Dirt Road Discussions

With a collection of over 100 antique tractors, it is one man's job to revive these historic machines. This behind-the-scenes interview with Rob Bearden, aka Tractor Doctor, takes us through his story and process. These old tractors are a tribute to farmers who took horse teams out of the fields and adopted new technology that changed the future of agriculture.

Whether it is a candy bar wrapper or medical equipment, the world uses millions of plastic products. An exciting emerging technology, using starches from potato waste and other crops, can potentially change the plastic industry and waste management of plastic products. BiologiQ CEO Steven Sherman shows how agriculture waste is being accessed to make a new and strong plastic that is more biodegradable after its use is done.

Phillippe Aumont tells an amazing story of being a first-round draft pitcher in Major League Baseball and then later choosing to trade a mound of dirt for dirt on a family farm. He talks about learning how to become a farmer, the reaction from his teammates, and why he loves the lifestyle that comes with growing healthy food for his community.

Cow herds will always need cowboys, but with developing technology, ranchers can now move invisible fences (and cows) with the push of a button on their phones. CK Wisniewski, ranching success manager with a company called Vence, explains how this technology is being implemented today. Another aspect of this technology is being able to monitor the well-being of cattle while on the range.

The FFA organization is found today in schools all across America. Jim Summers and Vernon Roche probably never knew that when they went to the same high school in the 1960s that both their life journeys would lead to decades of being Ag educators. Now retired, these two sit down to share insights and funny stories into why FFA and good old-fashioned hard work are needed now more than ever to raise the next generation.