THE ALPHA AG NETWORK
The Alpha Ag Network Summit will be a live online event programmed to provide Farmers, Ranchers and Agri Businesses information.
President, Leffler Commodities, LLC
Markets Panel 9AM-CST
Tom Leffler is the President of Leffler Commodities, LLC, which has offices in Augusta and Wichita KS. He has been a commodity broker/ag marketing advisor working with agriculture clients on risk management since 1991. Tom also does market broadcasts on local and national-broadcast radio and tv stations. Prior to this Tom was actively involved as a third-generation member of the family cattle and farming operation near Emporia, Kansas. Tom is married to Patty who is also a major part of the business.
They have three children and seven grandchildren.
Trade Panel 11AM-CST
As director of international affairs, Maria Zieba works on NPPC’s trade policy program focusing on opening, maintaining and increasing market access for U.S. pork.
Maria works closely with U.S. and foreign government officials to advance U.S. pork producers’ export objectives. She also represents NPPC in various other stakeholder groups. Maria also serves as a Cleared Advisor on the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products, providing input to USDA and USTR on key issues affecting U.S. pork exports.
Prior to joining NPPC, Maria was a trade policy manager for the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, where she worked on various trade issues affecting the dairy industry.
Previously, she worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, managing capacity building projects aimed at increasing U.S. agricultural exports to emerging markets.
Maria is a member of the board of directors of the Women in International Trade and Farmers for Free Trade. She holds a master’s degree in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Riverside with a double major in Political Science-International Affairs and Spanish.
Director, International Affairs
National Pork Producers Council
Director of Public Policy, National Corn Growers Association
Trade Panel 11AM-CST
Lesly Weber McNitt is Director of Public Policy for the National Corn Growers Association, where she manages trade and biotechnology policy. Prior to joining NCGA, she served as Chief of Staff of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, the mission area comprised of Risk Management Agency, Farm Service Agency and Foreign Agricultural Service, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She previously served as Chief of Staff of the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
McNitt joined USDA from Farm Journal Foundation, where she was Director of Government Relations and Program Development. In that role she was responsible for advancing the Foundation’s advocacy initiatives, developing new programs, and building strategic partnerships. Prior to joining Farm Journal Foundation, Lesly was a senior legislative associate with Oldaker, Belair & Wittie, LLP, where she managed a diverse portfolio of issues including financial services, federal appropriations, Native American Indian affairs, and education.
Lesly graduated cum laude from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs with a B.A. in International Affairs and a concentration in International Politics. She also earned her Master of Professional Studies in Legislative Affairs at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, graduating summa cum laude. She lives in Washington, D.C. where she is active in her local community.
Trade Panel 11AM-CST
Tim Lust is the CEO of the National Sorghum Producers and the Sorghum Checkoff, two organizations dedicated to increasing profitability for more than 30,000 sorghum growers nationwide. He has been with NSP for 25 years, serving as the director of marketing for five years and as CEO for 20 years. Tim grew up on a diversified cattle and farming operation in Texas where he still remains actively involved. He received a B.S. in Animal Science from Angelo State University and an MBA from Texas Tech University. Tim has been actively involved in regulatory work over the past 20 years, defending and protecting products for growers while working with multiple trade groups. He is a past member of the USDA Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee (ATAC) and a former board member for the USDA Sorghum Crop Germplasm Committee. Today, Tim serves on numerous industry and regional committees and advisory councils.
CEO, National Sorghum Producers & United Sorghum Checkoff Program
NCBA’s Senior Director of International Trade
Trade Panel 11AM-CST
Kent Bacus serves as NCBA’s Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access. In this role, he works with Congress, the Administration, and foreign governments to advance the U.S. cattle and beef industry’s trade priorities and expand U.S. beef access to foreign markets. Bacus also represents NCBA as a cleared advisor on the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products. Prior to joining NCBA’s Washington team in 2010, Kent worked on political campaigns in Texas and worked for several years as the agriculture and appropriations legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC). Kent is originally from Texas and holds a degree in history and political science from Texas Tech University.
