Today we’re taking a broader look at agriculture — how what happens on farms here at home connects to markets, policies, and decisions being made around the world — with one of the most respected voices in global commodity markets and agricultural strategy

My guest today is Emily French, CEO of Global Ag Protein. Emily grew up on a farm in Idaho, giving her a front-row seat to the realities of ag production — something that still shapes her perspective today, even as she advises Fortune 500 companies, producers, and policymakers around the world.

In this episode, Emily shares her incredible journey from the fields to the forefront of international trade. We talk about the fear of failure and the courage it takes to lead, the importance of authenticity in business and in life, and the evolving role of women in shaping agriculture’s future. She also sheds light on how global trade policy impacts everyday farmers—and why relationships and trust still matter more than ever in this business.

Emily’s insight is unmatched, but what I love most is her humility, her humor, and her belief in the power of community.

Let’s get dirty with Emily.

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Like the Dirt Diaries podcast? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Thursday! Please also rate and review to help us continue growing. We want to hear your feedback, favorite moments and dream guests for the show!

Resources

• Connect with FarmHER + RanchHER
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• FarmHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | X | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn
• RanchHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
• Kirbe Schnoor: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
• Emily French: LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

John Deere

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John...

Today’s episode is going to be a little different... and a whole lot of fun.

I am welcoming two guys who I call my coworkers and good friends: Johnny Clark and Zach McCann — the producers, videographers and visionaries behind FarmHER + RanchHER. These guys are normally behind the camera, but today I am putting them in the hot seat to share all the dirty details of making the show.

Together, we’ve spent thousands of miles on the road, crossed just about every state line, and lived through just about every farm and ranch mishap you can imagine—as well as broken gear, 16-hour days, cicada attacks, and more coffee and gas-station snacks than I’d like to admit.

Jonny and Zach are the heartbeat our crew, capturing the beauty, grit, and realness of every FarmHer and RanchHer we meet. They’re also the ones who keep me sane and accountable when filming — whether they’re dishing out some brutal honesty, words of encouragement or a much needed laugh. They’ve got stories for days, and just as I expected, they don’t hold back at all!

In this episode, we talk about the chaos, the laughs, the occasional disasters, and the deep respect we all share for each other and the women whose stories we’re telling.

So buckle up, because we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s really like behind the scenes of FarmHER + RanchHER.

Let’s get dirty with Jonny and Zach.

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Like the Dirt Diaries podcast? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Thursday! Please also rate and review to help us continue growing. We want to hear your feedback, favorite moments and dream guests for the show!

Resources

• Connect with FarmHER + RanchHER
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• FarmHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | X | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn
• RanchHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
• Kirbe Schnoor: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
• Jonny...

Today I get to sit down with someone who I’ve known for a long time. We’ve worked together, traveled together, learned from each other, and I’ve watched her build a life and a voice that is as bold as it is genuine.

Today’s guest is the one and only Brandi Buzzard — cowgirl, rancher, mom, writer, speaker, communications pro, and self-employed powerhouse who somehow manages to rope steers, raise daughters, speak on national stages, and spark meaningful conversations in the cattle industry… all while being hilariously real and refreshingly honest.

In this conversation, Brandi opens up about her journey — from her early days freelancing and blogging, to her time with NCBA and Red Angus, to the moment she decided to leap into full-time self-employment. We talk about why she uses her voice so boldly, how she navigates change, her passion for correcting misinformation, the future of beef and global trade, what it means to raise kids in the western lifestyle, and how she learned to stop waiting for opportunities and start creating them.

We also get into some fun things… like teaching her daughters to drive the feed truck, junior rodeo memories, the Chiefs’ terrible season, and why a grilled cheese in the horse trailer tastes better than almost anything.

Brandi is real, raw, brave, opinionated in the best way, and deeply committed to making this industry better than she found it. And I can’t wait for you to hear this one.

Let’s get dirty with Brandi.

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Like the Dirt Diaries podcast? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Thursday! Please also rate and review to help us continue growing. We want to hear your feedback, favorite moments and dream guests for the show!

Resources

• Connect with FarmHER + RanchHER
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• FarmHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | X | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn
• RanchHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
• Kirbe Schnoor: Instagram | Facebook |

Hey y’all—welcome back to Dirt Diaries. Today I’m joined by someone who has her boots firmly planted in both the fields and the financials of legacy farming.

Jenny Weg is raising her daughters on the same land her family has worked for generations in Ocheyedan, Iowa. She’s also a digital strategist by day, a farmhouse renovator by night, an ag and finance influencer online, and the creative force behind “Rooted in Wealth,” where she helps rural families build better financial futures.

In this conversation, Jenny and I talk about the realities of family farming—succession planning, balancing work and motherhood, and the role of faith and resilience when times get tough. We also dive into her use of social media to educate and connect, why financial planning is so critical in ag, and how she’s championing women to step confidently into leadership roles on the farm and beyond.

