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Cab Conversations, Get Growing No. 4

In this week’s episode, Meghan Grebner, Indiana Farm Director, talks to three farmers from Michigan, Minnesota and Nebraska about spring planting and being voices for accuracy in agriculture.

Zach Hunnicutt, Aurora, Nebraska
Theresia Gillie, Hallock, Minnesota
Carla Wardin, St. Johns, Michigan

Show Notes:
The conversation, multi-generation farming, planting, fighting misconceptions 

Meghan Grebner: She begins by asking Carla to talk about her operation and asks her how the season is going.
Carla Wardin: She farms on a dairy with 400 cows, 850 acres of pasture with alfalfa and corn. She’s a 6th generation farmer.  She’s excited to have started with a great season so far. All of their corn was planted by the end of April.
Theresia Gillie: She farms on her husband’s century family farm.  They farm 2,600 acres of crop, including spring wheat and soybeans.
Zach Hunnicutt: He is a 5th generation farmer. He farms with his dad and brother. They raise corn, popcorn and soybeans, among other crops. He says it’s been a stop and go planting season because of rain.
Meghan Grebner: Asks the group what keeps them farming.
Theresia Gillie:  Says she didn’t grow up on a farm.  She learned how to farm as an adult.
Carla Wardin: She and her husband worked in the corporate world for years before they decided to take over the family farming business. She says they both loved being raised on the farm and hope to pass that love on to the next generation.
Zach Hunnicut: He says two of three of his young kids says they want to farm when they grow up. He says he wants to make sure his farm is prepared in case the next generation wants to continue.
Meghan Grebner: She asks the group about sharing the farming story and why they’re willing to do so.
Zach Hunnicutt: He says there’s been a disconnect with less people with first hand knowledge of the farm. He says he likes to be a source for true information.
Theresia Gillie: Says she is always willing to answer questions and share everything she knows.
Carla Wardin: Says she feels that there really are connections made with consumers and that she enjoys being their reliable source.
Theresia Gillie: She shares that what she’s doing is very natural and very safe and that she wants to get that message to the classroom.
Zach Hunnicutt: His farm participates in Ag in the Classroom, which is a good way to share what they’re doing.
Meghan Grebner: She asks Theresia how the cold weather they’ve been experiencing in Minnesota is impacting things.
Theresia Gillie: She says the cool weather is good for the spring wheat but it is concerning for the soybeans and to sugar beat farmers.