A SHOT OF AG

#101 Will Kleinert | Sheep Shearing

Short Description:
Will Kleinert’s mobile sheep-shearing barn brings this service directly to fellow farmers.

Long Description:
Will Kleinert of Askome, IL, comes from a long line of farmers. Since starting in 2015 with his grandfather’s help, he’s grown quality hay while pursuing his true passion—sheep shearing. After leaving shearing school, he honed his craft and now runs a mobile shearing barn, bringing his skills directly to fellow farmers and shearing flocks of all sizes.


#102 Seth Boyer | Actor/Food Critic

Short Description:
Seth Boyer shines a spotlight on the best local restaurants.

Long Description: Seth Boyer, a Peoria native, once dove into Chicago’s food scene, sharing must-try spots on social media. Back home, he now highlights local dining gems, creating buzz that drives business. Alongside his foodie passion, Seth pursues acting, with roles in Chicago Fire and films like Mara and Final Days.


#103 David Wessel | Farmer

Short Description:
Rob Sharkey discusses cover crops and value-added crops with Chandlerville farmer, David Wessel.

Long Description:
David farms in Chandlerville, IL, with his 84-year-old father and son, Phillip, on their 4th-generation farm. They raise corn, soybeans, and cover crops like Covercress, barley, triticale, and rye. Phillip uses drones to spread seed and spray, while David travels globally with the Illinois Soybean Association to open new markets for soybeans.


#104 Jessica Chipman | Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor

Short Description:
Jessica Chipman is an award-winning High School ag teacher with the FFA.

Long Description:
How do kids learn about the essential work of farming? Often through FFA. Jessica Chipman not only teaches agriculture to high school students at Flanagan-Cornell, she’s won awards for it, being chosen out of 111 Illinois ag teachers to receive the Golden Owl. In this episode of A Shot of Ag, she shares her story with us.


#105 Pearl Carpenter |The Farmacy Farmstand

Short Description:
On Pearl Carpenter’s farm in Newark, IL, people can experience farm life first-hand.

Long Description:
Not everyone has the privilege of growing up on a farm. For those who missed out, Pearl Carpenter has a solution — come visit her at The Farmacy Farmstand in Newark, Illinois. Pearl’s farm was started in 2017 to spread health and happiness through healthy produce and cheerful flowers.


#106 Sharon Pferschy | Garlic Breath Farm

Short Description:
Sharon is a first-generation garlic farmer.

Long Description:
Sharon Pferschy, from Elburn, IL, never planned to be a farmer—but when searching for a home that welcomed her pet pig, she unexpectedly found her calling. Today, she grows organic garlic and helps others begin their own farming journeys. Alongside her husband, a disabled veteran, they use “Farm Therapy” to help fellow veterans transition back to civilian life.


#107 Rachel Coventry | Curtis Orchard

Short Description:
Working on a family-run orchard and the importance of pollinators

Long Description:
When Rachel left for the Peace Corps, she always planned on returning to the family orchard where she grew up working with her grandparents. She got her first taste of beekeeping while working in Paraguay, South America. Little did she know her future husband, who was deployed to Afghanistan would fit their family perfectly. Now she has a passion for pollinators and their role in the orchard.


#108 Chad Bell | Illinois Farmer

Short Description:
Central IL grain and hog farmer who appreciates his farm's history.

Long Description:
Chad Bell, a grain and livestock farmer from Viola, IL, raises corn, beans, wheat, and pigs. When he recently uncovered his grandparents’ handwritten farm journals, he found a powerful connection to his family’s legacy—daily notes on weather, struggles, and innovation. Now, Chad shares both his modern farming journey and legacy through social media.


#109 Beth Marcoot | Marcoot Jersey Creamery

Short Description:
Marcoot Jersey Creamery is a 7th-generation family-owned dairy farm.

Long Description:
Beth Marcoot and her sister Amy run a 7th-generation dairy farm in Greenville, IL, where Jersey cows graze on pasture and are milked with robotic milkers. Since 2010, they’ve been making award-winning cheese and have expanded into Wagyu/Jersey beef, agritourism, and innovative products like Extreme Ice and Dog-O’s —treats made from cheesemaking whey.


#110 Marcellus Sommerville | Friendship House


Short Description:
The President and CEO of Friendship House talks about giving back.

Long Description:
Marcellus Sommerville, President and CEO of Friendship House in Peoria, is passionate about providing hope to those in need. Growing up with little, he became a father figure to his siblings—an early training ground for his future in service. After a 14-year pro basketball career overseas, he returned home with a heart for youth sports and a mission to uplift his community.


#111 Rafael Vidal |Café Santa Rosa and Bull Riding

Short Description:
Rafael is a 2nd generation coffee farmer.

Long Description:
Rafael Vidal, a second-generation coffee farmer from Colombia, is the general manager of his family-owned Café Santa Rosa in Peoria, IL, sourcing all coffee from their own farm. A former bull rider, he now owns a bucking bull and remains active in the rodeo circuit. Beyond that, he’s a skilled martial artist, holding a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a black belt in Judo.


#112 Adrienne & Drew Desutter | Farming/Mental Health

Short Description:
The DeSutters talk farming and mental health.

Long Description:
Drew is a 4th-generation farmer on the family farm in Woodhull, IL, and was recognized by the Illinois Soybean Association as a "20 under 40" award winner for his leadership. Adrienne did not grow up on a farm. She shares stories of all she has learned over the years, stressing the importance of prioritizing your health and sanity, and how it impacts the sustainability of your farm.


#113 Dave Bishop |Organic Farmer/Teacher

Short Description:
Dave is an organic farmer and college teacher.

Long Description:
Dave Bishop, from Atlanta, IL, teaches regenerative agriculture classes at Heartland College, but for the past 40 years, he has farmed. A drought in 1988 made him think about his farm differently. He became certified organic in 2004 and highly diversified his farm. Finding ways to keep the wealth generated by the land in local communities is a high priority for Dave.


#114 Megan Seys Dwyer | Farmer/Crop Advisor

Short Description:
Megan is a 4th-generation farmer and certified crop advisor.

Long Description:
Megan is a 4th-generation farmer from Geneseo, IL, who survived a head-on collision that almost took her life 2 years ago and is still healing. She is the Director of Conservation and Nutrient Stewardship at IL Corn. Megan believes we need more people with ag backgrounds to be in leadership and policy-making roles.


#115 Sawyer Cottrell | Ag Teacher & Rancher

Short Description:
Sawyer is a 1st-generation rancher and ag teacher.

Long Description:
Sawyer didn't grow up farming but dreamed of working in Ag since he was little. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a lot of hard work, he and his wife founded Central Illinois Beanwalkers, where they employ local kids to weed fields while creating a positive workplace environment. They are 1st-generation ranchers growing Wagyu Cattle. He is proud to be an Ag teacher in Eureka, IL.


#116 Paris Van Dyke |Author

Short Description:
Paris wrote a devotional for young women.

Long Description:
Paris grew up on a family sheep farm in Louisville, IL, where they bred and sold market lambs. She was an active member of 4-H and FFA and showed livestock across IL. Paris recently authored and published "Grow in Grit" a devotional that shares her faith, rural roots, and encourages other young women to grow in their faith.


#117 Steven Archer |Urban Farmer | Part 1

Short Description:
Farming in Chicago can be a challenge.

Long Description:
Steve Archer, a Chicago native, discovered his passion for urban farming at 11 years old when he grew his first pumpkin. That experience ignited a lifelong dedication to sustainable agriculture in city spaces. Today, he tends to his own thriving garden and is an active beekeeper in the heart of Chicago. Steve is deeply committed to empowering others to grow their own food and sharing his knowledge


#118 Steven Archer | Urban Farmer | Part 2

Short Description:
Farming in the heart of Chicago.

Long Description:
Rob continues the conversation with Steve Archer on the challenges and joys of urban farming.


#119 James Aikman | Aikman Wildlife Adventures

Short Description:
You can enjoy a safari in Central Illinois.

Long Description:
James Aikman's journey from the world of banking to the wilderness began with a dream and blossomed into a destination. Now co-owner of a 40-acre wildlife park in Arcola, IL, he has transformed his vision into reality, creating a safari adventure home to over 230 animals from 90 different species. He has turned the park into a unique attraction, inviting visitors to experience the wonders of nature.


#120 Ava Kinder & Delyn Griesmann| Family Farm

Short Description:
Growing up on the family farm and its values.

Long Description:
Sisters Ava and Delyn share their experiences of growing up on their family farm, where they developed a strong work ethic and deep-rooted values. They've always enjoyed welcoming visitors to the farm, and during their college years, they even launched a goat yoga business. Now both married and working in the agriculture industry, they continue to contribute to the family farm whenever they can.


#121 Brandy Renshaw |Farmer/Entrepreneur

Short Description:
Brandy shares the challenges of farming near a river.

Long Description:
Randy from Olive Branch, IL, redefines the image of a modern farmer. Facing the challenges of farming along the river, her resilience was tested when the levee broke in 2016, forever altering her family's farming operation. In this episode, Brandy opens up about her mother's struggle with schizophrenia and the profound bond she formed with her father through their shared love of farming.


#122 Elizabeth Pratt | Rural Entrepreneurs

Short Description:
Small businesses and connecting people are vital to the health of rural communities.


Long Description:
In Sheffield, IL, Elizabeth is a believer in the power of relationships within rural communities. She opened Royal Super Mart, recognizing that a grocery store is vital to the social, physical, and economic well-being of her town. She and her husband, Tim, established Cornerstone, a hub designed to provide essential health resources and foster organic health connections within the community.


#123 Curt Sinclair | Extension Specialist/Shooting Sports

Short Description:
Curt teaches outdoor safety and environmental education.

Long Description:
Curt, with farm family roots in Jasper and Fayette Counties in Illinois, is an avid hunter and fisherman. Passionate about outdoor safety and environmental education, he teaches 4-H shooting sports, motivated by witnessing several accidents in his youth. Curt believes lifelong passions begin with a spark. He encourages everyone to volunteer and donate to support these vital programs.


#124 Scott Gaffner |Farmer/Entrepreneur

Short Description:
Scott is a farmer and small business owner.

Long Description:
Illinois farmer Scott Gaffner shares about his rewarding career in law enforcement and opportunities to be a positive influence when people are at their lowest point. Having an entrepreneurial spirit has led to an opportunity for him and his wife to own a "Scooters" coffee shop.


#125 Cody White |Ex-NFL Player & Farmer

Short Description:
Cody White made it all the way to the NFL. Now he’s farming with his in-laws.

Long Description:
Cody White’s love and dedication to football took him all the way to the NFL, playing for the Houston Texans. He didn't grow up on a farm, but when an injury sidelinedF his career, he used his degree from Illinois State University to find his way into agriculture. He now works with his father-in-law on the family farm and still makes time to coach youth sports and encourage the next generation.


#126 Jill Craver |Farming Professional

Short Description:
Jill Craver describes how one phone call changed her life.

Long Description:
Rob sits down with Jill Craver, a professional farmer, as she tells the story of how one phone call changed her life and discusses the challenges of farming.