Trade Panel 11AM-CST
Dalton Henry is the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Vice President of Policy. Henry coordinates the USW policy team’s efforts to maintain and improve market access for U.S. wheat exports. Policy priorities include advocating for new agreements, resolving trade irritants, ensuring compliance with past commitments, and developing strategies for the acceptance and adoption of technology in wheat production.
Previously, Henry worked as the director of governmental affairs for Kansas Wheat and as the legislative director for U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall. A native of Randolph, Kan., Henry earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from Kansas State University. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife Sarah while maintaining close ties with his families’ farming operation in north-central Kansas
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Vice President of Policy
Manager of Global Trade, U.S. Grains Council
Trade Panel 11AM-CST
Cannady serves as the Manager of Global Trade for the U.S. Grains Council, a non-profit organization that promotes the use of U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products worldwide. In this capacity, Cannady provides trade servicing expertise to the Council, strengthens the Council’s relationships with the U.S. and global traders and further the export marketing interests of the U.S. feed grains and co-products.
Prior to joining the council, Cannady spent two years in Amarillo, TX working for Attebury Grain, LLC as a trader. In this capacity, he served as a liaison between Attebury’s headquarters office and Mexico office, specializing in wheat export markets. Cannady also worked domestically in the cattle feeding industry, serving customers all over the states of Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma; he also worked very closely with foreign-owned companies with feed operations in Texas.
Cannady served as President of the Financial Literacy Community Project, a non-profit organization with a mission to teach financial literacy throughout Philadelphia public schools. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in economics with a dual concentration in finance and management from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in 2016.
Trade Panel 11AM-CST
Dan Halstrom oversees and coordinates USMEF programs and activities in 18 regions around the world. He works to ensure that the federation creates new opportunities and develops existing international markets for U.S. beef, pork, lamb and veal. Halstrom also oversees USMEF’s relations with its membership and the industry and works closely with all sectors of the federation.
Halstrom joined USMEF in 2010 after 27 years in the meat industry with Swift & Company, originally based in Chicago (now doing business as JBS, based in Greeley, Colorado). He assumed the role of USMEF president and CEO in 2017. Halstrom was also an active member of USMEF for many years, including various volunteer positions and officer roles. He served as USMEF chairman in 2008.
A graduate of the University of Iowa, Halstrom was born and raised near Cherokee, Iowa, on a 1,000-acre grain farm with a 3,000-head cattle backgrounding operation.
USMEF
Downey Ranch, Inc.
Farm Panel 1PM-CST
Barb Downey is a cow/calf operator representing the 4th generation of her family to make a living in the cattle business. Currently, she leads Downey Ranch, Inc. alongside her husband Joe Carpenter. They run a 550 head cowherd along with a bull & heifer development operation that sells Angus & SimAngus bulls & females across the fence & across the country. In addition, they sell conventionally finished beef to US Premium Beef, of which they are founding members and Qualified Seedstock Suppliers.
The operation is headquartered in NE KS with the majority of the land being native tall grass prairie in the Flint Hills. They have a progressive operation that seeks to adopt and utilize the best practices in order to improve the overall sustainability of the operation into the future.
Barb is a graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in Animal Sciences & Industry. She & her husband have 2 college-aged daughters, Anna & Laura Carpenter, both of whom are active in the operation as school schedules allow. Barb has been active in community & industry leadership having served on the local school board, as Kansas Livestock Association president, and Chairman of the Kansas Beef Council. Barb is currently serving on the Executive Committee Committee of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Farm Panel 1PM-CST
Kevin Ross, a corn grower near Minden, Iowa, serves as chairman of the Corn Board of the National Corn Growers Association, a farmer-led trade association with offices in St. Louis and Washington.
A sixth-generation family farmer, Kevin and his wife, Sara, grow corn, soybeans, alfalfa and run a 140-head cow/calf operation. Growing corn using no-till methods, they hope to someday pass the farm on to their four young sons, Hudson, Axten, Carver and Hollis.
