Romey Romero, co-owner and co-host of Rosie on the House, Arizona's longest-running home-improvement radio show, joins Fill Your Plate Now to talk about Arizona agriculture, desert homesteading and putting farm-fresh food on the family table. Romey helped launch the show's monthly "Farm Fresh" Hour, which spotlights Arizona farmers, ranchers, nurseries and urban growers. He also lives the lifestyle himself: on their mini homestead outside Phoenix, Romey, his wife Amanda and their four kids raise horses, cows, goats and chickens, grow a vegetable garden, and are planting a citrus, fruit and nut orchard for a near year-round harvest.

In this episode, Romey shares:

• What grows well in Phoenix-area heat
• What suburban gardeners get wrong about soil, shade, irrigation and timing
• How homestead life and junior rodeo shape his kids' work ethic
• Where to start if you want backyard chickens, fruit trees or raised beds on a regular suburban lot

Whether you're dreaming of a backyard farm or just want to know more about where your food comes from, this conversation is full of practical tips for growing and raising your own food in the Arizona desert.

Resources for Romey Romero, III | Co-Owner/Co-Host, Rosie on the House

Rosie on the House Website | Romey Romero, III Bio | Romey Romero Article Archive

Additional Resources

Tammy Baker LinkedIn | Julie Murphree LinkedIn | AZ Milk Producers Website | Arizona Farm Bureau

In this episode, Katie Bambacht, Vice President of Nutrition Affairs at National Dairy Council, and a registered dietitian and credentialed school nutrition specialist, explores milk's evolving role in school meals—from its nutritional benefits and changing consumption habits to the renewed conversation around whole milk. She shares insights on the latest research, student preferences, practical considerations for schools, and how expanded milk choices could support participation, reduce waste, strengthen families and schools, and benefit dairy farmers.

Resources for Katie Bambacht | Vice President of School Nutrition for National Dairy Council (NDC)

National Dairy Council | US Dairy Bio | LinkedIn

Additional Resources

Tammy Baker LinkedIn | Julie Murphree LinkedIn | AZ Milk Producers Website | Arizona Farm Bureau

On this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, Julie Murphree and Tammy Baker welcome Ashlee Mortimer, CEO of Mortimer Farms in Dewey, Arizona, as the family farm moves into the fall festival and winter season. Ashlee shares what's new on the farm during pumpkin season and the cooler months, from pick-your-own pumpkins and the corn maze to farm-park attractions, animal encounters, and the market and deli that stay open year-round. Families heading to Dewey can expect a highlight mix of seasonal entertainment, photo-worthy pumpkin patches, and the kind of hands-on farm time that turns a day trip into a tradition. Ashlee talks about how the team scales up when fall and winter traffic ramps up, the monthly farm dinners that showcase seasonal produce, and why returning Arizona families keep coming back—cooler high-country weather, real working-farm experiences, and memories that span generations. She also reflects on something unique to Mortimer Farms: couples who met at the Friday night barn dances, later married on the farm, and now bring their kids back for festivals. Was that community-building intentional? Ashlee explains what inspired it and shares favorite family stories from the patch, plus a look at one of the farm's most dedicated long-time employees. Tune in for a practical look at agritourism, pumpkin festivals, farm-to-table dining, and the people who keep a multi-generational Arizona farm open for families. Every bite closer to the farm gate.

Additional Resources

Tammy Baker LinkedIn | Julie Murphree LinkedIn | AZ Milk Producers Website | Arizona Farm Bureau