Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast
A podcast from Purdue University's agricultural economics department. Each episode offers a quick, accessible take on recent agricultural economic issues. Designed for listeners with about twenty minutes to spare, it provides concise analysis and context. The show aims to inform farmers, agribusiness professionals, and anyone interested in the economics of agriculture.
Episodes
The Future of University Extension and Effective Leadership with Jason Henderson (PAEP 131)
Ken Foster and student co-host Justin Bedel converse with Jason Henderson, Director of Extension and Outreach at Iowa State University and recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Agriculture Alumni Award.
Henderson describes how growing up on a family farm in Northeastern Iowa shaped his future in Economics and paved his pathway to the Federal Reserve during the Great Recession. He also dives into h
Exploring the Intersection of Food and the Environment with Mario Herrero (PAEP 130)
In this episode, Valerie Kilders and student co-host Kailee Cooper sit down with Mario Herrero, a professor in the Cornell CALS Department of Global Development and the director of Food Systems & Global Change.
Mario explains the interconnected relationship between agriculture, land use, environmental sustainability, nutrition and food waste, as well as his work with the EAT-Lancet Commissi
Beyond the Classroom: Study Abroad Opportunities at Purdue (PAEP 129)
In this episode, faculty host Valerie Kilders and student co-host Kailee Cooper sit down with Kara Hartman, the study abroad manager within the Purdue International Programs in Agriculture. They cover the different types and lengths of study abroad programs, destinations available to Purdue students this year, and what students should consider when choosing an experience that fits their academic a
Reagan and Brady's Final Podcast: Passing the mic over to Kailee and Justin (PAEP 128)
For the last time, Reagan Koester and Brady Wiley share their final thoughts as co-hosts of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast. As Brady reflects on his years at Purdue and discusses his plans post-graduation, Reagan talks about what she’s looking forward to in her senior year and how going outside her comfort zone and saying “yes” to things helped her make giant leaps in her Purdue career.
What’s Next After Purdue? Advice from 2026 Apex Awardees Casey and Jill Zeller (PAEP 127)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, student co-hosts Brady Wiley and Reagan Koester sit down with Casey and Jill Zeller, Purdue Ag Econ alums and Apex Award recipients.
They share how their Purdue experiences shaped their careers at SePRO Corporation and Corteva Agriscience, while offering insights into continuous learning and relationship-building. The conversation also
Egg Industry Insights with Sam and Dan Krouse of MPS Egg Farms (PAEP 126)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Valerie Kilders and student co-host Brady Wiley sit down with Sam and Dan Krouse, co-CEOs of MPS Egg Farms in North Manchester, Indiana.
The conversation explores how a sixth-generation family business has grown into one of the nation’s largest egg producers, covering topics like managing Easter demand and navigating commodity price swi
Talking Ethanol, Solar and the Future of Farm Energy with Dr. Otto Doering (PAEP 125)
Tune in for a thoughtful conversation with Professor Emeritus Dr. Otto Doering as he explores the evolving intersection of agriculture and the energy sector. From the early development of ethanol policy to emerging solar opportunities and the growing energy demands driven by data centers, Doering unpacks how these industries have become increasingly intertwined.
Drawing on decades of experience in
How the Wine Industry Is Evolving with Dr. Christian Butzke (PAEP 124)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Ken Foster and student co-host Brady Wiley sit down with Christian Butzke, a professor in Purdue’s Department of Food Science.
Dr. Butzke discusses the growth of Indiana’s wine industry, emerging trends like non-alcoholic beverages, and how science and innovation are shaping the future of wine production. He also shares insights from hi
Extension in Action with Angie Abbott (PAEP 123)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Reagan and Brady sit down with Angie Abbott, Associate Dean and Director of Purdue Extension. Abbott discusses how Extension connects Purdue research with real-world decision-making in agriculture, communities, and youth development.
The conversation highlights the future of Extension, including regional service models, workforce develo
Sonny Beck on Leadership and Agriculture (PAEP 122)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Reagan and Brady are joined by Sonny Beck, Purdue alumnus, CEO of Beck’s Hybrids, and a member of Purdue’s Board of Trustees. Sonny shares how growing up on a family farm and his time at Purdue shaped his leadership philosophy and commitment to agriculture.
