Come for the WASDE report, and suffer through the jokes. Aaron Bledsoe joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama for another episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. If you’ve been around the podcast for any amount of time, you know he’s the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, but he proves today that he’s also the resident joke master. Or at least he tries. Aaron shares the information from the most recent WASDE report including recent changes in exports, new stocks-to-use rat...
Mar 13, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 73
She’s been with the podcast from the very start, but she’s been hiding in the background. That all changes today as Katie Martin joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. Katie is the Director of Marketing for Premier Companies and has been a key part of bringing the podcast to fruition. Katie brings the laughs and the information as she shares how Premier is involved in the communities in which they live, work, an...
Mar 06, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 72
How important is culture when considering a merger? On this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies, Chaz Herd joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama for the employee spotlight. Chaz serves as the Director of Operations for the Southern Petroleum Division, which joined Premier Companies last year. He’s been able to see first hand how important it is to consider culture when merging companies. Chaz introduces us to Southern Petroleum and Somerset, Kentucky with its large lake and ca...
Feb 27, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 71
In terms of financial success, what is your farm doing well, and what can be better? On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, Louis McIntire and Grant Vondielingen join hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the studio. Grant is the Director of Credit at Premier Companies, and Louis is the Vice President at CoBank. Louis has a passion for financial benchmarking and provides you with the tools you need to compare your financial success to row crop farmers from all over the Uni...
Feb 20, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 70
He’s back! Aaron Bledsoe joins hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. Aaron is the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies and provides helpful insight into the most recent USDA report, and Sal Sama is the Redneck Italian who eats squirrel spaghetti. Sal, Ryan, and Aaron get a little weird with the first “question of the day” and dig injuhygthto the newest WASDE (World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates) Report...
Feb 13, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 69
If you’re starting your crop plan for 2023, you may be wondering what to expect in terms of crop protection supply. To shed some light on this topic, Dave Brim and returning guest, Brad Chesnek, join hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama for this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. Brad is the Field Marketing Director at WinField United, and in addition to assisting with a lot of the pricing, Dave serves as the Branch Manager for the Premier Companies location in Mitchell, Indiana...
Feb 06, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 68
To bean or not to bean? “The danger here is the emotion.” On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, popular returning guest, Aaron Bledsoe, joins hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest in the podcast room. Aaron is the Grain Merchandiser for Premier Companies, and he has a front row seat to how the USDA reports and river issues impact the grower. Aaron, Sal, and Ryan will chat about where we are this year compared to last year in new and old crop prices and a recap of many of the...
Jan 30, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Evan brings the big words and Ben brings the laughs on this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. Sal Sama and Ryan Priest are joined by two employees of Premier Companies, Evan Speaker, and Ben Hoene. Ben is the VP of Energy and is a returning guest. Evan, who is a podcast first-timer is the Refined Fuels Supply Analyst. Sal, Ryan, Ben, and Evan dive into a variety of topics including the responsibilities of a fuel analyst, some of the factors that are considered when determ...
Jan 23, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 66
What are the challenges facing the fertilizer market in 2023? On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, somewhat special guests Scott Sharp and Jeff Jarrett join hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the podcast room. Scott is the VP of Crop Nutrients and Operations, and Jeff is the VP of Fertilizer Procurement and Operations. Scott, Jeff, Sal, and Ryan touch on challenges we’re dealing with in 2023 including logistical issues, geopolitical issues around the world, and low wa...
Jan 16, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 65
What’s a co-op, and why is that a different choice in a market? To answer that question, the CEO of Premier Companies, Harold Cooper, is joining hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. Harold got his start in agriculture in 1981 and is the resident Premier historian. Harold will share 7 foundational principles that were developed by wool-gatherers in the 1800s that are still relevant today. Topics discussed include ope...
Jan 09, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 63
It’s another Employee Spotlight! Hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest are joined by the co-op baby, Drew Allen, for this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. Drew is in sales for Premier Companies in the liquid fuel division, and he’s ready to spill all his dirty, dark secrets. Drew will share his experiences coming up through the ranks of the co-op as a fuel driver, how his role has been impacted by the mergers, and how he and his new co-workers are coming together. You’ll also h...
