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PODCAST

Root of the Matter

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

A podcast created by the Tennessee Farm Bureau where co-hosts Lee Maddox, Amy Beckham and Thomas Capps take turns interviewing folks on issues, events and news with the goal of getting to the root of the matter on what is defining our most important industry, agriculture. “Root of the Matter” is inspired by a column written by the late Melissa Burniston Bratton, but has the same goal as she had for her article – sharing the important stories of farmers and those involved in agriculture.

leisure home & garden

All Episodes

19:10

ROTM: Oldest Milking Jersey Herd In The Nation

Root of the Matter ·

2025/06/04

Laura Purtle is the fifth Generation on her family's dairy farm, Cleburne Jersey Farm, in Spring Hill, TN. While many dairy farms have been forced to sell their herd and get out of the businesses, Purtle and her family have committed themselves to keeping their operation going. They consider their herd to be the oldest continuously milking jersey herd in the Nation. Their ancestors began milking in Tennessee when they immigrated here from Scotland in the 1800's. On this episode of Root of The Matter

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19:31

ROTM: Remembering Those Who Gave It All

Root of the Matter ·

2025/05/26

Memorial Day is a day we pause as a Nation to honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. Rory Williams is an Army Veteran who now farms in Marshall County. He helps remind us the importance of Memorial Day & how he's honoring those he served with and died in the line of duty.

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10:26

ROTM: Samantha Beaty on New World Screwworm

Root of the Matter ·

2025/05/21

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins recently halted all livestock imports across the border from Mexico into the United States due to a new world screwworm. This new screwworm has the potential to make livestock very sick and even kill them. Tennessee State Veterinarian, Samantha Beaty, talks about the screwworm and the efforts being done to keep it out of the U.S.

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17:07

ROTM: Being a Mom on the Farm

Root of the Matter ·

2025/05/09

Valerie Teal has a full plate. She's a full time teacher, and helps her husband on their family farm in Coffee County, but the title she's most proud of though is mom. On this episode of Root of The Matter Amy Beckham and Valerie talk about the joys of motherhood & the struggles of juggling all that being a mom brings while still keeping the family farm going.

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17:50

ROTM: Tennessee Small Business Person of the Year Ben...

Root of the Matter ·

2025/05/06

Ben Neale has a lot going on. In addition to being a husband, father of four, and first generation cattle producer, he also runs a meat processing plant in Lynnville and a butcher shop in Spring Hill. He recently was announced as the Tennessee Small Business Person of The Year. On this episode of Root of the Matter Ben talks about how he got started in farming and why he's so passionate about providing fresh and healthy food to folks.

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17:27

ROTM: Talking About Mental Health

Root of the Matter ·

2025/05/01

Farmers are among the highest in suicide rates in the United States. That terrible statistic has brought the subject of mental health to the forefront of the conversation within the agriculture community. Tennessee Young Farmers & Ranchers 2025 State Chair Lee Bagwell has made talking about mental health a priority during his year of service. On this episode Lee talks about the importance of having a community you can turn to and talk to during tough times, and why it's always okay to speak up and

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30:34

ROTM: Everyday is Earth Day on the Farm

Root of the Matter ·

2025/04/22

Today is Earth Day, but for farmers, every day is earth day. On this episode of Root of the Matter, we talk with West Tennessee row crop farmer Matt Griggs about his use of cover crops and how it's benefited his operation. We also talk with Obion County farmer Derek Giffin about regenerative practices they have incorporated on their farm with grazing cattle on cover crops before planting a cash crop.

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23:15

ROTM: Hedge of Protection

Root of the Matter ·

2025/04/16

West Tennessee recently experienced massive flooding as well as tornados. John Williams & Tyler Redmon recount their experiences living through tornados with their families, and how they no that God protected them.

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15:54

ROTM: Planting Time In Tennessee

Root of the Matter ·

2025/04/02

Farmers across Tennessee are in the fields beginning to plant their 2025 crop. On this episode of we chat with Gibson County row crop farmer Brent Griggs & Executive Director of Tennessee Corn Amy McNeil about the challenges heading into this growing season and why farmers are planting more corn this year.

