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. 1D AGO

    Clay McKesson on Legacy, Faith, and Entrepreneurship

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa Wood talks with Clay McKesson on Ag Talk. Clay, vice president of the faith-based Western Legacy Project, describes how it formed quickly and its youth timed-event rodeo camp May 18–21 at Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Arena, with vetted counselors, nightly faith discussions, and events including breakaway, barrels, steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping, poles, goat tying, and added horsemanship. He lists elite clinicians such as Hailey Kinsel, Haley Williams, Strand Smith, Billy Bob Brown, Wesley Thorp, Rayna Chavez, and horsemanship with Chris Cox and Nate Iker. Clay also discusses leading the Ranch Horse Association of America (RHAA), its May finals at the Western Heritage Classic in Abilene, and a new point-based format. He shares his Texas-made Rock & J barbecue sauce business growth into grocery chains and gives his contact info.  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

    51 min

  2. APR 28

    Meet the Founders of 'From the Farm', AJ and Jessica Richards

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Vanessa Wood talks with Jessica and AJ Richards about their story, marriage, and their business, From the Farm. High school sweethearts married at 19, the couple now raises three daughters. AJ shares how a new generation of farmers is doing things differently through direct-to-consumer sales, social media, and regenerative practices. After COVID exposed weaknesses in the food supply chain, they moved to Cody, Wyoming, where AJ began building a more direct path from producer to consumer. Through From the Farm, their mission is to help farmers keep more of what they earn while creating a more connected, transparent food system—“shake the hand that feeds you.” 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

    51 min

  3. APR 21

    The Path to Entrepreneurship with Hannah Skoog

    Send us Fan Mail Ag Talk host, Venessa Wood, interviews Hannah Skoog of Stephenville, Texas, who connected with Ag Women Connect through a women’s tour of the 6666 Stallion Barn and now helps with t-shirts and merch. Hannah shares how she grew up in suburban DFW, returned to horses at Texas Tech after burnout from an academia-only focus, and was humbled while learning horsemanship, eventually buying her first horse and earning an equine science certificate.  She pursued a Master's at Tarleton State University focused on equine nutrition, built industry connections, and began offering equine photography. Living and interning with mentor Lorna Neal at LJ Equine, Hannah helps with barn work and foaling services while testing media analytics. Together, they launched Rollback Designs, a western/stock-horse niche apparel and graphic design business. Tune in today to hear her whole story! 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

    51 min

  4. APR 14

    Land Rights and Policy in American Agriculture with Jim Mundorf and Shad Sullivan, host of Lonesome Lands

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ag Talk, Venessa Wood hosts a special session with cattle rancher and policy advocate Shad Sullivan and Iowa farmer/media creator Jim Mundorf to discuss agricultural policy, property rights, and public lands. Sullivan recounts losing his ranch operation in a 1999 Colorado land grab and says it propelled him into advocacy against what he views as bureaucratic corruption, sustainable development, and production control; Mundorf describes growing up on an Iowa farm and founding Lonesome Lands to cover concentrated agriculture and related issues.  They argue attacks on private property and grazing/water rights are widespread, tied to ESG, conservation, and rewilding ideologies, and emphasize local leadership such as county commissioners. They also discuss carbon pipelines, eminent domain, data centers raising land prices, and support USDA’s revised voluntary “Product of USA” label requiring born, raised, and harvested in the U.S., while saying mandatory country-of-origin labeling remains a goal. They close by sharing where to find Mundorf’s work and reflecting on the burdens and motivation of advocacy. 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

    51 min

  5. MAR 31

    The Brutal Reality of Wild Horse Management with Jenny Lesieutre

    Send us Fan Mail This week, Venessa Wood sat down with retired BLM veteran Jenny Lesieutre about the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and today’s wild horse and burro crisis. Jenny outlines the act’s origins, key amendments (including FLPMA allowing helicopters, adoption authority, AML requirements, and the Burns Amendment), and says horse and burro numbers have far exceeded appropriate management levels: about 85,500 on-range as of March 1 (not counting foals) plus roughly 60,000–63,000 in holding.  She argues that overpopulation is degrading rangelands, displacing wildlife, and reducing legal grazing, while taxpayer costs have risen from about $38 million to $144 million. Jenny criticizes animal activist groups, discusses restrictions on euthanasia and slaughter policy riders, and advocates following the law as written, increasing adoptions/sales, gathering to reach AML, and using fertility control only once numbers are manageable. She also mentions her documentary “Hell Bent” and how to contact her.  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

    51 min

  6. MAR 24

    West Texas Ranch Rodeo: Celebrating Cowboys, Cowgirls, and Community

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ag Talk: Your Story Matters, Venessa Wood visits with guests Traci, Lane, and Randy to preview the West Texas Ranch Rodeo in April at the Amarillo National Center. Tracy shares her background in crop insurance and family life; Lane, a longtime cowboy and former PRCA competitor, explains producing the rodeo to support working cowboys; Randy describes partnering with them and outlines the Working Ranch Cowboys Association/Foundation’s crisis aid, scholarships, and disaster relief, noting about 98% of donations go directly to families and that event proceeds support the foundation. They detail the rodeo’s growth to 20 WRCA teams and a $50,000 payout, events like ranch bronc riding (including an international women’s group), wild cow milking, sorting, and branding, plus a Top Horse award.  Tune in to hear all of the details and learn more here: https://wtranchrodeo.com/ 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

    51 min

  7. MAR 10

    Preserving Traditions with Michelle Williams: A Deep Dive into Canning & Homesteading

    Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Ag Talk: Your Story Matters, Venessa Wood sits down with Michelle Williams, an early supporter of Ag Women Connect. Michelle shares her roots near Austin, her move to West Texas in 1999, and building the Lubbock Steamer business with her husband while raising five children (and now eight grandchildren). After scaling back work to care for a granddaughter, she launched Grandma’s Pantry, inspired by her well-stocked pantry and childhood memories of cooking and canning with her grandmother, Juanita Irwin. She offers homemade goods like jams, pickles, sourdough, butter, eggs, broths, and beeswax wraps, and discusses simple canning, food security, reducing waste, and preserving family traditions. Michelle also shares practical tips—starting small, sourcing discounted produce, and making spices from scraps—and invites listeners to follow Grandma’s Pantry on social media. 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

    51 min

  8. MAR 3

    Western Trailblazer: Jodi Weishaar Hendrickson, Founder of Fringe Scarves

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ag Talk: Your Story Matters, Venessa Wood sits down with Jodi Hendrickson, founder of Fringe Scarves, to talk about her South Dakota ranch roots, rodeo background, and early love of fashion that eventually led her into the Western retail world. After moving to Texas and working in magazine publishing and styling, Jodi faced a long battle with Lyme disease that reshaped her path and inspired her to launch Fringe Scarves with a flexible business model that supported her health. She shares how the brand stands out with original square designs, multiple scarf sizes, and collections inspired by vintage Western pieces and artists. Jodi also discusses the realities of growing a Western fashion brand—from competition and product development to photo shoots, collaborations, charitable giving, and expanding lines like Ranchi Rags and the premium Fringe Blue Label. Learn more about Fringe Scarves here: https://fringescarves.com/ 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

    51 min
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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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