They say all good things must come to an end, but we disagree. We think all good things should take a brief hiatus and relaunch with version 2.0...like this podcast. Over the last three years, Carla Wardin has served as the voice of the Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT podcast - introducing us to farmers, producers and ag leaders from throughout Michigan. As Carla moves on to bigger and better things, we thank her for the incredible work she's done and we wish her well! As for us...the show must go on...sorta. We'll be back in June with a new host, new format and new name. Stay tuned...

Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT podcast

The Show Must Go On...Sorta

Derek Thom is a crop and cattle farmer at D & D Thom Farms in Peck, and he’s the fifth generation in his family to be on the farm. He grows corn, soybeans, sugar beets, wheat, and hay. He also raises Holstein steers and maintains a beef cow herd. When he’s not on the farm, he likes to hunt, ride his dirt bike, snowmobile, and be outside. Listen as he talks about: The crop he most enjoys harvesting The new barns they’re building this year The amazing technology of farm equipment The changes his family farm has made over the years His hometown of Peck Follow him at: YOUTUBE FACEBOOK 

Derek Thom, D & D Thom Farms

C.J. Hunt owns Hunt’s Hillside Vineyards, LCC in Lawton, where he grows 38 acres of eight different varieties of wine grapes. He contracts his grapes to St Julian Winery in Paw Paw. He and his wife Hilary are raising three children – Payton, Sadie, and Clyde. Together they enjoy sledding, enjoying winter in a greenhouse, and going out to eat. C.J. talks about: How wind machines work to keep off the frost His plans for growing more grapes this year His career path that led to being an owner The labor problems facing his industry How the polar vortex affected wine grapes Links to visit: facebook.com/colemanjhunt facebook.com/HuntsHillsideLLC

C.J. Hunt, Hunt’s Hillside Vineyards LLC – Lawton, MI

Andrew Woelmer raises corn and soybeans on his seventh-generation family farm, and he also is a financial services officer at GreenStone Farm Credit Services, the agricultural lending organization. Andrew began farming his own land when he was still in college at Ferris State University, and after graduating with an applied math major and finance minor, he got an opportunity to start at GreenStone. Five years later, he’s enjoying both roles. Listen as he talks about: Running the combine with his nephew Orin (pictured here in tractor) The rain and hail of tough years How he decided on his career path How his roles complement each other What he likes to do when he’s not farming FACEBOOK PAGE

Andrew Woelmer, farmer and financial services officer

Allan Robinette is part of Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery, an agri-tourism destination in Grand Rapids. They also offer you-pick of a variety of fruits, a corn maze, a bakery, and many family activities. Allan credits his grandparents Jim and Bethel Robinette with making the transition to a retail business model. When Allan isn’t pruning, talking with visitors, or doing one of the million other details it takes to run a business, he enjoys cycling and watching movies. Listen as Allan talks about: The best apples to grow and eat Pest control with pheromones How a company designs and forms a corn maze How to prune trees to get the best growth How one expansion led to another for farm visitors   Tag in social media: WEBSITE FACEBOOK PAGE

Allan Robinette, Robinette’s

Kendra Kissane has her dream job of being the environmental stewardship manager at the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy through Dairy Management Inc. She’s working with farmers to meet the sustainability goals of achieving carbon neutrality or better, optimizing water usage, and improving water quality by 2050. She and her husband are moving to her family’s farm, where she will get to use her interior decorating skills to make it their own. They enjoy participating in adventure races, skiing, traveling, and hiking. Listen as Kendra talks about: Why she enjoys her job as environmental stewardship manager, and how she got here Her plans for wildflower planting and a pumpkin patch How farmers can recognize and promote the sustainable efforts they make every day How she and her husband met  Her favorite state park in Michigan, plus her favorite foreign countries 

Kendra Kissane, Environmental stewardship manager, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, Dairy Management Inc.

McKenzie and her husband Joe farm hay, livestock, and row crop in Dundee, MI. McKenzie also is a news anchor for ABC 13 in Toledo. She grew up on a crop farm, and she and Joe met at the Monroe County Fair – they even had their engagement pictures taken there. Together they’re raising show pigs, expanding their operation, and traveling – with stops for checking out hay equipment on the way. Listen as McKenzie talks about: Date nights delivering hay Apologizing to interviewees in case you smell after leaving the pig barn What you need to do to take care of pigs Interviewing a farmer after a tornado devastated his farm, and his open demeanor How she got into broadcasting, and what she gets out of it 

