Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast

APEX Award Winner & John Deere Leader: Chrissie Cartmell Loucks (PAEP 111)

Join Dr. Ken Foster and Shay Doerstler as they sit down with Chrissie Cartmell Loucks (B.S. Agribusiness Management, ‘07), one of four recipients of the department’s most prestigious honor—the Apex Alumni Award. Now serving as Portfolio Manager for Digital Aftermarket Products at John Deere, Chrissie reflects on nearly 18 years of leadership in the agriculture industry and how her Purdue education continues to shape her path. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on career growth, mentorship and making a meaningful impact—no matter the size of your community.

The “Plumbing” of Banking and the Federal Reserve: Esther L. George (PAEP 110)

Please join Dr. Kilders and Marie Mechley as they have the honor to speak with this year’s James C. Snyder Lecturer, Esther L. George. Esther, the former CEO and President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, shares about her career and the impact of agriculture in her journey. Tune in for insights on the cycles of the economy, the impact of inflation and interest rates and advice for those figuring out what they want to do with their career.

The Keystone Cooperative Merger: Amy Kinsler (PAEP 109)

Join Dr. Valerie Kilders and Marie Mechley as they welcome Amy Kinsler, a Purdue Agricultural Economics Alum and the Chief Experience Officer at Keystone Cooperative, onto the podcast. Amy provides some great insights as she reflects on her career journey and the 2024 merger of Indiana-based agriculture and energy cooperatives, Ceres Solutions Cooperative, Inc. and Co-Alliance Cooperative, Inc., which came together to form Keystone Cooperative, Inc. Listen in as she discusses the challenges and opportunities that come along with a merger.

Making Academia a Family Business: Dr. Dave Downey and Dr. Scott Downey (PAEP 108)

Please join Shay and Marie as they speak with Dr. Dave Downey, founder and executive director emeritus of Purdue’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business, and Dr. Scott Downey, the center’s current director and a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics. Together, they have played key roles in developing and teaching Purdue’s Ag Econ 331 and 431 courses. Learn about how Purdue’s sales program was created, the global impact of the Center, and how the father-son pair have both impacted thousands of Purdue students and industry leaders.

38 years of Impact at Purdue University: Dr. Jay Akridge (PAEP 107)

In this episode, Dr. Ken Foster and Shay Doerstler sit down with Dr. Jay Akridge, a Purdue alumnus whose impact on the university spans nearly four decades. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Akridge shares insights from his 38-year journey at Purdue, discussing his experiences shaping students, faculty, and academic programs and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He also reflects on the prestigious awards he’s received, including his most recent, the Certificate of Distinction from the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association and the 2024 Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to Rural People of Indiana from the Purdue College of Agriculture.

 

Tune in for an inspiring discussion on leadership, education, and Dr. Akridge's legacy of excellence! 

 

Dr. Akridge also runs a blog with Purdue Distinguished Professor of Economics Dr. David Hummels, titled "Finding Equilibrium: Two Economists on Higher Ed's Future." Read and subscribe to their blog: https://substack.com/@jayakridge

Shaping Global Trade: The Past, Present, and Future of GTAP (PAEP 106)

Join Dr. Valerie Kilders and Shay Doerstler for an insightful discussion about the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP). This episode features Dr. Channing Arndt, the new Director of GTAP, Dr. Dominique van der Mensbrugghe, who led the organization for a decade, and Dr. Erwin Corong, Associate Director. They share their journeys with GTAP, the organization’s global influence, and its role in shaping international policy through quantitative analysis.

 

GTAP is a global network of researchers and policymakers dedicated to enhancing the quality of economic analysis within an economy-wide framework. Tune in to explore the profound impact this local office has had over the past 40 years—and what the future holds for GTAP!

 

To learn more about GTAP, visit their website at: https://www.gtap.agecon.purdue.edu/about/project.asp

Kick off the New Year with excitement for Ag Week! (PAEP 105)

Join Marie and Shay to kick off 2025 with the first podcast of the semester! This episode features special guests from the Purdue Ag Week Task Force—Olivia Reynolds, Marnie Schwartzkopf, Jaydon Kauffman, and Kyra Meister—who share their personal experiences serving on the task force and discuss the incredible impact Ag Week has on the Purdue student body and beyond. If you love agriculture, you will love to hear more about the history of Ag Week and how you can be involved.

Behind the Scenes of Academic Advising with LeeAnn Williams and Andy Oppy (PAEP 104)

Join us for a heartfelt and informative episode as Marie and Shay learn more about two of the department's academic advisors (and conveniently, Marie and Shay’s academic advisors): Mrs. LeeAnn Williams and Mr. Andy Oppy! LeeAnn and Andy share what it is like to be the best academic advisors and what all academic advisors do outside of what students see during their advising appointments. LeeAnn and Andy share wonderful advice and insights on how current students and alumni should navigate through their careers.