Ag Women Connect "Ag Talk, Your Story Matters!"

Hosted by Venessa Wood

Business EntrepreneurshipInterviews guests

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Episodes

167

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

"Ag Talk, Your Story Matters" is America's Platform for Women in Agriculture to share their thoughts, ideas and stories! This is a safe space for everyone in agriculture, no matter what their role is, to come together and have real and raw conversations with each other! We feature our AWC members, guest speakers, and current topics across the nation that affect our agriculture industry. Our goal is to include others into our discussions. We invite YOU to be a part of our conversation every week. Join us!

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60 recent

October 20, 2026Episode 16051 min

Embracing the Season You're In with Joelle Orem + Bonus Interview with Skip Hulett, with NatureSweet

Send us Fan Mail In this AgTalk: Your Story Matters episode, Venessa interviews Indiana farmer and Ag Women Connect member Joelle Orem about harvest season roles like farm safety, machinery prep, and field meals, then traces Joelle’s path into agriculture through marriage and building a direct-to-consumer beef business that surged in 2020. Joelle describes opening the Midwest Farm Shop in north central Indiana to reduce deliveries, focusing on proteins like beef and sometimes chicken, plus local items like honey, and partnering with processors for packaging and labeling while learning through experimentation and pivots based on customer preferences. She emphasizes serving local communities, collaborating with other farmers rather than competing, and scaling back for family. Plus, don't miss a bonus interview with Skip Hulett, Chief Legal Officer at NatureSweet, to catch up on agriculture policy affecting the snacking tomato industry. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

October 13, 202648 min

From Academia to Federal Policy: Visiting with Dr. Mindy Brashears on US Food Safety

Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa Wood interviews USDA Undersecretary Dr. Mindy Brashears about her transition from nearly 30 years in academia studying foodborne pathogens to overseeing FSIS, highlighting the added demands of regulation, rulemaking, and accountability to Congress and leadership. Brashears describes an unexpected path to Washington through nomination and a lengthy Senate confirmation, plus the personal challenges of relocating her family. She recounts USDA’s COVID-19 role keeping the food supply chain functioning by helping plants operate safely with CDC/OSHA measures, PPE, testing, and coordinated reopenings, while also noting animal depopulation impacts. They discuss the voluntary Product of the USA label (no FSIS preapproval; applies to all FSIS-inspected species), possible renewed MCOOL efforts, and an executive order expanding support for small processors, including SPUR incentives and upcoming SPUR 2.0 guaranteed loans. Brashears emphasizes beef modernization, science-based practical policy, and USDA’s response to New World screwworm cases. 00:40 From Academia to Policy 02:43 How She Joined USDA 04:42 Family Move and Sacrifice 07:00 COVID Food Supply Fight 12:41 Product of USA Label 15:34 MCOOL and Transparency 19:09 Executive Order Support 23:45 SPUR Program Explained 28:48 Beef Modernization Policy 32:55 Leading Across Administrations 38:48 Screwworm Response Success 43:08 Staying Grounded and Positive Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

October 6, 2026Episode 15851 min

From Kansas Farm Girl to Equine Nutrition: Marissa Rundell’s Unconventional Ag Journey

Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa interviews Marissa Rundell of Kansas, a new Ag Women Connect member and marketing/communications specialist for Blue Bonnet Feeds. Marissa shares growing up in northwest Kansas in a farming, cattle, custom-harvesting, and ag-education family, then attending K-State, changing majors, and serving as a coxswain on the rowing team. While working at a barn, she joined an IHSA equestrian team, became captivated by reined cow horse, left rowing, and moved to Arizona for internships with trainer Grant Lindeman and equine reproduction vet Dr. Jerry Longworth, later training young performance horses independently through 2022. She discusses key horse-training lessons about fairness and controlling emotions and factors in starting horses young. Marissa explains joining Blue Bonnet in 2022, the company’s equine-focused, functional nutrition approach, Intensify feeds, supplement offerings, distribution via Tractor Supply, Chewy, and dealers, and free nutrition consults, including a digital consultant named Blue. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