The conversation focuses on values over numbers, as Sonny reflects on his guidin
Alumni Reflections on Careers, Risk and Growth with Neil Mylet (PAEP 121)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Valerie Kilders and Brady Wiley sit down with Neil Mylet, agricultural economist, inventor, rural development advocate and proud Purdue alumnus. Growing up on his family’s farm in Camden, Indiana, Neil shares how his time at Purdue was shaped by mentorship, entrepreneurship coursework and hands-on leadership experiences, which sparked h
Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Past Ag Econ Podcast Co-Hosts Abby Meier and Colby Smock (PAEP 120)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, student hosts Reagan Koester and Brady Wiley welcome back former co-hosts and Purdue Ag Econ alumni Abby Meier (Agribusiness and Agri-Marketing, ‘24) and Colby Smock (Agribusiness, ‘23). The conversation reflects on life after Purdue, highlighting diverse career paths in agricultural policy, international education and family agribusine
Setting Sail on Rural Innovation with Joe Rust (PAEP 119)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, hosts Valerie Kilders and Reagan Koester sit down with Indiana entrepreneur and proud Purdue alumnus Joe Rust. Joe shares his journey from his early interest in business to his time at Purdue, where transformative mentorship, campus involvement, and hands-on experiences shaped his career path. He also offers candid advice for students n
Building Financial Resilience in Today’s Farm Economy with Kenzie House (PAEP 118)
In this episode, hosts Ken Foster and Reagan Koester sit down with Kenzie House, a financial officer at Farm Credit Mid-America, for an insightful conversation about today’s evolving farm economy. Kenzie breaks down how producers can stay resilient amid shifting markets, rising interest rates and generational transitions, offering clear strategies grounded in real experience. She highlights the un
The Challenges and Innovations in Produce Food Safety with Amanda Deering (PAEP 117)
Dr. Amanda Deering is an associate professor in Purdue University’s Department of Food Science, specializing in the microbial safety of fresh produce. Her research focuses on how human pathogens interact with fruits and vegetables and how contamination can be reduced through science-based practices. In addition to her laboratory work, she leads Extension efforts that help growers and industry prof
Decision-Making, Data and AI in Agriculture (PAEP 116)
Dr. Chad Fiechter is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, whose research focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into production agriculture. A Purdue graduate himself, Dr. Fiechter returned to his family’s farm after completing his undergraduate degree before deciding to pursue his Ph.D. and an academic career. His work combines hands-on agricultura
Shining a Light on Solar Energy on Farmland with Binayak Kunwar (PAEP 115)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, we talk with Binayak Kunwar, a Ph.D. student whose award-winning master’s thesis, “Impact of Commercial and Utility-Scale Solar Energy on Farmland Prices,” explores how solar development affects farmland values and land use. Binayak shares his journey to Purdue, what inspired his research and insights on the future of renewable energy a
Celebrating AAEA Fellow and Global Scholar, Dr. Jerry Shively (PAEP 114)
What does it take to build a career that bridges teaching, research and global engagement? Join Dr. Ken Foster and Brady Wiley as they welcome Jerry Shively, Associate Dean and Director of International Programs in Agriculture at Purdue University and a 2025 Fellow of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. In this conversation, Dr. Shively reflects on his career as a scholar, teache
Distinguished Agriculture Alumni Award Winner & President/CEO of Sumitomo Chemical America: Scott Mitchell (PAEP 113)
Join Dr. Valerie Kilders and Reagan Koester as they welcome Scott Mitchell, a 2025 Distinguished Agriculture Alumni Award recipient from Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics. From his roots in Waveland, Indiana, to his leadership experiences across the globe with Sumitomo Chemical, Scott reflects on his career journey in the agriculture sector. Listen in as he shares how his Purdue educat
Shay & Marie’s Final Podcast: Passing the mic over to Reagan & Brady (PAEP 112)
For the last time, Shay Doerstler and Marie Mechley share their final thoughts as co-hosts of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast. Listen as they reflect on some of their most memorable experiences at Purdue that shaped their four years here. They also reveal what’s next for them after graduation.
