About this episode

The episode features a discussion with Iowa farmer Zach Lahn about the challenges facing rural America and the importance of community and agriculture.

Welcome to Barn Talk, where what happens in the barn doesn’t always stay in the barn. In this episode, Tork and Sawyer sit down with Zach Lahn, a sixth-generation Iowa farmer, entrepreneur, community advocate, and current candidate for governor. Zach shares his perspective on the challenges facing rural America, including the struggles of modern family farming, rising input costs, consolidation across agriculture, and the need for more opportunities for young and beginning farmers. You'll hear Zach discuss his journey from rebuilding his family's homestead, to creating innovative schools, and now taking his passion for local communities and agriculture to the campaign trail. The conversation covers the importance of food sovereignty, local supply chains, land stewardship, and practical solutions to improve water quality and public health in Iowa. Zach also weighs in on hot-button issues like regenerative agriculture, corporate influence, and why investing in homegrown businesses and education is vital for the state's future. Get ready for a wide-ranging, honest, and personal discussion about what it will take to keep Iowa’s rural communities strong and thriving for generations to…

People in this episode

Hosts: Tork Whisler, Sawyer Whisler

Guest: Zach Lahn

Topics covered

• cancer rate
• rural America
• family farming
• food sovereignty
• local supply chains
• public health

Keywords

• Iowa
• cancer rate
• family farming
• agriculture
• public health
• food sovereignty
• local supply chains
• regenerative agriculture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Barn Talk

Places: Iowa

More episodes of Barn Talk

• The Input Buying Mistake That's Costing You Thousands · June 11, 2026 · 1h 43m
• Farm Bankruptcies Are Up 70% and Nobody Is Talking About It · June 1, 2026 · 1h 43m
• Why Most Cattle Ranches Fail (And Nobody In Ag Will Tell You The Truth) · May 24, 2026 · 2h 26m
• Farming Like It's 1850: The Lost Art of Dark-Fired Tobacco · May 10, 2026 · 2h 16m

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