In his capacity as NCGA Chairman, Ross also chairs the Nominating Committee, co-chairs the Agri-Industry Council Executive Committee. He is a board member of the Bayer Grower Advisory Committee. In addition to serving on the Governance Committee, he chairs the National Corn Growers Association Foundation and serves as the association’s liaison to the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus and Growth Energy.
Previously, he has served as board liaison to the Food, Feed and Industrial Action Team, the Grower Services Action Team, the Production and Stewardship Action Team, and the Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team. He has also served as a member of NCGA’s Finance Committee, the association’s liaison to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and as 2017 Co-Chair of the Commodity Classic Joint Venture Committee.
Ross is a former president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and former chair of the Iowa AgState Initiative. He has also served as a director of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. As a board officer for Western Iowa Energy, a biodiesel plant, he served as a representative to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.
Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents nearly 40,000 dues-paying corn growers and the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 50 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to help protect and advance corn growers’ interests.
Chairman, National Corn Growers Association
United Soy Bean Board
Farm Panel 1PM-CST
April is a farmer and rancher. She farm’s her family’s century farm south of Hampton Iowa. The farm consists of approximately 1000 acres. This is her thirty-sixth year farming. The farm is corn, soybean rotation and pasture land. April is the full time farmer in this family and her husband works off farm.
April has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Iowa State University. From there she worked in a bank, ISU Agronomy Department doing research, Iowa Swine Testing Station in Ames, Legislative Aide for an Iowa Congressman in Washington D.C., and NK brand seeds doing research.
She serves on the United Soybean Board, USDA Foreign Ag Service Ag Trade Advisory Council, Soy Nutrition Institute Board of Directors, Iowa Soybean Assoc. Director, Iowa State University Ivy College of Business Department of Management Executive Advisory Council Member, Iowa Beginning Farmer Center Advisory Council, Iowa State University Ag Endowment Advisory Council, Iowa Department of Agriculture, Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award nominating committee, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group (I.S.G.) Lead User Group Member, Franklin County Soil & Water Commissioner (20+ years, Treasurer), Franklin County Farm Service Agency County Committee (Chairman) and township clerk.
She has served on the State Iowa Pork Producer Board, Governor’s Council on Ag Education, Iowa Dept. of Economic Development Value added Ag Committee, Iowa 4H Foundation Board, Iowa Cattlemen Association Special Events Committee, Franklin General Hospital Board of Trustees and helped to develop and served as first President of Iowa Women in Agriculture. Participated in Iowa Cattlemen’s Young Leader Program and Iowa Soybean Association’s Ag-Urban Leadership Program.
April has participated in writing many grants for projects involving educating women in agriculture with a focus on finance, marketing, intergenerational communication and to inform asset owners. Funders have included Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and Risk Management Education Agency North Central Region. Also has started a Women’s Grain Marketing Group.
Farm Panel 1PM-CST
President Minnesota Farm Bureau
General Manager, PC-Ag Solutions, Michigan
Farm Panel 1PM-CST
Michael Houghtaling was born in 1979 and grew up on the farm near Reese MI. He attended Michigan State University, majoring in the Crops and Soils Science program. Mike then moved back home to take a role in the family farm. Mike quickly started P&C Ag Solutions in 2000, to fill what he perceived as a lot of free time. He married his longtime sweetheart Erin in 2002. They live on the farmstead they purchased in Indiantown (between Reese and Saginaw). They have 2 sons, Phin age 11 and Felix age 8 that keep them very busy.
Farm Panel 1PM-CST
Dustin, 28, and Austin Stanton, 24, co-own and operate Stanton Brothers, the nation’s largest independent free range egg operation from Centralia, Missouri. Their operation is vertically operated in producing feed for the layers all the way to the sales of marketing of the eggs. They supply over 60 outlets including grocery stores, restaurants, nursing homes, baking entrepreneurs, public schools, and dining halls, such as at the University of Missouri. Dustin graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Agriculture Business and was the recipient of the 2014 National FFA American Star in Agribusiness Award. Austin graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Agricultural Systems Management and was the recipient of the 2018 National FFA American Star Farmer Award. Both are highly active in Farm Bureau, FFA Alumni, and their county’s Extension program.
