We start with Mike Doran—the Sale Manager who’s been at the helm of this event for years—offers an insider’s view of what it takes to make the Sale of Champions a success. From coordinating sponsors and buyers to ensuring the young exhibitors have their moment in the spotlight, Mike’s leadership has helped the IFAA grow its support from $50,000 in its first year to nearly $725,000 annually in livestock sales, scholarships, and awards.

Then, Joe Stien, a young leader who not only captured Reserve Grand Champion honors in the 2024 4-H Market Hog competition but also uses his platform, The Joe Show, to amplify youth voices in agriculture. Joe shares the grind behind the glamour, from early mornings in the barn to the adrenaline rush of the Sale of Champions, and how this event represents years of dedication from youth exhibitors across the state.

We also explore how the IFAA invests in the next generation through over $240,000 in scholarships each year, including the Winner’s Circle Scholarships for students pursuing ag degrees. With stories from the ring, the sale floor, and the scholarship stage, this episode highlights how tradition, community, and opportunity come together to create lifelong impact for Iowa’s ag youth.

Whether you’re a livestock exhibitor, a parent, a sponsor, or just a fan of the Iowa State Fair, you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for the dedication and teamwork that fuel the Sale of Champions.

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With nitrate levels making headlines again, Mike doesn’t shy away from addressing Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy and how his team is driving long-term improvements in water quality. He also explains the real impact of the Choose Iowa branding initiative, how export tracking actually works, and why the Iowa State Fair is one of the best tools for connecting everyday Iowans with agriculture.

We dig into hot-button topics like crop conditions, biosecurity in pork and beef, rural workforce development, and the significance of celebrating Century & Heritage Farms. Whether you’re a farmer, policymaker, or just someone who cares about Iowa’s land and legacy, this episode will give you a timely, no-spin look at the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Midwest agriculture.

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In this episode, we sit down with the co-founders of Map Dot Media, the agency behind viral platforms like Iowa Chill and Midwest Vs. Everybody, to explore their journey from UNI dorm rooms to campaigns with Coors Light, John Deere, and Iowa Pork Producers.

They reveal how a cow breaking through a barn wall (seriously) sparked their first viral moment, why authenticity trumps polish in meme marketing, and what it takes to turn a loyal regional audience into a profitable brand. You'll hear how they’ve balanced humor and heart, built community through content, and are now running festivals, brand activations, and an internship pipeline that’s shaping the next wave of Midwest creatives.

Whether you're a farmer, marketer, content creator—or someone who's ever laughed at “Duck, Duck, Gray Duck”—this conversation is packed with insights on building brands, telling stories, and keeping it real in a world full of filters.

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In this episode of the Farm4Profit Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Vinayak Shedekar, a research scientist at the forefront of multifunctional drainage systems in agriculture. Drain tile has long been used to remove excess water from fields, but according to Dr. Shedekar, that’s just scratching the surface.

We explore how tile systems can now support irrigation, manage seasonal water needs, improve water quality, and even contribute to conservation efforts. Dr. Shedekar explains the concept of transitioning from "drain to de-rain"—a strategy that leverages tile infrastructure to retain or redistribute water based on the time of year and crop demand.

He also unpacks the potential of drainage water management and subirrigation in increasing yields, improving efficiency, and enhancing farm profitability—especially in places like Northwest Ohio, where traditional irrigation adoption has been limited.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of:

How to evaluate their current tile system

Whether water management upgrades make sense

How conservation practices like bioreactors and control structures play into the big picture

What technologies are emerging to help maximize return from these buried systems

If you’ve ever wondered whether your tile could be doing more for your crops, wallet, and the environment, this episode is for you.

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We sit down with Kris Thayer, a man who’s worn more hats than a tractor seat at a consignment sale. A former college wrestler from Nebraska, Kris took his competitive mindset straight into the ag world. He started at AgriVision Equipment, representing John Deere in some of the most equipment-savvy regions in the country, and hasn’t stopped moving since.

