Discover Ag

Ep 242 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara unpack a major policy shift in regenerative agriculture, a heartwarming (and delicious) NFL story, and the wildest winter sport you've probably seen but never knew the name of.

From Secretary Brooke Rollins' $700 million regenerative ag pilot program to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gifting his offensive line quarters of premium Wagyu beef, this episode covers the intersection of agriculture, policy, and pop culture in the most entertaining way possible.
But that's not all! The hosts dive into skijoring's new professional circuit (yes, horses pulling skiers through obstacle courses is now a legit sport with a $250K prize pool), celebrate whole milk's long-awaited return to school cafeterias, and explore the fascinating world of pearl farming after a viral video blew their minds. Plus, they share behind-the-scenes stories from their Discover on the Road oyster episode and why they're now oyster snobs for life. It's policy, sports, luxury gems, and dairy wins all in one action-packed episode.
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 $700M regenerative ag program: What it means for farmers
🪩 Josh Allen's quarter-cow Christmas gifts to his O-line
🪩 Skijoring: The professional winter sport you need to see
🪩 Whole milk's return to school cafeterias
🪩 How oysters make pearls (and why we forgot to ask our oyster farmer)
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro: Politics, Pro Sports, Pro Skiing & Oyster Pearls
01:00 - Discovery 1: $700M Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program Announced
05:00 - Where the Money Comes From: EQIP & CSP Programs
11:00 - Corporate Partnerships & Matching Funds
12:00 - Six Generations Separated from the Land
18:13 - Discovery 2: Josh Allen's Quarter Cow Gifts to Offensive Line
20:00 - The Cost Comparison: Beef vs. Side-by-Sides
24:00 - Discovery 3: Skijoring Goes Professional with $250K Prize Pool
29:00 - Norwegian Origins & 1928 Olympics Demonstration
34:48 - Disco Debrief & Discovery 4: Whole Milk Returns to Schools & Pearl Farming
36:00 - New York Overturns 2012 Milk Rules
39:30 - How Oysters Create Pearls: The Four-Year Process
47:00 - Ancient Roman Oyster Farming & Christmas Feast
50:00 - Wrap-up and Discover on the Road Oysters Launch
🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG
A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en  — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en  — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist.
📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
• Website: https://discoverag.com/
• Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750 
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast/#


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Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

Ep 241 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara kick off 2026 with viral conspiracies, bucking bulls in Manhattan, and giant potato drops.
A fear-mongering reel claims grocery store rice is actually plastic pellets — and people are buying it. The hosts debunk the conspiracy while highlighting a real rice crisis: Louisiana farmer Meryl Kennedy's White House meeting with President Trump about subsidized foreign rice undercutting American growers. Then, it's PBR week in New York City as Madison Square Garden transforms with 750 tons of dirt for three days of professional bull riding sandwiched between Knicks games. Plus, Taylor Sheridan's Landman inspires a TCU land management class, and Apple Girl Kate joins Mike Rowe and Theo Von for a Made-in-USA gift guide special.
Finally, Boise rings in 2026 by lowering a 17-foot fiberglass potato — because who needs a ball drop when you can celebrate agriculture? The hosts explore quirky New Year's traditions from chili drops to atomic bombs across America, plus Dutch donut recipes, Tara's bucking bull dreams, and whether Theo Von is shooting his shot with Apple Girl Kate.
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 Plastic rice conspiracy & the real crisis facing American rice farmers
🪩 PBR's 750-ton dirt transformation at Madison Square Garden
🪩 Landman inspires education (but land management degrees already exist)
🪩 Mike Rowe & Theo Von's Made-in-USA holiday gift guide ft. Apple Girl Kate
🪩 Idaho's giant potato drop & America's quirkiest New Year's traditions
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro: Plastic Rice, PBR in NYC, Landman & New Year's Potatoes
02:02 Discovery 1: The Plastic Rice Conspiracy Going Viral (It's Fake)
04:20 Fear-Mongering for Profit: The Cult Vibes of Fake Food Content
07:19 Real Rice Crisis: Meryl Kennedy's White House Visit
08:03 $12 Billion Bailout Discussion & Fair Trade vs Handouts
12:26 Comment Section Backlash: Why Farmers Can't Win
18:33 Discovery 2: PBR Takes Madison Square Garden (750 Tons of Dirt!)
19:44 Tara's Bucking Bull Dreams & Subconscious Shopping Decisions
22:00 The 24-Hour Venue Transformation That Will Blow Your Mind
27:51 PBR Schedule, World Finals & The Next Gen Youth Showcase
29:40 Discovery 3: Landman Inspires TCU Class (But Land Management Already Exists)
36:25 Disco Debrief: Apple Girl Kate Meets Mike Rowe on Theo Von Podcast
39:00 Direct-to-Consumer Magic: Supporting American Makers
42:00 Smithy Cast Iron, Danelle's Candies & The Oddly Sweet Dolls
46:00 Discovery 4: Idaho's Giant Potato Drop & Quirky New Year's Traditions
48:05 Chili Drops, Taco Bells & Atomic Bombs: America's Wildest Celebrations
52:41 Dutch Donuts, Spanish Grapes & Denmark's Plate-Throwing Tradition
54:22 Wrap-up: Happy New Year Discos & What's Coming on Discover Ag on the Road
🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG
A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en  — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en  — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist.
📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
• Website: https://discoverag.com/
• Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750 
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast/#


