Beyond The Gate

What does it actually take to lead 30,000 members across the state?  In this episode of Beyond the Gate, Jamie sits down with newly elected Missouri State FFA President Ellie Samek. Ellie opens up about her roots on a Southwest Missouri dairy farm, but this isn’t your average farm-kid story. 🐄 She pulls back the

What happens when you combine $1,000, a kitchen table, and a farm garage with a massive vision? 🚜 In this episode of Beyond the Gate, Jamie sits down with Eric Schnelle of S&H Farm Supply to chart the incredible growth of a family business that started in 1969 and expanded into seven physical locations across rural

What happens when the heavy loads we carry move past everyday stress into a silent crisis? In this essential episode of Beyond the Gate, Jamie sits down with Laclede County native and nationally recognized psychologist Dr. Jeff Brown to discuss mental health in rural America. With the agricultural community facing a suicide rate four times the national

What happens when you mix a century-farm upbringing with the fast-paced world of tech startups? In this episode of Beyond the Gate, we sit down with “idea man,” entrepreneur, and cattleman Kevin Johansen—who also happens to be Jamie’s husband. Kevin shares the journey of founding Ag Butler, an app that brought the gig economy to agriculture by

What does it take to keep a multi-generational family business thriving for over 75 years? In this episode of Beyond the Gate, we go behind the scenes at Cloud’s Meats in Carthage, Missouri, with third-generation processor Chris Cloud. Chris shares his unique journey from high school agriculture teacher to leading the family plant, offering an inside

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott joins Beyond the Gate to discuss his nearly four-decade career in law enforcement, from his early days as a reserve deputy to his upcoming transition into the role of United States Marshal. Sheriff Arnott breaks down current crime trends in rural Missouri, including how modern technology like GPS tracking and neighborhood watch

Jay Shepherd is much more than an educator; he is a man with many hats. In this episode of Beyond the Gate, Jamie sits down with the Lawrence County native to reflect on a 27-year career dedicated to the “three-circle model” of ag education combining classroom learning, FFA leadership, and hands-on projects. From teaching the FFA Creed

We are back with the second half of our conversation with Missouri’s 57th Governor, Mike Parson. In this episode, we move past the titles to hear the personal stories that defined his time in office, from the quintuple bypass surgery just days before his swearing-in to the “sobering” drive to Jefferson City after the call