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11:13

ROTM: Blue Jackets In Gatlinburg

Root of the Matter ·

2025/03/27

Each year thousands of Tennessee FFA members gather in Gatlinburg for the Tennessee FFA Convention. This year more than four thousand Tennessee FFA students gathered for the 97th annual Tennessee FFA Convention. Lee Maddox stat down with National FFA President, Thaddeus Bergschneider, who attended Tennessee's convention as well as the newly elected Tennessee State FFA President Weston Brown from the West Greene FFA Chapter.

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8:45

ROTM: NASDA CEO Ted McKinney

Root of the Matter ·

2025/03/19

All eyes remain on trade as the Trump Administration continues to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries that President Trump says is being unfair to the U.S. NASDA CEO Ted McKinney has a special insight into the President's vision to get better trade deals, as he previously served as the first USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs in the first Trump administration. McKinney is cautioning folks to be patient as things seem volatile. He believes this is all a part of a bigger

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10:26

ROTM: Michael Oher

Root of the Matter ·

2025/03/12

On this episode of Root of The Matter Lee Maddox sits down with former NFL star, Super Bowl champion, and author Michael Oher. Oher talks about persevering through his childhood growing up homeless, and accomplishing his dreams of being a successful NFL player. He also explains the importance of telling your own story and how he's working to do that for himself now.

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14:23

ROTM: Paul Binkley

Root of the Matter ·

2025/03/05

Paul Binkley had a successful 45 year career with the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative. His last position with TFC before retiring was manager over the trainee program. On this episode of Root of The Matter Thomas Capps sits down with Paul to discuss his career with co-op and how he impacted the lives of many people he helped hire. Paul also discusses his struggle with parkinson's disease and how he's determined to persevere through it.

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19:37

ROTM: Dr Andrew Muhammad On Ag Trade In 2025

Root of the Matter ·

2025/02/26

The economy was tough for agriculture in 2024. Will it be any better in 2025? On this episode of Root of The Matter Lee Maddox talks with trade expert, Dr. Andrew Muhammad, with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture about what the farm economy is looking like in 2025, and why trade is so important in seeing a turn around.

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11:01

ROTM: AFBF President Zippy Duvall

Root of the Matter ·

2025/02/12

On this episode of Root of The Matter Lee Maddox sits down and talks with American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. They discuss the 2025 AFBF Convention in San Antonio, Texas and why Farm Bureau is so important for the future of agriculture.

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16:44

ROTM: New TCA President Gary Dering

Root of the Matter ·

2025/02/05

Fayette County beef producer Gary Dering was recently elected President of the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association. On this episode of Root of The Matter Gary discusses being elected as TCA President, what's on cattle producers minds these days, and what he hopes to accomplish in his two year term.

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18:36

ROTM: No Snow Days Off On The Farm

Root of the Matter ·

2025/01/10

Most of the Volunteer State has seen snow recently. While most might be able to stay indoors and off the roads, that's not the case for farmers. Thomas Capps talked with farmers across the state about caring for their animals in winter weather.

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35:11

ROTM: Leadership Changes At TDA

Root of the Matter ·

2025/01/08

Jeff Aiken has served as Tennessee Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture for the past two years. He announced at the end of 2024 that he is retiring and going back to his family farm in Washington County. Andy Holt will be replacing Aiken as Deputy Commissioner. On this episode of Root of The Matter we hear from both gentlemen about transitioning into their new roles in the new year.

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17:43

ROTM: A New Year To Advocate For Good Ag Policy

Root of the Matter ·

2025/01/02

On this episode of Root of The Matter we talk with Tennessee Farm Bureau President, Eric Mayberry, about recently setting policy at the 103rd TFBF Annual Meeting and why it's so important to advocate for it in this tough farm economy. We also hear from newly elected Tennessee Young Farmers & Ranchers State Chair, Lee Bagwell, about his goals in his year of service.

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24:25

ROTM: Struggling Farm Economy

Root of the Matter ·

2024/12/23

On this episode of Root of the Matter we chat with Worth Eubanks with Farm Credit and Logan Meeks about the struggling farm economy. Both give a perspective on what's driving a lot of farmers balance sheets in the red and what can be done to help improve the overall farm economy.

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114 results

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