Root of the Matter
Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
Show overview
Root of the Matter launched in 2025 and has put out 68 episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 25 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 18 min and 29 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Leisure show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 32 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.
From the publisher
A podcast created by the Tennessee Farm Bureau where co-hosts Lee Maddox, Amy Beckham and Thomas Capps take turns interviewing folks on issues, events and news with the goal of getting to the root of the matter on what is defining our most important industry, agriculture. “Root of the Matter” is inspired by a column written by the late Melissa Burniston Bratton, but has the same goal as she had for her article – sharing the important stories of farmers and those involved in agriculture.
Latest Episodes
View all 68 episodesThe Ballot Box & the 3-Year Degree: A Conversation with Tre Hargett | ROTM
A God Thing: Two Million Meals and Counting | Root of the Matter
ROTM | El Niño Is Coming: What Does It Mean for Tennessee This Winter?
ROTM | More Than a Crown: Championing Agriculture
ROTM | Changing the Conversation: The Farm Babe on Agriculture, Influence & Advocacy
ROTM | Record Demand, Record Quality: The State of American Beef
ROTM | George Washington: The Farmer Who Became President
ROTM | No-Till’s Legacy and the Future of Agriculture
ROTM | Seven Generations Strong: Tennessee Farmer of the Year Willis Jepson
ROTM | Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished, and Built to Last
ROTM: 2026 TN Young Farmer of The Year Kary Robinson
ROTM | Tools for the Farm: How FSA Supports Tennessee Agriculture
ROTM | Building Global Markets for Tennessee Forestry
ROTM | Weston Brown on Farming, Leadership & the Future of Rural Tennessee
ROTM | Managing Growth and Protecting Farmland
ROTM | Farming Through the Pressure: You’re Not Alone
ROTM | Are High Fertilizer Prices Here to Stay?
ROTM | More Than 50 Years of Fruit & Wisdom with Dr. Dave Lockwood
ROTM | The Cost Crunch: Why Farming Still Isn’t Adding Up in 2026
In this episode, we sit down with Tennessee Farm Bureau Vice President James Haskew to talk about the reality facing farmers as we head into the 2026 planting season. From rising input costs—seed, fertilizer, fuel, and chemicals—to tightening margins, many farmers are finding that the numbers simply aren’t adding up. We also dive into the increasing consolidation within the agriculture industry and how fewer players in the marketplace may be contributing to higher costs and fewer options for producers.
ROTM | Resurrection Living: Faith Beyond Sunday
Matthew McClanahan is an attorney, associate pastor, and a man deeply rooted in faith and family. In this episode, he shares his journey from growing up around his grandparents’ farm to pursuing law school and stepping into his calling as both a legal professional and part-time pastor. We talk about how those early roots shaped his values, work ethic, and ultimately his walk with Christ. Matthew also dives into what it truly means to live a “resurrection life”—not just celebrating once a year at Easter, but making Jesus Christ Lord over every area of your life. If you’ve ever wrestled with how to live out your faith in the real world, this episode will encourage and inspire you to walk it out boldly—right where you are planted.