Ag Women Connect "Ag Talk, Your Story Matters!"

Venessa Wood
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

"Ag Talk, Your Story Matters" is America's Platform for Women in Agriculture to share their thoughts, ideas and stories! This is a safe space for everyone in agriculture, no matter what their role is, to come together and have real and raw conversations with each other! We feature our AWC members, guest speakers, and current  topics across the nation that affect our agriculture industry.  Our goal is to include others into our discussions. We invite YOU to be a part of our conversation every week.  Join us! 

  1. 6d ago

    The Ins and Outs of Ranch Bookkeeping with Charla Farris

    Send us Fan Mail This week on Ag Talk, Venessa Wood sits down with Charla Farris of Oklahoma (AgWomen Connect Oklahoma), who shares her Colorado ranching background, move to Oklahoma to expand, and their Sim-Angus replacement-heifer operation using tools like genetic testing. Charla, owner of A Cut Above Business Solutions, discusses bookkeeping and tax basics for producers: use smartphone technology to capture receipts and data, keep business and personal funds separate, choose the right entity structure (LLC vs S-corp taxation and responsibilities), maintain strong books and a business plan for lenders, and avoid buying equipment only to reduce taxes; she explains depreciation (equipment and improvements, not land) and the importance of estate planning, wills/trusts, appraisals, and step-up in basis.  Venessa concludes the episode by recounting AgWomen Connect’s RNC trip, sitting behind and shaking hands with President Trump, and addresses online attacks, spiritual warfare themes, encouragement to speak up, and a push to vote, plus announcements about an Ag Women Connect Gala and the show’s Rural Radio channel. 01:25 Charla’s Ag Roots 03:27 Moving to Oklahoma Ranch Life 04:16 Cattle Program and Genetics 06:00 Numbers Career Origin Story 07:23 Bookkeeping Basics for Producers 09:13 Setting Up a Business Right 10:59 LLC vs S Corp Explained 12:02 Business Plans and Knowing Numbers 14:28 Estate Planning After the Break 19:02 Depreciation and Smart Purchases 21:27 Her Firm and Nonprofit Entities 25:00 Busy Season Balance and Contact Info 27:30 RNC Trip and Behind Trump 38:15 Spiritual Warfare and Online Attacks Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

  2. Sep 22

    Sheep Ranching with Cole Estill and What We Can Do to Support American Ranchers

    Send us Fan Mail Venessa Wood interviews Nevada sheep producer, Cole Estill, originally from Northern California, about his background, rodeo experience, and his family’s agricultural work, including his wife Katie’s veterinary clinic in Winnemucca. Cole explains his unique operation running nearly 3,000 sheep and about 200 Angora goats largely through contracted fire-mitigation grazing near Reno, while another band in eastern Nevada produces income mainly through lamb sales.  He discusses wool and mohair production, volatile sheep markets, and industry pressures, including imported lamb from Australia and New Zealand and efforts to secure tariffs via the USITC and proposed legislation. Cole argues reduced grazing on federal lands has increased fuel loads and worsened wildfires, citing Reno’s Hawk Fire.  This episode also includes Venessa discussing Trump’s temporary tariff-free ground beef imports, producer concerns, local-buying solutions, more processing capacity, heifer retention incentives, and mandatory country-of-origin labeling. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

  3. Sep 8

    A Real and Raw Conversation About the Impact of AI Data Centers on Agriculture

    Send us Fan Mail This week on AG Talk: Your Story Matters, Venessa speaks with Sarah Falen Tate, an agricultural and natural resources attorney from Wyoming, and Emma Hamlin, a recent graduate who researched nuclear development on public lands, to discuss the pros, cons, and unanswered questions around data centers and related power infrastructure. Emma summarizes her Wyoming Liberty Group policy report recommending statutory protections for grazing permits, evaluation of siting options, and routine radiation monitoring for livestock, crops, water, air, and soil near nuclear facilities.  The conversation weighs whether regulation should be federal versus state/local, highlights water and community impacts, and stresses careful contract review for easements, leases, and land sales. Sarah warns about future eminent domain authority for data centers, urges communities to demand pro-community commitments, and discusses end-of-life environmental concerns. They also raise concerns about foreign adversaries buying land and data security, and encourage public involvement in local government. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