Kris shares how his time on the mat taught him grit, discipline, and the power of work ethic—lessons that now drive his success in multiple ag ventures. Today, he not only sells seed to area farmers but also flips used equipment and works with DPA Auctions, helping farmers across the Midwest get the most out of their iron.

We talk about spotting undervalued equipment, how online auctions are changing the game, and what buyers and sellers should really be thinking about when they make a deal. Plus, Kris dives into what farmers should be asking their seed dealers, and why adding value (not volume) is the key to standing out.

Whether you’re into wrestling, wrenching, or winning in the business of ag, Kris’s journey is packed with takeaways you can bring back to your operation today.

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In this episode of Farm4Profit, we explore the digital tools transforming the cattle industry with the innovators behind Performance Livestock Analytics. The spotlight is on two core technologies—Performance Beef and Cattle Krush—both designed to simplify the complexities of raising and marketing cattle.

Performance Beef is a cloud-based cattle management software tailored for feedlot and cow-calf producers. It digitizes feed management, health records, cost-of-gain tracking, and market prep—all in one simple dashboard. With real-time updates and seamless integration with feed trucks, Bluetooth scales, and QuickBooks, it saves time, reduces errors, and supports more profitable decisions. And with more than 5 million cattle on feed and a 96% customer retention rate, producers are clearly seeing value.

We also dig into Cattle Krush, a real-time market insights app that pulls data from the Chicago Board of Trade to help producers make informed buying and selling decisions. Tools like Auction Advisor, My Lots, and Profit Alerts show exactly where a producer stands—down to the head—on profitability and breakevens.

The team shares how they identified this massive need in the industry, how user-friendly the platforms really are, and where they see the cattle industry heading as technology and data play a growing role in profitability. We wrap with real-world success stories and advice for anyone looking to upgrade how they manage their livestock operation.

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In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Bare, the visionary behind Century Farms Distillery—a craft distillery rooted in agricultural tradition and dedicated to producing premium farm-to-bottle spirits. Growing up on his family’s Iowa farm, Ryan learned early the value of hard work, precision, and pride in the land. After earning a degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University, Ryan spent over 15 years refining oil and producing ethanol before circling back to his agricultural roots with a bold idea: start a distillery that pays tribute to the very ground he grew up on.

Founded in 2017, Century Farms Distillery celebrates the legacy of Iowa’s multigenerational farms. Ryan walks us through the journey—from navigating complicated distilling regulations to sourcing high-quality local grains that deliver standout flavors in every batch. We discuss the differences between producing energy and crafting spirits, how farm practices directly influence taste, and what it means to distill with purpose and pride.

Ryan also shares insights on branding, connecting with consumers through storytelling, and expanding the distillery’s reach beyond Iowa. Whether it’s whiskey, bourbon, or celebrating agricultural heritage, Ryan’s mission is clear: honor the past while innovating for the future.

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We sit down with Mark, the founder of SimpleHedge, to discuss how his platform is changing the way farmers manage price risk. After building a successful career in the tech world—working at Meta and McKinsey—Mark turned his attention to agriculture, recognizing a gap in farmer-accessible risk management tools.

Mark explains that while hedging is essential for protecting farm revenue, it’s long been confusing, expensive, and out of reach for most producers. SimpleHedge aims to fix that, providing a platform that delivers clear recommendations, personalized strategies, and confidence—without requiring a background in trading.

He walks us through how the platform works, how it pulls and analyzes market data, and how it customizes strategies based on a user’s unique operation. We also cover farmer concerns around safety and control—highlighting how SimpleHedge provides guided recommendations, not hands-off execution, and how users can get started without connecting sensitive accounts.

Throughout the episode, Mark shares real-world success stories, ROI examples, and where the future of tech-enabled farm risk management is headed. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just getting started with options and futures, this conversation demystifies a topic that can make or break a year’s profit.

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