Patrick Jaynes is no stranger to public service. He grew up in rural East Tennessee and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Senator Lamar Alexander. Jaynes is now the the USDA State Director for Rural Development in Tennessee. On this episode we chat with Patrick about his new position, and how he hopes to use the position to help boost rural Tennessee.
Dr. Jaye Hamby is the Director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Hamby is a Tennessee native originally from Polk County and now resides in Eagleville, Tennessee. He is now taking his experience and agriculture background to Washington DC to advocate for farmers through the research that NIFA does.
Robert Hill is the 2025 Tennessee Young Farmer of the Year. Robert farms alongside his dad, sister, and brother in-law in Lauderdale County. They farm around 5,000 acres of cotton, corn, and soybeans. On this episode Robert talks about why farming is more than just a job to him, and what is means to him to be named the young farmer of the year.
Gabe Harville of Smith County is is the 2025 Tennessee 4-H Council President. On this episode of Root of The Matter Gabe talks about his 4-H career and the lasting impact it’ll have on him as he heads off to college in the fall.
Obion County, Tennessee native Stephen Vaden is the newly sworn in U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Lee Maddox sits down with Vaden to talk about his journey to the number two position at USDA, and how he’s bringing his Tennessee agriculture roots with him to make his focus American farmers.
One in seven people in the United States struggle with hunger. For decades Second Harvest Food Bank has been working in Middle Tennessee to help end hunger, and now they’re getting help from local farmers through their Farm to Families program. On this episode Amy Beckham talks with Farm to Families coordinator, Jessie Lumpkins, about the program and how it’s benefiting both people in need & farmers.
On this episode of Root of the Matter Dr. Bruno Pedreira talks with Lee Maddox about UT’s Master Forage program & how he hopes it will help livestock producers across Tennessee better feed their animals.
Upper East Tennessee was devastated by the damage left behind from Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024. Farmers in the area had structures, hay, and fields washed away from the flooding. The agriculture community came together to raise money to help farmers, raising money through the Tennessee Farm & Forest Families. That money was recently used to purchase seed to give to farmers so they can grow new grass and have a hay crop. Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation upper East Tennessee Field Ser...
After serving as the interim for over a year, Dr. Justin Rhinehart has been named the permanent Dean of UT Extension. Rhinehart has been a part of the UT system for 15 years serving as a professor, beef cattle specialist, assistant dean of agriculture, and now dean of extension. On this episode of Root of The Matter Lee Maddox talks with Rhinehart about his career, what he hopes to accomplish in his new role, and why extension has such a vital role in agriculture and rural Tennessee as a whole....
Laura Purtle is the fifth Generation on her family’s dairy farm, Cleburne Jersey Farm, in Spring Hill, TN. While many dairy farms have been forced to sell their herd and get out of the businesses, Purtle and her family have committed themselves to keeping their operation going. They consider their herd to be the oldest continuously milking jersey herd in the Nation. Their ancestors began milking in Tennessee when they immigrated here from Scotland in the 1800’s. On this episode of Root of The Ma...
Memorial Day is a day we pause as a Nation to honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. Rory Williams is an Army Veteran who now farms in Marshall County. He helps remind us the importance of Memorial Day & how he's honoring those he served with and died in the line of duty.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins recently halted all livestock imports across the border from Mexico into the United States due to a new world screwworm. This new screwworm has the potential to make livestock very sick and even kill them. Tennessee State Veterinarian, Samantha Beaty, talks about the screwworm and the efforts being done to keep it out of the U.S.
Valerie Teal has a full plate. She's a full time teacher, and helps her husband on their family farm in Coffee County, but the title she's most proud of though is mom. On this episode of Root of The Matter Amy Beckham and Valerie talk about the joys of motherhood & the struggles of juggling all that being a mom brings while still keeping the family farm going.
Ben Neale has a lot going on. In addition to being a husband, father of four, and first generation cattle producer, he also runs a meat processing plant in Lynnville and a butcher shop in Spring Hill. He recently was announced as the Tennessee Small Business Person of The Year. On this episode of Root of the Matter Ben talks about how he got started in farming and why he's so passionate about providing fresh and healthy food to folks.
Farmers are among the highest in suicide rates in the United States. That terrible statistic has brought the subject of mental health to the forefront of the conversation within the agriculture community. Tennessee Young Farmers & Ranchers 2025 State Chair Lee Bagwell has made talking about mental health a priority during his year of service. On this episode Lee talks about the importance of having a community you can turn to and talk to during tough times, and why it's always okay to speak ...
