Friendship Forged Through Hops / Ft. Leslie Roy & Mike Smith

Friendship Forged Through Hops / Ft. Leslie Roy & Mike Smith

Author: Mike Roy & Drew Gaskell July 22, 2026 Duration: 2:15:29

In Episode 26, Mike and Drew welcomed good friends Leslie Roy and Mike Smith of Loftus Ranches for a long, fun conversation. Filled with stories, history, and insights from their decades in the hop industry as we look back on memorable moments like the 1970s "Think Tank" meetings, hauling refrigerators and generators to Idaho for hop cuttings, and the legendary "midnight roll" during the Marketing Order era. We also discuss the industry's evolution—from drip irrigation, direct brewer contracts, and the creation of Yakima Chief through the Hopunion merger to the rise of craft brewing, the fall of the Yakima Co-op, and navigating major market corrections—before exploring today's challenges around breeding programs, quality, branding, contracting, and grower-brewer relationships. Above all, Mike and Leslie reflect on the friendships and partnerships that have defined an industry they are grateful to have been part of for generations.


Will Rogers once noted that a farmer must be an optimist to stick with it, and that spirit runs deep through the conversations in No Dirt No Flowers Podcast. This series offers a grounded, often humorous perspective on the realities of modern agriculture, seen through the daily life and long history of Roy Farms, a fifth-generation operation in Moxee, Washington. Rather than broad theories, you’ll hear the specific sounds and stories from the hop yards and fields, exploring how a family business navigates the blend of tradition and innovation. Each episode digs into the intersections of business, culture, and society that farmers engage with every season, from market shifts and sustainability to the community ties that root a farm in its place. The title itself is a quiet reminder of the essential cycle at the heart of the work. Tuning in, you get a sense of the resilience and cautious optimism required to face challenging times, with a belief in those greener pastures ahead. It’s a direct line to the people, decisions, and occasional dirt under the fingernails that define agricultural life, making this podcast a unique listen for anyone curious about where things truly begin.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

No Dirt No Flowers Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Sustainable Water Management / Ft. Mason Lanphear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:13
In Episode 5, Mike flies solo, interviewing Mason Lanphear from Vital Agronomics, and discussing all things water and irrigation. This one's for all you hydro-heads out there, so get ready to dive in and enjoy the episod…
How We Got Here / Part 2 / Ft. Leslie Roy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:17
In Episode 4, Mr. Leslie Roy comes on the podcast to help Mike and Drew finish the conversation on how the hop industry got to where it's at today. If you know him it’ll be no surprise this episode is going to be a long…
Why Partnerships Are Important / Ft: Blake Crosby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:37
In Episode 3, Mike and Drew welcome their first guest, Blake Crosby from Crosby Hops. They get into the history of Crosby Farms, Blake's insights on the hop industry's current state, and the exciting new partnership they…
How We Got Here / Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:27
In Episode 2, Mike and Drew will be taking a look at the current hop world and how we, both Roy Farms itself, and the overall industry has gotten to where we are today. We will be following up with a part two of this dis…
The Launch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:25
Welcome to our maiden episode of No Dirt No Flowers! In Episode 1, Mike and Drew from Roy Farms discuss the importance of the show and our goals of bringing a new level of transparency to the industry.