Ag Women Connect "Ag Talk, Your Story Matters!"
"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!
Episodes
159 episodes
Seeds to Smiles: Lori Taylor's Mission with The Produce Moms
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,...
Navigating the Impact of AI Data Centers on Rural America
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 un...
Faith, Healing, and Community with Meagan Miller
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 t...
The Power of Resilience and Connection with Heather Richard
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...
Finding Your Place in Agriculture with Tanya Smith
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 ...
Uplifting the Ag Industry Through Livestock Photography
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. Sierr...
Protecting Farms, Supporting Families, and Serving Agriculture with Donna Hughes
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 ad...
What Does Yoga and Agriculture Have in Common? Find Out With Krysta Paffrath
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. Kryst...
Ag Teacher, Cancer Survivor and Change Maker: The Story of Kate Barfield
A routine doctor's appointment changed the course of Kate Barfield's life forever.At just 25 years old, Kate was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. What followed was a challenging journey through surg...
Embracing Your Gifts and Finding Your Place in Agriculture with Coach Kiah
This week, Venessa Wood interviews Kentucky-based speaker and entrepreneur Kiah Burchett, a seventh-generation California rancher who calls herself a “Kentuckifornian.” Kiah shares her rural cattle ranch upbringing, their commercial herd and Co...
Kristen York: Bridging the Insurance Industry and Equine Passions
On this week’s episode, Venessa Wood interviews Kristen York of Remuda Insurance Group from Weatherford, Texas, about her path in agriculture and the equine industry. Kristin shares growing up in California with a farming background, pursuing h...
Three Farm Daughters: Cultivating Community and Innovation in the Pasta Aisle
This week on the podcast, Venessa interviews Mollie Ficocello, Co-Founder of 3 Farm Daughters, a North Dakota, Red River Valley farm family pasta brand founded by three sisters who returned to the farm after careers in marketing/finance, law, a...
Transforming K-12 Education with Ashley Cash
Venessa Wood is joined by guest Ashley Cash, who discusses her work to reshape K–12 education based on her children’s learning differences (dyslexia, ADHD, processing delays, dysgraphia) and her experience with private schooling and outside tes...
Clay McKesson on Legacy, Faith, and Entrepreneurship
This week, Venessa Wood talks with Clay McKesson on Ag Talk. Clay, vice president of the faith-based Western Legacy Project, describes how it formed quickly and its youth timed-event rodeo camp May 18–21 at Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Arena, ...
Meet the Founders of 'From the Farm', AJ and Jessica Richards
This week, Vanessa Wood talks with Jessica and AJ Richards about their story, marriage, and their business, From the Farm.High school sweethearts married at 19, the couple now raises three daughters. AJ shares how a new generation of far...
The Path to Entrepreneurship with Hannah Skoog
Ag Talk host, Venessa Wood, interviews Hannah Skoog of Stephenville, Texas, who connected with Ag Women Connect through a women’s tour of the 6666 Stallion Barn and now helps with t-shirts and merch. Hannah shares how she grew up in suburban DF...
Land Rights and Policy in American Agriculture with Jim Mundorf and Shad Sullivan, host of Lonesome Lands
In this episode of Ag Talk, Venessa Wood hosts a special session with cattle rancher and policy advocate Shad Sullivan and Iowa farmer/media creator Jim Mundorf to discuss agricultural policy, property rights, and public lands. Sullivan recount...
The Brutal Reality of Wild Horse Management with Jenny Lesieutre
This week, Venessa Wood sat down with retired BLM veteran Jenny Lesieutre about the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and today’s wild horse and burro crisis. Jenny outlines the act’s origins, key amendments (including FLPMA allowing heli...
West Texas Ranch Rodeo: Celebrating Cowboys, Cowgirls, and Community
In this episode of Ag Talk: Your Story Matters, Venessa Wood visits with guests Traci, Lane, and Randy to preview the West Texas Ranch Rodeo in April at the Amarillo National Center. Tracy shares her background in crop insurance and family life...
Preserving Traditions with Michelle Williams: A Deep Dive into Canning & Homesteading
On this episode of Ag Talk: Your Story Matters, Venessa Wood sits down with Michelle Williams, an early supporter of Ag Women Connect. Michelle shares her roots near Austin, her move to West Texas in 1999, and building the Lubbock Stea...
Western Trailblazer: Jodi Weishaar Hendrickson, Founder of Fringe Scarves
In this episode of Ag Talk: Your Story Matters, Venessa Wood sits down with Jodi Hendrickson, founder of Fringe Scarves, to talk about her South Dakota ranch roots, rodeo background, and early love of fashion that eventually led her into the We...
From Dream Property to Dirt Reality: Turning Overwhelm into On-the-Ground Confidence with Heidi Haynes
On this episode of Ag Talk: Your Story Matters, Venessa Wood sits down with Heidi Haynes for a real conversation about what happens after you finally buy that piece of country land—and the learning curve that comes with it. From battling mesqui...
From Raising Lambs to Mental Health with Carey Portell
Venessa Wood hosts Ag Talk: Your Story Matters and interviews Carey Portell, of Missouri, an Ag Women Connect advisor with a small lamb operation. Carey talks about winter lambing challenges, using warming and tubing to save lambs, and...
From Dairy Princess to Bucking Bulls: Lynn Figone's Agricultural Journey
In this episode of Ag Talk, Venessa Wood interviews Lynn Figone, an entrepreneur and longstanding advocate for the agriculture community. Lynn shares her rich background, growing up in a dairy-centered town in Northern California, before transi...
Navigating Business Growth in Rural America with Sally Allen and Logan Floyd
In this episode of Ag Talk, Venessa Wood sits down with Sally Allen of Triple Dynamics and her nephew, Logan. The discussion explores Triple Dynamics' mission to support and empower rural American businesses by helping them streamline operation...