Stanton Brothers Farms, Centralia, MO
CEO & Founder of HitchPin
Technology Panel 3PM-CST
Trevor McKeeman is the CEO & Founder of HitchPin. He is responsible for leading an exceptional team with deep technical & agricultural expertise. Trevor founded HitchPin after over 25 years of experience in the agriculture & technology industries. He saw the need to help with the equipment, labor, & economic conditions on his family’s farm & other farms around the country. HitchPin is the 3rd technology company Trevor has founded. Prior to startups, Trevor’s work included commercialization of intellectual property. He also led legislative strategy for then Congressman, now Senator, Jerry Moran in the policy areas of technology, agriculture, banking, energy, etc. Before moving to Washington DC he worked as a technology & strategy consultant at Andersen Consulting/Accenture. Trevor is a graduate of Kansas State University & the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was a Sloan Fellow. His career has been at the intersection of developing new technologies & commercializing them. He is an active supporter of many entrepreneurial, tech, ag, and civic initiatives, and has served on a community bank board for over 23 years. Trevor was raised farming near Abilene Kansas. He & his wife decided to return to KS from DC to raise their four children & prove that great tech companies can be built anywhere. They also enjoy flying their bush plane & helping with the family farm.
Weather Panel 4PM-CST
Elwynn Taylor is a well-known expert in climate impacts on agriculture and life in the Midwest. He is widely recognized for his clear explanations of the complexities of long-term weather variability. He is an agronomy professor emeritus at Iowa State University, where he worked and taught for more than 40 years. Dr. Taylor explains the complexities of our world in a manner that is clear, concise, and pleasant. He received his Doctorate degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Radio audiences recognize his voice from years of updates of the weather condition on many Iowa stations.
Extension Climatologist at Iowa State University
Director, USDA Midwest Climate Hub
Weather Panel 4PM-CST
Dr. Dennis Todey is the Director of the USDA Midwest Climate Hub in Ames. IA. The hub delivers actionable weather/climate information for agriculture in an eight state region over most of the Corn Belt. He has worked on regional weather and climate issues in the Missouri River Basin and Midwest for over a decade partnering with NOAA, Regional Climate Centers, state climatologists and state extension to help develop and deliver new information for agriculture. He is a frequent speaker on weather and climate issues in the Midwest and Plains. He was the former state climatologist for SD from 2003-2016.
Dr. Todey is a native Iowan, married with 4 children.
Weather Panel 4PM-CST
Dan Holiday was raised on a farm, east of El Dorado, Kansas. Throughout his childhood he built his own radio and weather station in his bedroom and began practicing his passion for a career. While in high school, Dan got his first job at KOYY Radio as an afternoon announcer. Since that time, he has worked at several radio stations including eleven years at KZSN-FM as mid-day on-air host and music director. In 2004, Dan moved to Kansas City to join KFKF-FM as the afternoon personality. In 2006, he earned certification as a Broadcast Meteorologist through Mississippi State University. Dan is a member of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society. Dan and The Storm Report Radio Network in partnership with affiliates won broadcast awards for “Best Severe Weather Coverage”. During the college basketball season, Dan roots for the Wichita State Shockers.
President & Co-Founder of The Storm Report, Meteorologist
United States Secretary of Agriculture
Keynote Speaker Friday 9AM-CST
Thomas J. Vilsack was confirmed as the 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture on Feb. 23, 2021 by the U.S. Senate.
He was nominated by President Joe Biden to return to a role where he served for eight years under President Barack Obama.
As leader of the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the 30th Secretary of Agriculture between 2009-2017, Vilsack worked hard to strengthen the American agricultural economy, build vibrant rural communities and create new markets for innovation in rural America. He fought to put Americans back to work by investing in rural infrastructure, renewable energy and large-scale conservation partnerships. Under his leadership, USDA supported America’s farmers, ranchers and growers who drove the rural economy forward, set records for U.S. agricultural exports, provided food assistance to millions of Americans, and helped provide a safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for the American people. USDA introduced healthier food choices in school meals to benefit 50 million children during Vilsack’s tenure and expanded free and reduced-price lunches for millions of kids.
