Best Agri Culture Podcasts (2024)

1
Ep 224 Barb’s Knitted Knockers 46:59

2h ago46:59

46:59

October is not only a great time to celebrate fiber (what with the Lambtown and Rhinebeck festivals, just to name a few), but it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness month. How do we get both things in one podcast? Knitted Knockers! Barbara Demorest is the Feisty Lady with Fortitude who took a horrible event in life and made it into something that has he…

1
Ep 223 James Metcalfe: All Creatures Bleat and Shawl 41:37

4d ago41:37

41:37

Every once in a while you meet a person you’ve read about in a book. It might not be the actual person, but is the personification of a character that is so accurate, it might as well have jumped out straight from the pages. Today, our podcast guest is one of those. James Metcalfe lives on Hardenclough Farm, “in the heart of the beautiful Peak Dist…

1
Cathy Magee: Delving into Dyslexia 49:57

26d ago49:57

49:57

In this episode, Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Cathy Magee from Dyslexia Scotland. Cathy Magee is the chief executive of Dyslexia Scotland. We talked about what dyslexia is, how it can affect you, and how to go about getting an assessment. Dyslexia Scotland have a range of resources available to support people with dyslexia. Cathy also tells us abo…

1
Ep 222 All of the Hills on the Edge of the Lake 19:24

29d ago19:24

19:24

We’re back from the North American Hill Sheep Show in Escanaba, Michigan. This inaugural event showcased some British Hill Breed Sheep and some not-quite-Hill Breed Sheep, of course, but there was more to see, hear and smell. Lovely vendor booths with soft woolens and fragrant soaps in abundance, sheepdog trials with panting puppies, food trucks (w…

1
Pete Black: The Superpower of Dyslexia 39:56

1M ago39:56

39:56

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Pete Black of Collessie Feeds and Newton of Colessie Farm. Pete Black farms at Newton of Collessie with his parents and brother. They run a successful diversified farming business with arable, commercial cattle, pedigree sheep and Clydesdales, alongside Collessie Feeds. We chatted about the farm business and the variou…

1
Ep 221 Hexham Auction: Hadrian’s Mule 33:49

1M ago33:49

33:49

Where do we go for fun? Well, all kinds of places, but fish hatcheries, farm shows, and livestock auctions are on the list. Today, we’re taking you back to jolly old England (almost Scotland, actually), to a little town called Hexham. It lies at the foot of Northumberland National Park and a stone’s throw (literally) from Hadrian’s Wall. This is as…

1
Ep 220 Shetland Sheep Society(UK): Sing Me a Song of a Sheep that has Gone - Everywhere 28:53

2M ago28:53

28:53

Located in the southern portion of Scotland, Lanark might be best known in agricultural circles for those big guys from the area around the River Clyde, and to history buffs as the first place local resident William Wallace drew his sword in earnest. We love heavy horses with a passion, but the sheep need to have their day, too. Last September, Lan…

1
Fred Swift & Stella Stewart: From Sheep to Shop - Increasing the Value of Wool. 41:55

2M ago41:55

41:55

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Fred Swift from South Clunes Farm and Highland Clip, and Stella Stewart from Anta. Fred Swift farms South Clunes Farm near Inverness in the Highlands with his wife Sofi and his father. They run a traditional upland farm with cattle and sheep. Fred and his family have transformed the farm over the last 40 years, increas…

1
Ep 219 Across Dry Creek and Over the Horizon 40:47

3M ago40:47

40:47

In life, there are talkers and doers. Of the doers, many of them have a characteristic known as “True Grit,” and today’s podcast guests are in that category. Millie and Stacy Bradshaw own Dry Creek Livestock, and a few hours north of Salt Lake City, these two intrepid souls are building a place to call home on the windswept plains and low hills of …

1
Ep 218 Horse Progress Days: We’re Happy to be Left in the Dust 39:02

3M ago39:02

39:02

It’s time for Horse Progress Days! It’s one of our favorite events of the year, and this July it was held in Lancaster County, PA - just in time for the height of a national heatwave. Everyone soldiered on through, though, with nary a complaint to be found from this stoic bunch. It was a good thing everyone pushed through the heat until the close o…

1
Lesley Mitchell: Building a thriving family business, the importance of work life balance and converting to organic 42:20

