Dirt and Bull

Episode 40: Closing the Loop - Innovation, Genetics, & Keeping Farmers at the Center

On this final episode of Season 2 of Dirt & Bull, we sit down with Rebecca White for a thoughtful conversation on how genetics, technology, and decision-making are shaping the future of agriculture. Rebecca brings a clear, farmer-first perspective to the discussion, focusing on how innovation should serve producers rather than overwhelm them. As the season wraps, the conversation reflects on where ag has been and where it’s headed, grounded in practicality rather than hype.

Episode 39: From Tradition to Transformation - Women are Redefining Leadership in Ag

On this episode of Dirt and Bull, we sit down with Alecia Stuaan for a candid look at what it really means to build a career in agriculture as a woman who grew up in the thick of it. Raised on a 2,500 acre row crop and livestock operation in southern Iowa, Alecia didn’t just grow up around farming, she lived every inch of it. Welding at ten, planting at twelve, running the combine at seventeen, she entered the industry with a depth of experience that most people never see. But as she shares, knowing your stuff doesn’t stop the stereotypes from coming. It just means you’re ready when they show up.

Episode 38: 5 Generations Forward - Resilience, Reinvention, & Conservation in West Texas Ag

In this episode of Dirt and Bull, Chris sits down with Tillery Sims, a fifth-generation Texas farmer whose story stretches across West Texas, the Permian Basin, and a lifetime of adapting to the realities of modern agriculture. From her family’s roots in Terry County to the unexpected pivot into the energy sector, Tillery opens up about the challenges that pushed her family off the farm, the bankruptcy that reshaped their future, and the skills they carried with them into new careers, new industries, and new influence. Her story reflects the grit and reinvention that defines rural families navigating change on the High Plains.

Episode 37: The 45Z Advantage, Ethanol, and the Future of Biofuels

In this episode, we sit down with Jacqui Fatka, Lead Economist for Farm Supply and Biofuels at CoBank, to break down one of the most complicated and consequential topics in agriculture today, the evolving economics of ethanol, renewable diesel, and the clean fuel production credit known as 45Z. Jacqui brings decades of policy, market, and biofuels experience to the table, offering a grounded look at where we’ve been, where we stand, and how these incentives could reshape rural America over the next decade.

Episode 36: Ranching Beyond Tradition - How First Generation Producers Are Changing the Industry

In this episode of Dirt and Bull, the team sits down with Cassidy Johnston, a first generation rancher who built her career from scratch across some of the toughest country in the West. With experience in Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico, Cassidy brings a clear, grounded perspective on what ranching actually takes — and why the industry often struggles to blend tradition with modern business practices.