036 | Honor the Harvest USFRA: Candid Conversations with Natalie Kovarik and Tara Vander Dussen
Listen to Honor the Harvest USFRA: A Candid Conversation with Natalie Kovarik and Tara Vander Dussen, now available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for a Candid Conversation! In these episodes, Natalie and Tara typically cover life updates from the ranch (Natalie) and the farm (Tara), things they are currently coveting, and community recipes, but today’s Candid Conversation is LIVE from Honor the Harvest USFRA in Nevada, Iowa! In this episode of Candid Conversations Natalie and Tara are excited to cover live updates from Honor the Harvest hosted by the US Farmers and Rancher in Action.
Live From Honor the Harvest Hosted by US Farmers and Ranchers in Action
Natalie and Tara are in Nevada, Iowa this week with several key players in the agriculture and food chain supply. Starting from the beginning, Tara shares that one of the key issues within this forum was discussing investments in ag, more specifically how the health sector is equally sized compared to ag, but receives 10x more funding that the ag industry. While there are a lot of initiatives to try and change this, the bottom line is the money coming into the ag industry. Natalie feels that data in the ag industry is equally as important as investments and actually drives the dollars coming into the industry.
Where Can There be Improvements in the Supply Chain?
The conference kicked off by asking attendees how they think that the complete food supply chain can be improved. Natalie shared that it was rather shocking to find out that the agriculture industry is severely lacking in the funding department. In order to change that, she feels it’s as important as ever to keep spreading awareness that agriculture is the solution to many of the problems that the supply chain is facing. In addition to driving more investments into the industry, Natalie shares that it’s critical to open the conversation around helping consumers make better decisions in the grocery store about the food they are buying.
Farmers are an Endangered Species
This statement was written down by Tara during the main stage discussion at Honor the Harvest and Natalie followed up by mentioning that it’s important that this statement needs to be taken seriously to ensure that never happens. This episode is full of great knowledge not only surrounding the ag industry but the supply chain as a whole. If you have been thinking about starting to share online about agriculture, then let this be your sign that it’s time to start. The largest takeaway from this conversation is that there can never be too many advocates or too many voices sharing about ag. The ag industry won’t change if things stay the same, and the consumers won’t change their buying habits unless they’re shown a different way to do things.
About US Farmers and Ranchers in Action
Every Farmer, Every Acre, Every Voice Matters.
Over the next ten years, the USFRA, along with the help of farmers and ranchers everywhere, have the ability to collectively shift agriculture to be net-neutral for greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately a net positive sector, effectively erasing the footprint of how our food is grown while offsetting other industries. It will take collaboration and action across the entire food value chain. Below is just a small look into the mission + values to co-create the sustainable food systems of the future through unprecedented collaboration, innovation, and education.
Resources and links mentioned in this episode:
Elevate the Online Course launches again in October, make sure to join the newsletter to stay up to date on the release to snag your spot.
Learn more about US Farmers and Ranchers in Action
Listen to Jack Bobo’s episode about agriculture being part of the solution
About Elevate the Podcast
Where can I find tools and strategies to confidently and effectively share my story online? How do I monetize my brand? Where can I find community among women in agriculture and business? Can I cultivate my passion while also making money?
Welcome to Elevate the Podcast where we will answer ALL of these questions and so much more! Hosts Tara Vander Dussen and Natalie Kovarik, along with their guests, will bring you tangible advice, useful tools, and bold strategies that you can implement to drive your business forward and elevate the voice of agriculture. This business interview and storytelling podcast serves agriculture, western and rural entrepreneurs who want to excel in the social space and make their dreams a reality. Tune in every week to dig into entrepreneurs’ stories as they share the problems they encountered and opportunities they created as a way to educate, inspire and encourage the dreamer inside of all of us.
Be sure to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!
