Episodios

  • Farm to Table: A Culinary Discussion with Dawn Broeder
    Nov 19 2025
    Today on the American Family Farmer, we’re proud to bring you a stand-alone feature interview with Dawn Broeder, founder of Farm Fusion Cooking Classes and a lifelong champion of Colorado agriculture.

    Dawn’s story begins on the family farm where she was raised—an environment that not only shaped her work ethic but also gave her a profound respect for the land and the animals in her care. As a young girl, she was responsible for feeding calves, tending their living areas, caring for the chickens, helping with milking, and assisting with daily horse care. She was part of cattle round-ups and participated in the necessary but tough work of maintaining a herd—de-horning, branding, castrating, and everything in between. These early experiences gave her an intimate understanding of what it means to steward animals, manage a farm, and sustain a family through agriculture.

    While Dawn’s roots were in ranch life, she also discovered a deep love for cooking. That passion eventually led her to pursue formal training at Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, where she earned her culinary certificate and expanded her skillset beyond the ranch kitchen.

    But like many who grow up connected to the land, Dawn felt the pull to return home. Today, she and her husband have blended their worlds—agriculture and culinary arts—into a truly unique operation: a barn-based teaching kitchen where they host immersive, hands-on cooking classes. Farm Fusion allows guests to experience food at its source, learn how ingredients are grown and raised, and develop the confidence to cook real, wholesome meals. From harvesting ingredients to preparing delicious dishes, students gain a genuine farm-to-table experience rooted in connection, education, and respect for where food comes from.

    In this conversation, Dawn shares her journey from childhood chores to culinary school to becoming a farm-to-table educator. She explains how Farm Fusion is helping people reconnect with agriculture at a time when many feel disconnected from the origins of their food. And she offers insight into the joy, challenges, and deep fulfillment that come with building a teaching kitchen on a working ranch.

    Whether you’re a farmer, a foodie, or someone who simply appreciates a great back-to-the-land story, Dawn’s passion shines through. Her work is a reminder that cooking isn’t just a skill—it’s a bridge between the earth, the farmer, and the family table.

    Learn more about Dawn’s classes and story at farmfusion.org.

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    20 m
  • What Does the Bird Flu Mean For Thanksgiving?
    Nov 19 2025
    Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares the biggest news affecting family farmers, starting off with the question if the ongoing bird flu will cause any troubles for Thanksgiving dinners across the country. On the topic of the choice of poultry for Thanksgiving, states with the highest rate of turkey production are Minnesota (#1) and North Carolina (#2), there’s also a big export business for turkeys which is bringing in billions of dollars to the states’ economy.

    Doug also opines on the importance of farmers, and everything they do. Farmers know how to drive tracts and plant seed, they know how to raise cattle and dairy herds, etc., but what else? Farmers are also carpenters, mechanics, veterinarians, sales managers, marketing managers, and so on. If you’re a farmer you are resilient, you’re intelligent, you’re adaptive, you’re creative, and you own that right to be proud of being a farmer.

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    18 m
  • Is a Bailout Coming For Farmers?
    Nov 5 2025
    Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares the biggest news affecting family farmers, starting off with the latest from the Trump Administration’s promise of a a bailout for farmers, and now time is running out. Crop prices continue to fall below the cost of production. Perhaps that doesn’t hold true for corn, but other crops, especially dairy. In addition, the FSA offices reopened after 3.5 weeks without any money, during harvest season when farmers needed those funds the most.

    Next up, a focus on the tariffs, tariff revenue, and those employed by the Department of Agriculture performing their jobs without paychecks.

    Lastly, Doug opines how we’re devouring farmland in our country and why we are doing so, without a comprehensive balanced strategy to take care of data centers or solar properties. As Doug is in the process of adding solar farming to his operations, he’s finding the whole ordeal to be a monopoly and a mess.

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    19 m
  • After the Uniform: Why Supporting Veterans Must Go Beyond Veterans Day
    Nov 5 2025
    This week on The American Family Farmer, we’re going beyond the “thank you” to explore what real, lasting support for America’s veterans looks like.

    Host Doug Stephan welcomes Ken Fisher, Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation, an organization that’s been a lifeline for military families for over three decades. Fisher House provides free “homes away from home” for the loved ones of service members and veterans receiving medical care—ensuring that no one faces hardship or healing alone.

