Discover Ag
Discover Ag
Tara Vander Dussen & Natalie Kovarik
Discover Why Agritourism Is Under Fire, McBee Dynasty Madness, and Why Corn Might Be in Your Clothes
56 minutes Posted Jul 31, 2025 at 9:00 am.
0:00
56:10
Download MP3
Show notes

Ep 221 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara are unpacking some of the biggest and quirkiest headlines in ag and pop culture.

First up: Oregon farmers are in uproar over proposed rules that could restrict farm stands and agritourism events. From pumpkin patches to farm-to-table dinners, what's really at stake and why a viral reel turned this policy fight into a full-on social media storm?

Next, the Bravo-fueled drama of the McBee Dynasty. Is it Yellowstone meets Love Island or an honest look at modern farming? The hosts weigh in on what the show gets right, what it ramps up for ratings, and why Steven McBee might be agriculture's most polarizing reality star.

Then, a collab no one saw coming: Chili's x Tecovas. Yep, handcrafted cowboy boots made from actual Chili's booths. Are we living in a simulation or is this just the perfect storm of Western nostalgia and pop-culture marketing? Spoiler: Natalie might already have a pair on the way ๐Ÿ‘€

Plus: A quick Disco Debrief on Florida's citrus industry hitting a 100-year production low and what that means for the future of U.S. oranges.

And finally, fashion meets farming: How corn-based fibers could replace petroleum in your next workout set. From cornfields to couture, this innovation could change the game for sustainability and farmers' bottom lines.

What We Discovered This Week ๐Ÿค 

๐Ÿชฉ Oregon's agritourism backlash and farm stand fight ๐Ÿชฉ McBee Dynasty: Reality TV or Ag Representation? ๐Ÿชฉ Chili's + Tecovas = the weirdest (best?) collab of the year ๐Ÿชฉ Florida citrus at historic lows ๐Ÿชฉ Corn-based clothing: The future of sustainable fashion

Iowa Corn: Creating opportunities for long-term Iowa Corn grower profitability ๐ŸŒฝ

๐ŸŒพ WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG ๐ŸŒพ A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by @NatalieKovarik โ€” western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher โ€” and @TaraVanderDussen โ€” sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist.

๐ŸŒŸ JOIN CLUB DISCOVER Want more Discover Ag? Become part of our exclusive Club Discover on Facebook! โ€ข Vote on the articles we cover โ€ข Connect with other Disco listeners โ€ข Discover behind-the-scenes content ๐ŸŽ‰ Join the community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/clubdiscover

๐Ÿ“ฒ CONNECT WITH US ONLINE โ€ข Website: https://discoverag.com/ โ€ข Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750 โ€ข Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discoveragpodcast โ€ข TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@discoveragpodcast

๐Ÿค PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS

๐ŸŒพ Our Farms โ€“ Food delivered Nationwide straight from Farmers โ†’ Code "DISCOVER" https://ourfarms.com

๐ŸŽถ Turtlebox โ€“ Outdoor-ready Bluetooth speakers โ†’ Code "DISCOVER" for a free hat: https://turtleboxaudio.com

๐Ÿชฐ ClariFlyยฎ โ€“ Trusted fly control for dairy & beef operations โ†’ Learn more: https://centralflycontrol.com

๐Ÿ“š Mary T Faber โ€“ Bookkeeping Services for Rural Entrepreneurs โ†’ Mention "Discover Ag" when you reach out: https://marytfaber.com

๐ŸŒพ FarmWife Tallow โ€“ Traditionally rendered tallow by 6 farm wives โ†’ Code "DISCOVER" for 10% off: https://www.farmwifetallow.com

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Cozy Earth โ€“ Luxury bedding & loungewear โ†’ Code "DISCOVER" for 40% off: https://cozyearth.com/discoverag

๐ŸŒพ Sunrise Flour Mill โ€“ Organic, heritage grains โ†’ Code "DISCOVER" for 10% off: https://sunriseflourmill.com

๐Ÿ’ช ARMRA Colostrum โ€“ Immune & vitality support โ†’ Code "DISCOVER" for 15% off: https://tryarmra.com/DISCOVER

๐Ÿ’„ Toups & Co โ€“ Natural skincare & makeup โ†’ https://toupsandco.com/DISCOVERAG

๐Ÿงฅ Duckworth โ€“ Merino wool apparel from Montana โ†’ Code "DISCOVER" for 10% off: https://duckworthco.com

๐Ÿ›‹๏ธ Sweet Water Pillows โ€“ Leather pillows made in the USA โ†’ Code "DISCOVER" for free tote: https://sweetwaterpillows.com

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.