Growing the Future

Dan Aberhart , Terry Aberhart

CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER. 

 The Growing the Future Podcast features conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, and personal and professional growth in the agriculture community.

  1. What Happens When Capital Tightens? | Live Q&A with Canada’s Largest Farmland Owner

    6D AGO

    What Happens When Capital Tightens? | Live Q&A with Canada’s Largest Farmland Owner

    This is Part 3 of a three-part live conversation with Robert Andjelic, Canada’s largest farmland owner and this is where the discussion got real.  No slides.  No prepared remarks.  Just live questions from producers, lenders, and operators trying to understand what happens when capital tightens.  In this session, Robert responds to questions about:  – Cash flow vs land value  – How banks actually behave when risk rises  – Why liquidity disappears before prices fall  – What breaks first when leverage is stretched  – How operators protect the land when margins compress  – And why “survival” is not failure, it’s strategy  Several moments in this Q&A landed hard, including Robert’s blunt reminder: “Your balance sheet won’t save you if your cash flow breaks.” This conversation isn’t theory. It’s lived experience, shared in real time. 00:00 Part 3 - Audience Q&A & Closing 05:40 Banking Relationships and Financial Advice 12:01 Global Agriculture and Market Dynamics 33:30 Cryptocurrency and AI in Agriculture 41:21 The Inevitability of War and Global Tensions 41:46 China's Ambitions and Global Power Dynamics 42:34 Climate Change and Carbon Credits 44:51 Agricultural Financing and Real Estate 51:42 Interest Rates and Economic Predictions 56:35 Farmland Investment Strategies 01:06:19 Global Trade and Agricultural Competitiveness 01:23:48 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts   Register for the Convergence Conference at convergence.ag and stay updated by subscribing to the Growing the Future Podcast at growingthefuturepodcast.ca.

    1h 35m
  2. Is There a Capital Squeeze in Ag?

    JAN 9

    Is There a Capital Squeeze in Ag?

    Is There a Capital Squeeze in Agriculture?In this special live episode, Dan Aberhart sits down with Robert Andjelic to explore a question many producers are quietly asking: Is capital tightening around agriculture — and if so, why now? This is not a prediction episode and not financial advice. It’s a first-principles conversation about how credit systems work, what lenders are responding to, and why agriculture is being affected indirectly by pressures elsewhere in the economy. In this episode, we cover:Why banks are under pressure — and why agriculture is not the problem How commercial real estate, shadow banking, and regulation affect farm credit Where we are in the broader economic and capital cycle Why capital availability matters more than interest rates How agriculture differs from other asset classes during downturns Why preparation and clarity matter more than prediction Robert also shares perspective from decades of experience across commercial real estate, capital markets, and farmland investing — including why he believes agriculture remains one of the strongest long-term sectors, even as conditions tighten. This episode is Part One of a two-part seriesPart One: Understanding the capital environment and why this time is different Part Two: What to do next — practical preparation, lender conversations, and positioning If you operate a farm, ag business, or work closely with agricultural finance, this episode is designed to help you think more clearly about the environment ahead — without panic, and without noise. Register for the Convergence Conference at convergence.ag and stay updated by subscribing to the Growing the Future Podcast at growingthefuturepodcast.ca.

    43 min
  3. What Farmers Want Chariot Command Edition

    JAN 9

    What Farmers Want Chariot Command Edition

    Farmers don’t need another polished sales pitch — they need tools that actually work when iron is hot and harvest pressure is on. In this live episode of What Farmers Want, host Dan Aberhart puts ag-tech innovation to the test in a Shark Tank–style format designed for one audience only: farmers. 🎙 Andrew Leaman, Founder & CEO of Chariot Command, joins the show to present technology built around visual monitoring, thermal imaging, and AI — designed to detect overheating components, mechanical failures, and fire risks before they become catastrophic. Andrew isn’t pitching to investors or executives. He’s pitching directly to producers and agronomists who live with this equipment every day. 👨‍🌾 Farmer & Agronomist PanelWyatt Bolt – Bolt Seeds Farm Darwin Kells – Lambton Agra Riley Kushniruk – K4 Ag With candid discussion from the live audience and real-world scenarios ranging from combine bearings to grain dryer fires, this episode dives into: The true cost of downtime Why most fires don’t come out of nowhere How thermal imaging sees what humans can’t Data ownership, insurance implications, and OEM relationships What farmers would actually pay for preventative technology 🤝 Presented by Cornerstone Credit UnionLyndon Lisitza, Director of Rural Tech Activation at Cornerstone Credit Union, joins the conversation to share why supporting practical, farmer-driven innovation matters — and how financial institutions can play a role in accelerating adoption without hype. This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about ag-tech, risk, and reality — exactly how farmers like it. 🔗 Learn moreChariot Command Founder: Andrew Leaman 📧 andrew.leaman@chariotcommand.com Register for the Convergence Conference at convergence.ag and stay updated by subscribing to the Growing the Future Podcast at growingthefuturepodcast.ca.