Stay tuned as we welcome next year’s co-hosts, Reagan Koester and Brady Wiley, who are excited
APEX Award Winner & John Deere Leader: Chrissie Cartmell Loucks (PAEP 111)
Join Dr. Ken Foster and Shay Doerstler as they sit down with Chrissie Cartmell Loucks (B.S. Agribusiness Management, ‘07), one of four recipients of the department’s most prestigious honor—the Apex Alumni Award. Now serving as Portfolio Manager for Digital Aftermarket Products at John Deere, Chrissie reflects on nearly 18 years of leadership in the agriculture industry and how her Purdue education
The “Plumbing” of Banking and the Federal Reserve: Esther L. George (PAEP 110)
Please join Dr. Kilders and Marie Mechley as they have the honor to speak with this year’s James C. Snyder Lecturer, Esther L. George. Esther, the former CEO and President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, shares about her career and the impact of agriculture in her journey. Tune in for insights on the cycles of the economy, the impact of inflation and interest rates and advice for those
The Keystone Cooperative Merger: Amy Kinsler (PAEP 109)
Join Dr. Valerie Kilders and Marie Mechley as they welcome Amy Kinsler, a Purdue Agricultural Economics Alum and the Chief Experience Officer at Keystone Cooperative, onto the podcast. Amy provides some great insights as she reflects on her career journey and the 2024 merger of Indiana-based agriculture and energy cooperatives, Ceres Solutions Cooperative, Inc. and Co-Alliance Cooperative, Inc., w
Making Academia a Family Business: Dr. Dave Downey and Dr. Scott Downey (PAEP 108)
Please join Shay and Marie as they speak with Dr. Dave Downey, founder and executive director emeritus of Purdue’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business, and Dr. Scott Downey, the center’s current director and a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics. Together, they have played key roles in developing and teaching Purdue’s Ag Econ 331 and 431 courses. Learn about how Purdue’s sa
38 years of Impact at Purdue University: Dr. Jay Akridge (PAEP 107)
In this episode, Dr. Ken Foster and Shay Doerstler sit down with Dr. Jay Akridge, a Purdue alumnus whose impact on the university spans nearly four decades. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Akridge shares insights from his 38-year journey at Purdue, discussing his experiences shaping students, faculty, and academic programs and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He also reflects on the presti
Shaping Global Trade: The Past, Present, and Future of GTAP (PAEP 106)
Join Dr. Valerie Kilders and Shay Doerstler for an insightful discussion about the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP). This episode features Dr. Channing Arndt, the new Director of GTAP, Dr. Dominique van der Mensbrugghe, who led the organization for a decade, and Dr. Erwin Corong, Associate Director. They share their journeys with GTAP, the organization’s global influence, and its role in shapi
Kick off the New Year with excitement for Ag Week! (PAEP 105)
Join Marie and Shay to kick off 2025 with the first podcast of the semester! This episode features special guests from the Purdue Ag Week Task Force—Olivia Reynolds, Marnie Schwartzkopf, Jaydon Kauffman, and Kyra Meister—who share their personal experiences serving on the task force and discuss the incredible impact Ag Week has on the Purdue student body and beyond. If you love agriculture, you wi
Behind the Scenes of Academic Advising with LeeAnn Williams and Andy Oppy (PAEP 104)
Join us for a heartfelt and informative episode as Marie and Shay learn more about two of the department's academic advisors (and conveniently, Marie and Shay’s academic advisors): Mrs. LeeAnn Williams and Mr. Andy Oppy! LeeAnn and Andy share what it is like to be the best academic advisors and what all academic advisors do outside of what students see during their advising appointments. LeeAnn an
Exploring Research Paths with Agricultural Economic Undergrads (PAEP 103)
Dr. Valerie Kilders and Shay Doerstler sit down with three seniors involved in undergraduate agricultural economics research. Sara Hasselbring, Olivia Reynolds and Jackson Lusk share a bit about each of their unique journeys, the projects they are currently working on and the challenges they've faced along the way. Whether you're considering undergraduate research or just curious about what this p
Rethinking Food Waste and Understanding Consumer Choice with Dr. Brenna Ellison (PAEP 102)
Happy (early) Thanksgiving! Please join Dr. Foster and Marie Mechley as they discuss food conservation with Dr. Brenna Ellison, a professor in Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics. Dr. Ellison is leading Purdue’s newest center, the Center for Food Conservation and Waste Reduction. Tune in to hear more about how you can help waste less food during this holiday season!