McKenzie Kuehnlein, ABC news anchor, Hoffman Farms

Abby owns a greenhouse, helps at her family’s farm and agritourism business, and is a crop insurance agent for River Farms Crop Insurance Agency, Inc. She’s vice president of the Lenawee County Farm Bureau Board, and she’s also on the state Young Farmer Committee. She and her husband Ben just got married during the summer of 2020. They enjoy exploring state and national parks, kayaking, canoeing, and just being outside. Listen as she talks about: Why she is the least millennial-millennial What day of the year she can finally relax How she knew she wanted to marry someone with a farmer mentality The mental health issues in agriculture today Why she loves watching things grow FaceBook Page carpenterfarmsadrian.com/

Abby Vitore, Carpenter Farms Greenhouse

Kyle Keller owns Keller Farms & Supply, which is a part of agriculture people don’t think about every day. He grows and sources 5,000 acres of wheat straw and hay bales to supply erosion control and manufacturing companies, like making straw blankets. They also supply dairy and equine operations. Kyle began his business in 2014, right after he graduated high school, and continued running it while he graduated from Michigan State in agribusiness management. In his free time he coaches baseball, is a chapter advisor for Alpha Gamma Rho, and enjoys traveling to ag and sports events. Listen as he talks about: The color, length, moisture, and grade requirements in straw Why you should take business risks in your 20s Working with his family, and his mom’s famous food Why July 1 is his Christmas day The planning, coordinating, and personal relations that go into running a business FaceBook Page Instagram: @kellerfarmssupply www.kellerfs.com

Kyle Keller, Keller Farms & Supply, Inc

Olivia and her family own DeVooght Farms and run DeVooght’s General Store in Skandia, where they sell food they produce, as well as products from other local farmers. Their dairy barn roof collapsed in 2019 after 14 feet of snowfall, Olivia had to decide if they wanted to rebuild or quit altogether. They continued to press on, because as Olivia said, “The milk prices aren’t good, but the lifestyle is.” She and her husband Craig just welcomed a new baby, Hazel Anne. Listen as Olivia talks about: How milking robots work, and what interesting behaviors cows have How their farm and general store complement each other One of the worst days of her life after a month of shoveling Her Earth Day baby and the perfect picture What you learn when you go from raising 40 chickens to 600 FaceBook Page

Olivia DeVooght, DeVooght Farms, DeVooght’s General Store

Katie Serbinski has spent her entire career communicating the message about making healthy food choices, and she’s raising four children who are her toughest food critics. As Director of Nutrition & Consumer Communications for the Michigan Beef Industry Commission and a registered dietitian, she works with health care professionals and consumers on spreading awareness on resources, recipes, and research. On the side, she also runs her own business, Mom to Mom Nutrition. Listen as Katie talks about: The health benefits of beef and how to make every bite count Why she tries burgers at every restaurant Why her career path led her toward working with farmers and communities What she likes to do with her kids in metro Detroit Why she’s been making a chipotle sloppy joe with crunchy coleslaw topping recipe for a decade   MIBeef.org Beefitswhatsfordinner.com MomtoMomNutrition.com  

Katie Serbinski, Director of Nutrition & Consumer Communications for the Michigan Beef Industry Commission, Registered Dietician

Tera Baker is the applications and marketing manager for Nedap Livestock Management, North America. She’s been working in ag tech for seven years, and her position involves working with technology that helps farmers manage their herds – like with devices that are similar to Fitbits for cows. She and her husband Shawn also farm their own crops, own a precision ag business, and help on her family’s farm. Listen as Tera talks about: The transition from ag tech solving problems to preparing for the future Her first Disney princess calf Why her husband wanted her to win second place in the national Farm Bureau discussion meet The way the cows look in the morning with the steam rising from the herd, and why she loves it The moment she knew she made the right decision about her career   facebook.com/newviewprecisionag facebook.com/Tri-Koebel-840463816023495

Tera Baker, applications and marketing manager, Nedap Livestock Management

Riley Brazo is a 2020 Michigan Farm Bureau Young Farmer Ag Employee Finalist and sweet sixteen discussion meet finalist. He works with Fawn River Farms, where they raise seed corn for Bayer Crop Sciences, commercial corn, and 6,000 hogs. Riley’s favorite time on the farm is seed corn harvest, because he loves the satisfaction of seeing the completion of all their hard work. He and his wife Ashley love – in a normal year – going to concerts and attending MSU games, and they always enjoy camping. Listen as Riley talks about: Interesting details on how flaming and detasseling actually work What day makes him as excited as Christmas morning Why he jokes he married Betty Crocker How a video on a blue jacket led to his community involvement What new data collection technology he has seen over just a short time 

Riley Brazo, Farmhand and truck driver at Fawn River Farms

An informal way to “meet” Michigan farmers and hear about their lives beyond farming. Well, maybe hear a little bit about their jobs, too, growing and raising fresh food and other products for the communities we share.

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Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT podcast

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