Maya Hayslett, Crop Science Youth Education Specialist for Iowa State University, talks about the goals of the Iowa Youth Crop Scouting Competition, why it provides a unique and engaging educational experience, and how youth can be involved.

Jacob Hunter, Ag Ed teacher from North Scott, and Caitlyn Engelbrecht, high school student, talk about their involvement in the Ag Innovators Experience: Water Connects Us All program. This program provides opportunties for teen leadership and education about water quality.

Hear from the leader of Iowa 4-H and the executive director of Iowa FFA about the goals of these youth serving organizations, benefits for youth, and how the programs are complimentary and can work together to support youth.

Carli gets the details from Lynne Campbell about the 2020 Ag Innovators Experience called “Water Connects US All”. We talk about why our waterways are struggling, and what we can all do to help! National FFA Organization  National 4H Organization  Crops Feed The World Prairie Rivers of Iowa Iowa State University Department of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering

Carli also speaks with Assistant Teaching Professor Kate Gilbert who has years of industry experience with processing and packaging. Kate also shares ideas about consumer involvement and the direction we are headed with more transparency. National FFA Organization  National 4H Organization  Crops Feed The World From Kate Gilbert: 50 Years Ago, Sugar Industry Quietly Paid Scientists To Point Blame At Fat  America’s Eating Habits: Food Away From Home  50 Shades of Brown  The Counter - it used to be the New Food Economy.  The journalists there do a fantastic job covering aspects of the food system that we wonder about but don't often hear.   Reducing Wasted Food At Home - there are many good references about food waste. The EPA website is a good starting place & includes what consumers can do at home to reduce food waste. Healthy Soils Are The Basis for Healthy Food Production The Great Nutrient Collapse -This is a fascinating article about how increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are changing the composition of plants and foods (and not for the better).

Carli talks soil science and global foods with Professor Amber Anderson who specializes in agronomy from Iowa State University. We talk about why soil is the key to delivering nutrients to crops in order to have healthy food for everyone. National FFA Organization  National 4H Organization  Crops Feed The World From Amber Anderson: 2019 State of Food Security Report  Famine Early Warning System

Carli weighs the options about alternative crops with Warren Pierson, field manager at Iowa State University’s Field Extension Education Lab. Warren shares his experience with growing crops we don’t normally consider. National FFA Organization  National 4H Organization  Crops Feed The World Iowa State University Extension Store: Pasture Management Guide for Livestock Producers Recognizing Challenges to Iowa’s Annual Cropping Systems  From Warren Pierson: Practical Farmers of Iowa Integrated Crop Management ISU Integrated Pest Management ISU Iowa State University Research Farm Reports Iowa State University Extension Store: Crops

Carli speaks with 2017-2018 National FFA secretary Erica Baier about her experiences as an Ag leader. We also speak with 4-H Global Citizenship Intern Katelin Pagel to talk about how to implement global citizenship in your life and community. National FFA Organization  National 4H Organization  Crops Feed The World Iowa State 4-H Global Citizenship  Iowa State 4-H Global Citizenship Day Information

Carli interviews Kelsey Fisher, a graduate student at Iowa State University, talks about the importance of pollinators! She specializes in entomology, specifically studying and conducting research on monarch butterflies. National FFA Organization  National 4H Organization  Crops Feed The World Integrated Pest Management ISU From Kelsey Fisher: Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium  USDA “To mow or to mow less: Lawn mowing frequency affects bee abundance and diversity in suburban yards”   Native Bee Guide Monarchs On The Move Guide

Carli speaks with Meaghan Anderson about the importance of weed management. Meaghan is a self proclaimed “weed nerd” who is passionate about helping farmers and landowners keep weed out and crop yields high. National FFA Organization  National 4H Organization  Crops Feed The World Integrated Pest Management ISU Integrated Crop Management ISU - up-to-date information on Iowa crop management, including information about weed management and herbicide resistance From Meaghan Anderson: Iowa State University: 2020 Herbicide Guide for Iowa Corn and Soybean Production - Every year Iowa State University weed scientists produce the Herbicide Guide for Iowa Crop Production, which is a good resource for better management of herbicides Take Action Pesticide Resistance Management - this website has information on managing weed, insect, and pathogen resistance in row crops Take Action Herbicide Classification Chart GROW IWM - A weed science collaboration to share research-based resources and information on herbicide resistance and non-herbicide management tactics