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Rooted In Tomorrow

Land O'Lakes, Inc.

We're a cooperative rooted in 100 years of forward-thinking. As a leading national podcast on rural issues, agricultural innovation, and the future of food systems, Land O'Lakes, Inc. is placing its owners, both farmers and local retailers, at the heart of creating a sustainable food future through rural communities and economic growth. Join host Kim Olson for stories, interviews, and insight - welcoming new guests on each monthly episode. Production copyright 2025 Land O'Lakes, Inc. 

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 26 min
  • English
  • S6 · E1
    Nov 25, 2025 · 34 min

    We are LIVE from Land O'Lakes HQ: Leadership lessons from decades in agriculture with guest, Pete Kappelman

    A special Tuesday release as we kick off season six of Rooted In Tomorrow. Recorded live at Land O’Lakes headquarters, this special episode features Senior VP and lifelong dairy farmer Pete Kappelman as he explores today’s farm economy, cooperative resilience, and the future of U.S. agriculture. From surviving barn fires to navigating market volatility, Pete shares powerful insights on rural community strength, ag policy, and the economic forces shaping dairy and grain farming in 2025. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S5 · E6
    Nov 11, 2025 · 27 min

    RE-RELEASE: Veteran Voices: Navigating the Transition from Service to Corporate Success

    A special Veterans Day re-release! When military service ends, where do veterans find their next mission? Discover how the SkillBridge program is helping service members transition to civilian careers while maintaining their sense of purpose and community. In this episode, we explore the inspiring stories of veteran Col. Patrick Schlichenmeyer who found a home at Land O’Lakes, Inc. Learn how Land O’Lakes is tapping into veterans' leadership skills while helping them build meaningful second careers. A must-listen for veterans considering transition, military families, and business leaders interested in veteran hiring programs. #VeteranJobs #MilitaryTransition Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S4 · E4
    Oct 20, 2025 · 35 min

    RE-RELEASE: For National Co-Op Month we're changing the rural narrative: from podunk to preferable.

    We're re-releasing one of our most popular episodes of season five with Land O'Lakes member, Tyler Ribeiro, who you can find on Instagram @CADairyDad Tyler Ribeiro is a fourth-generation farmer from Tulare, California. He’s amassed nearly 80,000 social media followers sharing life on the farm and daily moments in his rural community. He joins host Kim Olson to talk about the work being done in his community and beyond to break down rural stereotypes and keep small communities vibrant. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • Aug 4, 2025 · 1 min

    That's a wrap on Season 5 of Rooted In Tomorrow. New Episodes are coming soon! Subscribe for alerts when we drop new content.

    After its fifth season, Rooted In Tomorrow is taking a pause for new episodes. Rate and review the podcast in Spotify or Apple. Catch up on all the previous episodes wherever you find your podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to receive push alerts when we drop new episodes! Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

  • S5 · E7
    Jul 28, 2025 · 30 min

    Kitchen Confidential: R&D to ROI. Influencing with today's food trends.

    In this episode, meet Tonja Engen. She’s a Culinary Retail Product and Content Manager at Land O’Lakes and, works closely with our Culinary Center. Hear how our team of culinary experts work together to identify food trends, develop and test new recipes featuring our dairy products, and create social media content that gets consumers excited to cook at home. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S5 · E5
    Jan 20, 2025 · 32 min

    Gut Instinct: Microbiome diversity innovation for high performing animals.

    Gut health isn't just a human fad. It’s a years-long trend that has proven to have major impacts on your overall well-being. In this episode hear how more than a decade-long study has led to major breakthroughs in the microbiome for the animals we love. Guests are Purina Animal Nutritions’ Mary Beth Gordon, Senior Director of Equine Technical Innovation, and Robert Jacobs, Research Manager, Equine Innovation. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S5 · E4
    Dec 2, 2024 · 26 min

    BioVerified: A growing trend and natural solution to crop protection.

    Biologicals are a form of crop protection derived from natural materials or living organisms that are rapidly growing in popularity. Guests Glenda Gehl, Vice President of R&D Crop Inputs at Land O’Lakes, and, Greg Culp, Vice President of Agronomy, Sales and Marketing at Mercer Landmark, join us to discuss how helping farmers sort through the numerous options and jump straight to a short list of products selected based on reliable product research and data. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S5 · E3
    Oct 28, 2024 · 32 min

    Celebrating cooperative power and potential: Rural advocacy on behalf of small business

    In this episode, we delve into the power and value of the cooperative model and how it benefits members and rural communities. We discuss why a certain tax policy that helps farmers and rural cooperatives operate is at risk. Hear from a family farmer, Walt Moore whose farm has been in his family for 112 years. And, Carl Dickinson, the CEO of Central Valley Ag Cooperative in rural Nebraska. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S5 · E2
    Sep 9, 2024 · 27 min

    Say cheese! From the farm to the food aisle, how we’re expanding new cheese offerings with our farmer owners.

    Land O’Lakes is expanding! Into more cheese offerings. There’s a unique relationship between the farmers who own us, the cheese we produce, and you ultimately buy at the grocery store. In this episode, hear from Wisconsin farmer-owner Angie Feider and Dairy Foods Marketing Vice President Angela Pengelly supporting rural vitality. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S5 · E1
    Aug 5, 2024 · 32 min

    Why these interns found promise in charting a career path in agriculture.

