For the FIRST EPISODE of Beyond the Gate, Jamie Johansen sits down with Annette Alden, the Marketing Director for the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, for a fun dive into the stories, surprises, and history behind Missouri wine. Annette grew up on a farm, built a career in agriculture and marketing, and eventually found her passion in the wine world. She opens up about how Missouri’s wine roots stretch back to the 1800s, how the industry rebounded after Prohibition, and why people across the country look to Missouri as a model for supporting wineries. 


They talk about everything wine lovers are curious about: how modern technology changed the way grapes are grown, what wine labels actually tell you, how to store and serve wine the right way, and why screw caps are not the enemy. Annette also shares fun pairing ideas, tips for exploring local wineries, and insight into big celebrations coming up in 2026 that will shine a spotlight on Missouri. 

If you love a good story, enjoy learning something new, or just want an excuse to plan your next winery visit, this episode is a great place to start.

For the FIRST EPISODE of Beyond the Gate, Jamie Johansen sits down with Annette Alden, the Marketing Director for the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, for a fun dive into the stories, surprises, and history behind Missouri wine. Annette grew up on a farm, built a career in agriculture and marketing, and eventually found her passion in the wine world. She opens up about how Missouri&rsquo;s wine roots stretch back to the 1800s, how the industry rebounded after Prohibition, and why people across the country look to Missouri as a model for supporting wineries.&nbsp;
 They talk about everything wine lovers are curious about: how modern technology changed the way grapes are grown, what wine labels actually tell you, how to store and serve wine the right way, and why screw caps are not the enemy. Annette also shares fun pairing ideas, tips for exploring local wineries, and insight into big celebrations coming up in 2026 that will shine a spotlight on Missouri.&nbsp;
If you love a good story, enjoy learning something new, or just want an excuse to plan your next winery visit, this episode is a great place to start.

Join host Jamie Johansen for Beyond The Gate, a podcast sharing the grit, growth, and spirit of rural life. From fields to front porches, this is where the heart of agriculture comes alive as we celebrate the people, challenges, and triumphs that define rural life.

Whether you’re in the tractor, at the kitchen table, or on the road, we’re bringing the heart of agriculture straight to you. The gate’s open… are you ready to step through?

Join host Jamie Johansen for&nbsp;Beyond The Gate, a podcast sharing the grit, growth, and spirit of rural life. From fields to front porches, this is where the heart of agriculture comes alive as we celebrate the people, challenges, and triumphs that define rural life.
Whether you&rsquo;re in the tractor, at the kitchen table, or on the road, we&rsquo;re bringing the heart of agriculture straight to you. The gate&rsquo;s open&hellip; are you ready to step through?

Beyond The Gate

Join host Jamie Johansen for Beyond The Gate, a podcast sharing the grit, growth, and spirit of rural life. From fields to front porches, this is where the heart of agriculture comes alive as we celebrate the people, challenges, and triumphs that define rural life.

Whether you’re in the tractor, at the kitchen table, or on the road, we’re bringing the heart of agriculture straight to you. The gate’s open… are you ready to step through?

Episodes drop every other Wednesday, starting TOMORROW, on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Join host Jamie Johansen for Beyond The Gate, a podcast sharing the grit, growth, and spirit of rural life. From fields to front porches, this is where the heart of agriculture comes alive as we celebrate the people, challenges, and triumphs that define rural life.
Whether you&rsquo;re in the tractor, at the kitchen table, or on the road, we&rsquo;re bringing the heart of agriculture straight to you. The gate&rsquo;s open&hellip; are you ready to step through?
Episodes drop every other Wednesday, starting TOMORROW, on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Missouri Wine & Grape Board

Justin Raef is a fifth-generation dairyman and poultry producer from Lebanon, Missouri, whose family has been working the same land since 1916. He brings a collection of stories that define the grit of rural life, including the time he was only eight years old and sneaking out of the house at 4:00 AM to beat his grandpa to the milk barn. It's a raw and honest look at the kind of persistence it takes to keep a Century Farm thriving in 2026.

Justin and Jamie explore the high-stakes reality of modern agriculture, highlighting a wild 24-hour window where Justin transitioned from a lifetime in the dairy business to a million-dollar poultry operation. With 20,000 hens now producing thousands of eggs a day alongside his dairy cows, Justin breaks down the daily grind of family teamwork and the market rollercoasters that define his "milk and eggs" lifestyle.

Thanks to our sponsor, Co-Angler!

