Dirt Road Discussions
We are all about agriculture all the time. This podcast will surprise you! It is not your ordinary farm podcast. These are fascinating stories, from technology to human interest, where we talk to captivating people who are changing the landscape of the world around us. Hosted by the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.
Episodes
Maddy Butcher, founder of Buck the Trend, and Anna Lickley of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture join us for an important conversation on mental health and suicide prevention in agriculture. We talk about the unique pressures farmers and ranchers face, how to check in on a struggling neighbor, and what to know about Buck the Trend's upcoming Idaho training, November 13-15.
Andi Woolf-Weibye, executive director of the Idaho Bean Commission (better known around the office as the Bean Queen), joins us to talk about one of Idaho's most underrated crops.
We dig into why Idaho leads the nation in bean seed production, how beans quietly boost the state's economy by tens of millions of dollars, and why the humble bean shows up in everything from burritos to gluten-free chocolate cake. Pl...
Thomas Watson, owner of Spud Daddy and founder of Potato Days, sits down with us to talk all things potato:
- From a crowdfunded card game to his viral baked-potato restaurant
- Why a potato only has a 90-minute window of perfection
- The ice cream potato, butter squishies, and other Spud Daddy quirks
- Potato Days' growth from 500 people to 30,000 — and what's next
Step onto the dirt road and into the vibrant world of high-altitude flower farming with Beth Brinkerhoff, owner of Teton Flower Farm in Victor, Idaho. In this episode of Dirt Road Discussions, she shares her story of what it takes to grow, harvest, and market delicate flowers in one of the state’s most challenging climates.
Beth and her husband learned how to use geothermal resources to heat and c...
What does it take to carry a 100-year farming legacy into the future? On this episode of Dirt Road Discussions, hosts Cam Hammond and Ott Clark sit down with Mitchell Searle—a fifth-generation Burley, Idaho producer, father of six, and current Idaho Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Chair. From the financial realities and barriers facing the next generation of ag to balancing big-family chaotic energy wit...
Nate and Zoe Pancheri, a father-daughter farming team from Nampa, Idaho, join the podcast to talk about building a sweet corn operation from the ground up. Zoe, a fifth-generation farmer, shares how she now runs the family's packing shed, hiring and training local high schoolers to hand-sort and box every ear that comes through. Nate walks through the custom equipment he's rebuilt from the ground up to harvest corn ...
In this episode, we dive into the world of agricultural education alongside Andrea Schumaker, the Assistant Dean for the Agricultural Sciences program at the College of Western Idaho (CWI). There is a changing landscape in modern agriculture, with community college programs successfully building pipelines to supply the industry with skilled, knowledgeable professionals in precision technology, agribusiness, an...
In this episode, we sit down with Avery Claire Wrigglesworth, the daughter and wife who left her career in international finance to return to her childhood farm.
In 2019, Avery got a call from her father indicating a need to pass the responsibilities of their LaGrange, Georgia farm to the next generation. Avery and husband Marc made a leap of faith. They uprooted their lives and returned to Lily Hill Fa...
In this podcast, we sit down for an engaging chat with U.S. Senator Jim Risch. As a rancher himself, Senator Risch shares his life of being a Senator that spends most of his week in Washington D.C., but returns each weekend to Idaho.
Senator Risch gives his perspective on the resilience that is required to farm these days among tough market hurdles. He also shares his thoughts on America as a whole, tac...
Ever wonder what actually happens behind the scenes during a legislative session? In this episode of Dirt Road Discussions, we sit down with Braden Jensen and Dexton Lake, who work for the Governmental Affairs Team for the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation. They also like to refer to themselves as legislative advisors.
Braden and Dexton pull back the curtain on the ins and outs of the state legislature, sharing what it re...
Why does your vote matter on the farm and beyond? On this episode of Dirt Road Discussions, Cam and Ott sit down with Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane.
With nearly two decades of experience protecting the integrity of our elections, Phil dives into his mission to make government more transparent and efficient. Join us for a timely conversation on the power of the individual vote and what goes on behind the...
Dirt Roads make up 1/3 of all roads in the United States and they require more than a sprinkle of gravel and a steamroller to make them functionable and durable.
Both chemists and engineers use crazy science to make that top layer of dirt more like concrete than the average dirt out in the farm field.
In this episode, Royal Marty, CEO of Substrata, offers a fascinating, easy-to-understand explana...
BONUS EPISODE: Those who rely on the Port of Lewiston for their livelihoods are trying to understand a 2026 order that came from a federal Oregon judge to increase water over the dams and lower water levels in some areas.
Scott Corbitt, General Manager of the Port of Lewiston, wants to see both fish and industry succeed on the Lower Columbia River Basin. In this interview, he explains how the judge&rsqu...
As energy demand surges across Idaho, what does it mean for the farmers and ranchers who depend on affordable, reliable power? We sit down with Eric Olsen, Partner at Echo Hawk & Olsen, to break down the growing strain on the grid, the rise of large energy users, and how it could impact irrigation, input costs, and the future of agriculture. It’s a conversation that connects power lines to pivot lines.
Barley is sometimes known as the underappreciated crop, but to breweries across the nation, barley is essential. Laura Wilder, Executive Director of the Idaho Barley Commission, talks about how Idaho has become the #1 barley-producing state, helping give it the unofficial title as the “Beer State.”
Laura gives us a look at how an ag commodity commission works—covering research, marketing, an...
Many people mistakenly think that cryptocurrency is just bitcoin. Actually, there are many different types of cryptocurrency. One recently developed is SPUD, a meme coin built for the agricultural community. SPUD was created by Cody Holm, 5th generation farmer from Southeast Idaho.
Cody knows there are skeptics about crypto. In this episode he takes the opportunity to address misconceptions and shares where h...
Mary Huff is the Director of Owyhee County Community Planning, as well as a rancher. She has a message for everyone to be involved with their local and state elected officials. From planning and zoning to farmland loss, Mary shares her real-world experiences.
She reminds us that people living in rural areas have a responsibility to speak up for rural issues.
Matt Dorsey, the President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, joins Cam and Ott for this episode of Dirt Road Discussions. They explore Matt's experiences as a farmer, his insights from traveling the state, and the importance of community and mentorship in agriculture. They also dive into the challenges facing farmers today, while emphasizing the resilience and optimism needed to navigate these tough times. Matt s...
Consumers can be overwhelmed as they walk through the aisles of the grocery store. Food has become a battleground where marketing labels and misinformation persuades people around their eating choices.
Michele Payn brings clarity and common sense to the conversations surrounding food, farming, and science. Whether it’s helping farmers and scientists communicate more effectively, tackling food misi...
Winter months in rural Idaho may lack a Friday night football game, but locals are discovering Skijoring: a sport where competitors ski behind a galloping horse, navigating jumps, grabbing rings, and trying not to break any bones. It has been described as rodeo adrenaline for participants and crowds, only you need a warm coat.
Shailee and Sage Lish got hooked on skijoring from friends in Wyoming and brought i...
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