Vilsack was the longest-serving member of President Obama’s original Cabinet. Prior to his appointment, he served two terms as the Governor of Iowa, served in the Iowa State Senate and as the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He received his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College and his law degree from Albany Law School in New York.
Prior to returning to USDA, he served as president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) from 2017 until February 2021. There, he provided strategic leadership and oversight of USDEC’s global promotional and research activities, regulatory affairs and trade policy initiatives.
A native of Pittsburgh, Penn., Vilsack was born into an orphanage and adopted in 1951. After graduating from law school, Vilsack moved to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, his wife Christie’s hometown, where he practiced law. The Vilsacks have two adult sons and two daughters-in-law—Doug, married to Janet; and Jess, married to Kate. They have four grandchildren.
Congressional AG Panel 10AM-CST
Senator Marshall is a former Congressman for Kansas’ Big 1st District, a physician, devoted father, grandfather, and husband. As a 5th generation farm kid growing up in Butler County, Dr. Marshall became the first in his family to attend college. After graduating from Butler County Community College, Dr. Marshall received his Bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and received his Medical Doctorate from the University of Kansas.
Dr. Marshall served in the Army Reserves for seven years and practiced medicine in Great Bend for more than 25 years. As an OB/GYN, Dr. Marshall delivered more than 5,000 babies, giving him a deep appreciation and passion for the sanctity of life and an intimate understanding of the healthcare system. During his time in medicine, Dr. Marshall was more than a physician, he was a business owner signing a paycheck every other week for 25 years for as few as 5 people, but eventually more than 300 people.
Faith and community continue to be pillars in Dr. Marshall’s life. He taught Sunday school for over 25 years and has served as an elder, deacon and board chairman of his church. He has coached numerous community and youth sports teams, and is a proud Rotarian, having served as past District Governor. He also has a passion for the outdoors, and spends as much time as possible at his family’s farm, the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and Cheyenne Bottoms.
Roger and his wife, Laina, have been married for 36 years and are the parents of four children, and have three grandchildren.
Senate AG Panel
House Ag Panel
Congressional AG Panel 10AM-CST
Tracey Mann was elected to the 117th Congress of the U.S. House of Representatives and serves the “Big First” District of Kansas. Congressman Mann is a tireless advocate for Kansas agriculture and conservative Kansas values.
Congressman Mann is a fifth generation Kansan, who was born and raised on his family farm just south of Quinter. He is also the fifth generation to live in the family farmhouse that his great-great-grandfather ordered from the Montgomery Ward catalogue in the early 1900’s. Growing up in production agriculture Congressman Mann learned the value of hard work at a young age as he spent thousands of hours in the fields and on the family feed yard. Some of his fondest memories of those days were working cattle with his grandfather, father, and brother on Saturday afternoons while listening to K-State football on the radio.
Congressman Mann proudly serves on the House Agriculture and House Veterans Affairs Committees.
Prior to representing the First District, Congressman Mann served Kansas as the 50th Lt. Governor of Kansas. Congressman Mann has worked in commercial real estate and served and on the loan committee for First National Bank Syracuse. Mr. Mann’s civic engagement includes serving on several boards for Kansas organizations including Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL), Kansas Chamber of Commerce, The City Teen Center in Salina, and Legacy Financial. Congressman Mann is a graduate of Kansas State University.
Tracey and his wife Audrey live in Salina, Kansas with their 4 children.
Congressional AG Panel 10AM-CST
When she first got to Washington in 2018, she fought for—and won—a spot on the Senate Agriculture Committee, because she said agriculture has always been critically important to Minnesota’s economic success. She quickly joined forces with Minnesota farm and community leaders to add Minnesota priorities to the 2018 Farm Bill, which has helped get producers through several years of a difficult farm economy. The five-year Farm Bill included several of her bipartisan provisions, including an expansion of rural broadband, an increase in the nation’s use of renewable fuels, improved health care in rural communities, and a strengthened farm safety net.