    1h 3m
  4. Lead Your Life or Life Will Lead You | Corliss Rassyle

    12/31/2025

    Lead Your Life or Life Will Lead You | Corliss Rassyle

    In this episode of the Growing the Future Podcast, Dan Aberhart sits down with Corliss Rassyle for a candid conversation about leadership, purpose, and what it really means to lead your life. Corliss shares her journey from growing up on a Saskatchewan farm, to building a successful business, to losing everything and rebuilding from the inside out. Together, they explore self doubt, imposter syndrome, personal responsibility, and the internal work required to move forward with clarity and confidence. This episode is for anyone in agriculture, entrepreneurship, or leadership who feels called to something more and wants to take ownership of where they’re headed next. Corliss will also be joining us in person as a keynote speaker at the Convergence Conference. Topics Covered• What real leadership looks like and why it starts on the inside • Growing up on a Saskatchewan farm and early lessons in responsibility • Chasing success and still feeling unfulfilled • Losing everything and rebuilding from scratch • Self doubt, imposter syndrome, and internal validation • Vision, purpose, and personal responsibility • Leading your life instead of drifting through it • Becoming who you need to be to fulfill your vision • Why community, coaching, and events matter • What Corliss will bring to the Convergence Conference Timestamps00:00 Welcome and episode introduction 01:07 Introducing Corliss Rassyle 03:15 Growing up on the farm 05:00 Building a business and finding purpose 09:32 The hero’s journey and hard seasons 13:02 Losing everything and rebuilding 17:00 Where real change begins 18:18 Vision, purpose, and leading your life 21:36 Becoming who you need to be 24:02 Learning to value the journey 27:17 Call to LEAD and leadership without titles 32:00 What changes after doing the work 33:13 Convergence Conference and what’s possible 39:04 Final reflections and where to connect GuestCorliss Rassyle International Speaker, Author, Coach, and Founder of Corliss Co. Website: https://www.corliss.ca LinksConvergence Conference https://www.convergence.ag Growing the Future Podcast https://www.growingthefuturepodcast.ca Register for the Convergence Conference at convergence.ag and stay updated by subscribing to the Growing the Future Podcast at growingthefuturepodcast.ca.

    42 min
  5. Angels in Agriculture: Funding the Future of Farming

    12/14/2025

    Angels in Agriculture: Funding the Future of Farming

    In this episode of the Growing the Future Podcast, Dan sits down with a prairie-based entrepreneur and investor helping unlock a new wave of ag-tech innovation across Western Canada. The conversation spans angel investing, Startup TNT, and the roots of prairie innovation — from early farm accounting software and fertilizer exits to today’s venture-backed ag-tech startups. Along the way, we dig into a powerful idea: agriculture doesn’t just need better technology, it needs farmers back in the innovation value chain as owners, not just test pilots. This episode also reflects on the Yorkton Harvest Showdown Ag Tech Pitch, where Dan and his guest recently connected with emerging founders — several of whom will be featured in upcoming episodes. If you’re a farmer, founder, investor, or someone curious about how ag-tech actually gets built and funded, this conversation offers a grounded, honest look at capital, community, and purpose-driven investing. Key Topics / Bullets (Optional but recommended)Angel investing in agriculture Startup TNT and prairie startup ecosystems The legacy of AgExpert and early ag innovation Why farmers are losing equity in the value chain Purpose, responsibility, and investing in community How ag-tech startups actually get funded Startup TNT: https://www.startuptnt.com Growing the Future Podcast: https://www.growingthefuturepodcast.ca Register for the Convergence Conference at convergence.ag and stay updated by subscribing to the Growing the Future Podcast at growingthefuturepodcast.ca.

    56 min

About

CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER. 

 The Growing the Future Podcast features conversations on innovation, entrepreneurship, and personal and professional growth in the agriculture community.

You Might Also Like