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

Hosted by Venessa Wood

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Episodes

161

Latest episode

Aug 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

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

July 28, 202650 min

Navigating the Impact of AI Data Centers on Rural America

Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa Wood of AgTalk: Your Story Matters discusses the controversial rise of AI data centers affecting Texas and other states, emphasizing it is a “we the people” issue rather than partisan, and opening with prayer and a call to unity and discernment. She shares concerns from rural communities about being left out, urging local hiring, warning of temporary job booms followed by fewer permanent technical roles, and describing impacts such as higher rents and cost of living, RV “man camps,” increased crime concerns, traffic, road damage, and strain on emergency services. She highlights water-table worries, supports closed-loop water systems and possible brackish water use, and contrasts regulated vs. unregulated centers, stressing the need to know ownership. She warns China may exploit loopholes to gain footholds and advocates local-to-federal oversight committees. She explores city vs. rural siting, farmland buyout pressures, and neighbor and livestock concerns, and calls listeners to engage leaders and stay accountable. 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

July 21, 202651 min

Faith, Healing, and Community with Meagan Miller

Send us Fan Mail This week on Ag Talk, Venessa Wood sits down with Meagan Miller, a California ranch-raised cattlewoman now living in Lubbock, Texas. Meagan shares her journey from growing up in the small town of Parkfield and attending a one-room schoolhouse to building a life in Texas. She opens up about losing her husband in 2022, how her faith carried her through grief, and the daily habits that help her continue healing. Megan also talks about her work with the Texas Girls and Boys Ranch, where she helps support life-changing programs for youth through fundraising and donor relations. Finally, she shares her passion for holistic wellness and introduces Align Wellness, a Christ-centered retreat experience designed to help women rest, reconnect, and grow in their faith. 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

July 14, 202651 min

The Power of Resilience and Connection with Heather Richard

Send us Fan Mail This week on Ag Talk, Venessa Wood welcomes Heather Richard, an East Texas ag-raised mother, who shares how her grandparents and mother shaped her work ethic, education, and identity, and how she met her husband Shane through a dating app after an early, abusive marriage and divorce. Heather describes lifelong abuse and urges women to seek help, rely on prayerful support, and pursue healing, offering to connect them to resources. She highlights her three children’s differing paths—cybersecurity, livestock interests, and engineering—and discusses faith and mentorship through Ag Women Connect’s Bible study. Heather introduces TexasHomesteadLaw.com, a free, secure hub launching soon to help Texans navigate county-by-county property tax relief, exemptions, and related resources for homesteads, farms, ranches, veterans, and others. She also outlines her upcoming memoir and children’s books, Ragged Souls author platform plans, and donated AgWomen gala jackets and scholarships. 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

July 7, 2026Episode 14751 min

Finding Your Place in Agriculture with Tanya Smith

Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa Wood interviews Tanya Smith of Lubbock, Texas, marketing director at Capital Farm Credit, about her ranch upbringing in northeastern New Mexico, involvement in 4-H/FFA and livestock judging, college path through South Plains College and Texas Tech, and 27+ years with Farm Credit through mergers into Capital Farm Credit. Tonya explains Capital Farm Credit as a Texas-based agricultural lending cooperative serving 192 counties with home lending and insurance, strong patronage dividends, community and youth support, major stock show partnerships, including Texas ShowPass, scholarships totaling about $110,000, and a highly competitive internship program. She discusses marketing’s evolving demands, building teams, customer storytelling, collaboration with Aaron Watson, and the importance of hard work and networks. Tonya also shares board work on Lubbock County’s new expo center, advice for women and students in agriculture, and personal ways she recharges. This episode concludes with updates from Venessa on Ag Women Connect’s weekly Bible study and the Ag Connected directory. 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

June 30, 202646 min

Uplifting the Ag Industry Through Livestock Photography

Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa interviews Sierra Franks who grew up on a Texas Panhandle cow-calf and Hereford show-steer operation spanning Texas and Oklahoma, and credits her grandfather and family history for shaping her values and cattle program. Sierra explains how showing steers led her into photography, beginning with a 2014 Show Champions USA internship that expanded into major events like Houston and a career shaped by long show days, fast turnaround editing, and industry connections. She later worked with Legacy Livestock Imaging and launched Uplift Imaging in 2021 to change industry culture with a focus on kindness (“make kindness loud”), valuing staff, and mentoring women. A single mom of two boys, Sierra relies on family and a mostly female team to provide livestock, sale, rodeo, and portrait photography, shares how she recharges at home and on the ranch, recounts a road-trip story with her son, and outlines upcoming summer events and contact info. 00:00 Meet Sierra Franks 00:57 Panhandle Ranch Roots 01:54 Camera Sparks a Career 03:39 ShowChampions Breakthrough 05:09 Hereford Heritage Story 06:34 West Texas Weekend Sale 08:14 What Makes a Winner 09:29 Show Cattle After the Ring 12:36 Kids and Calves 13:55 Internship First Day Nerves 15:51 Houston Changed Everything 18:55 Editing and Fast Turnarounds 22:17 Launching Uplift Kindness 25:07 Staff That Feels Like Family 27:06 Mentoring the Next Generation 27:51 Beyond Livestock Photography 28:47 Single Mom Balancing It All 30:11 Pruning and Knowing Your Worth 33:53 How She Fills Her Cup 36:53 Advice for Business Pivots 38:48 Road Trip Storytime 43:44 What’s Next and How to Reach Her 45:47 Final Thanks and Wrap Up 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

June 23, 202651 min

Protecting Farms, Supporting Families, and Serving Agriculture with Donna Hughes

Send us Fan Mail What does a girl from the suburbs of Chicago know about agriculture? For Donna Hughes, the answer became an entire career. In this episode of AgTalk: Your Story Matters, Venessa Wood sits down with longtime friend and agriculture advocate Donna Hughes of StoneX to discuss her remarkable journey from an industrial Chicago neighborhood to becoming a trusted advisor for farmers and ranchers across Texas. Donna shares how a temporary job at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange changed the course of her life, introducing her to commodity markets, agricultural risk management, and the people who helped shape her career. What began as a short-term plan to save money for a move to New York ultimately turned into a 35-year career helping producers navigate market uncertainty and protect their operations. 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

June 16, 202651 min

What Does Yoga and Agriculture Have in Common? Find Out With Krysta Paffrath

Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa welcomes Krysta Paffrath, CEO & Founder of the Rural Podcast Network and Yoga Teacher to AgTalk: Your Story Matters for a candid catch-up about moving through hard seasons, growth, and entrepreneurship. Krysta shares about her journey completing her 500-hour yoga teacher training, which began in January 2025, graduating after a demanding year and a half that required stronger boundaries and saying no. The conversation explores discernment, avoiding “golden ticket” distractions that don’t align with purpose, and the burnout that comes from chasing status or growth at the expense of self. Krysta reflects on finding her own voice after years of telling others’ stories and discusses bridging agriculture and yoga through community, food, and mental health, including teaching at a conference. She announces new summer offerings: an eight-week one-on-one mentorship with personalized yoga and journaling, and customizable one-on-one retreats in Arizona combining yoga, business work, journaling, and local cooking, emphasizing accountability, community, and faith. Learn more about Krysta and her current offerings here: https://www.krystapaffrath.com/ 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