3M ago42:20

42:20

Mary-Jane Lawrie visits Whitriggs Farm in the Scottish Borders to speak to Lesley Mitchell. They chat about the family farm and how it has evolved over the years, their openness to challenges and change, and how that has allowed Lesley and her family to build a business that supports the family whilst also allowing a good work life balance. Once ke…

1
Ep 217 Erin Bradt: Helder Herdwyck Handful for a Happy Half Hour 33:31

4M ago33:31

33:31

It’s time for a talk – a Shepherd’s Talk, that is. Every year, the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival has this popular segment available for shepherds, wannabe shepherds, ecologists, historians, and people who are just plain interested in fiber production from the ground up. Today’s talk is with Erin Bradt, of Helder Herdwyck Farm, where she ta…

1
Ep 216 Our Favorite Principal – by Farr. 38:08

4M ago38:08

38:08

On this podcast episode Bruce Farr of Farrview South Farm, American Milking Devon Cattle breeder (and a teamster!), sits down with John Hall, the President of the American Milking Devon Cattle Association. They discuss the history of the breed, characteristics they appreciate, and some non-traditional ideas for a very traditional breed. If you want…

1
Ep 215 Theresa Walker: The Great Bay Tobacco, Humous Brownie Caramel Insulation Institution 32:54

5M ago32:54

32:54

This week, we’re speaking with Theresa Walker of Great Bay Wool Works and her lovely natural-colored ovine assistant Hazel (okay, so hubby Patrick did a little bit of modeling, too.). We learn about natural-colored sheep, geography in New England, a bit of why New England and Old England feel familiar to each other, and much more. This is one of th…

1
Claire Taylor : Positive perceptions of Agriculture 54:00

5M ago54:00

54:00

I'm Mary-Jane Lawrie, and in this episode I’m joined Claire Taylor. Claire is a journalist and describes herself as an agricultural communicator. She has recently finished her travels as part of her Nuffield Farming Scholarship and is now in the process of compiling all the information from her travels. We talk about her career and how that led her…

1
Ep 214 Dunlouise: Outlander, Lowlander, Highlander - Angus 45:08

5M ago45:08

45:08

We’re going down memory lane, and back to the beginning of all things for today’s podcast. In this case, it means the start of something that has grown into a behemoth in the world of Agriculture. Originally from the shores of Scotland near Aberdeen, the cattle breed known as “Angus” has become the powerhouse breed by which all things are measured.…

1
Ep 213 Anson Tebbetts: The Darn Tough Cherry Garcia Donkey Run 45:56

6M ago45:56

45:56

We concluded the World Devon Congress adventure with the State that put these cattle on the map – okay, they’re on the flag, anyway. We had a wonderful tour through the Green Mountain State of Vermont, on our way to meet up with Anson Tebbets, Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets. This lovely man took a walk down the lane on his family farm t…

1
Jenn Stewart: Successful Succession 44:58

6M ago44:58

44:58

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Jenn Stewart. Jenn Stewart, partner & Head of Rural and Landed Estates at Johnston Carmichael, joined the company in 2019. Jenn has extensive experience in advising owner managed businesses and provides counsel to a wide-ranging portfolio of clients across multiple sectors. Jenn was brought up in her own family farming…

1
Ep 212 A.J. O'Neil: Six Degrees of Bacon 33:01

7M ago33:01

33:01

Backyard Green Films is now in Florida, getting ready to start the World Devon Congress 2024. But first (and last), our podcast with the butcher. The place where everything ends – everything that is ordered medium rare, anyway. A.J. O’Neil is the perfect one to encapsulate almost everything that is fantastic about why Devons are popular. He’s a mem…

1
Ep 211 Stephen Adcock: Ipstone Patchwork Clockwork Dexter Farmstay 38:04

7M ago38:04

38:04

Our stay at Clockwork Cottage was one of the quiet delights of our UK trip in August of 2023. The Peak District in England is well known as being a day-hiker’s destination filled with rolling emerald fields, ancient stacked stone walls, and sheep, sheep and sheep. There are those amazing things, yes, and found aplenty, but for the Backyard Green Fi…