Jan 02, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 63
“Everyone in ag in this state is just begging for labor.” On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, David Harrell joins Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the studio. David is the Interim Program Chair at Ivy Tech’s campus in Columbus, Indiana and is a life-long Hoosier. His background in agribusiness, economics, and education combined with his experience as a farmer and business owner makes him the perfect partner for Premier Companies as they seek to upskill the existing workf...
Dec 26, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 62
What’s causing the increasing beef prices? You’ve heard what the commercials say, but what type of beef is really the best? Returning guest, Ryan Batt, joins Sal Sama and Ryan Priest in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. Ryan is the Facility Manager for United Producers, and he’s not afraid to ruffle some feathers with his answers to those questions! Ryan provides insight into the increased beef prices and the many things that impact the quality o...
Dec 19, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 61
“There’s a lot of risk priced into this price right now… Everybody needs to be very, very careful with this one. ” On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, Aaron Bledsoe is back in the podcast studio with hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest. Aaron works for Premier Companies as the grain merchandiser for Premier Companies and as such, he’s able to provide a unique look into the most recent USDA report. Ryan, Sal, and Aaron discuss the production and yield estimates, how the c...
Dec 12, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Luke can’t juggle, but he sure can sell. Luke Schnitker joins Sal Sama and Ryan Priest in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. Luke is an account manager for Premier Companies, and he’s been with them for almost nine years! As an account manager, Luke is responsible for building relationships with local farmers and supporting the sales efforts of the business. You’ll hear about how Luke ended up in the agriculture industry and some of the highlights...
Dec 05, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 59
This six-foot fully-autonomous Solix robot might draw a crowd next year, especially if you slap a deer stand on it! On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, Sal Sama and Ryan Priest are joined in the studio by Taylor Wetli who is the U.S. Sales and Business Development Manager at Solinftec. Taylor grew up on a farm in Indiana and has always had an interest in agriculture technology. For the last four years, he’s been working for Solinftec, a high tech company focused on ...
Nov 28, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 58
“A lot of times, we let the little things feel like they’re really big things, and as a company, as a country, as a community, we’ve got a lot to be thankful for.” Sal Sama and Ryan Priest are loners in the podcast room on this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, but you’ll still get to hear from a lot of different employees. Sal, Ryan, and the team spent some time reflecting on the last year, and how the company has been able to do well despite the labor challenges and sup...
Nov 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 57
What do GloFish, the Impossible Burger, and seedless blackberries have in common? Dr. Plaut knows! Sal Sama and Ryan Priest are joined by Dr. Karen Plaut on this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies to demystify GMOs. Dr. Plaut is the Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University and has her PhD in Animal Science from Cornell University. She’s been at Purdue since 2010 and has been the Dean since 2017. Karen, Sal, and Ryan give a crash course on GMOs including sharing information ...
Nov 14, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 56
As the old saying says, “You plant in the dust, and the bins will bust.” Returning guest, Glenn Longabaugh, stopped out in the field to join hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Glenn is the podcast’s resident agronomist from Winfield Solutions, and he’s here to share his knowledge and more memorable one-liners even though he doesn’t have his own caricature. Glenn, Sal, and Ryan cover a variety of topics on this episode including the su...
Nov 07, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 55
“I would buy the beans from you, and this is the price I would pay for them, but I can’t.” What in the world is going on when it comes to moving this harvest? On this episode of the High Ground, Powered by Premier Companies, Sal Sama and Ryan Priest are joined by returning guest, Aaron Bledsoe. As the grain merchandiser for Premier Companies, he’s been in the thick of it with the harvest. Aaron, Sal, and Ryan will shed light on a variety of hot topics including what’s happening on the Ohio and M...