🤝 PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS

PONCHO OUTDOORS Code "DISCOVER" $10 Discount

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MARY T FABER Bookkeeping Services for Rural Entrepreneurs
OUR FARMS Code "DISCOVER" 10%
ARMRA COLOSTRUM SUPPLEMENT Code "DISCOVER" 15% off (first order)
SWEETWATER PILLOWS Code "DISCOVER" for a free tote
TOUPS & CO Use link for 20% off
FARM WIFE TALLOW Code "DISCOVER" 10% off
TURTLEBOX OUTDOOR SPEAKERS Code "DISCOVER" free hat
COZY EARTH Code "DISCOVER" 40% off
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DUCKWORTH Code "DISCOVER" 10% off
Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

Ep 240 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into homemade sugar, surprise Western collabs, celebrity cowboy boot shopping, and what's really in your heavy cream.


A viral reel reveals the complex 12-step process of making sugar from sugarcane—and the shocking truth that natural sugar is brown, not white. The hosts debate why we bleach sugar, flour, and rice, then explore an unexpected collaboration between Airstream, Stetson, and Taylor Sheridan's Four Sixes Ranch for a limited-edition Western trailer. While Natalie sees brilliant marketing, Tara argues it's impractical influencer bait for Coachella, not serious campers.
The surprises continue with J-Lo spotted shopping for boots at Cowboy Christmas during NFR, leaving the hosts with endless questions and zero answers. They discuss the USDA's new pasture-raised labeling standards for chicken and dive into heavy cream drama—exposing how many brands now contain gums as cost-saving additives. The episode wraps with a kitchen science experiment on making homemade butter, plus announcements about their holiday break and upcoming Florida sugarcane farm content.
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 Making sugar from sugarcane—and why it's naturally brown
🪩 Airstream x Stetson x Four Sixes: Western luxury or marketing stunt?
🪩 J-Lo spotted shopping for boots at Cowboy Christmas
🪩 USDA updates pasture-raised labeling for chicken
🪩 Heavy cream's hidden ingredient: gums everywhere
🪩 The kitchen science of making butter from cream
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro: Homemade Sugar, Western Airstream Collabs, J-Lo at NFR & Heavy Cream Drama
01:27 Discovery 1: Making Sugar from Sugarcane: The Wild 12-Step Process
04:13 Why Natural Sugar Is Brown (Not White!)
06:38 The Bleaching Debate: Sugar, Flour & Rice
08:19 Molasses, Brown Sugar & The Science Behind It All
10:15 Discover on the Road: Florida Sugar Cane Coming Soon
16:20 Discovery 2: Airstream x Stetson x Four Sixes: Taylor Sheridan's Western Collab
20:33 Tara's Hot Take: Why This Collab Misses the Mark
25:10 Ben Christensen Shoots the Campaign & NFR Memories
27:49 Discovery 3: J-Lo Spotted at Cowboy Christmas Shopping for Boots
32:08 Tara's NFR Experience: Fur Coats & Custom Furniture
37:28 Debrief: USDA Updates Pasture Raised Labeling for Chicken
44:16 Discovery 4: Heavy Cream's Hidden Ingredient - Gums Are Everywhere
50:03 Why Companies Add Gums: Fat Is Expensive
52:03 Making Butter from Heavy Cream: The Kitchen Science Experiment
55:30 Wrap-up and Holiday Break Announcement
🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG
A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist.
📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
• Website: https://discoverag.com/
• Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast/#


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SWEETWATER PILLOWS Code "DISCOVER" for a free tote
TOUPS & CO Use link for 20% off
FARM WIFE TALLOW Code "DISCOVER" 10% off
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COZY EARTH Code "DISCOVER" 40% off
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Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