September 29, 202651 min

The Ins and Outs of Ranch Bookkeeping with Charla Farris

Send us Fan Mail This week on Ag Talk, Venessa Wood sits down with Charla Farris of Oklahoma (AgWomen Connect Oklahoma), who shares her Colorado ranching background, move to Oklahoma to expand, and their Sim-Angus replacement-heifer operation using tools like genetic testing. Charla, owner of A Cut Above Business Solutions, discusses bookkeeping and tax basics for producers: use smartphone technology to capture receipts and data, keep business and personal funds separate, choose the right entity structure (LLC vs S-corp taxation and responsibilities), maintain strong books and a business plan for lenders, and avoid buying equipment only to reduce taxes; she explains depreciation (equipment and improvements, not land) and the importance of estate planning, wills/trusts, appraisals, and step-up in basis. Venessa concludes the episode by recounting AgWomen Connect’s RNC trip, sitting behind and shaking hands with President Trump, and addresses online attacks, spiritual warfare themes, encouragement to speak up, and a push to vote, plus announcements about an Ag Women Connect Gala and the show’s Rural Radio channel. 01:25 Charla’s Ag Roots 03:27 Moving to Oklahoma Ranch Life 04:16 Cattle Program and Genetics 06:00 Numbers Career Origin Story 07:23 Bookkeeping Basics for Producers 09:13 Setting Up a Business Right 10:59 LLC vs S Corp Explained 12:02 Business Plans and Knowing Numbers 14:28 Estate Planning After the Break 19:02 Depreciation and Smart Purchases 21:27 Her Firm and Nonprofit Entities 25:00 Busy Season Balance and Contact Info 27:30 RNC Trip and Behind Trump 38:15 Spiritual Warfare and Online Attacks Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

September 22, 2026Episode 15650 min

Sheep Ranching with Cole Estill and What We Can Do to Support American Ranchers

Send us Fan Mail Venessa Wood interviews Nevada sheep producer, Cole Estill, originally from Northern California, about his background, rodeo experience, and his family’s agricultural work, including his wife Katie’s veterinary clinic in Winnemucca. Cole explains his unique operation running nearly 3,000 sheep and about 200 Angora goats largely through contracted fire-mitigation grazing near Reno, while another band in eastern Nevada produces income mainly through lamb sales. He discusses wool and mohair production, volatile sheep markets, and industry pressures, including imported lamb from Australia and New Zealand and efforts to secure tariffs via the USITC and proposed legislation. Cole argues reduced grazing on federal lands has increased fuel loads and worsened wildfires, citing Reno’s Hawk Fire. This episode also includes Venessa discussing Trump’s temporary tariff-free ground beef imports, producer concerns, local-buying solutions, more processing capacity, heifer retention incentives, and mandatory country-of-origin labeling. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

September 8, 202651 min

A Real and Raw Conversation About the Impact of AI Data Centers on Agriculture

Send us Fan Mail This week on AG Talk: Your Story Matters, Venessa speaks with Sarah Falen Tate, an agricultural and natural resources attorney from Wyoming, and Emma Hamlin, a recent graduate who researched nuclear development on public lands, to discuss the pros, cons, and unanswered questions around data centers and related power infrastructure. Emma summarizes her Wyoming Liberty Group policy report recommending statutory protections for grazing permits, evaluation of siting options, and routine radiation monitoring for livestock, crops, water, air, and soil near nuclear facilities. The conversation weighs whether regulation should be federal versus state/local, highlights water and community impacts, and stresses careful contract review for easements, leases, and land sales. Sarah warns about future eminent domain authority for data centers, urges communities to demand pro-community commitments, and discusses end-of-life environmental concerns. They also raise concerns about foreign adversaries buying land and data security, and encourage public involvement in local government. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