1
Ep 210 Steve Montgomery: …and We’ll Leave the Lamppost on for Ya 40:41

8M ago40:41

40:41

Steve Montgomery of Lamppost Farm is our guest on today’s podcast, coming to you from a stop on the Devon Congress pre-tour - Columbiana, Ohio style this time. Steve and his family raise Devon Cattle, Coopworth Sheep, pigs, turkeys and a partridge in a pear tree (okay, no partridges, but there are more chickens than you can safely count). Their goa…

1
Ep 209 Clover Brooke Farm: We Love Leaping Llamas – But Today We’ll Just Walk 39:26

8M ago39:26

39:26

Andrea Tibbets of Clover Brooke Farm is our guest on today’s podcast. We usually see her at the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival (Rhinebeck), but since at that fine event we see her running the Camelid Barn and running the Leaping Llama contest and running the Spitters’ Club and…well, just plain running, we decided it was way past time to visit…

1
Ep 208 Lakota Ranch: Jeremy is Running for Congress 2024 42:03

9M ago42:03

42:03

It’s another stop on our Devon Pre-Tour run. This time, we’re bringing you the sights and sounds from a delightful and delicious visit to Lakota Ranch in Remington, Virginia. Lakota is the home of Jeremy Engh, President of Red Devon USA, Dr. Jerry Engh, the founder of the herd itself (and Jeremy, for that matter), and Patty Engh, who runs them both…

1
Ep 207 Clive Richardson: Kilnsey, Kilnsey, Have You Any Spots? 19:45

9M ago19:45

19:45

Don’t you love talking to people who know their stuff? While crashing the Kilnsey Show in Yorkshire on our UK trip last August, we came across Clive Richardson, Field Officer for the Jacob Sheep Society. It was a spontaneous tailgate conversation, but we magically ended up with not only someone who raises some of the most interesting-looking sheep …

1
Ep 206 A Little Devon About Bob & Diana 37:40

10M ago37:40

37:40

It’s the Devon Congress 2024 - Coming soon to an east-coast back road near you (if you live on the east coast and are there in April, that is). This April, people are coming from all over the world to celebrate the Devon Cattle breed and all of its many shapes and sizes. And if you live in the U.S., 400 years of Devon history is something even more…

1
Kirsten Williams: Let your determination grow stronger 36:20

11M ago36:20

36:20

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Kirsten Williams. Kirsten is a livestock specialist with SAC Consulting and she also runs a farm business on Ranna Farm in Aberdeenshire with her husband Ross. They have sheep, cattle, and a turkey enterprise on their rented farm. They were new entrants, working hard to secure a tenancy and build up their business to s…

1
Ep 205 Bobbin and Weavin' – The 2023 NYSS&WF Rhinebeck Mashup 43:15

11M ago43:15

43:15

It’s time for the mashup! The Dutchess County Sheep and Wool Growers’ Association once again hosted 30,000 (plus) attendees at the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, and we were there to see (and interview, and livestream, and…everything) all of it! Maybe lots of it. Part of it. Okay, so we got what we could again this year, but this is the ki…

1
Glenrinnes Estate: A Tapestry of Tales 53:03

11M ago53:03

53:03

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by some of the team at Glenrinnes Estate at the foot of Ben Rinnes in Moray. Estate manager Ali Laing tells us about the estate as a whole, and we are joined by head keeper Gordon Aitchison, distillery manager Martin Peroni, trainee farm worker Alex Shearer and head gardener Damon Powell. They all share their stories of w…

1
Ep 204 Tom Begley: Howdy Pilgrim. Tom, Turkey, and the First Thanksgiving 37:56

12M ago37:56

37:56

Here at Backyard Green Films, we’re getting ready to celebrate the 400-year anniversary of the Devons coming to America with our Plymouth to Plimoth documentary. In preparation for this event (and our film!), we spoke with Tom Begley, Deputy Director for Collections Research and Public Engagement at Plimoth Patuxet Museum. Doesn’t the site of the P…

1
John Scott and Jock Gibson: Farmstrong Scotland 38:38

12M ago38:38

38:38

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to John Scott and Jock Gibson from Farmstrong Scotland. Farmstrong Scotland is a new initiative which is inspired by Farmstrong New Zealand and Doug Avery’s visit to Scotland a couple of years ago. John and Jock tell us what Farmstrong is, why they want to be involved in it, what wellbeing means to them, and give examples of …

