Cows, Kids & Community: The Many Hats of Dairy Advocate Katelin Benkoski
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
Release Date: 11/14/2025
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.
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Building Leaders in Ag: Empowering the Next Generation Through GFB Programs
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
In this episode, John Holcomb sits down with Heather King, Women's Leadership Program Coordinator, and Levi Davis, Young Farmers & Ranchers Programs Coordinator at Georgia Farm Bureau. They dive into their new roles, share the purpose and impact of their programs, and discuss how GFB is cultivating leadership and advocacy at the grassroots level. From hands-on ag literacy efforts to national policy trips and leadership summits, hear how they're working to engage, equip, and inspire the next generation of ag leaders across the state—and how you can get involved.
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Farmers vs. Labor Challenges: Explaining the H2A Program
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
The fruits and vegetables on your grocery store shelves don’t just appear there by magic. Behind every ripe peach, crisp pepper, and juicy blueberry, there’s a story—one of labor, regulation, and a growing struggle for survival. In this episode of the Growing On Podcast, we sit down with Chris Butts, Executive Vice President of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, to dive deep into one of the most pressing issues in American agriculture: the H-2A guest worker program. What was once a lifeline for farmers has become a growing burden, with skyrocketing costs, complex...
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Securing Your Legacy: Estate & Succession Planning for Farmers
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
In this episode, we sit down with attorney Brian Bojo, a partner at MSP Law Firm in Rome, Georgia, to discuss the essential aspects of estate and succession planning for farming families. With an estimated 40% of U.S. agricultural land transitioning to the next generation in the next 15 years, planning for the future is more critical than ever. Brian breaks down the key legal documents every farmer should have, the importance of proactive succession planning, and how to ensure your legacy is protected for future generations. Whether you're a seasoned farmer or just starting out, this...
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Georgia Farm Bureau Launches "I Farm. I Vote." Campaign
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
In this episode of the Growing On Podcast, you'll get to hear an in-depth discussion with Adam Belflower, Governmental Affairs Specialist for Georgia Farm Bureau. Adam breaks down GFB's "I Farm. I Vote." Campaign by giving you some insight as to what Georgia Farm Bureau does as a grassroots organization and explains why, now more than ever, it's important to know who candidates are and what policies they support. The "I Farm. I Vote." Campaign aims to provide unbiased information so Georgians can make an informed decision and support leaders who promote Georgia farmers and Georgia-grown...
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Back to School with Ag in the Classroom
Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast
In this episode of the Growing On Podcast, you'll get to hear a discussion with Lauren Goble, Educational Programs Coordinator for Georgia Farm Bureau. Lauren shares her story and passion for agriculture and the Ag in the Classroom program, and gives some insight for anyone that might be interested in incoprorating ag into their classroom or lesson plans. Show Notes:
info_outlineIn 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:
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How her family has built multi-generational involvement into the farm, with each member playing a unique role in education and operations
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Why opening the farm gates to school groups, families, and 4-H/FFA students is worth the long days and late nights
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The impact of programs like Adopt-a-Cow, where thousands of students follow a calf’s journey from birth through the school year
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Heartfelt moments that keep her going—like a child speaking their very first word after meeting a cow on the farm
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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.