Rural Stories

Schmidt Machine a Family Company

Before we sat down with Kevin Schmidt we didn't know much about how deep the family roots go when it comes to Schmidt Machine Company based in Ohio. In this brief conversation we learn much.  It truly is interesting how families can keep a business in operation years after the founding. A little known fact about Kevin is that he also does comedy.  No, really!  Meet Kevin:
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines and the Women of Steiner 30 March 2026

Some 27% of Americans use their personal vehicle for work and the high price of fuel is making it difficult to keep going and that is where we start this evening. This is the Business News Headlines for Monday the 30th of March, thank you for listening. In other news, the shutdown continues but TSA agents get paid. Economists worry about the global economy as the war continues. In a related story one of the poorest European nations is struggling due to high fuel costs. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and Fed Chair Jerome Powell urges patience when it comes to how the Central Bank will react to high fuel prices and the economy. For the conversation you’ll meet Emily Rosser and Brandi Erickson from Steiner Tractor based in Michigan. They are always the life of the party and we think you’ll enjoy the conversation.  But first the news.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Meet Emily and Brandi from Steiner Tractor

Women in the tractor parts business?  You bet! Here you will meet Emily Rosser and Brandi Erickson who are ALWAYS the life of every National Tractor Parts Dealer Association (NTPDA) event.  We sat down with the ladies while in Orlando during the  Annual Conference and Trade Show for NTPDA to get to know more about Steiner Tractor based in Michigan.  Here's your chance to listen in and get to know Steiner as well as Emily and Brandi.  Enjoy, we always do!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Meet President Dan Waters of The National Tractor Parts Dealer Asso.

We've had the privilege of knowing Dan Waters and his Bride, Lindsey for many years.  They own and operate Waters Tractor based in Washington state. Recently Dan was elected as the President of the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association (NTPDA) so we figured it would be a good time to sit down with him so you could get to know more about his business and the NTPDA.  Meet Dan:
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines and an Ag Day Special with Jeff Stein

When the weather gets rough the airlines can't fly and that has, once again, backed up travel during a very busy time.  That story kicks us off today on this the 17th of March.  In other news, President Trump is not happy with the way the media is reporting on the war in Iran.  And, there are threats. Bank of America enters into a settlement with victims of Jeffery Epstein. In more legal news today closing arguments began in the Twitter case against Elon Musk. The war in Iran has made some Central Bank decisions more difficult. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and Kraft Heinz is betting on more health food options.  For the conversation we’ll visit with Jeff Stein from News/Talk 1540 KXEL based in Waterloo, Iowa about an Ag Day event that celebrates farming…and yes, there is a free lunch involved. Let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 25 February 2026

During the State of the Union address President Trump said the U.S. is experiencing "the golden age". Trouble is not many Americans believe it and that's where we start this evening. This is the Business News Headlines for Wednesday the 25th day of February and thanks for listening. In other news, The Warner Brothers/Paramount battle just got hotter. We’ve got pipeline news for you out of Wisconsin. A final World Trade Center tower in New York City is in the news and it is a celebration of sorts. Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Smithfield and a new facility is big news for the state and area farmers. We will check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and the latest report from Nvidia.  Meanwhile everybody is talking about economic development and data centers there is some sobering news out today.  Let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 12 February 2026

Folks filing for unemployment benefits fell last week as we continue to watch the very strange labor market and we'll start with that story first this evening. This is the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 12th day of February, thanks for being with us. In other news, home sales fell in January even as mortgage rates ease.  Well now, AI looks to Montana and residents worry about water and electricity. Will major league baseball stars play in the 2028 Olympics headed to Los Angeles? In yet another story about home sales we’ve got the latest on mortgage rates. We’ll check the numbers from The Wall Street Report and it is good to be the CEO of Morgan Stanley not to mention the other big banks.  Let’s talk millions in raises.  Let’s go.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.
 

The Business News Headlines 2 January 2026

Health care insurance rates just went up for millions of Americans and you might be surprised at who benefited from the subsidies. This is the Business News Headlines for Friday the 2nd day of January, thanks for listening. In other news, Tesla sales falter for the second year in a row and that pushed the manufacturer out of first place in the EV market. California has a new way to keep batteries out of the landfill. The top executive at Saks is out and why. Another tariff delay and we’ll share what happened. Speaking of tariffs a senior Trump Administration just confessed they are a bad idea. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and the story of a “class divide” when it comes to the airlines.  Let’s go.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 22 December 2025

Fewer and fewer Americans are making charitable donations and the reason seems to be easy to understand.  We'll start there first. This is the Business News Headlines for Monday the 22nd day of December, thanks for being with us. . In other news, there is a battle going on over at CBS and it has to do with a pulled 60 Minutes segment. Tyson Foods is closing a plant in Nebraska and it will have a devastating impact on the town and its citizens. A storied Kentucky bourbon distillery is closing down and why. We’ll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and a deceptive practice over at InstaCart is going away…and you have to ask how they got by with it in the first  place.   Let’s go.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 8 December 2025

Paramount has gone...hostile and we'll share that story first today. This is the Business News Headlines for Monday the 8th day of December, thanks for listening.  In other news, China has boosted exports while ignoring the U.S. Did you know there was an app called ICEBlock?  Now the maker is suing the Trump Administration and we’ll share why. Jimmy Kimmel and ABC will not grant the Trump….wish. Hawaii may…just may back out of the large income tax cuts enacted last year… Will the Fed deliver a rate cut this week…odds seem to point in that direction. We will check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and farmers to receive billions and we’ll share why. Let’s go!
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.