1
Ep 203 Jeri and Irina: The Non-Expendable Dependables (Don't Tell Sly) 34:27

12M ago34:27

34:27

Our podcast guests today are Jeri Robinson Lawrence and daughter Irina Lawrence Mathias. This hardworking mother/daughter team has contributed a few soundbites in between Points A, B, C and X in the rush of the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival every year, but as they’re the ones that everyone needs something from at all times, a relaxed momen…

1
Lawrence Martin : Opportunities through Apprenticeships 28:17

1y ago28:17

28:17

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Lawrence Martin who was a new entrant to farming. After doing an HNC in agriculture at college, he started an apprenticeship with Lantra and SRUC. The apprenticeship gave him the opportunity to get out on farm and ultimately became a farm manager. He tells us of his farming journey, how the apprenticeship scheme works and …

1
Lucy Mitchell: Young Farmers 28:17

1y ago28:17

28:17

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Lucy Mitchell. Lucy was an active member of Young Farmers from her early twenties and went on to become national chair of SAYFC from 2022 to 2023. Lucy has recently handed over this role, and she tells us about what Young Farmers is, what sort of opportunities it gives young people, and what her year as national chair was …

1
Ep 202 Hulse Hill Farm: Mr. Whipple – Please Don’t Squeeze The Cashmere 42:36

1y ago42:36

42:36

You know how there’s always someone who not only goes the extra mile, but looks good while they do it? And does it with a genuine smile, to top it off. That’s Christine Hulse, from Hulse Hill Farm. Just outside of Cooperstown on a little slice of heaven, this tireless woman has set up shop (and her farm shop). She excels at all things she puts her …

1
Ep 201 Jillian McEwen: Clair de Lun(an Bay) 39:42

1y ago39:42

39:42

On today’s podcast, transport yourself to the lonely, glorious green pastures of the eastern side of Scotland. We have a lovely conversation with Jillian McEwen of Lunan Bay Farms, and among many of our topics, we spoke of the joys of farming on the shores of the North Sea, the differences between her Cashmere and Boer goats (two of her three varie…

1
Ana Allamand: Culture and Connection 45:29

1y ago45:29

45:29

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Ana Allamand. Ana grew up in Chile before moving to Scotland. She tells us about agriculture in Chile and her work over here with the Soil Association. Ana works to bring farmers together to learn from each other and foster innovation, and has great knowledge about how culture and agriculture fit together. FAS Resources FA…

1
Ep 200 Phil Pass: All Things Must Pass...But Not The Scottish Bonnet 15:08

1y ago15:08

15:08

Elara and I met Phil Pass last month on our travels in Scotland at the House of Tartan in Crieff. We struck up a conversation with him and noticed that they had a Go Fund Me campaign that said Keep Scottish Bonnets Alive in Scotland. He described what it was for and so we grabbed our camera and mics and said this is too important and you need to te…

1
The Black Farmer: Jeopardy – The danger of playing it safe 37:31

1y ago37:31

37:31

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE, aka The Black Farmer. Wilfred is of the Windrush Generation and describes his difficult start to life in the UK, before he eventually found his chance working at the BBC, where he found his passion for food. He left television to start his own food and drink marketing company which gave him the …

1
Ep 199 Leicester Longwool: Everything's Not Always Black and White 23:46

1y ago23:46

23:46

As we continue the Tartan & Tweed tour in the United Kingdom, Elara follows up last week's interview with Barry's partner Chris Sander. Chris takes Elara on a tour of the farm and their prized rams and ewes. Chris discusses the different colors of the Leicester Longwool and his affinity for the black color. The group is getting ready for a couple o…

1
Sir Charlie Burrell : Wilding 46:27

1y ago46:27

46:27

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Charlie Burrell, a farmer and environmentalist, farming 3,500 acres at Knepp Estate, in West Sussex. Over the last twenty years, he has transformed the farm from an intensively managed dairy and arable unit into a rewilded biodiversity hotspot. He has recently co-authored a book “The Book of Wilding: A Practical Guide to R…

