Featuring Appearances by
Deb Brown
Deb Brown, a granddaughter of German immigrants, helps small towns take practical steps to a brighter future. She’s a rag rug maker, a traveler — not a tourist — and loves her hometown of Geneva, Iowa. Don’t let the gray hair fool you, she’ll keep you on your toes!
Brad McDonald
Brad McDonald, a self-proclaimed “Big City Farm Boy,†splits time between Chicago with his wife, Krista, and his farm near Ryan, Iowa. Brad’s claim to fame is helping his dad twice win the Big Boar contest at the Iowa State Fair. In 2018 he was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for co-founding Agroy Inc.: “The Amazon for Agriculture.â€
Brandi Preul
Brandi Preul lives in Carlisle and works as an insurance agent, personal trainer and youth soccer coach. She volunteers as commissioner of the Central Iowa Coed Soccer League, the only such adult soccer league in Iowa. She has a teenage daughter.
Lexi Marek
Lexi Marek wasn't born in a barn, but she got there fast. With century farms on both sides of her family, Lexi found her place in agriculture and currently works for FarmHer in Des Moines. A graduate of Iowa State University, Lexi is trying to balance a healthy lifestyle with eating dessert first.
Jim Dale
Born at the end of the Great Depression on a farm in Brooklyn, Iowa, Jim Dale spent his youth cultivating corn, making hay and feeding calves to show at the Iowa State Fair. But much of his Iowa knowledge comes from living in six different towns as a United Methodist pastor. He resides in Decorah.
Agenda
July 12, 2018
Rural Life: Deb Brown - 'The Granddaughter of German Immigrants'
Growing up in rural Iowa, Deb Brown was never able to converse with her German-speaking grandmother. But the lessons she learned still resonate.
July 12, 2018
Rural Life: Brad McDonald - 'Scouting Hogs'
How this Iowa family used the NFL draft process to select their prize-winning show pigs.
July 12, 2018
Rural Life: Brandi Preul - 'When I Lost My White Privilege'
Brandi Preul grew up in rural Iowa with all the privileges a successful white family could have. Then she heard how other minorities were disdained, which led to some personal reckonings.
July 12, 2018
Rural Life: Lexi Marek - 'Raising Pigs and Walking Runways'
How this Iowan combined her dream jobs into one fashion-forward AG life.
July 12, 2018
Rural Life: Jim Dale - 'Harry's Last Ride'
Come rain, sleet or snow, small-town folk do what it takes to take care of their neighbors.
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