Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast

For the last time, Reagan Koester and Brady Wiley share their final thoughts as co-hosts of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast. As Brady reflects on his years at Purdue and discusses his plans post-graduation, Reagan talks about what she’s looking forward to in her senior year and how going outside her comfort zone and saying “yes” to things helped her make giant leaps in her Purdue career....

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, student co-hosts Brady Wiley and Reagan Koester sit down with Casey and Jill Zeller, Purdue Ag Econ alums and Apex Award recipients. They share how their Purdue experiences shaped their careers at SePRO Corporation and Corteva Agriscience, while offering insights into continuous learning and relationship-building. The conversation also...

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Valerie Kilders and student co-host Brady Wiley sit down with Sam and Dan Krouse, co-CEOs of MPS Egg Farms in North Manchester, Indiana. The conversation explores how a sixth-generation family business has grown into one of the nation’s largest egg producers, covering topics like managing Easter demand and navigating commodity price swi...

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation with Professor Emeritus Dr. Otto Doering as he explores the evolving intersection of agriculture and the energy sector. From the early development of ethanol policy to emerging solar opportunities and the growing energy demands driven by data centers, Doering unpacks how these industries have become increasingly intertwined. Drawing on decades of experience in...

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Ken Foster and student co-host Brady Wiley sit down with Christian Butzke, a professor in Purdue’s Department of Food Science. Dr. Butzke discusses the growth of Indiana’s wine industry, emerging trends like non-alcoholic beverages, and how science and innovation are shaping the future of wine production. He also shares insights from hi...

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Reagan and Brady sit down with Angie Abbott, Associate Dean and Director of Purdue Extension. Abbott discusses how Extension connects Purdue research with real-world decision-making in agriculture, communities, and youth development. The conversation highlights the future of Extension, including regional service models, workforce develo...

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Reagan and Brady are joined by Sonny Beck, Purdue alumnus, CEO of Beck’s Hybrids, and a member of Purdue’s Board of Trustees. Sonny shares how growing up on a family farm and his time at Purdue shaped his leadership philosophy and commitment to agriculture. The conversation focuses on values over numbers, as Sonny reflects on his guidin...

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Valerie Kilders and Brady Wiley sit down with Neil Mylet, agricultural economist, inventor, rural development advocate and proud Purdue alumnus. Growing up on his family’s farm in Camden, Indiana, Neil shares how his time at Purdue was shaped by mentorship, entrepreneurship coursework and hands-on leadership experiences, which sparked h...

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, student hosts Reagan Koester and Brady Wiley welcome back former co-hosts and Purdue Ag Econ alumni Abby Meier (Agribusiness and Agri-Marketing, ‘24) and Colby Smock (Agribusiness, ‘23). The conversation reflects on life after Purdue, highlighting diverse career paths in agricultural policy, international education and family agribusine...

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, hosts Valerie Kilders and Reagan Koester sit down with Indiana entrepreneur and proud Purdue alumnus Joe Rust. Joe shares his journey from his early interest in business to his time at Purdue, where transformative mentorship, campus involvement, and hands-on experiences shaped his career path. He also offers candid advice for students n...

In this episode, hosts Ken Foster and Reagan Koester sit down with Kenzie House, a financial officer at Farm Credit Mid-America, for an insightful conversation about today’s evolving farm economy. Kenzie breaks down how producers can stay resilient amid shifting markets, rising interest rates and generational transitions, offering clear strategies grounded in real experience. She highlights the un...

Dr. Amanda Deering is an associate professor in Purdue University’s Department of Food Science, specializing in the microbial safety of fresh produce. Her research focuses on how human pathogens interact with fruits and vegetables and how contamination can be reduced through science-based practices. In addition to her laboratory work, she leads Extension efforts that help growers and industry prof...

Dr. Chad Fiechter is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, whose research focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into production agriculture. A Purdue graduate himself, Dr. Fiechter returned to his family’s farm after completing his undergraduate degree before deciding to pursue his Ph. D. and an academic career. His work combines hands-on agricultur...

