From No Ag Roots to Leading the Charge: Allie Andrews on Farming, Advocacy & Mentorship
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
Release Date: 05/23/2025
Cotton Jassid: The Invasive Pest Threatening Georgia’s Yields
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
A new invasive pest is raising concerns across Georgia’s cotton industry, and researchers are working quickly to understand its impact. In this episode, Dr. Phillip Roberts with the University of Georgia breaks down what the cotton jassid is, how it spreads, and why it poses such a serious threat to yield. He explains how the insect damages plants, what was learned during its first season in the state, and how growers can prepare for 2026. From scouting strategies to management decisions, this conversation provides practical insight to help farmers stay ahead of this rapidly evolving...
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Ranger Nick: Inspiring Curiosity, Teaching with Animals, and Reconnecting People to Nature
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
On this episode of the Growing On Podcast, host John Holcomb sits down with Dr. Nick Fuhrman—better known to many viewers as “Ranger Nick.” A longtime contributor to The Farm Monitor and Associate Dean at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Nick shares the story behind his passion for teaching, wildlife, and inspiring others to connect with the natural world. From growing up in Maryland with aquariums full of turtles and snakes to becoming a professor who brings live animals into the classroom, Nick’s career has always centered on education...
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Dry Fields, Rising Risks: Understanding Georgia’s Expanding Drought
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
Every county in Georgia is now experiencing some level of drought — and for farmers, the timing couldn’t be more critical. In this episode, recorded in Watkinsville, Georgia, agricultural climatologist Pam Knox with the University of Georgia breaks down what’s driving the state’s widespread dry conditions and what it could mean for the upcoming growing season. From the role of La Niña in shaping Georgia’s winter weather to the lack of tropical systems that typically supply 30–40% of the state’s summer rainfall, Knox explains how months of below-average precipitation have left...
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Young, Invested, and All In: A Conversation with Farm Bureau Leader Cleve Jackson
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
What does it take to step into agriculture as the next generation — and stay there? With the average American farmer nearing retirement age, the future of agriculture depends on young producers willing to take risks and lead. Cleve Jackson discusses his agricultural roots, his leadership journey through Farm Bureau, and the responsibility of growing a farm — and an industry — for the next generation. Hear why connection matters, why involvement is essential, and how saying “yes” can change both a career and a community.
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A Family Tradition: Minter's Tree Farm
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
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...
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Cows, Kids & Community: The Many Hats of Dairy Advocate Katelin Benkoski
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
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...
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Grounded in Service: Georgia’s Teacher of the Year on Ag Education, Advocacy, and Finding Purpose
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
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...
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Rooted in Cattle, Driven by Purpose: Liam Tewksbury’s Journey in Georgia Agriculture
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
In this episode of the Growing On podcast, host John Holcomb visits Morgan County to talk with Liam Tewksbury—a third-generation farmer, cattleman, and passionate advocate for Georgia agriculture. From his early days showing livestock in FFA to managing cattle operations across the Southeast, Liam shares his inspiring journey of following in his family’s footsteps while forging a path uniquely his own. Liam opens up about the challenges of being a young producer in today’s ag industry, the mentors and experiences that shaped him, and his deep commitment to advocacy through organizations...
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Hard Conversations, Stronger Legacies: A Real Talk on Farm Succession Planning
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
In this live-recorded episode of Georgia Farm Bureau’s podcast, host John Holcomb leads a powerful and deeply personal conversation on one of agriculture’s most avoided topics: succession planning. Joined by estate attorney Taylor Broun and young farmer Garrett Hurley, the discussion blends legal insight with real-life experience to emphasize why planning ahead is critical for preserving generational farmland. Taylor breaks down key components of a solid succession plan—from wills and trusts to LLCs and communication strategies—while Garrett shares his own emotional story of nearly...
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From No Ag Roots to Leading the Charge: Allie Andrews on Farming, Advocacy & Mentorship
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
In this inspiring episode, host John Holcomb chats with Allie Andrews, chair of Georgia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) program. Allie shares her unlikely journey into agriculture, how she and her husband built a diverse farming operation from the ground up, and her vision for mentorship and leadership development in the ag community. From farm camps for kids to advocating in Washington, D.C., Allie discusses why advocacy starts early, how YF&R changed her life, and what she hopes to pass on to the next generation of farmers and leaders.
info_outlineIn this inspiring episode, host John Holcomb chats with Allie Andrews, chair of Georgia Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) program. Allie shares her unlikely journey into agriculture, how she and her husband built a diverse farming operation from the ground up, and her vision for mentorship and leadership development in the ag community. From farm camps for kids to advocating in Washington, D.C., Allie discusses why advocacy starts early, how YF&R changed her life, and what she hopes to pass on to the next generation of farmers and leaders.