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

Fill Your Plate Now sits down with Sherry Saylor, a recently retired Buckeye-area farmer, longtime school counselor, and national Farm Bureau leader whose life has connected the farm, the classroom, and the community.

Sherry grew up in South Carolina and married Rick, a third-generation Arizona farmer. In the mid-1970s, she moved to the Buckeye farm and learned row-crop farming—cotton, wheat, barley, and alfalfa—at R&S Farms. She shares the culture shock and pleasant surprises of that transition, her fondest memories of decades on the land, and how arriving as a "city girl" shaped the way she talks with the public about agriculture. A former National Chair of the American Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee, Sherry reflects on how Farm Bureau shaped her personal growth and her ability to advocate for farmers and ranchers. She also spent roughly 40 years as a guidance counselor at Buckeye Elementary as the community grew, and she talks about what kept her passionate about kids. The conversation turns to water, trade, labor shortages, the food supply chain, and encouragement for today's farmers and ranchers. Sherry also discusses her service with groups like the Way-Out West Drug Coalition and Christian Women's Clubs, and she shares her hopes for how Fill Your Plate Now can keep connecting consumers to the people who grow their food. Central to the episode is her leadership philosophy: shared leadership and servant leadership work best when leaders serve others without worrying about credit and lean on their team's expertise. Sherry explains how that approach developed and how she practiced it on the farm, in schools, and in Farm Bureau. She offers a concrete example of serving first to produce a stronger outcome, plus two or three practical tips on leadership and volunteerism for listeners. Tune in for a grounded conversation about Arizona agriculture, women in Farm Bureau leadership, community service, and why putting others first still builds stronger farms, schools, and food systems.

Sherry Saylor | Farmer & Former National Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Chair

Arizona Farm and Ranch Museum & Hall of Fame | Shared Leadership and Servant Leadership Article | Fill Your Plate National Leadership Announcement

Additional Resources

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

On this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, we sit down with Michelle Dudash, RDN — award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist, Le Cordon Bleu–certified chef, and author of Clean Eating for Busy Families and The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook. Michelle brings a rare combination to the table: professional chef training plus a registered dietitian's science-backed approach. The result is food that is nourishing, realistic, and delicious for busy households.

We talk about:

• How she went from Wisconsin kitchens and a dietetics degree to five-star restaurants and cookbook fame
• Why "clean eating" doesn't have to mean complicated or joyless
• Practical ways to get high-protein, lower-sugar, Mediterranean-style meals on the table fast
• Lessons from feeding her own family while building Spicekick and a national media career
• What happens when a trained chef and a nutritionist live in the same person

If you want healthy meals that fit real life — not a perfect kitchen — this conversation is for you. For those that view the video, you'll get a "Spicekick" out of the video!

Resources for Michelle Dudash | Le Cordon Bleu–Certified Chef & RDN

Michelle Dudash Website | Instagram | Spicekick Website

Additional Resources

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

On this episode of Fill Your Plate Now, farm girl Julie Murphree and Nutrition Ninja Tammy Baker sit down with Cassy England, a fourth-generation Arizona farmer in Pinal and Pima Counties. Cassy shares her family's story that began in 1932, how she returned to the land after college, and what it takes to manage roughly 6,500 acres of cotton, alfalfa, wheat, barley, corn, and oats in the desert. Listeners will hear how careful crop rotation keeps soil healthy, how precision irrigation stretches every acre-foot of water, and why alfalfa grown on Arizona farms becomes nutritious feed for dairy and beef cattle. She talks about the reality of family-run operations, the people who make the farm work, new technology and programs that boost efficiency, water challenges in Pinal County, and her work on the USDA board and as President of the Arizona Cotton Growers. Tune in for a real look at how local family farms connect the field to your plate—sustainable practices, desert innovation, and the next generation of growers keeping Arizona food and fiber moving. Every bite closer to the farm gate. Listen on your favorite podcast platform. Supported by the Arizona Farm Bureau and Arizona Milk Producers.

Resources for Cassy England | Arizona Cotton Farmer

Arizona Cotton Growers Association | Instagram

Additional Resources

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

Idaho farmer and former National Pork Producers Council president Dave Roper joins Fill Your Plate Now from his multi-generational family farm in Kimberly, in Idaho's Magic Valley. Roper raises hogs in a farrow-to-finish operation alongside cattle and irrigated crops such as potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, and alfalfa. He also owns MVP LLC Environmental Services, a custom manure-handling and nutrient-application business built around turning livestock manure from a management challenge into a crop resource. Roper traces how the farm has evolved, what pulled him into farming and later into environmental services, and the values he wants the next generation to carry forward. He walks listeners through modern hog care—from farrowing to finish—and explains why manure injection, nutrient recycling, and careful application matter for soil fertility, water quality, odor, and emissions. He also shares lessons from USDA research comparing manure application methods, the newest stewardship tools showing up in irrigated livestock country, and how pork fits on a sustainable, nutritious plate. If you've ever wondered what "closing the loop" looks like on a real farm—or how pork producers balance production, community expectations, and the environment—this conversation connects the barn, the field, and the dinner plate.

Additional Resources

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

Join Colleen Sloan, a pediatric Physician Associate and Registered Dietitian with over 15 years of experience, as she delves into the world of child nutrition. In this episode, Colleen discusses the critical importance of good nutrition during childhood and addresses common challenges families face, such as dietary myths and the important role of dairy in growth and development. Discover practical strategies for fostering healthy eating habits without the stress of mealtime battles, and learn how nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and mental well-being intertwine to support children's health. Colleen also shares insights on making informed dietary choices amidst the noise of social media, empowering both families and healthcare professionals to nurture confident, healthy eaters.

Resources for Colleen Sloan | Nutrition for Clinicians | Pediatric Physician Assistant (PA-C), Registered Dietitian (RDN), and the creator of the Exam Room Nutrition Podcast

Exam Room Nutrition Podcast | Instagram | LinkedIn

Additional Resources

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