In this episode of the Real Rural Podcast, host Clare Dunn sits down with Nate Sheets to discuss his journey from building a successful honey empire with Nature Nate's to running for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Discover how Nate plans to revitalize Texas agriculture, combat food supply issues, address foreign land ownership, and tackle challenges like screwworm outbreaks and data centers impacting rural communities. We dive deep into policies on deregulating farming, reforming the Go Texan program, improving school lunches, and ensuring national food security. Whether you're a farmer, rancher, or concerned about America's food future, this conversation reveals actionable insights on agriculture policy, rural economic development, and protecting Texas legacies.Key topics include Texas Ag Commissioner election, Nate Sheets campaign, honey industry innovation, food safety and testing, agriculture deregulation, foreign ownership of Texas land, screwworm crisis, data centers in Texas, desalination for agriculture, school lunch reform, meat processing monopolies, cotton farming challenges, and veterans programs for farmland.The Texas Tour series of the Real Rural Podcast is sponsored by EA Capital Management, a private credit direct lending firm, focusing on agriculture and rural business sectors, fueling growth, protecting legacies, and creating opportunity. Visit eacapitalmanagement.com to learn more. Follow on social media: Instagram @therealrural Youtube: @TheRealRural Spotify : TheRealRural https://www.claredunn.com/Subscribe to The Real Rural Podcast for more discussions on agriculture, rural business, farming innovations, food security, and policy changes impacting American ranchers and farmers. Hit the notification bell to stay updated.#TexasAgriculture #NateSheets #AgCommissioner #TexasFarming #FoodSecurity #RuralAmerica #HoneyIndustry #AgriculturePolicy #Screwworm #DataCenters #SchoolLunchReform #MeatProcessing #CottonFarming #VeteransInAgriculture #GoTexanTimestamps (Show Notes):00:00 - Introduction to Nate Sheets and his background in cutting horses and NCHA endorsement02:00 - Why Nate is running for Texas Ag Commissioner: From ministry to honey business04:00 - Building Nature Nate's Honey: From hobby to billion-dollar category growth06:00 - Consumer insights on honey, pollen benefits, and FDA overreach on labels08:00 - Transition to politics: Revitalizing agriculture and cleaning up food supply10:00 - Sponsor Message: EA Capital Management11:00 - Revamping the Go Texan program for farmers and ranchers13:00 - Challenges in Texas agriculture: Loss of processing capabilities and optionality for producers15:00 - Vision for bringing back textile mills, gins, and infrastructure17:00 - National security in food supply: Onshoring processing and deregulation19:00 - Addressing foreign ownership of Texas land and Veterans First program21:00 - Campaign platforms: Deregulation, lowering fees, school lunch overhaul23:00 - Data centers in Texas: Water use, energy, and rural impact25:00 - Desalination, produced water, and aquifer recharge for West Texas agriculture27:00 - Imported beef, border policies, and screwworm threats29:00 - Pasture mealybug quarantine and biosecurity failures31:00 - Surprising learnings from the campaign trail and commodity associations33:00 - Health impacts of food: Chronic disease, military eligibility, and better inputs35:00 - Solutions for cotton farmers: Textile mills and vertical integration37:00 - Tackling meat packing monopolies and building regional processing39:00 - HSA programs for healthy food incentives and Medicaid savings41:00 - Early voting info, how to support Nate Sheets campaign, and closing thoughts
