Taking Stalk with Illinois Farm Bureau

Hosted by Illinois Farm Bureau

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer brings Illinois Farm Bureau leaders, members and experts together to discuss issues facing farm families and rural communities.

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43 recent

June 16, 202630 min

Ep. 43 - Growing more than a business at Greathouse Grazing Acres

There's no shortage of people who will say farming is difficult. But Charlton and Michaela Greathouse want to tell a different story, one that's inspired by their passion for regenerative agriculture and farm-to-table food.Based in Albion, Illinois, the fifth-generation farmers are living what they love — growing a farm, a market and a family legacy.In this episode of Taking Stalk, the Greathouses tell host Rita Frazer how they made their shared vision into reality, creating a southern Illinois destination for locally raised and processed meats, homegrown farm products and community connection.

June 2, 202630 min

Ep. 42 - Telling stories from farm country with Sam Goldberg

Freelance movie producer Sam Goldberg grew up in New York City, but it's rural America that captured his interest as a filmmaker.Beginning in 2019 with his feature film Silo, Goldberg seeks to bridge the urban-rural divide through the power of narrative storytelling. In this episode of Taking Stalk, Goldberg tells host Rita Frazer about a forthcoming release of a six-part limited series titled Perfect Sundays. Set in the heart of rural America, the story chronicles the journey of a multigenerational farm family that seeks to dig their way out of economic challenge and emotional paralysis.To learn more, visit perfectsundaystv.com.

May 12, 202631 min

Ep. 41 - Behind the microphone with DeLoss Jahnke

You’ve heard his voice on the airwaves. Now it’s time to hear his story. In this episode of Taking Stalk, RFD Radio Network Senior Anchor DeLoss Jahnke sits down with host Rita Frazer for a conversation tracing his journey from Kansas farm kid to president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.Together, Frazer and Jahnke also reflect on the importance of mentorship, the evolution of media, and why local farm radio still matters in rural communities.

April 28, 202630 min

Ep. 40 - Turning a new leaf at Broom Orchard

Jeff and Lisa Broom turned their succession challenge into a new opportunity.With no one in their family interested in taking over the Macoupin County orchard, the Brooms found a path forward with new owner, Marcus Rutherford. In this episode, host Rita Frazer shares the transition story of two unrelated families that are working to keep a farm alive — and the memories tied to it — through partnership, community and a shared commitment to the future.

April 14, 202629 min

Ep. 39 - Leading on the farm and in county Farm Bureaus: Women in Agriculture

Join host Rita Frazer at the 14th annual Women in Agriculture Conference, where one woman's story of loss, legacy and saying “yes” to the unknown sets the tone for a series of powerful conversations about leadership, burnout and building a life in agriculture that actually works. Plus, meet women leading county Farm Bureaus across the state and learn how they work to empower Illinois Farm Bureau members at the local level. Guests include: Tara Barrett-Duzan, Emily Reushel, Jill Frueh, Katie Laleman, Hailey Hennenfent, Ashleigh Erbes, Tiffany Moodie, Jenna Preston, Tara Mayhew, Emily Rogier, Ashlyn Quinn, Emily Iliff, Autum Jones.

March 31, 202627 min

Ep. 38 - Philip Nelson on leadership, legacy and Illinois ag

He's a farmer. A leader. A family man. But who is Philip Nelson, really? In this episode of Taking Stalk, host Rita Frazer goes beyond the title to learn more about Illinois Farm Bureau's 17th president — discussing everything from Nelson's deep roots in agriculture to how he likes his steak cooked.Don't miss a chance to learn more about what drives Nelson in the day-to-day — and why he returned to lead Illinois Farm Bureau 12 years after serving in the role for a decade.

March 17, 202634 min

Ep. 37 - The power of an agriculture teacher

How does a non-farm kid end up competing on a national stage at a Farm Bureau discussion meet? That's the power of an ag teacher.Kade Hill, an Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader, and retired ag teacher Doug Anderson from Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District join host Rita Frazer to share how an ag class, teacher mentorship and competition of FFA helped turn Hill from a curious high school student into an aspiring young leader in agriculture.

March 3, 202634 min

Ep. 36 - Fighting to farm: 'The monster under the bed'

Of all the challenges facing farm families, succession planning may be the most universal.Illinois farmers Chase Brown and Chad Rupert know firsthand the difficulty of such conversations. Each come from multigenerational farm families and are fighting to make sure there is a next generation.In this episode of Taking Stalk, Brown and Rupert join host Rita Frazer for a discussion on what it takes to keep a family farm going — and why succession planning so often ends up becoming "the monster under the bed."

February 17, 202631 min

Ep. 35 - Cooking up connections with Chef Stephanie Izard

What does it take for farm to table to work? Celebrity Chef Stephanie Izard joins RFD Radio Network's Rita Frazer at the Everything Local Conference to dish on why farmers and chefs need to talk more — and how those conversations turn into better relationships for those on either end of the fork.

January 20, 202633 min

Ep. 34 - Profit per acre: Agronomy decisions that matter in 2026

As farmers head into the 2026 planting season, tight margins and rising input costs are forcing tough decisions in the field.During this episode of Taking Stalk, Rita Frazer is joined by agronomists Jason Webster of Precision Planting and Todd Steinacher of Acher, who share real-world data, research insights and practical advice to help farmers “farm smarter."