    What’s got Gen Z interested in agriculture? Hear two very different stories from Land O’Lakes interns who decided to pursue a career in agriculture. Plus, learn how we’re creating new early talent programs for a younger generation to land a career and make an impact in ag. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • May 29, 2024 · 41 sec

    That's a wrap! Season four comes to a close. Rooted In Tomorrow will be back soon.

    Season four of the Rooted In Tomorrow podcast is in the books! Thanks for listening and sharing the stories of our farmers and their communities. While we plan, catch up on all the previous episodes of Rooted In Tomorrow. Subscribe on Spotify and Apple to receive push alerts if we share a new episode. Catch you back here soon! Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

  • S4 · E7
    May 20, 2024 · 35 min

    Connecting with consumer values and understanding buying behavior.

    In this episode, Land O’Lakes Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Jason Trusley joins host Kim Olson. Inside baseball? Not here. We try to break down the path forward for our cooperative system and what it will take for us to continue supporting America’s farmers, ag retailers, communities, and consumers for another 100 years. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S4 · E6
    Apr 8, 2024 · 30 min

    The young farmers thinking outside the box in rural Wisconsin

    Weddings, workshops, quality beef, and pick-your-own produce—Derek and Nicole Sippel are redefining farm tourism with their “Art of Agriculture” in Southeastern Wisconsin. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S4 · E5
    Jan 29, 2024 · 30 min

    How cooperative members drive our philanthropy efforts in their communities.

    This episode highlights the most impactful areas of financial giving the past year and how it’s supporting the communities our cooperative members call home. Each year, Land O’Lakes, Inc. donates a portion of its pretax profits to the Land O’Lakes Foundation in addition to investing corporate dollars through community relations. Morgan Kinross Wright joins Kim as guest in this episode. She serves as VP, Community Relations & Exec. Director, Land O'Lakes Foundation. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S4 · E3
    Oct 23, 2023 · 30 min

    Co-Op or Corp? Understanding the cooperative business model.

    Consumers generally have positive attitudes about cooperatives. They are less sure about their level of understanding of what one is, how their purchases benefit members, and how an ownership structure is different from other business models. In this episode, Chris Pearson joins host Kim Olson. At the time of this episode recording, Pearson was the Vice President of Crop Nutrition and cooperative alliances for Winfield United. He's since been promoted and taken on a new role as SVP and President of Animal Nutrition at Land O'lakes, Inc. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S4 · E2
    Sep 25, 2023 · 28 min

    Innovating industry: Choosing work hours. Creating balance. Inside a Land O’Lakes manufacturing facility.

    We're rethinking the norms of manufacturing by offering flexible work environments at our facilities. In this episode learn how flexibility supplemental income, and simply choosing your own hours to work can impact consumers, which is better for our cooperative, is making a difference. Guests are Yone Dewberry Chief Supply Chain Officer at Land O'Lakes, Inc, and George Weathermon, a Land O'Lakes flex-worker from St. Joseph Missouri. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S4 · E1
    Aug 21, 2023 · 29 min

    The influencer: The farmer documenting daily life on the farm and advocating for policy changes.

    A new season of Rooted In Tomorrow kicks off with Alice Crothers. Alice helps run Long Green Farms in Rising Sun, Maryland, with her husband Caleb. Alice was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, and met Caleb in college. The two ditched their lives and jobs in the city and joined Caleb’s family farming operation in 2015. Their conservation and Farmers On The Rise awards have helped make them leaders in agriculture. You can follow Alice at: Instagram: @heelsandholsteins Farm Website Long Green Farms Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • Apr 24, 2023 · 1 min

    We're on a break! New episodes of Rooted In Tomorrow will be back soon.

    Season three of Rooted In Tomorrow is wrapped up. We'll be back soon with brand new episodes, new guests, and different topics. Check out all our stories from Land O'Lakes, Inc. Be sure to leave us a rating and review for the podcast on Spotify and Apple podcasts. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

  • S3 · E9
    Apr 17, 2023 · 24 min

    A Healthier food system begins with healthy animals. Guest, Peter Karnezos of Purina Animal Nutrition

    In this episode, we get the inside scoop about the exciting research happening now at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center that’s helping unlock the greatest potential of every animal and support animal health. Animal immune systems are essential for fighting off flu, or disease. Not unlike any human. Our guest in this episode is Dr. Peter Karnezos. Peter is the Senior Director of feed additive research and innovation for Purina. Purina: https://shop.purinamills.com/ Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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  • S3 · E10
    Mar 30, 2023 · 34 min

    The field of innovation: We built it so they would come. Turning agtech tools on in an Indiana crop field.

    In this episode hear how an Indiana corn field is being "turned on" with technology technology tools. 24-hour data collection and sampling is helping local farmers act on the future of food and sustainability. Guests on this episode are, Ranveer Chandra Chief Technology Officer, Agri-Food at Microsoft. Teddy Bekele, Chief Technology Officer at Land O'Lakes, Inc. Drew Garretson, Chief Marketing Officer at Ceres Solutions in Crawfordsville Indiana. Check out Rootedintomorrow.com for more stories of incredible farmers! Follow Land O'Lakes Inc at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LandOLakesInc Instagram: @LandOLakesInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/ Follow along with our other businesses. Dairy: www.landolakes.com Animal Nutrition: www.purinamills.com Crop Protection: www.winfieldunited.com Sustainability: www.truterraag.com authenci.com

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