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, we talk with Binayak Kunwar, a Ph. D. student whose award-winning master’s thesis, “Impact of Commercial and Utility-Scale Solar Energy on Farmland Prices,” explores how solar development affects farmland values and land use. Binayak shares his journey to Purdue, what inspired his research and insights on the future of renewable energy...

What does it take to build a career that bridges teaching, research and global engagement? Join Dr. Ken Foster and Brady Wiley as they welcome Jerry Shively, Associate Dean and Director of International Programs in Agriculture at Purdue University and a 2025 Fellow of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. In this conversation, Dr. Shively reflects on his career as a scholar, teache...

Join Dr. Valerie Kilders and Reagan Koester as they welcome Scott Mitchell, a 2025 Distinguished Agriculture Alumni Award recipient from Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics. From his roots in Waveland, Indiana, to his leadership experiences across the globe with Sumitomo Chemical, Scott reflects on his career journey in the agriculture sector. Listen in as he shares how his Purdue educat...

For the last time, Shay Doerstler and Marie Mechley share their final thoughts as co-hosts of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast. Listen as they reflect on some of their most memorable experiences at Purdue that shaped their four years here. They also reveal what’s next for them after graduation. Stay tuned as we welcome next year’s co-hosts, Reagan Koester and Brady Wiley, who are excited...

Join Dr. Ken Foster and Shay Doerstler as they sit down with Chrissie Cartmell Loucks (B.S. Agribusiness Management, ‘07), one of four recipients of the department’s most prestigious honor—the Apex Alumni Award. Now serving as Portfolio Manager for Digital Aftermarket Products at John Deere, Chrissie reflects on nearly 18 years of leadership in the agriculture industry and how her Purdue education...

Please join Dr. Kilders and Marie Mechley as they have the honor to speak with this year’s James C. Snyder Lecturer, Esther L. George. Esther, the former CEO and President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, shares about her career and the impact of agriculture in her journey. Tune in for insights on the cycles of the economy, the impact of inflation and interest rates and advice for those...

Join Dr. Valerie Kilders and Marie Mechley as they welcome Amy Kinsler, a Purdue Agricultural Economics Alum and the Chief Experience Officer at Keystone Cooperative, onto the podcast. Amy provides some great insights as she reflects on her career journey and the 2024 merger of Indiana-based agriculture and energy cooperatives, Ceres Solutions Cooperative, Inc. and Co-Alliance Cooperative, Inc., w...

Please join Shay and Marie as they speak with Dr. Dave Downey, founder and executive director emeritus of Purdue’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business, and Dr. Scott Downey, the center’s current director and a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics. Together, they have played key roles in developing and teaching Purdue’s Ag Econ 331 and 431 courses. Learn about how Purdue’s sa...

In this episode, Dr. Ken Foster and Shay Doerstler sit down with Dr. Jay Akridge, a Purdue alumnus whose impact on the university spans nearly four decades. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Akridge shares insights from his 38-year journey at Purdue, discussing his experiences shaping students, faculty, and academic programs and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He also reflects on the presti...

Join Dr. Valerie Kilders and Shay Doerstler for an insightful discussion about the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP). This episode features Dr. Channing Arndt, the new Director of GTAP, Dr. Dominique van der Mensbrugghe, who led the organization for a decade, and Dr. Erwin Corong, Associate Director. They share their journeys with GTAP, the organization’s global influence, and its role in shapi...

Join Marie and Shay to kick off 2025 with the first podcast of the semester! This episode features special guests from the Purdue Ag Week Task Force—Olivia Reynolds, Marnie Schwartzkopf, Jaydon Kauffman, and Kyra Meister—who share their personal experiences serving on the task force and discuss the incredible impact Ag Week has on the Purdue student body and beyond. If you love agriculture, you wi...

Join us for a heartfelt and informative episode as Marie and Shay learn more about two of the department's academic advisors (and conveniently, Marie and Shay’s academic advisors): Mrs. LeeAnn Williams and Mr. Andy Oppy! LeeAnn and Andy share what it is like to be the best academic advisors and what all academic advisors do outside of what students see during their advising appointments. LeeAnn an...