Discover Why Agritourism Is Under Fire, McBee Dynasty Madness, and Why Corn Might Be in Your Clothes
Release Date: 07/31/2025
Discover Ag
Ep 244 | Apparently, we all care about the food pyramid again. It’s back in the spotlight thanks to a viral White House reel and a 12-year-old South Park prediction. This week on Discover AG, Natalie and Tara break down what's actually new (and what's not) in the updated food pyramid, celebrate a global win for women in agriculture, and highlight the sheep farmers behind Ralph Lauren's 2026 Winter Olympics collection. They also dig into the real history of vanilla to discover why it's so expensive — and not even a little bit basic. What We Discovered This Week 🤠 🪩 South Park...
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Ep 243 | Are villages making a comeback? Have we been cutting pomegranates wrong this whole time? Does Pfizer really control your cheese? And is grocery store honey actually… honey? This week on Discover AG, Tara and Natalie explore the buzz around "agrihoods" — residential neighborhoods built around working farms instead of a clubhouse or golf course. They also take a nostalgic trip down memory lane with 30 country songs turning 30, learn a genuinely helpful hack to avoid the "pomegranate blood bath," and investigate viral food claims that Pfizer "owns cheese" and grocery store honey is...
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Ep 242 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara unpack a major policy shift in regenerative agriculture, a heartwarming (and delicious) NFL story, and the wildest winter sport you've probably seen but never knew the name of. From Secretary Brooke Rollins' $700 million regenerative ag pilot program to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gifting his offensive line quarters of premium Wagyu beef, this episode covers the intersection of agriculture, policy, and pop culture in the most entertaining way possible. But that's not all! The hosts dive into skijoring's new professional...
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Ep 241 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara kick off 2026 with viral conspiracies, bucking bulls in Manhattan, and giant potato drops. A fear-mongering reel claims grocery store rice is actually plastic pellets — and people are buying it. The hosts debunk the conspiracy while highlighting a real rice crisis: Louisiana farmer Meryl Kennedy's White House meeting with President Trump about subsidized foreign rice undercutting American growers. Then, it's PBR week in New York City as Madison Square Garden transforms with 750 tons of dirt for three days of professional bull riding...
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Ep 240 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into homemade sugar, surprise Western collabs, celebrity cowboy boot shopping, and what's really in your heavy cream. A viral reel reveals the complex 12-step process of making sugar from sugarcane—and the shocking truth that natural sugar is brown, not white. The hosts debate why we bleach sugar, flour, and rice, then explore an unexpected collaboration between Airstream, Stetson, and Taylor Sheridan's Four Sixes Ranch for a limited-edition Western trailer. While Natalie sees brilliant marketing, Tara argues it's impractical...
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Ep 239 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into a Campbell's soup scandal, the CMA Awards crisis, a heartwarming veterans program, and the viral sesame seed discovery that has everyone rethinking their burger buns. A leaked audio recording from a former Campbell's VP calling their food "bleep for poor people" and claiming their chicken comes from a 3D printer goes viral, but the hosts argue the real issue isn't false ingredient claims—it's corporate culture and classism. The CMA Awards hit rock bottom with only 6 million viewers (down from 16 million a decade ago), sparking...
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Ep 238 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into Jeff Bezos' role in the beef industry, the end of a 200-year-old publication, and why your FFA jacket just became a fashion statement. The hosts tackle viral claims about methane-reducing feed additives for cattle, separating Bill Gates' investments from Bezos' initiatives. They discuss the Bovaer controversy in Denmark where farmers are now required to use methane-reducing supplements, and explore the tension between environmental responsibility and farmer autonomy. Plus, the Farmer's Almanac is publishing its final edition after...
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Ep 237 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara serve up a lighthearted holiday episode packed with farm-to-table realities, football meets farming, Western fashion collabs, and viral hippo content. Celebrity chef Tim Love explains why true farm-to-table dining is almost impossible — from inconsistent supply to the direct-to-consumer “ribeye problem.” The hosts break down why local sourcing is so complex and why prices would have to rise by about 30% to make it viable. The Buffalo Bills celebrate National Farmer’s Day by partnering with local dairy farmer “Farmer Shin,”...
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Ep 236 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into the headlines shaping how we think about food’s worth, transparency, and trends — from America’s broken sense of food value to Japan’s farmer-forward labels and even Nara Smith’s $38 garlic oil collab. America’s “food value problem” takes center stage as the hosts unpack why Americans spend less than 10% of their income on food — among the lowest worldwide — and what that says about how we price nutrition versus convenience. Then they explore Japan’s photo-on-pack movement that connects consumers directly to...
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Ep 235 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into viral food myths, western nostalgia, and the surprising ways agriculture moves around the globe. From debunking dairy misconceptions about why American milk "expires so fast" to dismantling an Italian chef's garlic myth, the hosts tackle the misinformation swirling through social media kitchens. They explore the unexpected Gen Z revival of the 1985 western epic Lonesome Dove, dive into Coca-Cola's AI-powered mission to save the orange juice industry from citrus greening disease, and unpack the reality behind viral footage of 75,000...
info_outlineEp 221 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara are unpacking some of the biggest and quirkiest headlines in ag and pop culture.
First up: Oregon farmers are in uproar over proposed rules that could restrict farm stands and agritourism events. From pumpkin patches to farm-to-table dinners, what’s really at stake and why a viral reel turned this policy fight into a full-on social media storm?
Next, the Bravo-fueled drama of the McBee Dynasty. Is it Yellowstone meets Love Island or an honest look at modern farming? The hosts weigh in on what the show gets right, what it ramps up for ratings, and why Steven McBee might be agriculture’s most polarizing reality star.
Then, a collab no one saw coming: Chili’s x Tecovas. Yep, handcrafted cowboy boots made from actual Chili’s booths. Are we living in a simulation or is this just the perfect storm of Western nostalgia and pop-culture marketing? Spoiler: Natalie might already have a pair on the way 👀
Plus: A quick Disco Debrief on Florida’s citrus industry hitting a 100-year production low and what that means for the future of U.S. oranges.
And finally, fashion meets farming: How corn-based fibers could replace petroleum in your next workout set. From cornfields to couture, this innovation could change the game for sustainability and farmers’ bottom lines.
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 Oregon’s agritourism backlash and farm stand fight
🪩 McBee Dynasty: Reality TV or Ag Representation?
🪩 Chili’s + Tecovas = the weirdest (best?) collab of the year
🪩 Florida citrus at historic lows
🪩 Corn-based clothing: The future of sustainable fashion
Iowa Corn: Creating opportunities for long-term Iowa Corn grower profitability 🌽
🌾 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG 🌾
A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by @NatalieKovarik — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and @TaraVanderDussen — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist.
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