Today is Earth Day, but for farmers, every day is earth day. On this episode of Root of the Matter, we talk with West Tennessee row crop farmer Matt Griggs about his use of cover crops and how it's benefited his operation. We also talk with Obion County farmer Derek Giffin about regenerative practices they have incorporated on their farm with grazing cattle on cover crops before planting a cash crop.
West Tennessee recently experienced massive flooding as well as tornadoes. John Williams and Tyler Redmon recount their experiences living through tornadoes with their families, and how they know that God protected them.
Farmers across Tennessee are in the fields beginning to plant their 2025 crop. On this episode of we chat with Gibson County row crop farmer Brent Griggs & Executive Director of Tennessee Corn Amy McNeil about the challenges heading into this growing season and why farmers are planting more corn this year.
Each year thousands of Tennessee FFA members gather in Gatlinburg for the Tennessee FFA Convention. This year more than four thousand Tennessee FFA students gathered for the 97th annual Tennessee FFA Convention. Lee Maddox stat down with National FFA President, Thaddeus Bergschneider, who attended Tennessee's convention as well as the newly elected Tennessee State FFA President Weston Brown from the West Greene FFA Chapter.
All eyes remain on trade as the Trump Administration continues to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries that President Trump says is being unfair to the U.S. NASDA CEO Ted McKinney has a special insight into the President's vision to get better trade deals, as he previously served as the first USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs in the first Trump administration. McKinney is cautioning folks to be patient as things seem volatile. He believes this is all a part of a bi...
On this episode of Root of The Matter Lee Maddox sits down with former NFL star, Super Bowl champion, and author Michael Oher. Oher talks about persevering through his childhood growing up homeless, and accomplishing his dreams of being a successful NFL player. He also explains the importance of telling your own story and how he's working to do that for himself now.
Paul Binkley had a successful 45 year career with the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative. His last position with TFC before retiring was manager over the trainee program. On this episode of Root of The Matter Thomas Capps sits down with Paul to discuss his career with co-op and how he impacted the lives of many people he helped hire. Paul also discusses his struggle with parkinson's disease and how he's determined to persevere through it.
The economy was tough for agriculture in 2024. Will it be any better in 2025? On this episode of Root of The Matter Lee Maddox talks with trade expert, Dr. Andrew Muhammad, with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture about what the farm economy is looking like in 2025, and why trade is so important in seeing a turn around.
On this episode of Root of The Matter Lee Maddox sits down and talks with American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. They discuss the 2025 AFBF Convention in San Antonio, Texas and why Farm Bureau is so important for the future of agriculture.
Fayette County beef producer Gary Dering was recently elected President of the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association. On this episode of Root of The Matter Gary discusses being elected as TCA President, what's on cattle producers minds these days, and what he hopes to accomplish in his two year term.
Most of the Volunteer State has seen snow recently. While most might be able to stay indoors and off the roads, that's not the case for farmers. Thomas Capps talked with farmers across the state about caring for their animals in winter weather.
Jeff Aiken has served as Tennessee Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture for the past two years. He announced at the end of 2024 that he is retiring and going back to his family farm in Washington County. Andy Holt will be replacing Aiken as Deputy Commissioner. On this episode of Root of The Matter we hear from both gentlemen about transitioning into their new roles in the new year.
On this episode of Root of The Matter we talk with Tennessee Farm Bureau President, Eric Mayberry, about recently setting policy at the 103rd TFBF Annual Meeting and why it's so important to advocate for it in this tough farm economy. We also hear from newly elected Tennessee Young Farmers & Ranchers State Chair, Lee Bagwell, about his goals in his year of service.
On this episode of Root of the Matter we chat with Worth Eubanks with Farm Credit and Logan Meeks about the struggling farm economy. Both give a perspective on what's driving a lot of farmers balance sheets in the red and what can be done to help improve the overall farm economy.
Nick Parker is a marine veteran, retired TBI Agent, and former Farm Bureau agent. Nick was diagnosed with parkinson's in 2014, and then cancer six years later. Throughout his medical journey Nick has persevered and chosen to have a good attitude and lean into his faith. On this episode of Root of the Matter Nick talks about battling parkinson's and cancer and how he's chosen faith over fear. He also discusses how he's working to help others dealing with difficult circumstances through his newsle...
