FARM Champion
This podcast brings you conversations with the professionals behind farmer success stories. Each episode features a FARM Champion — trusted experts who work alongside farmers and ranchers to navigate the business side of agriculture, from financial management and tax planning to long-term sustainability. Tune in for real-world insights, practical guidance, and stories that support stronger, more resilient farm operations.
This podcast is sponsored by University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and the Southern Risk Management Education Center.
Episodes
17 episodes
Episode 17 - Risk Management Across America: Inside the Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center
In this episode, host Dr. Ahlishia Shipley launches a special series exploring the nation's four regional Extension Risk Management Education Centers with Dr. Ron Rainey, Director of the Southern Extension Risk...
Episode 16 - Growing Beyond Direct Sales: Preparing for Wholesale Success
In this episode, host Ahlishia Shipley talks with Dr. Tim Woods, Agricultural Economics Professor and State Extension Specialist for Agribusiness Marketing at the University of Kentucky, about preparing farm businesses for larger ...
Episode 15 - Selling with Strategy: Choosing the Right Market for Your Farm
Choosing where to sell your products is one of the most important business decisions a producer can make. In this episode, host Dr. Ahlishia Shipley talks with Dr. Becca Jablonski, faculty member at Cornell University and agricultural and food ...
Episode 14 - Building Opportunity Through Value-Added Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems
Value-added agriculture isn't just about creating a new product, it's about creating new possibilities. In this episode, Dr. Courtney Long shares how stronger markets, strategic partnerships, and resilient food systems can create opportun...
Episode 13 - From Farm Gate to Global Markets: Making Sense of Commodity Marketing
In this episode, host Ahlishia Shipley sits down with Grant Gardner, Agricultural Economist and Extension Specialist at the University of Kentucky, to simplify the world of commodity markets and commodity marketing. Grant explains why commodity...
Episode 12 - How AgPlan Helps Farmers Build Stronger Agricultural Businesses
In this episode, host Ahlishia Shipley talks with Kevin Klair, Extension Economist and Director of the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota, about the importance of business planning for agricultural success. ...
Episode 11 - Understanding Property Appraisals and the Reconsideration of Value Process
In this episode, host Ahlishia Shipley sits down with veteran appraiser Thaddaus Dawson to discuss property valuation, appraisal accuracy, and the Reconsideration of Value (ROV) process. Listeners will learn practical steps for reviewing apprai...
Episode 10 - Expanding Market Opportunities with MarketMaker
In this episode of the FARM Champion Podcast, host Ahlishia Shipley sits down with agricultural marketing expert Darlene “Dar” Knipe to discuss what market access really means for farmers and ranchers. Dar shares common barriers producers face,...
Episode 9 - Heirs Property: Protecting Land, Preserving Legacy, and Building Knowledge for Farm Families
In this episode of the FARM Champion Podcast, host Ahlishia Shipley sits down with Kara Woods of the National Agricultural Policy Research Center at Alcorn State University to discuss heirs property and why it matters for farm families and rura...
Episode 8 - Navigating Conflict in Agriculture Through Mediation
In this episode, host Ahlishia Shipley talks with Kiley Fleming, Executive Director of the Iowa Mediation Service and Chair of the Coalition of Agricultural Mediation Programs (CAMP), about the ro...
Episode 7 - Protecting the Farm Legacy Through Estate & Transition Planning
Estate and transition planning can be one of the hardest conversations farm families face, but it is also one of the most important. In this episode, host Ahlishia Shipley sits down with Paul Goeringer, Principal Faculty Specialist and Extensio...
Episode 6 - Telling Your Farm Story Through Recordkeeping
In this episode of the FARM Champion Podcast, host Ahlishia Shipley speaks with Jonathan Shepherd, Agricultural Extension Specialist at the University of Kentucky, about farm tax planning and recordkeeping as critical risk management tools. Jon...
Episode 5 - Helping Farmers Navigate Financial Pressure with the AgFTAP Cooperators Project
When financial pressures mount, the right support can help farmers find a path forward. In this episode, host Ahlishia Shipley sits down with Alicia Netterville to explore how the AgFTAP Cooperators Project is helping producers navigate real ch...
Episode 4 - Navigating Farm Financial Stress and Promoting Producer Well-Being
In this episode of the FARM Champion podcast, Ahlishia Shipley talks with Erica Barnes Fields about farm financial stress and its impact on producer well-being. They discuss common warning signs, why producers face unique pressures, and how the...
Episode 3 - Know Your Numbers: Financial Strategies for Farm Resilience
Ahlishia Shipley sits down with Ryan Loy, Extension economist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, to talk through the financial realities facing farmers today. Ryan shares practical financial strategies producers can ...
Episode 2 - AgFTAP: Helping Farmers Navigate Finance, Tax, and Business Decisions
In this episode, host Ahlishia Shipley sits down with AgFTAP project director Allison Vetter to learn about AgFTAP, a national program designed to support producers with resources in agricultural finance, tax planning, recordkeeping, and asset ...
Episode 1 - What Is a FARM Champion? Building a Network for Farm Success
Farmers and ranchers are facing tight margins, rising costs, and increasingly complex business decisions. In this first episode, host Ahlishia Shipley sits down with Ron Rainey to introduce the FARM Champion Network, a nationwide effort connect...