During the current pandemic, she has championed relief for agriculture and for rural communities, and made sure that rural health providers and businesses have access to federal pandemic assistance. As a member of the Senate Health Committee, she has championed the significant expansion of telehealth services that are important to Minnesota’s small towns and rural communities, and she’s successfully pushed to expand much-needed mental health services in Minnesota and across the country.
U.S. Senate
President/CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank
Financial/PPP Panel 11AM-CST
Shan is the President/CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Elkhart, KS and President/CEO of Elkhart Financial Corporation, a Bank Holding Company. In 2008, he was promoted to the President/CEO position of First National Bank of Elkhart. December 1st 2017 the bank completed a charter change to convert from a National bank to a State Chartered bank which was named Heartland Tri-State Bank. In September of 2011, he put an investment group together and purchased the bank from its former holding company. He has served as the President/CEO of the bank and holding company since inception.
He served on ABA’s Ag and Rural Banker Committee for five years from 2015-2019, serving as the Chairman in 2019. He is currently serving his second year on the ABA Government Relations Committee. He’s also served as Kansas Bankers Association Ag Division President in 2013-2014.
He has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee for Economic Growth Sub-Committee regarding Ag and Rural issues. He testified to the U. S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee regarding the 2018 Farm Bill. In 2017 he testified to the U.S. Treasury in regards to the Executive Order of Core Principles for Regulating the U.S. Financial System and in 2019 Testified to the U.S. House of Representatives Ag and Rural Banking Committee regarding the current state of Ag issues.
He is currently serving on the ABA’s Board of Directors, the KBA’s Board of Directors and Vice-Chairman, and on the Bureau of Consumer Protection’s Community Bankers Advisory Council.
Bio/Personal Achievements: Jared is Assistant Vice President and Ag Loan Officer based out of the Bay City Wilder Office. Jared grew up in Unionville and went on to Northwood University to graduate with a Triple Major in Automotive Marketing, Banking and Finance, and Management. He currently resides in Essexville with his wife. Outside of work, Jared enjoys farming with his family on their cash crop operation in Unionville, running road races, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Thumb Bank and Trust,
Bay City, Michigan
Vice President, Loan Officer, BTC Bank, Bethany, MO
Financial/PPP Panel 11AM-CST
Phillip Durbin is a Vice President/Loan Officer at BTC Bank in Bethany Missouri. He is extremely passionate about contributing to agriculture and his community through working in the finance industry. This passion stems from his involvement in FFA and FBLA growing up in Paris, Missouri and his time at the University of Missouri majoring in Agribusiness Management. Phillip and his wife Amanda currently live near Gallatin, Missouri where they raise two boys, Ian and Grant. Along with spending time with his family, Phillip enjoys the outdoors and exploring the rivers of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. Phillip has worked in the ag finance industry since he was 15 helping farmers plan and meet their financial goals through sound financial plans. Most recently he has helped spearhead the PPP loan program for all of BTC Bank.
Conservation Panel 1PM-CST
Brian was on the steering committee that helped shape the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition and is also the Chair of the Board. Brian grew up farming with his father in Redwood County, Minneota and always knew he wanted to continue the family farm. Brian and his father Bill, raise corn, soybeans, wheat, and rotationally graze cattle. Brian started experimenting with cover crops in 2010 and began integrating reduced tillage and no-till. They have also been reducing their fertilizer rates due to the increase in organic matter and the increased nutrient efficiency of their soils as they increase their soil health. Brian enjoys and is driven by the learning curve of increasing soil health, there are always things to learn and try out to incorporate into their management. Brian wants to improve his soils for his three children so that they will have a great baseline when they continue the family farm.
Brian previously worked for NRCS, and is employed at the Redwood SWCD in addition to farming with his father. Brian believes in the importance of education and information exchange and is involved in teaching children, colleagues, and farmers about the management of our resources completing demonstrations, hosting field days at his farm, is involved with testing of his soil and management.