    With sobering statistics showing that nearly 6,400 veterans died by suicide in 2022, and more than 30,000 service members lost to suicide since 9/11, Ken shares why supporting our nation’s heroes can’t stop at one day of recognition each November. He discusses the ongoing mental, emotional, and financial challenges faced by military families and offers simple, meaningful ways that individuals, communities, and employers can make a difference every day of the year.

    Tune in to hear how Fisher House Foundation continues to honor the sacrifice of service through action, compassion, and community—and how you can be part of that mission.

    Learn more or get involved at www.fisherhouse.org

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    20 m
  • Grassroots Empowers Farmers: A Conversation with Warren Shaw, President of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
    Oct 29 2025
    This week, Doug Stephan welcomes Warren Shaw, President of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). The gentlemen cover a wide range of topics affecting family farmers in our country and the immediate economic problems. Warren, who is a farmer with his own Shaw Farm, discusses on his own farm hardships when the roof collapsed due to a snow storm, losing multiple cattle, shares how he’s rebuilding and moving forward with his farming operations.

    Other conversation lands on the political climate and what it means for farmers, what American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is doing to help family farmers, and more about the MFBF. For over a century, MFBF has been the Voice of Agriculture in Massachusetts, giving farmers a direct say in the policies and priorities that affect their land, their livelihoods, and the future of American farming. Warren shares how this grassroots, democratic model continues to empower farmers, influence legislation, and strengthen connections between local producers and their communities.

    From shaping agricultural policy to preserving family farms in a changing economy, this conversation shines a light on how farmers leading farmers remains the foundation of progress in U.S. agriculture — just as it was when the Farm Bureau movement began in 1911.

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    20 m
  • The Legalities of Seed Companies
    Oct 29 2025
    Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares the biggest news affecting family farmers, starting off with good news that the Farm Tax changes have restored the full bonus depreciation, you can now deduct without spreading it out over a number of years.

    Next up, the continued focus on the Monsanto Policy, why the price of farm-produced products are going up while farmers aren’t making any money from it, and the legalities of seed companies.

    Cattle news includes beef semen use on dairy farms for crossbreed calves, which has become a popular practice driven by economic benefits.

    Then, Doug opines on the situation with the dairy industry, the cattle industry, and what it means to be a farmer in America at this time in history.

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    18 m
  • Garlic Farming In the Blue Ridge Mountains
    Oct 22 2025
    This week, Doug Stephan welcomes Peter Durand, Chief Farm Officer of Snickers Run Garlic Farm in Bluemont, Virginia — a 63-acre gem nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

    Peter shares how this small but mighty farm grows some of the most flavorful hard-neck garlic in the region using sustainable, soil-first methods and a lot of love. From their signature “Bluemont Music” variety to German Extra Hardy and Chesnok Red, each bulb is hand-planted, nurtured, and harvested with care.

    At Snickers Run Farm, the philosophy is simple: healthy soil makes healthy plants — and happy cows help make both. Meet their beloved rescue cows — Garbanzo, Basil Hayden, Apple, Fig Newton, Hummus, and Tofu — who provide the natural fertilizer that keeps the garlic thriving.

    Doug and Peter talk about:
    • The secret to truly flavorful, nutrient-rich garlic 🌱
    • How sustainable farming and animal care go hand-in-hand 🐄
    • Why small family farms matter more than ever in today’s food system Plus, Peter shares tips for home gardeners on how to plant, grow, and harvest your own garlic this fall! Visit snickersrunfarm.com to learn more or order directly from the farm.


    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    20 m
  • Death and Farming
    Oct 22 2025
    Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan www.eastleighfarm.com shares why he created the American Family Farmer program before jumping into the news affecting family farmers, beginning with the government shutdown with Secretary of Ag Brooke Rollins stating the Us Dept. of Ag would not be able to help farmers who are suffering from low commodity prices as long as the government is shut down.

    Next, what’s going on with the screwworm, and how dire is the situation. There could be a new drug approval for injectables for cattle to prevent and treat screwworm infections. Next up, big ag lenders have started using AI and data analytics to better asses risks, raising concerns in transparency and decision making.

    Lastly, Doug talks about death on the farm. The idea that farming is dangerous is true, but farming is not deadly. It’s important to have safety measures in place, as well as use common sense. What about gasses in the grain bin, silo or manure pit. Thinking about it is the first step, but after you think about it…what do you do. How do you keep yourself, your family, your farm staff safe?

    Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com
    Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
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    19 m