own family discover the wide world of agricultural careers. Join us as we talk about: A career with many twists and turns with one true foundation Guiding rural students to solve problems in their field and be responsible The difference of commitment and involvement Converting a p...

Meet Dr. Marissa Hake, a veterinarian who drives 4-6,000 miles each month to work with farmers and their animals throughout three states. She and her husband also farm just a few miles outside of Michigan. Hear her “tails” covering: What it’s like to oversee the health and wellness of 30,000 veal calves in a three-state region The things she does when she’s not working with farmers and their anima...

Meet Matt Schaller, leader for Ag Community Relief, an association helping communities struggling through natural disasters. He makes time to talk about the efforts with us and touches on: Stepping up for farmers beyond FEMA and American Red Cross efforts What it’s like to show up with a handshake and a smile to make a difference in people’s lives Addressing needs as they come – from largescale to...

Meet Andrea Jorgensen, an artist who knew nothing about cows until meeting her husband. The couple owns a dairy farm in mid-Michigan. Andrea shares some great tidbits about life including: Transitioning from drawing to a surprise painting being a successful start to her business What balancing time is like between painting, parenting and farming Find out what her second-favorite animal to paint is...

Meet Ashley Messing-Kennedy, a dairy farmer who is raising her family on the farm where she grew up, and using new technologies to do so! Find out what’s on a modern farmer’s mind including: Having a baby in November while farmers are in the field What makes up a cow casserole The struggle of standing in front of the fridge waiting for inspiration How it’s working to be married AND be co-workers C...