Ep 239 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into a Campbell's soup scandal, the CMA Awards crisis, a heartwarming veterans program, and the viral sesame seed discovery that has everyone rethinking their burger buns.
A leaked audio recording from a former Campbell's VP calling their food "bleep for poor people" and claiming their chicken comes from a 3D printer goes viral, but the hosts argue the real issue isn't false ingredient claims—it's corporate culture and classism. The CMA Awards hit rock bottom with only 6 million viewers (down from 16 million a decade ago), sparking debate about country music's identity crisis and why they desperately need the Dancing With the Stars Gen Z marketer. On a positive note, the Armed to Farm program is helping veterans transition into sustainable agriculture with an 83% retention rate through hands-on training in everything from aquaponics to beekeeping. Plus, Cheetos launches a "Simply Naked" line without artificial dyes, and a viral video reveals where sesame seeds actually come from—growing in pods that burst open when ripe, which is literally the origin of "open sesame."
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 Campbell's VP scandal and what it reveals about corporate culture
🪩 CMA Awards hit record-low ratings—what went wrong?
🪩 Armed to Farm: Veterans finding purpose in agriculture
🪩 Cheetos goes naked (the snack, not the hosts)
🪩 Sesame seeds: The viral food discovery we didn't know we needed
🪩 Open Sesame is literally about sesame seed pods bursting open
CHAPTERS:
 00:00 - Intro: Campbell's Mess, CMA Disaster, Veterans & Sesame Seeds
00:59 - Discovery 1: Campbell's VP Scandal & The 3D Printed Chicken Controversy
06:18 - The Food System Culture: Classism & Corporate Profit Over Quality
10:55 - Campbell's Stock Impact & Brand Innovation Opportunities
16:19 - Discovery 2: CMA Awards Hit All-Time Low with 6 Million Viewers
19:49 - Dancing With the Stars Strategy & Why CMAs Need a Gen Z Marketer
24:49 - Morgan Wallen Controversy & Country Music's Identity Crisis
27:16 - Discovery 3: Armed to Farm Program Helps Veterans Find Purpose
36:53 - Disco Debrief: Cheetos Goes Naked & The Maha Connection
40:49 - Discovery 4: The Sesame Seed Surprise—Where Do They Come From?
45:50 - Open Sesame: The Phrase Origin & Where Texas Produces Them
47:48 - Wrap-up and Monday's Dear Discos Interview with Duckworth Wool

🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG
A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist.


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OUR FARMS Code "DISCOVER" 10%
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SWEETWATER PILLOWS Code "DISCOVER" for a free tote
TOUPS & CO Use link for 20% off
FARM WIFE TALLOW Code "DISCOVER" 10% off
TURTLEBOX OUTDOOR SPEAKERS Code "DISCOVER" free hat
COZY EARTH Code "DISCOVER" 40% off
SUNRISE FLOUR MILL Code "DISCOVER" 10% off
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GROUNDED JOURNALS Code "DISCOVER" for savings
Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

Ep 238 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into Jeff Bezos' role in the beef industry, the end of a 200-year-old publication, and why your FFA jacket just became a fashion statement.
The hosts tackle viral claims about methane-reducing feed additives for cattle, separating Bill Gates' investments from Bezos' initiatives. They discuss the Bovaer controversy in Denmark where farmers are now required to use methane-reducing supplements, and explore the tension between environmental responsibility and farmer autonomy. Plus, the Farmer's Almanac is publishing its final edition after 206 years, FFA jackets have become the hottest vintage fashion item, and the hosts reveal why your Costco pecans are at least a year old.
Stick around for a disco debrief on the first documented US death from Alpha-Gal Syndrome (the tick-borne meat allergy), plus a deep dive into the pecan supply chain. Spoiler: the US grows 80% of the world's pecans, but we ship them to Mexico to be shelled, then import them back. The food supply chain is wild, and the hosts break down why "fresh" is complicated.
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and the methane feed debate
🪩 Denmark mandates Bovaer for dairy farmers
🪩 The Farmer's Almanac publishes its last edition after 206 years
🪩 FFA jackets become vintage fashion gold
🪩 First US death from tick-borne meat allergy
🪩 Your Costco pecans are older than you think
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro: Bezos, Beef, Dead Almanacs & Viral FFA Jackets
03:15 Discovery 1: Jeff Bezos Controls Beef? The Methane Feed Controversy
07:42 Bill Gates vs Bezos: Who's Investing in What?
11:28 The Bovaer Debate: Denmark Makes It Mandatory
16:35 What's a Farmer's Job: Food or Saving the Planet?
22:18 Discovery 2: Farmer's Almanac Dies After 200 Years
28:05 Why We're Losing History in the Digital Age
34:20 Discovery 3: FFA Jackets Go Viral in Vintage Fashion
40:12 Should Non-FFA People Wear the Jacket?
45:30 Debrief & Discovery 4: First Tick-Borne Meat Allergy Death & Your Costco Pecans
50:15 The Pecan Truth: Why Your Nuts Are From Last Year (and Mexico)
56:40 Wrap-up and Thanks for Surviving Without Us
🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG
A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist.
🪩 JOIN CLUB DISCOVER
Want more Discover Ag? Become part of our exclusive Club Discover on Facebook!
Vote on the articles we cover

Connect with other Disco listeners

Discover behind-the-scenes content

🎉 Join the community: https://facebook.com/groups/clubdiscover
📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
Website: https://discoverag.com/

Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750

Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast

🤝 PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS
MARY T FABER Bookkeeping Services for Rural Entrepreneurs
OUR FARMS Code "DISCOVER" 10%
ARMRA COLOSTRUM SUPPLEMENT Code "DISCOVER" 15% off (first order)
SWEETWATER PILLOWS Code "DISCOVER" for a free tote
TOUPS & CO Use link for 20% off
FARM WIFE TALLOW Code "DISCOVER" 10% off
TURTLEBOX OUTDOOR SPEAKERS Code "DISCOVER" free hat
COZY EARTH Code "DISCOVER" 40% off
SUNRISE FLOUR MILL Code "DISCOVER" 10% off
DUCKWORTH Code "DISCOVER" 10% off
PONCHO OUTDOORS Code "DISCOVER" for $10 off
Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.