Does the message actually matter if the messenger misses the mark?

In the 28th episode of The Extensionists, co-hosts Jay Whetter and Toban Dyck sit down with Tongzhe Li, a professor and Arrell Family Chair in Behavioural and Experimental Economics at the University of Guelph. Her research on farmer behavior proves a vital point: it’s not just what you say to a farmer, but how you say it that truly shifts their decision-making.

To bridge the gap between theory and reality, Tongzhe became a farmer. By purchasing a farm in southern Ontario, she moved beyond research data to gain a raw, firsthand perspective on the grueling nature of the industry. This "boots-on-the-ground" immersion transformed her understanding of farmer behaviour.

Tongzhe’s perspective is shaped by her journeys through Oxford, Barcelona, and Taiwan. To her, travel is an exploration of context. She believes that the value of any journey is defined by the people you encounter and the purpose behind the trip, reinforcing her core philosophy that in both communication and exploration, the "who" and the "how" are just as vital as the "where."

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The Extensionists - Conversations with Great Thinkers in Agriculture is a Burr Forest Group production with new episodes airing every other week on Tuesdays. Hosts Toban Dyck and Jay Whetter have in-depth conversations with industry experts, researchers, innovators, and farmers about the latest developments in agriculture and their implications. With a focus on making complex agricultural topics accessible and engaging, The Extensionists bridges the gap between research and farming by connecting the agricultural community to great ideas and thinkers.

The Extensionists is produced and edited by Abby Wall, coordinated by Ashley Robinson, and designed by Michelle Houlden.

In the 27th episode of The Extensionists, we take a look back at the year that was. Co-hosts Jay Whetter and Toban Dyck share what they learned from the guests they chatted with in 2025.

We then welcome our behind-the-scenes team, producer and editor Abby Wall and coordinator Ashley Robinson, to discuss highlights, what it takes to put The Extensionists together, and what everyone is looking forward to in 2026.

Website: https://theextensionists.com

X: https://x.com/thextensionists

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/104093329/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563563092114

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theextensionists/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheExtensionists

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theextensionists

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theextensionists.bsky.social

The Extensionists - Conversations with Great Thinkers in Agriculture is a Burr Forest Group production with new episodes airing every other week on Tuesdays. Hosts Toban Dyck and Jay Whetter have in-depth conversations with industry experts, researchers, innovators, and farmers about the latest developments in agriculture and their implications. With a focus on making complex agricultural topics accessible and engaging, The Extensionists bridges the gap between research and farming by connecting the agricultural community to great ideas and thinkers.

The Extensionists is produced and edited by Abby Wall, coordinated by Ashley Robinson, and designed by Michelle Houlden.

Is soil health really Senator Robert Black’s passion? And why does it take so long to get a Bill passed with the government?

In the 26th episode of The Extensionists, co-hosts Jay Whetter and Toban Dyck sit down with the Honourable Robert Black, Senator for Ontario and Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. Senator Black shares how he became a soil health champion and pushed for the new Senate report on soil health.

Senator Black takes the time to explain how the parliamentary process works, using his soil- related Bill as a case study. He also shares tips on how to have the most impact when meeting with politicians. He’s a fan of leave-behinds, his of which are infographics.

Senator Black tells the story of how he became a Senator through “raising his hand.” The three also talk about the importance of Senator Black’s 4-H background in his Senate work.

Website: https://theextensionists.com

X: https://x.com/thextensionists

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/104093329/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563563092114

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theextensionists/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheExtensionists

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theextensionists

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theextensionists.bsky.social

The Extensionists - Conversations with Great Thinkers in Agriculture is a Burr Forest Group production with new episodes airing every other week on Tuesdays. Hosts Toban Dyck and Jay Whetter have in-depth conversations with industry experts, researchers, innovators, and farmers about the latest developments in agriculture and their implications. With a focus on making complex agricultural topics accessible and engaging, The Extensionists bridges the gap between research and farming by connecting the agricultural community to great ideas and thinkers.

The Extensionists is produced and edited by Abby Wall, coordinated by Ashley Robinson, and

designed by Michelle Houlden.