Arizona Agriculture Connection with Maricopa County Farm Bureau

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, recorded at the Summer Agricultural Conference in Flagstaff, Nicole explores why people choose to work in agriculture despite its challenges, sharing her own story of a multigenerational farm background, being steered away from farming, and finding purpose in telling agriculture’s story and supporting rural communities for future generations. Attendees then share their “why,” including Lauren (an RDN with Dairy Council of Arizona) who educates health professionals about dairy and supports food banks, Carley who values dairy community and industry marketing, Linda who ranches cattle on irrigated pasture and values family life and ag camaraderie, Shakuntala (UA Cooperative Extension entomologist) who helps growers manage pests safely, and John Boelts, a Yuma vegetable farmer and Arizona Farm Bureau president, who emphasizes agriculture’s daily necessity and responsibility to provide food. Get connected and find your place in agriculture at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:00 Why Agriculture Matters 00:45 My Family Farming Roots 01:44 Sharing Agriculture Stories 03:03 Rural Communities Future 05:05 Conference Attendee Whys 05:14 Lauren: Dairy Nutrition 07:10 Carley: Dairy Community 07:59 Linda: Ranch Life 09:48 Shakuntala: Extension Entomology 12:47 John Boelts Farm Bureau

In this episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection, Nicole is on site as she visits Chef Kevin Barko of The Heritage on Main Street in Old Town Buckeye to discuss his restaurant’s focus on local flair and ingredients and to demonstrate how easy and economical fresh pasta is to make with simple equipment and basic ingredients like flour and eggs. Chef Barko describes dishes served at the restaurant, including chicken Alfredo with wide noodles and marinara with short ribs, featuring local tomatoes from farmers' markets and flour from Hayden Flour Mill, and suggests simple sauce variations such as adding lemon to Alfredo or spices to marinara. He outlines The Heritage’s small-group cooking classes (knife skills, Ireland cuisine, Italian/fresh pasta, desserts, and a simple Thanksgiving dinner emphasizing mise en place), explains local sourcing challenges and the need to seek products out, and shares his career path from Michigan to starting a catering/meal prep business during COVID before opening in Buckeye. Make sure to snag Chef Barko's Pasta Recipe on our blog: https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:00 Welcome To The Heritage 01:03 Why Fresh Pasta 02:32 Two Pasta Dishes 04:35 Easy Sauce Ideas 05:25 Cooking Class Series 06:58 Thanksgiving Prep Tips 08:38 Seasonal Menu Sourcing 10:12 Local Ingredients Challenge 12:00 Buckeye Community Growth 13:38 Pasta Recipe Breakdown 14:07 Chef Barco Backstory 16:43 From Catering To Buckeye

With less than a month until the general election and early voting starting tomorrow, Farm Bureau has gathered candidate survey responses that agriculture members will receive by email and mail to inform their voting decisions. The episode also highlights upcoming events: the Women’s Leadership Committee’s annual Ag Social on Thursday, October 15 in Buckeye at Sweet Flower Home (free with RSVP via maricopacountyfb.org/events); Copper Country Music Fest October 13–15 featuring Randy Rogers Band, Nolan Hoffman, Crews Brothers, and more, with Maricopa County Farm Bureau members receiving 20% off tickets using code MCFB at coppercountrymusicfest.com; and the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension’s Soil to Table Summit on November 16–17 covering water resources, farm-to-table initiatives, soil health, and agribusiness (registration via maricopacountyfb.org). The next episode will feature recipes with local ingredients with Chef Kevin Barko. 00:10 Election Updates 00:31 Ag Social Invite 01:02 Music Fest Discount 01:24 Soil to Table Summit 01:45 Join us Next Week with Chef Kevin Barco

This episode of Arizona Agriculture Connection focuses on Suicide Awareness Month and why suicide prevention matters in agriculture, citing 2024 U.S. figures of 48,824 deaths by suicide and millions more who considered, planned, or attempted. The host explains that farmers and agricultural workers are about twice as likely to die by suicide, describing unique stressors such as lack of control over prices, weather, and legislative pressures, generational and societal expectations, and financial crises, while noting a family loss in the mid-1980s and ongoing concerns in 2026. The episode highlights stigma around therapy in rural communities, limited access to mental healthcare, and the benefits of telehealth. It encourages checking in with neighbors and friends and shares the free, confidential AgriStress hotline (call/text 833-897-2474), available 24/7 in multiple states, including Arizona. Learn more and get resources at https://www.agrisafe.org/agristress-helpline/. 00:00 Why This Matters 00:14 Suicide Facts And Risk 01:02 Unique Farm Stressors 02:05 Personal And Generational Impact 02:45 Rural Culture And Stigma 03:50 Access Gaps And Telehealth 05:13 Check In On Neighbors 06:53 AgriStress Hotline Resource 08:14 Community Support And Closing

The episode recaps September agriculture news, highlighting the Bureau of Reclamation’s finalized 10-year Colorado River plan featuring smaller, shared lower-basin cuts totaling 1.25 million acre-feet, with Arizona taking the largest share: a 760,000 acre-feet cut through 2028 plus 300,000 acre-feet in voluntary savings. It notes Lake Powell release adjustments could occur if elevations drop below 3,500 feet to protect Lake Mead, and discusses rising hydropower costs prompting Arizona utilities and irrigation/electrical districts to reduce reliance on hydropower through solar, storage, and gas plants. Politically, it previews Arizona races and Farm Bureau AgPAC endorsements for Andy Biggs and Sine Kerr for governor/lieutenant governor and Warren Petersen for attorney general, with voter registration due Oct. 5 and the general election Nov. 3. Nationally, diesel averages $6.28/gal and the Senate Ag Committee advanced its farm bill on a party-line vote, with a mental health episode teased next week. Learn more and get tapped in at https://www.maricopacountyfb.org/ 00:00 September Ag News Rundown 00:13 Colorado River Cuts Ahead 00:54 Hydropower and Utility Shifts 01:21 Water Politics and Elections 01:44 AgPAC Endorsements Spotlight 03:06 Voting Deadlines Reminder 03:13 Diesel Prices Squeeze Farms 03:40 Farm Bill Moves Forward