1
Ep 198 Can He Bakewell or What? The Lustrous Leicester Longwool 40:25

1y ago40:25

40:25

We're excited to announce that we're in the midst of our Tartan and Tweed Tour 2023! The one stop we couldn't miss along the M-1 was a visit to Leicester, home of Robert Bakewell - the man who transformed agricultural practices as we know them today. Our conversation is with Barry Evans, custodian of a flock of one of the most famous examples of Ro…

1
Cream O Galloway: A Dairy Story 47:59

1y ago47:59

47:59

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to David and Wilma Finlay from Rainton Farm, Gatehouse of Fleet. They are authors of the book “Our Dairy Story”, in which they tell their farming story from traditional farming, through various diversification projects, to starting a cow with calf dairy system, which they call The Ethical Dairy. They are forward thinking and …

1
Mike Duxbury, the Blind Farmer - Making Agriculture Inclusive 34:16

1y ago34:16

34:16

Mary-Jane Lawrie talks to Mike Duxbury, the Blind Farmer, about his life in agriculture, and how he set up the Inclusive Farm, a working farm with the aim of making agriculture accessible to all. Mike tells us about how he was knocked back by all the agricultural colleges he applied to, apart from one, and how that one chance has given him the know…

1
Ep 197 Audra Hall: Brave(ly) Flowing Lochs 23:22

1+ y ago23:22

23:22

The big UK trip is almost here, and we’re prepping for the Edinburgh Castle Tattoo with a visit to the National Western Stock Show, and the Scottish Highland Cattle show. Those bagpipes and tartans get us every time, no matter what the event. In today’s podcast, we grabbed a moment in the cattle barns with Audra Hall of Clearwater Spring Highlands …

1
Ep 196 Dr. Drew Conroy: It Takes a Village to Do More Tillage 44:41

1+ y ago44:41

44:41

Today we have a (Elara-has-had-too-much-coffee-and-dirt) podcast interview with Andrew Conroy, B.S., M.S., PhD, who is a two-time Fulbright Scholar, professor at the University of New Hampshire, and man who can claim way too many other accomplishments to mention here. Dr. Conroy has wrote the book on oxen (Really. He wrote more than one, and you ca…

1
Ep 195 Anne DeRousie: Row, Row, Your Red Cattle Ashore 39:24

1+ y ago39:24

39:24

So first...today you'll be hearing from Anne DeRousie, a board member of the breed organization known as Red Devon USA, who also happens to be the resident history buff. We love those. Our conversation took place on a beautiful balmy and slightly breezy day, straight from the lush green pastures of her Adventureland Farm, in the Fingerlakes region …

1
Ep 194 Ashley Hahn: It's a Candycorn Frizzle Polish World 29:08

1+ y ago29:08

29:08

In all of the mad rushing about around the country, sometimes we forget that there are some really fantastic things close to home. This week’s podcast celebrates that with a trip to nearby Ramona for the Family Farm Expo, put on by the folks at Roobeez. As holds true to many of the critters you’ll find there, this event is a combination of things. …

1
Ep 193 DeLayne Harmon and Ella May – The Goddesses of Springtime and (re)Growth 23:26

1+ y ago23:26

23:26

Straight from the Clairmont neighborhood Garden Walk, growing maven DeLayne Harmon will join us today on our podcast to tell us more about the how one earns the title “Master Gardener.” It’s a happy and sad one for us today, but especially in this month, reminders of growth and regrowth are ever-present. Happy May Day to the ladies of our lives – f…

1
Ep 192 The Mounties Down The Rockies 27:48

1+ y ago27:48

27:48

Today we speak with Dale Cunningham, who is the patient and personal man responsible for training the equine portion of the patrol. Second, we have Officer Emily Herbpst, who rides a mustang and is a small but mighty person who I have the feeling “don’t take no guff off a bartender.” (Thank you, Mr. McMurtry). We got to meet them and their horses O…

1
Ep 191 Red Ruby and the Milking Devon 14:45

1+ y ago14:45

14:45

This week Rick is in England filming on our upcoming docu-series Plymouth to Plymouth. Unfortunately I couldn't go with him, as some of you may have heard that I broke my foot and had to have surgery, but I hope to get to visit there soon. He met up with John and Bonnie Hall from the American Milking Devon Cattle Association and they set out to spe…

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