Justin Raef is a fifth-generation dairyman and poultry producer from Lebanon, Missouri, whose family has been working the same land since 1916. He brings a collection of stories that define the grit of rural life, including the time he was only eight years old and sneaking out of the house at 4:00 AM to beat his grandpa to the milk barn. It's a raw and honest look at the kind of persistence it takes to keep a Century Farm thriving in 2026. Justin and Jamie explore the high-stakes reality of modern agriculture, highlighting a wild 24-hour window where Justin transitioned from a lifetime in the dairy business to a million-dollar poultry operation. With 20,000 hens now producing thousands of eggs a day alongside his dairy cows, Justin breaks down the daily grind of family teamwork and the market rollercoasters that define his "milk and eggs" lifestyle. Thanks to our sponsor,&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.dripemail2.com_c_eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.GKhyajn0RUyvNrnSfdsqcxQPsyERvCE27PlSMJcaldQ&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=ux_7MDobVJweUTsDAx6WvxozYTVP8fIp2wOO-IdRP4Y&amp;m=WNwfXs_bEsV8KxCjph791W4wcU_3YyMF09WZqPKyPcLAmGk_ddxsckQpVYEpZVZ7&amp;s=TTcSZRbcruDmbioM9UaEgm7NF1bqBIpOcLV13G7heQI&amp;e=" data-cke-saved-href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__t.dripemail2.com_c_eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.GKhyajn0RUyvNrnSfdsqcxQPsyERvCE27PlSMJcaldQ&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=ux_7MDobVJweUTsDAx6WvxozYTVP8fIp2wOO-IdRP4Y&amp;m=WNwfXs_bEsV8KxCjph791W4wcU_3YyMF09WZqPKyPcLAmGk_ddxsckQpVYEpZVZ7&amp;s=TTcSZRbcruDmbioM9UaEgm7NF1bqBIpOcLV13G7heQI&amp;e=">Co-Angler</a>!

Milk, Eggs, & 5 Generations of Grit: The Justin Raef Story

Agriculture doesn’t move without trucks... and most of us never think about that.

In this episode, Jamie Johansen talks with Jared Flinn, co-founder of BulkLoads, about the side of agriculture that keeps everything running behind the scenes. Jared shares how working in grain logistics opened his eyes to a bigger opportunity: helping small, independent trucking companies stay profitable and competitive in a tough industry.

They dive into the real challenges owner-operators face, why cash flow can make or break a trucking business, and how BulkLoads grew into more than just a load board. It’s now a trusted marketplace, a funding partner, and a growing media platform telling the stories of rural America. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Co-Angler!

Agriculture doesn&rsquo;t move without trucks... and most of us never think about that. In this episode, Jamie Johansen talks with Jared Flinn, co-founder of BulkLoads, about&nbsp;the&nbsp;side of agriculture that keeps everything running behind&nbsp;the&nbsp;scenes. Jared shares how working in grain logistics opened his eyes to a bigger opportunity: helping small, independent trucking companies stay profitable and competitive in a tough industry. They dive into&nbsp;the&nbsp;real challenges owner-operators face, why cash flow can make or break a trucking business, and how BulkLoads grew into more than just a load board. It&rsquo;s now a trusted marketplace, a funding partner, and a growing media platform telling&nbsp;the&nbsp;stories of rural America.&nbsp; Thanks to our sponsor, <a href="https://coangler.com/" data-cke-saved-href="https://coangler.com">Co-Angler</a>!

BulkLoads: Connecting Small Truckers to Big Opportunity

You’ve heard his name, but now it's time for his story.

Jamie Johansen sits down with former Missouri Governor Mike Parson for his first in-depth interview like this since leaving office. In a wide-ranging, personal conversation, Governor Parson opens up about where he came from, growing up on a small farm in Hickory County, and the experiences that shaped him long before politics ever entered the picture.

He reflects on his path through law enforcement, the military, business ownership, and public service, sharing stories and lessons that rarely get told once the spotlight fades. The conversation goes beyond titles and elections and gets into leadership, humility, family, and what really matters after the job ends. If you’re interested in hearing a side of a former governor you haven’t heard before, this is a must-listen.

You&rsquo;ve heard his name, but now it's time for his story.
Jamie Johansen sits down with former Missouri Governor Mike Parson for his first in-depth interview like this since leaving office. In a wide-ranging, personal conversation, Governor Parson opens up about where he came from, growing up on a small farm in Hickory County, and the experiences that shaped him long before politics ever entered the picture.
He reflects on his path through law enforcement, the military, business ownership, and public service, sharing stories and lessons that rarely get told once the spotlight fades. The conversation goes beyond titles and elections and gets into leadership, humility, family, and what really matters after the job ends. If you&rsquo;re interested in hearing a side of a former governor you haven&rsquo;t heard before, this is a must-listen.

Missouri Wine & Grape Board

Beyond The Gate

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