Jessie Jarvis had a time when she considered pursuing an occupation outside of agriculture. Born and raised as a rancher’s daughter in Southern Idaho, she tells how her love for agriculture and desire to raise children in agriculture changed her mind.

With the support of her husband Justin, Jessie uses her experience in communications and media to build bridges for the next generation of agriculturists, whether they work in the dirt, with cows, in a lab, or on a computer. She explains how times are changing and that we must work to show the next generation that there is a place for them in agriculture.

Almost half of the land in the western United States is owned by the Federal Government. Compare that to only 4 percent of land east of the Mississippi. Obviously, there is a story to tell on this topic.

Dirt Road Discussions visited with an online panel consisting of Amanda Kaster, Director of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; Keith Hamilton, a fourth-generation rancher and farmer from Wyoming; and Ben Menges, a fifth-generation farmer from Arizona.

With host Cam Hammond and Ott Clark, the panel takes us through an honest conversation about the pros, cons, victories, frustrations, benefits, and limitations of living near and working on these federal lands. If you don’t know what federal lands are, no worries. They will explain that, too.

Thank you to multiple western state Farm Bureau Federations who made this possible.

Imagine a succulent plant with sharp spines that can grow up to 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide. When it flowers, it can grow up to 8 feet tall, and its inflorescence can reach 25–30 feet tall. Sharla and Leo Ortega grow agave, a plant used for tequila and many other products. They talk about navigating the challenges of raising this "behemoth" crop.