Extension Farm Management is excited to introduce Pivot Points – a new podcast that explores big changes farmers have made in their business models and, often by extension, their lives.
Compared to other industries, farming is famous (or perhaps infamous) for its all-consuming focus. And once you’re in, it often feels like the only real option is to hunker down and make it work. Pivot Points takes closer look at what it means when farmers decide to shake things up.
From shifts in production and ownership models to lingering questions around sustainability and identity, join us as we explore this and so much more.
Episode release schedule:
- September 10: Katie and Hans Bishop of PrairiErth Farm
Quitting Vegetables to Raise Row Crops (sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa) - September 10: Hannah Weber and Nate Lada of Green Things Farm Collective
Joining Forces to Survive - September 17: Jim Crawford and Jenni Glenister of New Morning Farm
Transitioning to New Ownership - September 24: Ellen Polishuk of Plant to Profit and Ariel Pressman of Whole Farm Strategies
Former Farmers who Support Current Farmers - October 1: Jenny Quiner of Dogpatch Urban Gardens
Pivoting out of Farming (sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa) - October 8: Jordan Scheibel of Middle Way Farm and Adam Montri of Ten Hens Farm
Focusing on Family and Personal Life (sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa) - October 15: Season 1 Reflections with your hosts, Dan and Sarah
“One thing that stands out in these conversations is that when making changes, farmers tend to keep these big questions to themselves because of fear that they will be isolated from their community or lose their identities,” said Sarah Janes Ugoretz, UW-Madison Farm Labor Extension Educator. “With the benefit of hindsight, growers told us that once they opened up, it created more space for them to explore the full range of possibilities for their futures.”
Pivot Points is co-hosted by Dan Fillius with Iowa State University Outreach and Extension and Sarah Janes Ugoretz with UW-Madison Extension Dane County and FairShare CSA Coalition. You can find Pivot Points episodes wherever you listen to podcasts.