Oct 31, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 54
“When your owners are your customers, you get special treatment.” On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, Ryan Priest and Sal Sama are joined by two special guests, Mark Canary and Brad Chesnek to dig into the global supply chain disruptions. As the VP of Crop Protection and Seed at Premier Companies, Mark has been asking to join the podcast for the last 50 episodes, and he’s thrilled to be here. Brad is not the Vice President of Chemistry Across the Whole Country, but ...
Oct 24, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Thinking about getting into livestock? Ryan Batt, Facility Manager at United Producers, joins Sal Sama and Ryan Priest on this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies. Ryan spent his childhood in the FFA, got his ag degree from Vincennes, and has been with United Producers for the last 22 years. As one of the nation’s largest livestock marketing operations, United Producers is a co-op that moves about three million head of livestock every year. On this episode of The High Ground...
Oct 17, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Are you a grower considering trying out a new product, but you’re worried about the learning curve? You might want to consider Winfield United’s Advanced Acre Rx plan. On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, Sal Sama and Ryan Priest are joined by Eric Kennedy, the Services Manager at WinField United. He has been with Winfield United for 12 years. Eric, Ryan, and Sal cover WinField United’s Advanced Acre Rx systems approach, which is a data-backed warranty offer based on...
Oct 10, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 51
How many jugs of cheese balls does Premier Companies need for a company retreat? Sal Sama and Ryan Priest are joined by Eric Hoene to answer that question and more on this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Eric is the Branch Manager at the Cortland, Indiana fertilizer plant, and he has been working for the Jackson-Jennings Co-op and Premier Ag for 27 years. In addition to a lot of knowledge and experience, he’s got a lot of good stories about Ryan. On this episode of the H...
Oct 03, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Vampire deer, toxins, and mummy worms, oh my! There’s no one better to teach us about them than Glenn! Glenn Longabaugh is back in the studio to join Sal Sama and Ryan Priest for another episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies! Glenn is not only an agronomist at WinField Solutions, but he’s also a hunter of vampire mule deer and a legend who is unafraid of big kitties. In addition to telling tales of his hunting adventures, Glenn will cover deep topics like mortality, and volatil...
Sep 26, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Are you already starting to think ahead to the 2023 buying season and curious what your options are to lock into interest rates and capitalize on discounts? Justin Moffitt and Nate Yagle join hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest in the studio on this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies to provide insight into those areas. Justin Moffitt is the Area Sales Manager for John Deere Financial and Nate Yagle is the Vice President of Credit for Premier Companies. Sal, Ryan, Justin, and Na...
Sep 19, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Have you ever wondered how we get the fertilizers that go on the fields? Wonder no more! On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama are joined by Scott Sharp, Vice President of Crop Nutrients and Operations at Premier Companies. As someone who’s been around Premier Companies in a variety of roles, he’s able to provide quite a bit of insight into the crop nutrient process! Scott, Ryan, and Sal will touch on a variety of topics in this knowledg...
Sep 12, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Are you curious about the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Report and recent crop tours? Would you like to speculate alongside Ryan and Sal? On this episode of The High Ground, powered by Premier Companies, hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama are joined by returning guest, Aaron Bledsoe. As the grain merchandiser for Premier Companies, Aaron is able to provide a unique perspective on all things grain-related. Aaron covers a variety of hot topics on this episode including the glo...
Sep 06, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 46
There are a lot of reasons that people are talking about wheat going into next year. If you’re a grower who hasn’t put out wheat in a while, should you listen to the buzz around wheat due to the war in the European breadbasket? To dig in here, long-time participant in the podcast and resident agronomist, Glenn Longabaugh joins hosts Ryan Priest and Sal Sama in the podcast room for this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Glenn explains the economics of wheat, double-cropping...
Aug 22, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 45
How do you know what your soil needs at any given time? You talk with Joe and his crew! Hosts Sal Sama and Ryan Priest are joined by Joe Zimmerman on this episode of The High Ground powered by Premier Companies. Joe is the TRAX Agronomy Lead for all of Premier and works out of the Seymour office. TRAX is Premier’s precision ag division which enables growers to utilize data in a variety of areas including soil samples and nutrients, potential yields, crop protection products, seed treatment, and ...
Aug 16, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 44