Combining Higher Education and Serving Your Country: First Lieutenant Austin Berenda’s Story and Success (PAEP 101)
Dr. Valerie Kilders and Marie Mechley sit down with Purdue graduate student and First Lieutenant Austin Berenda, Platoon Leader in the Indiana National Guard, to discuss his journey and experiences. Tune in to hear about how Lieutenant Berenda has juggled being both a student and a Platoon Leader, his advice for both students and service members and how he got to where he is today.
Learning about the Impact the Farm Bill has on Local Communities Part 3 (PAEP 100)
For the third and final episode in the Farm Bill series, our two student co-hosts, Marie Mechley and Shay Doerstler, interviewed two people who are affected by the Farm Bill in their daily operations. The first interview welcomes guest Kier Crites Muller, the CEO of Lafayette Food Finders Food Bank, to talk about the nutrition portion of the Farm Bill and the impact that it has on Food Finders and
Digging Deeper Into the Farm Bill with Dr. Anetra Harbor and Halee Fisher Part 2 (PAEP 99)
Join Dr. Foster and Shay Doerstler for the second episode of the 3-part Farm Bill series. We have two very special guests this episode who are joining us from Washington D.C. Dr. Anetra Harbor is a USDA Detailee on the U.S. Minority House Agriculture Committee, Office of Ranking Member David Scott. Our second guest and previous Podcast student co-host, Halee Fisher, Legislative Assistant U.S. Hous
Breaking Down the Farm Bill with Dr. Roman Keeney (Part 1) (PAEP 98)
On this episode, Dr. Valerie Kilders and Marie Mechley sit down for the first episode of a 3 part series on the Farm Bill. They are joined by Dr. Roman Keeney, a Department of Agricultural Economics professor who has been with the department since 2005 as a farm-rural household economics professor. He received his doctorate and initial faculty appointment at Purdue University, and he currently tea
Agriculture Entrepreneurship 101 with Dr. Trey Malone (PAEP 97)
Join Dr. Foster and Shay Doerstler for a special episode as they introduce the Ag Econ department's newest professor, Dr. Trey Malone, the Boehlje Endowed Chair for Managerial Economics in Agribusiness. Dr. Malone discusses how the intersection of agricultural economics and data science is shaping the future of agriculture businesses.
Trey Malone is an agri-food economist specializing in agrib
Colby & Shelby’s Final Podcast of the Year; Passing the mic to Marie & Shay (PAEP 96)
As this school year comes to a close, this year’s student cohosts, Shelby Whitaker and Colby Smock, are interviewed by next year’s student cohosts, Marie Mechley and Shay Doerstler. We learn about some of their most memorable experiences at Purdue and their advice for students.
A Look into the Food Procurement Industry with James Joshua (PAEP 95)
In this episode, Dr. Ken Foster and Shelby Whitaker welcome Purdue Ag Econ alum and 2024 APEX award winner James Joshua to the podcast! James Joshua currently serves as Vice President of Procurement at Diversified Foods & Seasonings and is a previous Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Ocean Hero award winner. Listen as they dive into conversations surrounding food procurement and sustainability,
Content, Consulting, and Industry Change with Travis Martin (PAEP 94)
Ken and Shelby discuss entrepreneurship and the evolving industry of Agricultural Marketing with Purdue Alum Travis Martin. Travis discusses the importance of being a life-long learner, challenges his business has encountered, and more about his professional journey from Purdue graduate to entrepreneur.
Travis Martin graduated from Purdue with a BS in Agribusiness Management in 2014. During his t
From Purdue Undergrad to Distinguished Ag Alumni Award Recipient - Drs. Matt & Mark Holt (PAEP 93)
Dr. Valerie Kilders and Colby Smock had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with the Holt brothers. Dr. Mattew Holt is a Purdue Ag Econ grad for both his bachelors and master’s study, and a recent recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Agriculture Alumni Awards. He is currently a professor and Department Head of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech. His brother, Dr. Mark Holt receive
An Insight into the Purdue National AgriMarketing Association (PAEP 92)
Dr. Valerie Kilders and Colby Smock were accompanied by Kayla Zalesny and Casey Voll to discuss the wonderful opportunity that Purdue's NAMA is. From professional development to fun times, get an insight into all NAMA has to offer.
You can also find Purdue's NAMA team on Instagram @purduenama!
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