In this special bonus episode of Growing On, host John Holcomb visits Minter's Tree Farm, a five-generation family operation rooted in the unincorporated community of Inman, Georgia. For more than 30 years, Rick Minter has carried on a Christmas tree–growing legacy that began when his grandfather purchased the farm in 1936.

Rick shares the remarkable history behind the farm—from its origins in Depression-era cotton and vegetable farming to its evolution into one of the last remaining choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms along Highway 92. Listeners will hear how the farm has navigated the changing landscape of agriculture, why cypress varieties like Leyland and Murray became their specialty, and what it takes to grow and shape thousands of trees year-round.

Rick also discusses:

• How agritourism, photography sessions, and family experiences keep the farm thriving

• The unique challenges and joys of preparing trees from planting to trimming to the holiday rush

• Why community support means everything after three decades in the Christmas tree business

• The moments—especially the calm of late December—he enjoys most each season

From wagon rides to family photo shoots, from pruning shears to holiday memories, this episode offers a heartfelt look at a farm built on tradition, resilience, and the simple joy of helping families bring Christmas home.

In this episode, host John Holcomb sits down at Big Sandy Creek Dairy in Morgan County with Katelin Benkoski — dairy farmer, ag advocate, community educator, and full-time ag finance professional.

Katelin shares her story of growing up on her family's dairy farm, staying deeply rooted in agriculture through 4-H, FFA, and her degrees in animal science and ag business from the University of Georgia. Today, she splits her time between her job with AgSouth Farm Credit and her many roles on the farm: helping run tours, coordinating outreach, managing social media, supporting farm operations, and working alongside her parents and sisters to keep the farm thriving.

She talks about:

• How her family has built multi-generational involvement into the farm, with each member playing a unique role in education and operations

• Why opening the farm gates to school groups, families, and 4-H/FFA students is worth the long days and late nights

• The impact of programs like Adopt-a-Cow, where thousands of students follow a calf's journey from birth through the school year

• Heartfelt moments that keep her going—like a child speaking their very first word after meeting a cow on the farm

• Her passion for advocating for agriculture with adults too, from local conversations to trips to the Georgia Capitol and Washington, D.C.

You'll also hear some fun behind-the-scenes stories of how Katelin's love of cows landed her and her family on Family Feud, Inside the NBA, and even the Weather Channel.

This episode is a portrait of one woman balancing a career, a family farm, and a mission: making sure the next generation knows where their food comes from—and why family farms still matter.

In this episode of Growing On, host John Holcomb sits down in Madison, Georgia, with Rachel Kinsaul— the 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year and 2024 Milken Educator Award winner — to talk about her journey to becoming a passionate advocate for agricultural education.

Rachel shares how her experiences in the classroom and through Georgia Farm Bureau's Young Farmers & Ranchers program have shaped her approach to teaching and leadership. From starting floral design programs to broaden student engagement, to stepping away from the classroom for a year to represent educators statewide, she offers honest insights into what it means to "stay rooted in service."

You'll also hear how she's working to bridge communities and classrooms with a new statewide Day of Service, and why she believes every student deserves the chance to discover their passion through agriculture.