August 31, 202651 min

From Cleaning Businesses to Real Estate with Cassie Gilman

Send us Fan Mail This week, Vnessa Wood interviews Oklahoma ag advocate and multi-business owner Cassie Gilman about growing up in northeast Oklahoma in her family’s feed business, 4H/FFA and livestock showing, and later living in Texas. Cassie shares rebuilding her life after a domestic-violent marriage, including a period of homelessness, and how cleaning houses led to social media marketing work, joining Ag Women Connect, and earning her real estate license; she aims to help young buyers find rural property. She discusses launching her private-label coffee brand Kickin’ it Java Style through She Brews Coffee, rebranding her podcast to Coffee with Cassie, and marketing advice focused on relationship-building, avoiding negativity, and respectful dialogue. Cassie also outlines goals in ag policy awareness, youth entrepreneurship, and someday raising Shorthorn cattle, emphasizing community over competition. Venessa closes with concerns about President Trump’s 90-day tariff relief for ground beef imports, urging informed advocacy, prayer for leaders, and rejecting division. 00:00 Meet Cassie Gilman 01:00 Roots in Agriculture 03:19 Ag Women Connect Gala 04:42 From Texas to Oklahoma 05:30 Career Pivot to Real Estate 09:00 Rock Bottom to Rebuild 13:12 Faith and Support Circle 14:55 Kickin It Java Style 18:59 Podcast Rebrand and Fear 21:41 Social Media Marketing Tips 24:49 Listening With Respect 25:47 Handling Online Negativity 28:23 Transparency And Realness 29:39 Future Plans In Ag 30:07 Policy Wake Up Call 32:30 Youth Entrepreneurship Dreams 35:23 Refilling Your Cup 39:00 Community Over Competition 42:24 How To Connect With Cassie 43:08 Tariff Relief Fallout 46:22 Graceful Leadership Response Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

August 18, 202651 min

Voices of the Next Generation: Emma Hamlin's Story

Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa interviews Emma Hamlin, an Ag Women Connect intern and recent University of Wyoming graduate from Tyler, Texas, about her journey into agriculture and policy. Emma describes growing up “micro-ranching,” switching her college major from psychology to agriculture after a transformative summer as a horse wrangler at Sky Ranch, and gaining industry perspective through a year of meat judging that included visits to major packing plants and learning quality and yield grading. They discuss DOJ scrutiny of the four major meat packers, Emma’s R-CALF scholarship trip where she learned about issues like direct-to-consumer sales, MCOOL, and beef checkoff reform, and the importance of looking beyond headlines. Emma also shares her Wyoming Liberty Group report on nuclear development near public lands, emphasizing safeguards like monitoring and protections for ranchers, and her goal to be a voice for smaller producers. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

August 11, 202651 min

Food Security and Policy Reform with Congresswoman Kat Cammack

Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa welcomes Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack, the only Floridian on the House Agriculture Committee, discussing her ranch and 4-H background, her work on the House-passed 2026 Farm Bill (including citrus greening research funding through 2031 and disaster payment reform), and her leadership on National Women in Agriculture Day. Cammack describes pressures driving farmland loss to development in Florida, arguing food security is national security, and cites crushing federal regulations, high input and energy costs, and trade and immigration challenges as key threats to family farms. She outlines structural problems with the H-2A guest worker program for year-round specialty crops and rejects amnesty while calling for workable reforms. She highlights the FFA Act to prioritize American-grown foods in SNAP/EBT and the Fresh and Affordable Foods Act to standardize ingredient labeling transparency. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

August 4, 202651 min

Seeds to Smiles: Lori Taylor's Mission with The Produce Moms

Send us Fan Mail Venessa Wood welcomes Lori Taylor, founder of The Produce Moms, to share how a career in produce led to building a nationally recognized brand dedicated to getting more fruits and vegetables on every table. They discuss the power of networking, producer partnerships, food safety, common misconceptions about produce, practical kitchen tips, and why food security is essential. Taylor also highlights The Produce Moms' growth, mission, and her "50 States of Agriculture" project. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect