#35 2021 Rice Award Winners

#35 2021 Rice Award Winners

Author: USA Rice December 14, 2021 Duration: 1:05:38

We celebrate excellence with Josefine Sedler, the Grand Prize Winner of the National Rice Month Video Scholarship Contest, sponsored by American Commodity Company. We talk with the winners of the Rice Awards presented at the 2021 USA Rice Outlook Conference by Rice Farming Magazine, Horizon Ag, and USA Rice: Rice Farmer of the Year, Nicole Montna Van Vleck; Rice Industry Award winner Dr. Qiming Shao; and Rice Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Dr. Kent McKenzie.

See Josefine's video

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon


Digging into the complex and surprisingly fascinating world of a single grain, The Rice Stuff is a conversation about more than just agriculture. Hosts Michael and Lesley serve as guides, pulling back the curtain on the entire journey of U.S.-grown rice, from the soil in the fields to its place on global tables. They achieve this by stepping aside to let the real experts speak: the farmers making daily decisions under the sun, the scientists in labs developing resilient varieties, the millers ensuring quality, and the marketers navigating international trade. Each episode of this podcast feels like a field visit or a behind-the-scenes meeting, uncovering narratives that intersect science, business, and environmental stewardship. You’ll hear about tangible conservation efforts that protect water and land, the economic strategies that connect American farms to overseas markets, and the technological innovations quietly transforming a traditional industry. It’s a detailed portrait of a staple food, revealing the dedication and ingenuity embedded in every bag. While those within the agriculture sector will find deep, relevant insights, the stories are told with a clarity that welcomes anyone curious about where their food comes from and the intricate systems that produce it. Tune in for genuine conversations that go beyond the surface, offering a new appreciation for the people and processes behind U.S. rice.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 130

The Rice Stuff
Podcast Episodes
#80 The 86th International Rice Festival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:26
Once again, Michael attended the International Rice Festival (IRF) in Crowley, Louisiana and lived to tell the tale. Lesley & Michael discuss the interviews he brought back with the 86th IRF Rice Queen and her sister, th…
#79 Preview of the 2023 USA Rice Outlook Conference [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:01
The 2023 USA Rice Outlook Conference is fast approaching. The team talks about the many changes that have been made to improve the experience of attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors. Education sessions to improve your bot…
#78 Cornering India [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:17
India continues to unapologetically flaunt WTO obligations, and their On-again/Off-again rice export bans are wreaking havoc on global markets, prices, and with food insecure countries in Asia & Africa. Congress has take…
#77 The Whole (Grain) Truth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:27
USA Rice is a founding member of the Oldways Whole Grains Council, and in this episode, we check in with Kelly LeBlanc, VP of Nutrition for Oldways who shares results of a recent consumer survey her group conducted that…
#76 A Carolina Comeback for Rice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:07
U.S. rice got its start more than 300 years ago in the coastal region of the Carolinas and many are once again growing the heirloom varieties that made the region the first rice capital of the U.S. First, Michael & Lesle…
#75 A Walk on the Wild (Rice) Side [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:39
Maybe you know wild rice isn't technically rice, but do you know where and how wild rice is grown? Processed? Do you know the top market for wild rice? Or what kind of special nutrition punch wild rice packs? Elise Olive…
#74 The Difficulties of Moving Rice by Rail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:49
Rice is moved by road, rail, & water. Each mode of transport has advantages and drawbacks, but poor service is making rail a costly and frustrating option. Keith Glover, president & CEO of Producers Rice Mill, has been r…
#73 Consumer Habits and How to Interpret Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:02
Michael is back from the 2023 Fancy Food Show and the Rice Millers' Association Convention where he visited with experts to talk about consumer trends. First, he attended a session with Dwight Richmond, Director of Cente…
#72 From Seed to Sip with Anheuser-Busch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:57
Anheuser-Busch is the largest user of U.S.-grown rice and they have a special relationship with farmers – especially in Arkansas. Lesley got out of the Texas heat to go up to Jonesboro and the 2nd Annual Discovery Farm S…
#71 The Ins and Outs of Organic Rice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:07
We're talking organic rice again. This time, Lesley shares interviews she conducted at a Texas rice event a few months ago. Bob Whitney with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Dr. Alvaro Durand-Murat at the Uni…