  4. Aug 31

    From Cleaning Businesses to Real Estate with Cassie Gilman

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Vnessa Wood interviews Oklahoma ag advocate and multi-business owner Cassie Gilman about growing up in northeast Oklahoma in her family’s feed business, 4H/FFA and livestock showing, and later living in Texas. Cassie shares rebuilding her life after a domestic-violent marriage, including a period of homelessness, and how cleaning houses led to social media marketing work, joining Ag Women Connect, and earning her real estate license; she aims to help young buyers find rural property.  She discusses launching her private-label coffee brand Kickin’ it Java Style through She Brews Coffee, rebranding her podcast to Coffee with Cassie, and marketing advice focused on relationship-building, avoiding negativity, and respectful dialogue. Cassie also outlines goals in ag policy awareness, youth entrepreneurship, and someday raising Shorthorn cattle, emphasizing community over competition. Venessa closes with concerns about President Trump’s 90-day tariff relief for ground beef imports, urging informed advocacy, prayer for leaders, and rejecting division. 00:00 Meet Cassie Gilman 01:00 Roots in Agriculture 03:19 Ag Women Connect Gala 04:42 From Texas to Oklahoma 05:30 Career Pivot to Real Estate 09:00 Rock Bottom to Rebuild 13:12 Faith and Support Circle 14:55 Kickin It Java Style 18:59 Podcast Rebrand and Fear 21:41 Social Media Marketing Tips 24:49 Listening With Respect 25:47 Handling Online Negativity 28:23 Transparency And Realness 29:39 Future Plans In Ag 30:07 Policy Wake Up Call 32:30 Youth Entrepreneurship Dreams 35:23 Refilling Your Cup 39:00 Community Over Competition 42:24 How To Connect With Cassie 43:08 Tariff Relief Fallout 46:22 Graceful Leadership Response Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

  5. Aug 18

    Voices of the Next Generation: Emma Hamlin's Story

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa interviews Emma Hamlin, an Ag Women Connect intern and recent University of Wyoming graduate from Tyler, Texas, about her journey into agriculture and policy. Emma describes growing up “micro-ranching,” switching her college major from psychology to agriculture after a transformative summer as a horse wrangler at Sky Ranch, and gaining industry perspective through a year of meat judging that included visits to major packing plants and learning quality and yield grading. They discuss DOJ scrutiny of the four major meat packers, Emma’s R-CALF scholarship trip where she learned about issues like direct-to-consumer sales, MCOOL, and beef checkoff reform, and the importance of looking beyond headlines. Emma also shares her Wyoming Liberty Group report on nuclear development near public lands, emphasizing safeguards like monitoring and protections for ranchers, and her goal to be a voice for smaller producers. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

  6. Aug 11

    Food Security and Policy Reform with Congresswoman Kat Cammack

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa welcomes Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack, the only Floridian on the House Agriculture Committee, discussing her ranch and 4-H background, her work on the House-passed 2026 Farm Bill (including citrus greening research funding through 2031 and disaster payment reform), and her leadership on National Women in Agriculture Day. Cammack describes pressures driving farmland loss to development in Florida, arguing food security is national security, and cites crushing federal regulations, high input and energy costs, and trade and immigration challenges as key threats to family farms. She outlines structural problems with the H-2A guest worker program for year-round specialty crops and rejects amnesty while calling for workable reforms. She highlights the FFA Act to prioritize American-grown foods in SNAP/EBT and the Fresh and Affordable Foods Act to standardize ingredient labeling transparency. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

  7. Aug 4

    Seeds to Smiles: Lori Taylor's Mission with The Produce Moms

    Send us Fan Mail Venessa Wood welcomes Lori Taylor, founder of The Produce Moms, to share how a career in produce led to building a nationally recognized brand dedicated to getting more fruits and vegetables on every table. They discuss the power of networking, producer partnerships, food safety, common misconceptions about produce, practical kitchen tips, and why food security is essential. Taylor also highlights The Produce Moms' growth, mission, and her "50 States of Agriculture" project. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

  8. Jul 28

    Navigating the Impact of AI Data Centers on Rural America

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa Wood of AgTalk: Your Story Matters discusses the controversial rise of AI data centers affecting Texas and other states, emphasizing it is a “we the people” issue rather than partisan, and opening with prayer and a call to unity and discernment. She shares concerns from rural communities about being left out, urging local hiring, warning of temporary job booms followed by fewer permanent technical roles, and describing impacts such as higher rents and cost of living, RV “man camps,” increased crime concerns, traffic, road damage, and strain on emergency services.  She highlights water-table worries, supports closed-loop water systems and possible brackish water use, and contrasts regulated vs. unregulated centers, stressing the need to know ownership. She warns China may exploit loopholes to gain footholds and advocates local-to-federal oversight committees. She explores city vs. rural siting, farmland buyout pressures, and neighbor and livestock concerns, and calls listeners to engage leaders and stay accountable. Support the show Thank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at AgWomenConnect@gmail.com Join our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

"Ag Talk, Your Story Matters" is America's Platform for Women in Agriculture to share their thoughts, ideas and stories! This is a safe space for everyone in agriculture, no matter what their role is, to come together and have real and raw conversations with each other! We feature our AWC members, guest speakers, and current  topics across the nation that affect our agriculture industry.  Our goal is to include others into our discussions. We invite YOU to be a part of our conversation every week.  Join us! 

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