Exploring the World of USA Rice with Michael Klein
Let’s talk about it: the power of showing up. Not just on your farm, but for your industry. For your people.
I sat down with Michael Klein on the latest episode of the Feel Good Life podcast. He’s the Vice President of Communications and Strategic Development at USA Rice, which sounds like a mouthful, but what it really means is this: he helps tell the story of rice, and the people who grow it, to the rest of the world. And he does it with a whole lot of heart.
Michael didn’t grow up in a rice field, but you wouldn’t know it. He came in through communications and politics, but once he found his way into ag, he stuck around. Because like he said in our chat, "It’s a way of life."
USA Rice is what we call a vertically integrated trade association. Translation: it brings together everybody with skin in the game—farmers, millers, merchants, exporters, end users. That kind of collaboration isn’t easy, but it matters. And it works when folks are willing to sit at the table, listen, and roll up their sleeves.
One big way we communicate and network on all things rice? The USA Rice Outlook Conference.
It’s the largest rice-focused event in North America, and if you haven’t been, you ought to consider it. It’s where the rubber meets the road—networking, professional development, policy updates, market forecasts, new tech. And maybe most importantly, it’s a reminder that none of us are out here alone.
This year, they’re putting mental health front and center. And I’m proud of that. Because the truth is, it’s okay to not be okay. We’ve lost too many good folks in ag because they felt like they couldn’t talk about the hard stuff. Conferences like this can help break that silence.
Michael and I also talked about the future of ag—how sustainability, innovation, and technology aren’t just buzzwords. They’re tools. But tools are only as good as the hands using them. That’s why storytelling matters. That’s why communication strategies like USA Rice’s newsletters, podcasts, and social media aren’t fluff. They’re connection.
And connection, friends, is everything.
So whether you’re a grower, a miller, a merchandiser, or just someone who loves a good bowl of rice and is interested in what we have to say, tune in. The USA Rice Outlook Conference is more than a meeting. It’s a gathering of grit, good ideas, and great people.
Let’s keep telling the story.
🍎
💚https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gys9knq0KbUmBAoyr4SHY?si=nwIbSuwLRxmFR-Qmtd9y7w