She’s funny, honest, and full of practical wisdom that comes straight from lived experience.

Let’s get dirty with Jenny.

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Like the Dirt Diaries podcast? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Thursday! Please also rate and review to help us continue growing. We want to hear your feedback, favorite moments and dream guests for the show!

Resources

• Connect with FarmHER + RanchHER
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• FarmHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | X | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn
• RanchHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
• Kirbe Schnoor: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
• Jenny Weg: Website | Instagram |

Today we’re diving in with a gal who is as sweet as she is inspiring. I had the pleasure of getting to know Katey Jo Evans while filming season 7 of FarmHER, and I couldn’t wait to catch up with her again on the podcast!

Katey is a third-generation farmer from Delaware who took a big risk, a little creativity, and a whole lot of faith—and turned it into The Frozen Farmer, a nationally recognized brand of sorbets and frobert™ that’s now sold across the country. When traditional markets turned away her family’s “imperfect” produce, Katey found a way to upcycle it into something people couldn’t resist. That idea not only saved fruit from going to waste, but it also caught the attention of Shark Tank—where she landed a deal with Lori Greiner that helped take her dream nationwide.

In our conversation, Katey and I talk about what it’s really like to run a family business, how she balances life as a mom and entrepreneur, and the creative process behind developing unique flavors that connect people back to the farm. We also get into her faith, her drive, and the future she’s building for both her family and her community.

She’s innovative, grounded, and proof that sometimes the sweetest successes come straight from the dirt.

Let’s get dirty with Katey.

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Like the Dirt Diaries podcast? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Thursday! Please also rate and review to help us continue growing. We want to hear your feedback, favorite moments and dream guests for the show!

Resources

• Connect with FarmHER + RanchHER
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• FarmHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | X | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn
• RanchHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
• Kirbe Schnoor: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
• The Frozen Farmer: Website |

Today’s guests are a mother-daughter duo whom I’ve not only long admired but also make me miss my own mom and sisters!

I’m joined by the incredible women behind TrailblazHER Co., Jan and Erin Johnson, who together created TrailblazHER Magazine, a publication that’s become a lifeline and a love letter to rural women everywhere.

What started as a wild idea during the pandemic has grown into a movement—one that celebrates creativity, resilience, and the beautiful, often unseen stories of women living beyond city limits. Sadly (unknown to me before we recorded), they’ve announced they’ll be releasing their final issue of TrailblazeHER Magazine at the end of this year. A twist I didn’t see coming! (You can pre-order the final issue at the link below.) But Jan and Erin explain why they felt this was the right time to put a bow on their passion publication.

This episode is one that really speaks to the heart of what this show is all about—authentic storytelling, community, and the rural women we find so inspiring. Jan and Erin open up about their journey from urban life back to the farm, what it’s been like to build something so meaningful together, and how they’ve used their platform to spotlight and relate to other women. We talk about the challenges of entrepreneurship, the lessons they’ve learned along the way, and what it means to close one chapter while trusting in what comes next.

They’re creative, courageous, and completely genuine—and I know their words will stick with you long after this conversation ends. (They even have me tearing up!)

Let’s get dirty with Jan and Erin.

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Like the Dirt Diaries podcast? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Thursday! Please also rate and review to help us continue growing. We want to hear your feedback, favorite moments, and dream guests for the show!

Resources

• Connect with FarmHER + RanchHER
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• FarmHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | X | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn
• RanchHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
• Kirbe Schnoor: Instagram |

Today’s episode is all about two women who are changing the way the world sees agriculture—one podcast, one YouTube show, and one pop-culture headline at a time.

Tara Vander Dussen and Natalie Kovarik are the dynamic duo behind Discover Ag, the hit podcast and TV series where they break down food, farming, and Western culture with sharp commentary, plenty of laughs, and a side of unapologetic realness. Natalie’s a 4th-generation cattle rancher from Nebraska. Tara’s a 5th-generation dairy farmer and environmental scientist from New Mexico. And together, they’ve built a community of hundreds of thousands of listeners and viewers who tune in weekly to hear their rural perspective on everything from viral food trends to the future of ag.

In this conversation from Farm Progress, Tara and Natalie open up about their own journeys back to agriculture, why representation for women in ag matters, and how they’ve built Discover Ag into a platform that’s as entertaining as it is educational.

They’re funny, fearless, and redefining what it means to talk agriculture.

Let’s get dirty with Tara and Natalie.

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Like the Dirt Diaries podcast? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Thursday! Please also rate and review to help us continue growing. We want to hear your feedback, favorite moments and dream guests for the show!

Resources

• Connect with FarmHER + RanchHER
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• FarmHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | X | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn
• RanchHER: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
• Kirbe Schnoor: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
• Discover Ag: Website | Instagram | TikTok
• Discover Ag TV: