Transcript
Alexis : hello hello welcome back to the podcast um we have a guest on today and because we have a guest on today we have another brilliant mind for me to ask uh this question to and it is what is your favorite
Brett: Thank you.
Jessica : Hello.
Alexis : Food recipe. that involves beans. Beans of any kind. Short, sweet, snappy. Keep it to the point.
Brett: Now, when you're saying beans, you're talking about.
Alexis : okay
Brett: the magical fruit.
Brandi: smooth
Alexis : Obviously.
Jessica : The more, yes.
Alexis : I mean.
Jessica : Yes.
Alexis : ah mean beans of any type you know there's you you pick your pick your fancy which magical
Brett: Mhm. Okay.
Plant People: The more the better, Jessica, yes.
Brett: just
Jessica : Yeah.
Brett: It's a pulse -related question.
Brandi: It doesn't have to be the ones that make you do it.
Brett: Pulse focused. Finger on the pulse. Sorry.
Plant People: I mean, I have to say soup beans because I had them just about every day.
Alexis : Okay. Mm -hmm.
Plant People: in my life and for some reason now
Alexis : Mm. Hmm.
Plant People: They hurt my stomach more. Maybe it's the sheer quantity. I eat them less often. but creat greater quantity when I do get them.
Alexis : just So many beans all in one at one time.
Plant People: But... Yeah, I like soup beans.
Alexis : Yeah.
Plant People: And later in life, I learned to eat soup beans with like a sweet relish. A little bit of sweet relish and ketchup in there.
Alexis : no
Jessica : Yes.
Plant People: ah Both of those things, man, I can put away me some.
Alexis : Interesting.
Plant People: Just good old -fashioned soup beans, pinto beans, you know, just whatever.
Alexis : With cornbread.
Plant People: With cornbread, yes.
Alexis : Okay.
Plant People: Copious amounts of cornbread.
Brett: Yeah, I associate soup beans with like chow chow, like the not the. um Not the checks -based.
Plant People: Not the dog, but...
Brett: treat from christmas time but the green tomatoes that are like kind of pickled and canned
Plant People: Oh, yeah.
Jessica : Mm -hmm.
Plant People: Man, that that is a seasonal thing.
Brett: Mm -hmm.
Brandi: I was going to ask. any again
Plant People: Yeah, that's a good one. bre That brings up some good memories. Absolutely.
Brandi: Pintos are white northern beans when you say soup beans because soup beans can be...
Plant People: You kind of have to specify, yeah, which I like both of those. The White Northern means... Seems like they make their own cream sauce a little bit more the way they were fixed or whatnot.
Alexis : Mhm.
Plant People: But yeah. Yeah.
Brandi: the And the sweet relish, Steve, we would only do those on north. white northern beans so
Plant People: Yeah.
Brandi: into vanin's my My grandma button made a specific relish for her. Hello.
Plant People: Oh.
Brandi: that I would say is worth its weight in gold. um
Alexis : Heh heh heh.
Brett: Man.
Brandi: But yeah, it's da and she called it ketchup, which is hilarious because it was not.
Brett: Mm hmm.
Brandi: Catch up.
Jessica : ah
Plant People: Look.
Brandi: Yeah. in any sense of the word.
Plant People: Homemade ketchup, huh?
Brandi: Yeah.
Plant People: That sounds very interesting. Sometimes mom would make what she called pickle lily, and it was some kind of sweet relishy kind of stuff, but it was like a garden goulash that was canned, and she called it pickle lily.
Brett: Oh man.
Alexis : Mmm.
Alexis : Mm -hmm.
Plant People: and I don't know.
Alexis : I've heard of that, yeah
Plant People: I don't have a recipe for that, but it was delicious on there and it was sweet and lots of sugar. It tastes like so.
Alexis : Hehehehe.
Plant People: Yeah.
Brandi: Nice.
Brett: Hmm.
Alexis : Brett, how do you like your beans? I'm looking for inspiration here people.
Brandi: Oh, man.
Brett: Well... Jessica, do you have one?
Jessica : I was just gonna say, we eat a lot of green beans.
Alexis : mm -hmm
Plant People: Yeah.
Jessica : But... I have over the years now perfected the cooking of my green beans to where last year at Thanksgiving, the out -of -state family on the Besson side commented on my green beans and wanted to know if it was a family recipe handed down.
Alexis : on
Plant People: It is an art.
Plant People: Oh.
Jessica : And I was like, well, well, thank you.
Alexis : Yes, it is now. ah
Plant People: He said, wow, how much bacon did you put in these?
Jessica : Well, now that you asked me.
Brandi: Yes.
Brett: It will be someday.
Jessica : Right.
Brandi: It's like...
Alexis : It was mostly bacon.
Brett: ah
Jessica : This is mostly bacon.
Plant People: Yeah.
Jessica : Actually, no bacon in them. um
Plant People: are So are we talking a specific like cultivar down to the cultivar even, Jessica, or what?
Jessica : No, no, just green beans. just any we We go, um as I told somebody today, we are now and moving in that phase of life where it's like, oh, I have all these leftovers.
Plant People: Just green beans? Gotcha.
Jessica : Not anymore. I suddenly was like, oh, wow, we have no food leftover. I guess I need to make more food.
Alexis : Mmm.
Jessica : So we just go through a lot of green beans. but
Plant People: yeah
Jessica : Adding like onion in there is key. Letting them cook long enough.
Plant People: Yes.
Alexis : Mm -hmm.
Jessica : Adding a little like chicken bouillon in there.
Alexis : Oh!
Plant People: Mhm.
Brandi: you know
Jessica : Try that.
Brett: Booyah!
Alexis : Let's try it.
Brandi: Yeah.
Jessica : Yeah.
Brett: No.
Plant People: Bringing it. Bringing it. and All of that sounds wonderful. Yeah.
Brandi: My mother only made green beans with bacon. and then So yeah, it was really great first time I brought.
Plant People: Yeah.
Alexis : Mm -hmm.
Plant People: that's like cheating I feel like you could put bacon in almost anything and it'd be like wow this is so much better
Jessica : Bye.
Brandi: Mm -hmm. yes
Jessica : Well, you got to use the bacon grease, right?
Brandi: Yeah.
Jessica : That you save in your fridge.
Brandi: Yeah.
Plant People: Yeah.
Jessica : Everybody has one of those canisters, right?
Brandi: It's always fun when you bring it.
Plant People: Yes, absolutely.
Brandi: first friend home though that's a vegetarian. Yeah.
Brett: Yeah.
Jessica : Yes.
Brett: It was just green beans.
Brandi: and that you have that southern Desolation.
Plant People: It's just green beans.
Jessica : yeah
Brett: They don't have to eat the bacon
Brandi: I'm like, sorry, you can't eat. any of the vegetables because they all have bacon.
Plant People: Yeah.
Brandi: four hands in this.
Jessica : they all have some sort of bacon in them
Plant People: Yee. You might be in danger of having a transcendental experience.
Alexis : Do you have alpha gal?
Plant People: Boop.
Alexis : You're not welcome here. Not even the vegetables want you.
Plant People: Yeah. Yeah. Hmm. Nothing.
Brett: i don't have any good answers i mean like chili's a good answer but that's
Plant People: Man, Brett.
Alexis : Are you just not a being person? You can feel it in your eye.
Brett: No, we eat a lot of beans. We just don't eat. We don't feel the need to church them up too much. You know what I'm saying?
Alexis : Okay. Well, that's okay. How do you like to eat them?
Plant People: What do you dump out of a can and just eat like an animal?
Brett: Uh, You name it, brother.
Plant People: Are you Lama Binga or?
Jessica : yeah
Brett: Whoa. One thing I would say, if you are... looking. to simulate. a little bit of the bacon flavor. Vegan. Take some walnuts, chop them up really fine.
Brett: and toast them in like like on the bottom of the pan and the fatty roastiness of it gives the tiniest bit of like a bacon like flavor.
Alexis : Mm hmm.
Alexis : Oh.
Brett: And then so we would do that, put that in there. Then once those are toasted, throw some onions on top of that, then throw some beans and hot sauce on top of that and have it with rice.
Plant People: Nice.
Brandi: Nice.
Alexis : Yeah.
Brandi: Okay, that's it.
Alexis : I like it.
Plant People: Beans and rice.
Brandi: See you.
Plant People: some Jessica, I'm surprised you didn't bring that up, you know, with the Louisiana kind of angle, the Bayou angle.
Jessica : That is true. We have a lot of Cajun. food, red beans and rice in our household too.
Plant People: Yeah.
Brett: What's that? Why is that?
Jessica : My husband is from Louisiana.
Brett: Oh, that's why he wears the Saints hats.
Jessica : He only lived there for six months.
Brett: the
Jessica : Yes, you think he lived there his entire life.
Alexis : Mm -hmm.
Brett: New Orleans Saints.
Alexis : That is why he is the way he is.
Jessica : That is wise way is that's why we eat crawfish i never in my life thought i would just be like all right i'm gonna eat this
Brett: Okay.
Jessica : crawfish that still looks like a crawfish.
Plant People: It's Crowdad.
Brett: pinch those heads, suck those tails.
Jessica : Yep.
Brett: Right?
Alexis : Ah.
Brett: No.
Plant People: Brett just went down. Brett just went down south. I love it.
Brandi: Yeah, yeah.
Plant People: Love it.
Alexis : Made it weird.
Brandi: That's so funny.
Alexis : Well, I was asking because The other night I had...
Brett: I mean...
Alexis : um We made. i called them pizza beans and it was just like a can of white beans and threw in some pasta sauce and we had some spinach that needed to be used and kind of threw that all and let them cook and then we made some meatballs that go in it. So I guess. Maybe the less pizza, more.
Alexis : hoagie beans?
Plant People: Hmm.
Alexis : So anyway.
Brett: Did you eat it on something or did you just scoop it?
Jessica : Yeah, it was like she put it on bread.
Alexis : nah man straight up scoop that uh but you could dip bread was like the idea but i didn't
Plant People: Hmm.
Plant People: You skipped it.
Alexis : The bread wasn't ready yet, so.
Jessica : You didn't have bread.
Plant People: And you could not wait on the beans.
Brett: and that reminds That reminds me of the time that ah Alexis baked a really nice focaccia and sent me pictures and then promised to bring me some and then didn't.
Alexis : Yeah.
Plant People: Nothing.
Alexis : I didn't, I forgot.
Plant People: Nothing.
Alexis : I felt so bad. I was an awful day.
Brett: Very recent.
Alexis : I was 22 minutes late for my meeting. I was so mad anyways.
Plant People: You could have been 24 minutes in broad.
Jessica : 22, exact.
Plant People: Food.
Brett: The wounds are still fresh on that one.
Alexis : Well, cause I always show up at the same time and I left the house at this time. I always leave the house and I was 22 minutes late. So.
Brett: Yeah. 22 minutes. I was 23 on my watch, but who's counting?
Alexis : yeah I mean, listen, maybe you didn't, maybe you looked at it too.
Plant People: I'm just saying a wizard is never late, Alexis.
Alexis : Anyways. We have not introduced our guest who knows a lot about beans, it sounds like. So Brandy, would you like to introduce yourself?
Brandi: Sure. I'm Brandi Button Johnson, and I am the Western Kentucky Value Chain Coordinator at... The Food Connection at the University of Kentucky.
Brett: Yeah, so I'm curious. So there's value chain coordinator thing.
Brandi: then
Brett: I don't want the clinical definition. I wanna know, like, what does that mean? Like, what are you doing? What is a... what do a couple of days.
Alexis : What do you tell your parents you do?
Brett: Oh, that's that's a separate question.
Brandi: Oh. That's right.
Alexis : ah
Brandi: okay Depends. Spencer's asking. um You don't want that clinic. i Well, I looked up the clinical definition for you.
Brett: you Yeah, if that if that's what you like, go for it.
Brandi: What? Um. No, that's ah that's it's funny because I would... out of There are three of us at the university that have this title in different areas. and When I told them I was going to be on this podcast, they were like, oh, gosh.
Brandi: Do they have a drop button? So that's what you're getting. That's what you're starting with right out of the gate.
Brett: Like they wanted us to be able to have the option to kick you off. Is that what?
Brandi: Well, I think they were like, ooh. Do they know Brandy is the wordiest one of all of us?
Alexis : ah
Brandi: And so this could go south.
Plant People: I thought she meant dropping us. I was like, oh.
Brett: Yeah.
Jessica : yeah
Alexis : I know. I thought she was going to be like, you know what? Goodbye.
Brandi: yes
Jessica : Don't talk to them.
Brandi: ah
Brett: I mean, podcast is basically talking. So, I mean, that you got seems like you got a leg up.
Brandi: Well, i feel like I have to be reeled in a lot.
Brett: Mm.
Brandi: So that's why I was like, okay, I've got to look I've got to bring up the formal definition so i don't go on all of these side roads so i'll give you that and then ah
Brett: Okay.
Brett: Yeah, please do.
Brandi: Is that okay? And then I can give you kind of what my idea.
Brett: Yeah, that sounds great. Mm hmm.
Alexis : Love it.
Brandi: it is but uh the food systems leadership network is actually um who did our orientation when we started these positions and yeah I can get into that a little bit later. of that history at UK.
Brandi: but They define a value chain coordinator as a professional or organization that builds soft infrastructure. such as relationships, networks, and communication channels to create thriving and sustainable regional food economies.
Alexis : That feels like a big burden that you have there on your...
Brandi: yes Right? Right?
Plant People: That's all on the business card.
Brandi: Yeah.
Alexis : yeah yeah yeah
Brandi: it Yeah, and that doesn't fit very well on a business card. And I think it's funny that Alexis said, what do you tell your parents you do? because Um. They still don't know.
Brandi: And it took me...
Alexis : I feel you
Brandi: Took me a while to be able to be able to sum that up where I said, well, usually when I start, when people are like, what's that? And I start in, I can immediately see people's eyes gloss over. and it's like you You didn't.
Brandi: hear anything i just said or why would you care because none of those words mean anything um So what I have been describing myself as to others is As a value chain coordinator, I'm a local food value chain coordinator for Kentucky.
Brandi: Who cares about... connecting Kentucky Food Farmers. with market channels and that looks differently based on where those producers are at.
Brandi: And so a lot of what I do is relationship building. Relationships are extremely important in this work, and I think that's kind of that soft infrastructure that they use in their technical definition.
Alexis : and
Brandi: um the reason they use that is because you You don't necessarily see a tangible thing going on. but When you sit down at a table with a farmer or in a field or wherever, meeting them where they are one -on -one.
Brandi: And talking to them. about their story and what's behind that story and what they're good at producing. when it comes to food. um and i'm talking obviously in the field not already ready to eat on your plate food but um
Alexis : ah
Brandi: Maybe some of that, you know, you know. value -added stuff but it's about Building those relationships and that trust. um
Alexis : okay
Brandi: So that they feel comfortable enough Two. Reach out. and say, okay, I had this idea and these are the market channels I'm already in. I'm thinking about wanting to scale to something else.
Brandi: Can you help? Let me kind of map that out or what does that look like? And on the flip side of that. Value chain coordinators are in meetings with technical service providers such as extension agents, obviously.
Brandi: but also across Kentucky with the Department of Ag or community farm alliance and knowing what. resources they provide. so that we can take that information. back to the producers that we're meeting with. or We're meeting with distributors. and bars That are part of that food supply chain to learn. Okay.
Brandi: If you were to... onboard a food producer or farmer in Kentucky. What does that look like? And what are you going to?
Alexis : mm -hmm
Brandi: um What are they going to need to have? What certifications or what are your specs or what's your delivery? um day that's preferred and so It's kind of taken all of that.
Brandi: and then matching people. Uh. And. finding creative solutions where there isn't a match. and
Alexis : Mm hmm.
Brandi: trying to do it in such a way that it's sustainable. and it And for me, it always comes back to the relationships. if i don't have a good relationship with any of those that I just mentioned. then how am I going to be trusted?
Brandi: ah from others perspective and then from my perspective how am I gonna trust or feel comfortable or transparent enough to Do you know?
Brandi: I don't know I don't want to get too philosophical, but like morally and morally feel good that I am like sharing the correct information and giving.
Brett: Yeah.
Jessica : okay
Alexis : Sure.
Plant People: and
Brandi: the whole story and what everybody needs. for the end of the day. But... That. that food producer be able to increase their direct farm impact.
Brett: Yeah.
Brandi: See, this is why they don't let me talk. Cause it just.
Brett: No, that's great that was a great intro.
Alexis : No, it's good.
Jessica : Oh, that's... Perfect.
Brett: You know what it takes to get us four to shut up and listen? It has to be pretty ah captivating.
Alexis : ah
Brett: um Maybe not me.
Brandi: Four year old. just in your minds planning your favorite bean recipe right now.
Brett: i'm
Plant People: Yeah. Brett's over there cooking.
Brett: I'm fit. I'm thinking about the the Holy Grail relish you mentioned. um
Alexis : ah
Plant People: Still hung up on it.
Brett: Well, so I think one of the one of the things I always like to do is like. latch on to some kind of a example or like a thing that, that has happened that, you know, and I know there's at least one I'm aware of about the, um,
Brett: Working with the school system. And some of the successes there, I know you had kind of a report thing and we're looking at maybe turning that into something that can go out and share some lessons learned. Can you tell us a little bit about that project and what kinds of farmers, what kinds of questions, you know, as you were playing that role, the thing that. struck me with what you're saying is just like,
Brett: There's a lot of... It's like us. Yeah. Some of the individual pieces aren't Super complex, but... ah As a whole. It's a very complex thing that you're expected to try to navigate by yourself and having this value chain coordinator.
Alexis : <unk>
Brett: allows for someone to step into that role to help. operate across some scale issues and certification issues and that kind of stuff. But can you tell us a little bit about the the project with the schools?
Brandi: Yeah. Yeah. And so definitely that's that, um that the food systems leadership network that I mentioned. So they have really good graphics on there and it's kind of crazy because it is, if you.
Brandi: I'm a visual learner. Right, so or a hands -on learner.
Alexis : Mhm, same.
Brandi: i'm all I can't just read something or someone say it to me and then be able to like, but that doesn't make sense. um but some of the visuals they have it's it's webs, you know, and all of these different lines going out and, you know, mapping relationships is.
Brandi: that's so complex because it's It's like, well, this person sent me to this person and then this person, but what does that look like? How is that beneficial? I also talk with my hands a lot, so that might get distracting.
Brandi: um
Brett: For those of you listening just with audio, feel free to pop over to the video to see Brandy's gesticulations.
Brandi: don't Um. so The school systems, it was interesting because when I started, so I should probably back up and say that. prior to this position for 13 years. i was the executive director of a grassroots nonprofit in Glasgow.
Brandi: Kentucky and Barron County, which is where I'm from. um And Barron is South Central Kentucky, sandwiched between Metcalfe, Allen County, Warren County, that whole area. near the Tennessee border, so When I was doing that work it was as a result of the and Now I'm going to age myself.
Brandi: um
Alexis : Heh heh heh.
Brandi: the economic impact that ah happened during 2008. So the local economy was kind of. At a place where people. We're thinking, what what what does this mean? Of course, Barron County is very heavily tobacco.
Brandi: um growers. So I grew up on a burley tobacco farm. a smaller one. um And I say that meaning in like... 40 some acres not ah thousand acres and when the bio happened.
Brandi: or the master settlement happened um It was... A transition period of we still grew, but slowly it became. my family.
Brandi: For them a decision of okay Well, we we can't. make a living off this anymore. We can't make money on it anymore. We've got to do something else. And so.
Brandi: um In Barron County, I had watched that transition, and it was very personal. and Of course. At the time I was thinking Well, heck yeah.
Brandi: Who would want to grow tobacco anymore? That's miserable. When when you've been picking up stakes since you were six years old or following a setter or cutting it or, ah you know, you're like, yeah.
Jessica : Amen.
Brandi: um But when I got older... and appreciated it more. um It was like, oh, wow. like That was a really important.
Brandi: income source. for our family. and other families that lived on the same road as me. And so when that... Happened in 2008 There were some leaders locally that said, we're an agriculture county, agriculture heavy.
Brandi: It's, you know. Obviously, tobacco has is starting to phase out. but also our downtown area. uh was needing roofvet revitalization and Let's start this grassroots nonprofit.
Brandi: um to try to encourage. and off the agriculture local agriculture economy. um a farmer's market. and have it right on the courthouse square in the middle of town so that we can brain people. together. um And then it's also served the purpose of being a small business incubator.
Brandi: which all of you i'm sure you know in the work that you do you're familiar with the whole uh, farmer's market movement throughout the state. So as that was going on, and I say all that to say, because it was really weird that, um, at the same time that was going on in our, what I consider our little bitty town of Glasgow, you had Sarah Frischner in Louisville, Kentucky, the farmer's table movement doing and work there. And then you had, um,
Brandi: My current. Supervisor Ashton Potter. doing the same work in Lexington in the mayor's office there. And all of that.
Brandi: brought me to the position that I'm in right now as a value chain coordinator. Because when you go from a grassroots pro nonprofit... um Being the executive director of that fresh out of graduate school.
Brandi: Because you're the idiot that was like, yeah, I want to do it and I'm going to change the world. Um... Good. You'll take any salary and you're going to make so much everything better.
Brandi: And you have all these great ideas and you're.
Alexis : solving all the world's problems.
Brandi: right out Bushy tailed, right?
Alexis : Yeah.
Brandi: You have all the energy in the world. And then 13 years later, I was like, I'm so tired.
Plant People: ha
Alexis : Yeah.
Brandi: um But because of that, I had all of these. I swear I promise I'm getting back to Brett's question. um I had all of these relationships that built over that time, right? so I went from being 23 and not really knowing what I was doing, but having local leaders in the community have enough faith in me or either saying, oh.
Brandi: She's dumb enough to do it. um that they introduced me to people and then I got to go to different conferences and then They had enough faith that they were like, build this up. so there's relationships started happening where I... knew who Community Farm Alliance was because we were reached out by a neighboring farmer's market that has a wonderful ah person that's known in this space michelle howell that's with neymar acres and she was starting this
Brandi: New pilot. double dollars program and she needed like a sister market to to try it. And so. uh I always love to give Brent Lackey a hard time because he was.
Brandi: our business development specialist for Sustainable Glasgow.
Brandi: You're stuck with me. You've been stuck with me for way too long.
Alexis : Forever!
Brandi: What's that?
Alexis : Forever.
Brandi: Forever, yeah.
Brett: Shout out Brent from KCard.
Alexis : we We love K -Car.
Brandi: Yeah, so that's, I became familiar with KCard. Marissa Christie was working for KCard. um also um knew her from We both met our significant others at Mammoth Cave. He's from Park City. Shout out to Park City. There's not many.
Brandi: of us.
Brett: Is there any joke about like, well, it's a good thing we met in the dark cave. I don't know if I'd have gone out with you if I met you in daylight.
Brandi: Oh that's hilarious.
Plant People: There's got to be something there, Brad.
Brett: laughing
Brandi: No, but Brett, I'll humor you there if it's okay to get off track for...
Plant People: Something.
Brett: um
Brandi: A second.
Brett: Oh yeah.
Plant People: We stay off track. That's on track for us.
Alexis : she's like actually yes that's how it happened
Brandi: Actually, yes, there is. no um There is a monument in the cave, or a column. So right, so y 'all know this. Do you know the difference between a stalactite and a stalagmite?
Brandi: We're all good there.
Jessica : Yes.
Brandi: Oh man.
Brett: I think I'm allergic to the stalactite one, i'm not the...
Brandi: okay
Brett: I know maybe we're talking about something different.
Brandi: yes
Plant People: Uppies and downies, Brett.
Brett: Stalactite is on the ceiling.
Brandi: Yep. Because it will hold tight and then the mite might reach the ceiling, right?
Brett: See
Brett: Mmm.
Brandi: So a column is when those two meet. There is a formation in the cave called the Bridal Art. altar. It's called the Bridal Altar. Because...
Brandi: The story or the legend goes that the woman that first got married there. um She made a promise to her mother on her deathbed that her mother was so scorned by all the men in her life.
Brandi: Sorry.
Brett: oh
Brandi: Fellas. um that she made her promise her that she would never marry a man on the face of the earth
Brett: dang
Brandi: And so she married him. at the Bridal Altar.
Plant People: Okay. Under the earth.
Brett: wow
Brandi: I'm here.
Plant People: Okay.
Alexis : ah
Brandi: Not as cool as
Plant People: So she kind of found the loophole there. Found the loophole.
Brett: Man.
Plant People: I like it.
Brandi: Probably both.
Brett: Nice.
Plant People: Where there's a will, there's a loophole.
Brandi: Thanks, yeah.
Plant People: Or something like that.
Brandi: Yeah. Yes.
Plant People: Hmm.
Brandi: Oh, yeah.
Brett: So all those all those connections allowed for you to start this job.
Brandi: Man. So. All those relationships.
Brett: and
Brandi: Yeah. And so when I started this position, one of the first things. After our training, I looked at Ashton and I was like, I think I've been. I'm I don't want to say like, I don't want to be offensive, but I think I've been a value chain coordinator.
Brandi: And she was like, what
Alexis : o
Brandi: Yeah. You you have. um
Alexis : Yeah, we're just giving you the title now.
Brandi: He's like, now you have this title and you need to go and do it.
Alexis : ah You're getting paid for it now.
Brandi: um I said, well. It's a little overwhelming, too, because back to that, they had they there was funds for ah Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, and Central Kentucky Value Chain Coordinator.
Brandi: Um, And I... always have to preface this with i live in south central kentucky and i'm very much aware of that I don't want to offend people from Western Kentucky because I went to Western Kentucky University and people would always laugh and say.
Brandi: That's not in Western.
Alexis : It's not West.
Brandi: kentucky I totally understand that So I was confused in my job interview and said, I think I'm supposed to be central. Kentucky and they said no according to the UK extension map you're western Kentucky and I was like okay well I don't ever want to offend anybody from western Kentucky and say that I'm the Western Kentucky coordinator and then them say, oh, where do you live? And I say, Barron County. of Oh.
Plant People: You get ahead of them and say, I work in the West, but I live here.
Alexis : You're you're like you're It's...
Plant People: Yeah.
Brandi: But yeah, that's probably a better way to start with.
Alexis : Yeah. yet
Brandi: Yes, I work.
Plant People: Yeah.
Alexis : I like people who say like, they always say like Eastern Kentucky University, EKU is the gateway to Eastern Kentucky. Like it's like kind of. starts beyond that and it's like western's kind of the same way right like it's the kind of the gateway to western Kentucky right you're not quite there which makes central Kentucky quite large but
Plant People: Yeah.
Brandi: Yeah. Yeah.
Brandi: We need to put like an arch there, like the St.
Plant People: Yes.
Jessica : Right.
Brandi: Louis arch.
Alexis : Yeah, yeah.
Brandi: Isn't that supposed to be the gateway to the West?
Plant People: We need some kind of logical gateway, yeah, or something. Well, you already alluded to it, ah that there's three coordinators. So I'm assuming like, ah you know, East, Central, and then West. ah and yeah And I'm assuming also assuming you guys get together occasionally. Like, yeah are all the jobs unique? Because, I mean, you've mentioned that it's a job of kind of relationships and, you know, putting people in, you know, contact with the right resources. or or other people, but is there something different about your job in West Kentucky?
Plant People: It being West Kentucky lets versus the other two areas?
Brandi: Yes. Yeah. So yes, 100 % or. and here's the other thing you may ask them And hopefully one day you'll have each of them on because I'm, I'm curious. i'm ah I want to know what their response is.
Brandi: ah
Plant People: We need to get all of you guys together, just have a consortium or something, yeah.
Brandi: Yeah. No, I think this is, I think this is a perfect way to do it. Yeah. Let out each individually then get us all together.
Brett: Yeah. Yeah, we'll do it like the cops and we're interrogating them.
Brandi: and Yeah.
Plant People: and not let anybody know that they're going to be on.
Jessica : huh
Brett: Brandy, Brandy, ah listen, Bo, Brandy already sold you out.
Alexis : Hello!
Plant People: Nobody.
Alexis : So...
Brett: We gave him a plea deal and he sold you out immediately.
Plant People: Brandy said.
Brett: So you want to tell us what what you think happened?
Brandi: Okay.
Plant People: That's central Kentucky.
Alexis : ah
Brandi: Yeah, and then get us all three in the same room together and we can all just...
Plant People: Surprise, surprise.
Brandi: Like new little robots. and
Plant People: ah yeah I love it. But I figured there was some differences there.
Brandi: pardon there Yes, very much so. so um If you ask one of them what a value chain coordinator is, this is what I think is funny, an ashen mate. uh be like yep she's not talking to anybody else we're gonna let somebody else your news But in my opinion, um I think we would all have different answers. And I don't think that's a bad thing. um
Alexis : Yeah.
Brandi: but i could be wrong um everybody has you know The reason I say I don't think it's a bad thing is because I feel like it is important to acknowledge and recognize that.
Brandi: Western Kentucky is not. The same as Eastern Kentucky or Northern Kentucky or...
Alexis : Sure.
Brandi: that the They're different. There's different geography. There's different. topography all of that but it's also um there's differences in um Farm size, what can be grown, what can't be grown, distribution, infrastructure. It is so varied across the state.
Brandi: that I think that we all have. our own unique challenges in these roles and our unique approach. to the role based on our backgrounds and I can't prove that it was designed that way on purpose, but Another thing that I mentioned the first time I met.
Brandi: Ashton I said Did you purposely hire? People. from that area because you thought we would be better at talking the language of the producers in that area and the landscape and she was like maybe I mean.
Brandi: I might have. And I was like, that? pretty impressive because Just... Because of my background and working with the producers in this area and knowing the challenges that we have, and I say this area, but... Obviously.
Brandi: When you're doing farmer's market work, um you have vendors from you know your region basically and so Knowing kind of. Duh. The challenges that they faced and the communication.
Brandi: and the back and forth when it, when they're not. indirect access to Frankfurt or Lexington or wherever and then Once we were hired and talking to the Eastern Kentucky coordinator hearing.
Brandi: you know, the differences and what people are able to grow in the infrastructure and the accessibility of trucking things you know that eastern Kentucky provides and I'm like that okay like this is um This is...
Brandi: Fun for me. Not for everyone. I always like to say that.
Plant People: unique Unique challenges, yeah.
Brandi: Very unique challenges. and i and um not saying that you know it's something that Not everyone can do, but... I think you have to have a unique personality to want to do the work um because it you wear a lot of different hats.
Alexis : who
Brandi: And you have to navigate things. and it's a lot of
Brandi: relying on relationships and having to build those relationships, but also kind of building the plane as you fly it, because there is no. main goal.
Plant People: There's no templates or blueprints? What?
Brandi: Yeah.
Plant People: Hmm.
Brandi: Yep.
Alexis : We always say extension is like drinking from a fire hose and sounds like VCC is the same way. so
Brandi: yeah so it's kind of like hey this is what this is called and this is what the you know we obviously have um KPIs and um marks that we're trying to hit and all of these and this is what you know the end goal is and you know the overarching theme is to help Kentucky food producers increase their direct farm impact um so Go do that.
Brandi: Um...
Plant People: impact hmm pretty pretty specific
Brett: Yeah. thank
Brandi: Um.
Alexis : So how'd you do that with the schools?
Brett: Yeah, I want to talk about some successes.
Brandi: so
Plant People: Yeah.
Brandi: Yes.
Plant People: Yeah, I was going to say, some wins.
Brandi: like An hour in, I'll get to Brett's answer.
Alexis : It's all right. We'll bring you back. It's all good.
Brandi: Um.
Alexis : This is all good info.
Brandi: so yes so with the schools that when i started i told ashton i was like 39 counties you know is uk extension map is 39 counties and that is so overwhelming
Alexis : Ciao.
Brandi: i Don't know how many producers and I know there's a lot and you know where do I even start? And she said, Start with your relationships. that's That's the work. Like start with your relationship, start there. And so.
Brandi: I was like, okay, so Barron County, like that's that's okay to start with Barron County. And she's like, absolutely. That's where you have strong relationships, you know, talk. talk to some of um the relationships that you have there and just kind of see.
Brandi: So I legitimately went to, I call them my farmer mentors. That's it. I jokingly like to call a few of them the elders and they're like, okay.
Brandi: You don't have to call us the elders. You can call us old timers, but I was like, that's not perfect. and i just sat with them and i was like okay this is supposed to be the point of this position. How do you see that benefiting you?
Brandi: What would you tell me if I came to you? And that it was great because a lot of them. And I love them dearly and they love to give me a hard time. um we're like yeah you can't do that It's not going to work. um I was like, yes, this is going so great.
Plant People: It's going to be great.
Brandi: They told me everything that had gone wrong with institutional markets they had sold to in the past and why. And I just sat and listened and took notes and said, okay.
Alexis : Mm hmm.
Brandi: But what would you do differently? Like if it were going to work? And then they started sharing, you know well, we tried to tell them this and we would you know this is what you need to look at.
Brandi: And. um One of them said, start at the school. You know, you're already doing stuff there. You've got a nutrition service director there, Cheyenne Fant at the time, and she retired this past year.
Brandi: um They're like, you know, Cheyenne has worked with you on different stuff versus Samuel Glasgow. Like, just talk to her. And. um That was a relationship because she was teaching at the high school when I was there, just started teaching, and now she retired. So that's full circle.
Brandi: that point of our life. um But yeah, I reached out to Cheyenne. I said, can I meet with you? And it's not about the local hog roast, which is something that. convinced her to tend to do back in like 28 te I think was our first one.
Brandi: um Because I'm also a big nerd about education. And I was like, I want the students to care about this local food economy. and We need to transition this whole area into thinking about it this way. and that you know We need to offer this as a ah solution or an option vocationally.
Brandi: and Cheyenne was on board for that so I reached out to Cheyenne I said it's not about the hog roast but I would like to talk to you About this new position I got with UK and I sit down with her. and her purchasing person there, Lisa, who's amazing and we'll just sit and take notes and be like Cause she's in charge of the budget and Cheyenne is like me.
Brandi: She's like wide open and yeah, we're going to do. Yes. Just tell me how much it is. and like Sitting there going, hey.
Alexis : Right.
Brandi: Wait, we don't have the mic.
Alexis : We can't afford that. No, no.
Brandi: and And I said, you know, what would it look like to... do one or two local food items. on the school menu. And she said, well, here's the thing.
Brandi: During school, you know all the good stuff that's in season around here. By the time school starts. you don't You can't get the volume that we need. or you know the stuff like you know cherry tomatoes or something simple for the salad bar um She's like, it would just be kind of tough.
Brandi: because that's when the growing and season starts to end and i said do you all do anything in the summer and she said ooh We do summer feeding. We do a summer feeding program. And I said, well, I knew, you know, during COVID.
Brandi: they did the the bags and i said Would you be open to... To this. some vegetables maybe going into that And she said. Absolutely. and Actually, Lisa was like.
Brandi: you know that's that is something that we could play with budget -wise. It just started just like that. And. texts back and forth of Can you get me a list of what you currently pay for something? and you can you and then at the same time that was going on scheduling visits to farms that um
Brandi: I'd either had relationships with or through the farmer's market or knew because of. um working regionally with vendors and started a meeting with them and saying, okay, if you were going to do this, you know, how much, like, what do I need to look into for you?
Brandi: And they're like, okay.
Alexis : mm -hmm
Brandi: that's gonna be, you know, I'm learning from them. Um, i Think is a huge piece of it And that is something that I always want to acknowledge is like. Farmers know what they need. They know what has worked for them and they know what has not worked for them.
Brandi: and If you just listen to them and take it seriously. They already... They teach you so much about.
Brandi: what they need and what is going to be helpful to make it work. They're not going to answer an email or
Brandi: Or... maybe even create an email account as much as you try to convince them to. Bye. They will pick up a phone and... I can follow around and ask, well,
Brandi: And they'll tell you when something's not going to work real fast. and i just try to keep up with them and say okay but what about this would it work if you had this Um, And so, yeah, it all started that way. I went back to Cheyenne with, well, this is you know what the producers are saying.
Brandi: that they could Two. and then this is what they would need and then her saying well we would need it delivered this day and then education is part of it you know having to go back and say well actually that does not grow in may i can't
Alexis : are
Brandi: have a farmer provide watermelons for you in May because That doesn't exist. Unless I'm wrong and I'll reach out to an extension agent or a horde agent and say, hey, do you know anybody that is able to have watermelons in May in Kentucky?
Brett: Yeah, we had we had on one of our price reports. This is back. a couple of years after I started. to muddy reported cantaloupes. uh in in May on the report.
Brett: And I.
Plant People: yeah
Brett: reached out and i said you know we're we're trying to report just local markets. I think it's fine. You're bringing in product trying to fill out the market. But we're trying to just report. local products and they said well we're real We're, we're.
Alexis : you
Brett: pretty firm like we. We only report local products. And so I'm like, okay, so here's the extension guy. I'm going to call them a liar. um which I did not want to do. And so I said,
Brett: Oh my gosh, it's crazy that they were able to produce cantaloupes in May in Kentucky. Would it be okay if me and a couple of people come out and visit the production system where they produce these to see how they're doing this? And maybe other producers can learn from it too.
Brett: the next week the cantaloupes were gone from the price report um so i think my overzealous uh message was perhaps received.
Plant People: Your youthful enthusiasm.
Brett: So there's ah always a little bit of variation in the in the seasonality. um Yeah, I think I recently saw a report. ah talking about the the work excuse me the work that you all have done at the Food Connection and $8 .4 million dollars that have been invested in Kentucky farm and food businesses and part of the impact report through the the Food Connection. and I know that I'm...
Brett: Part of the big big blue machine have been for all of us are, have been for a while, but I think a big... Shout out to the Kentucky Ag Development Board for providing funding to do this kind of work and Ashton for leading the work of. of ah making the ask and figuring that stuff out. But I think the thing that i'm one of the things that I've heard from you... Again, part of the the big blue apparatus and it's really cool that we have some a position like this that's housed at uk But like.
Brett: The thing that has made it go is the. community partnerships and the direct relationships with the farmer and i think that that you know It's a... the local food system and the produce and that kind of thing it's like so specific and and that's something that that's in some counties it's possible to do through extension but in other cases it requires this more kind of person that has focus on this particular industry, these particular types of producers. um And so, yeah, I'm i'm curious. uh
Brett: Have there been any, you're talking about these things that that the farmers have taught you? about uh, What would make it work for them or what? Do you have any like. A short list of some of what those things are, or the types of things that they're typically giving that feedback on that you've either helped them implement or helped buyers to understand.
Brandi: Yeah, I can't give that to you. That's top secret information.
Brett: Perfect.
Plant People: Sorry, Brett.
Brandi: you
Brett: filed away in the VCC vault.
Brandi: You get it. uh yeah it's ah it's in the that's i mean if we did that right then we couldn't if we they wouldn't give us jobs anymore it would all
Brett: I somehow doubt it. I somehow doubt that, uh... that not the information alone might be the uh if everyone just knew
Plant People: It is the product.
Brandi: ah No, so yes, I do have a short list. And. and And like I said, it was mainly. A lot of what I was hearing was, wow, you all.
Brandi: There's communication issues, right? Because I would hear a producer say, well, it doesn't work because of this. And I would hear a food service director say, well, it hasn't worked because of this. And then I'm like, oh.
Brandi: I feel like it hasn't worked because there's communication issues. um ah That farmer spends time. there i mean if you've ever done farm work you know that it's exhausting and it's There aren't set hours. It's...
Brandi: um you barely have time to think about falling up with somebody or you know sending text or a phone call But and on the nutrition service director side, what I learned from that side of things is.
Brandi: They're just as busy. they have menus that they plan months in advance it's not like everything can just shift um and they're feeding hundreds of kids right so they They don't have what they need.
Brandi: They can't just pivot. and not feed the kids or they have certain USDA guidelines they have to follow per plate.
Brett: Mhm.
Brandi: and they get in trouble. I say get in trouble, but they are. so uh they have certain standards that they have to follow if that's not on that plate. so A lot of it was communication and having what I've heard time and time again is, you know,
Brandi: I don't want to ah pretend like I came in and then people were like, oh, yes, everything's solved. And when I came in, it was like a lot of... pessimism towards like, I don't know, why should we trust you? can do anything about this.
Brandi: and then I had to follow through with my word I had to follow up. I had to... Um, I didn't have to I guess what I'm saying your short list would be is...
Brandi: Do what you say. Like... Say what you mean and mean what you say. it's Something that my granddaddy used to say all the time. and When you...
Brandi: like what that means to me is don't i'm not just rolling in there and taking all these notes and then following them away somewhere. Uh... I want to follow up. and give them answers and one of the things i always ask is what is the best way to communicate with you Um.
Brandi: Is that email, text? phone call and down to the detail of what time of day. uh or what days of the week um you know and a lot of times while i'm on a tractor from this point to this point in the day usually or but i'm usually distributing to places this time if you call me then i can talk to you while i'm on the road
Brandi: um And then on the flip side of that with the buyers and the nutritional service directors and those institutional players, a lot of times. The same thing. that The communication piece right there. And then so a lot of times people don't want to be the one that's at a computer.
Brandi: trying to put the pieces pieces together, making the introductions. So I'm always listening out for, ooh, okay. You need help with business plans, so I'm making a note. The first person I'm going to introduce you to is K -Card.
Brandi: um or you need you know more information about a certain thing that That's extension. and uh And so always kind of just thinking through and making notes the whole time. But the farmers themselves, a lot of times what I... what i'm hearing is you know I need people to understand that I can't just take a phone call.
Brandi: um whenever or read any, name I don't read my email. Or... I don't know what they want me to do with that form. I have set. Went on my computer and said your name Phone number.
Brandi: address you want on here. I'm like, just filled it. I've been a secretary at times. I'm just like, okay. um And that's one thing that was keeping them from, you know, signing up for the LFPA program or the LFS program, which may seem silly, but it's like, well, that's what it. that's what it is, then...
Brandi: um And then the I guess another important piece is them the feedback that I hear from producers is... um
Brandi: the ah the commitment. um and i said do what you say or say what you mean and mean what you say that that commitment, that... Farmers can grow.
Brandi: anything or raise things i have a lot of faith in the farmers of kentucky and what they're able to do um but They...
Brandi: are putting forth all this risk, right? There's so much. financial risk labor risk involved in providing upfront the cost of the volume of food we're talking about or protein or whatever food product it is.
Brandi: and So they are like, ah. ill We'll do this. But I need to know that. Somebody is actually going to buy I need them to understand.
Brandi: um that If there is a... severe weather event. I don't have control over the fact that my potato field got flooded. I need i need to they need them to understand that cantaloupes are not available in May.
Brett: Mhm.
Brandi: It's so some of the stuff that I think gets overlooked because it's not super. technical it's just the basics. But I also feel like we take for granted that people just know, you know.
Brandi: it is take for granted in Kentucky that maybe somebody that's planning a menu knows that blueberries aren't available in October. when they're doing their local food dessert. um but they may not.
Brett: but that's the best Brunch month.
Brandi: it
Alexis : yeah
Brett: Brandy? Have you considered the brunch of it all?
Brandi: brunch yes Oh, me.
Alexis : Next question will be, what's your favorite brunch food? That will be ah another.
Brett: next Next episode, yeah.
Alexis : And if you don't say blueberries, we're gonna have problems.
Brandi: We've never said that.
Alexis : Yeah, it's it's true, Brandy.
Brandi: Good.
Alexis : It's like, I find, you know, we're surrounded by each other so much, right? Like the people I talk to are all people that have interests that are similar to mine. So when you... run into somebody and you know offhandedly say something and they're like oh i didn't know you couldn't get blueberries in october locally like it Always throws me for a loop because I'm... so i've So like just involved in these weird plant nerd friends that I have and they're, they know those sorts of things, but.
Jessica : Just because.
Brandi: You think every, you just assume everybody eats beans.
Jessica : Yeah.
Alexis : Yeah! But it's, yeah.
Plant People: Everybody does eat beans.
Alexis : Right. Well, I mean, if you can get a watermelon in December.
Jessica : Right, just because it's at the grocery store, right?
Alexis : you know Why would you know? Right. Yeah.
Jessica : Like they...
Brandi: Okay.
Jessica : They think that's normal.
Brandi: Yeah, and that's the education piece that I'm always fascinated by. I say fascinated, but I am a big nerd at heart, and I taught. fur. Um, I taught for a while. um As an adjunct professor at Western,
Brandi: And then. ah at a Montessori so little kids and ah older kids. um and So um I guess always in the back of my mind is... That's where the extension hat comes on, even though I'm not an extension. I'm like, ooh, an extension agent should make a resource. for this.
Brandi: That would be helpful. um But it's funny too that you... Alexis, you're saying like that circle, that's where the relationships are important because when you feel comfortable, like obviously you all are all comfortable enough with each other.
Brandi: that you can talk and just... um Shoot the ball. I had to think about my language there. um
Brett: I'm the resident cursor on the podcast.
Brandi: Okay, and I was like, wo that almost came out.
Jessica : yeah
Alexis : Surprisingly.
Brandi: I'm sorry. um But when you can do that. A lot of times you're... so comfortable with each other that you don't even realize what you're sharing that can be beneficial and helpful and educational.
Brandi: If that makes any sense. And I don't want to anyway, like try to.
Alexis : Totally.
Brandi: indicate that I'm um manipulating people's minds or I'm doing stuff on purpose. It's like
Brandi: But that's the sociology background that I have.
Plant People: Mm -hmm.
Brandi: is that that's just who I am without saying it's sociology my entire life I was nosy and I was interested in stories.
Plant People: You're educating, not advocating. Maybe that's, a yeah yeah.
Brandi: Yeah. i was
Plant People: You don't want to advocate a course that may not be their own. Yeah.
Brandi: Right. So I'm just like, ah What are y 'all talking about? uh let me hear i wonder why they do that i wonder why they made that choice like And. ah tend to pick up on those things and then ask a question to try to draw out Would this be helpful? If that's not helpful, do you have a suggestion of what would be helpful? um And all with the intent of how can we...
Brandi: Put these pieces together so that the It's not just a... local food. value chain. but it's a sustainable one. It is based off of.
Brandi: Actual authentic. intentional
Brandi: relationships because I think the difference between the two is you can make a band -aid solution to try to uh get local food into a distribution channel across the entire state.
Brandi: and pump it all out there. But... Is that truly going to last 20 years from now? Um, And. A lot of times I feel like.
Brandi: When you build those relationships regionally and in the different areas based off of what people are. telling you their needs are or what their strengths are or what
Alexis : mm -hmm
Brandi: you know and it's a coordinated effort much like the collaboration that goes on um with ag technical assistance providers and UK and land -grant universities and all the ones like once it's actually collaborated based off relationships.
Brandi: That becomes sustainable. Like a livelihood. And the short answer to what I do now that I've... told my parents um alex alexis and others um' Okay.
Brandi: I try to help. Kentucky. farmers that produce food items in western Kentucky. keep their family farms and make a lively make a living doing it.
Brandi: uh, a livelihood. Not. make some money, give a bunch of stuff away. That's really hard to train farmers out of.
Brett: m
Brandi: But... to connect them with people like CCD and say, hey, have Like, do you kind of know? What's a good? kind of pricing strategy in order to make sure That.
Brandi: when they were you know and they're working with k card and looking at that and looking at numbers but we're not you know we're not just Breaking even. But we're making...
Brandi: making a living. um And. And I i love. Two. think that I might be possibly helping do that. because that um was not the kid you know that you not to get too it's very personal it's it's personal to me because of how I grew up.
Brandi: What? traditions we add. and seeing that Slip away. and the road that I grew up on. being all farmland. And now.
Brandi: being divided into
Brandi: tons of tracks of you know um So. It's like, if I can help. a producer transition to something like a specialty crop or a protein or a local food and Um, make a living and increase their direct farm impact doing that by connecting them to all these other relationships that have been built throughout the state.
Brandi: And. That helps them Get into. diversified market channels. you know we say I think Ashton's intention with us as value chain coordinators is to focus on the institutional market space.
Brandi: But oh. all the other markets are kind of a stepping stone to that. and And that is the focus with the buyers and the distributors and understanding the ins and outs of how that works and all of those certifications.
Brandi: But. I think you know if a producer is doing the direct to consumer sales, then they kind of. decide to dabble a little more with a farm to table, maybe deliver stuff to restaurants, start scaling a little bit.
Brandi: then um the end goal would be to have a diversified market channel outlet so that And ah here you go, Brett.
Brandi: because you know this has not been used a hundred thousand times in this work Don't want to put too many eggs in one basket.
Brett: huh what if yeah what if the What if that basket gets dropped, for example?
Brandi: Um.
Brandi: uh and with farmers i'm like i'm sorry i wish i had a better metaphor for that but
Plant People: Or you step on it, Brad.
Brett: Me.
Brandi: Yep. Because.
Brett: Yeah.
Brandi: You know, and and most of the things I was learning from the old timers and the elders or the. Farmer Mentors was We've seen this happen before, or we've seen this happen before, and we've seen the bottom fall out. and um we So.
Brandi: You know the biggest thing I heard from all of them was The only way this is going to work if you encourage. producers Two.
Brandi: go with different market outlets So it'd be great for them to do a wholesale outlet, but never encourage them to stop their direct to consumer sales.
Plant People: Hmm.
Brandi: Never encourage them to stop going to the farmer's market. make sure
Brett: Yeah.
Brandi: They're in all of them.
Brett: There's been a lot lot of things you've shared that have had some thoughts. I mean, one of them is that you know diversification is one of those strategies for addressing risk. and i think that Your point's about, i don't I don't think the average person really understands the amount of risk that's involved in agriculture ah for the - producers in particular.
Brett: and so i think that's one but another one that i'm gonna i think take from here is I've had this theory developing and I think it. confirmed here. You're talking about. like encountering pessimism.
Brett: But then you are. nosy or a sociologist, depending on which translation you go with. Um, And I think the idea of. curiosity as a potential strategy for dealing with pessimism.
Brett: Is it? Something I've been. thinking about a lot lately and just this idea of like asking a few more questions rather than just It can or can't be. And what does that say?
Brandi: Be curious not judgmental.
Brett: Well, there you go. Oh, is that Ted Lasso?
Plant People: Ted Lasso for you.
Jessica : Ted Lasso.
Brandi: It's Ted Lasso.
Plant People: It is.
Brett: first First, I thought it was like... ah ah the guy from Narcos or something, but I guess it's... ah Ted Lasso.
Plant People: Different quote, Brent. Different quote, yeah.
Brandi: Amen.
Brett: I was like, wow, he's a pretty open -minded guy.
Alexis : It's fine.
Plant People: Hmm.
Alexis : Same thing.
Plant People: Hmm.
Brett: Awesome. Well, um we really appreciate you joining us, Brandy. ah For those of you out there listening, if you like this episode, leave us a comment. where You can follow us on Instagram at Hort Culture Podcast.
Brett: ah You can also check us out. You can send us send us an email at hortculturepodcast at gmail .com. Uh, We really would appreciate it if you would leave a like or a review for the podcast. That would be great. One more shout out to the Kentucky Ag Development Board for funding these value chain coordinator. and the the value chain coordinators and the amazing work that they've done.
Brett: Um, We'll hopefully have on the other value chain coordinators, the VCCs before too long. But if you don't hear from us soon, hopefullys hopefully by the time you hear this, it has cooled down in the state of Kentucky.
Brett: I'll cross my fingers for all of us on that front.
Plant People: Hopefully.
Brandi: Please.
Brett: Thank you all, and we'll see you down the road.