Lead on the Minnesota Health Coalition
National Association of Conservation Districts
Conservation Panel 1PM-CST
Ryan Britt is a 5th generation farmer from north-central Missouri. His family farm produces corn, soybeans, and wheat and has a cow-calf to finished beef operation. Ryan is the National Association of Conservation Districts board member for Missouri as well as the immediate past President of the Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. He is also serving on several boards including Paseo Biofuels LLC executive board, Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation District and Chairman of the Deacons for the First Baptist Church of Salisbury. He is dedicated to conservation and sustainability for Missouri’s agriculture families. Ryan and his wife Rebecca have been married 19 years and are the parents of Lydea (12), Luke (10) and Lynelle (2).
Conservation Panel 1PM-CST
Charles (Chuck) Rice is a University Distinguished Professor and holds the Vanier University Professorship at Kansas State University. He is a Professor of Soil Microbiology in the Department of Agronomy. He earned his degrees from Northern Illinois University and the University of Kentucky. Dr. Rice teaches courses and conducts research on soil carbon and nitrogen, soil health, microbial ecology, and climate change impacts on agricultural and grassland ecosystems. His research includes work in several countries, especially Brazil. He has advised over 47 graduate students and 18 post-doctorates and has over 225 publications.
Dr. Rice has also served in numerous capacities with professional societies including President of the Soil Science Society of America in 2011. Internationally, he served on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to author a report on Climate Change in 2007 and 2014 and was among scientists recognized when that work won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2017, he received the “International” awards from the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy and was named the Hugh Hammond Bennett Awardee from the Soil and Water Conservation Society which recognizes exceptional service and national and international accomplishments in the conservation of soil, water, and natural resources. In 2020, Dr. Rice was recognized as Educator of the Year by the Mid America CropLife Association and received the honorary title of “National Associate” of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Rice chairs the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
University Distinguished Professor
Herbicide Panel
Herbicide Panel 3PM-CST
Kevin Bradley is a Professor and State Extension Weed Scientist in the Division of Plant Sciences at the University of Missouri. Kevin’s faculty appointment includes extension and research responsibilities in the area of applied weed management in corn, soybean, wheat, pastures, and forages. He also teaches a graduate level class in herbicide mechanism of action and has served as major advisor to 27 graduate or post-graduate students since his arrival at the University of Missouri in 2003. By far the largest percentage of Dr. Bradley’s research and extension efforts are directed towards the development of strategies for the management and mitigation of herbicide-resistant weed biotypes.
Herbicide Panel 3PM-CST
Sarah Lancaster began as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Kansas State University Agronomy Department in November 2019. Her efforts are focused on weed management extension and research. Sarah was raised on an integrated crop and livestock farm in east central Missouri and holds degrees from the University of Missouri, North Carolina State University, and Texas A&M University. Sarah and her husband, Phillip have two children, Levi, 8 and Caleb, 6.
Herbicide Panel
President, National Farmers Union (NFU)
AG Organizations Panel 4PM-CST
Rob Larew is president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), a grassroots organization that represents more than 200,000 family farmers and ranchers and rural communities across the Unites States. Before being elected to lead the organization at NFU’s 118th Anniversary Convention in 2020, Larew served as its vice president of public policy and communications.
Prior to his employment with NFU, Larew served over 22 years in Congress and USDA working on agriculture policy and communication. Most recently he was the staff director of the House Committee on Agriculture where he oversaw the committee’s efforts during the 2008 and 20014 farm bills. He previously served as the Director of Congressional and Public Affairs at the Food Safety and Inspection Service at USDA and worked as an agricultural aide to Rep. Collin Peterson and the late Sen. Paul Wellstone.
Larew was raised on a dairy farm in Greenville, West Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Science and completed graduate work in agronomy from Penn State.
AG Organizations Panel 4PM-CST
John Duff serves as executive vice president for National Sorghum Producers (NSP) and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP), where he provides leadership and analysis on a wide array of sorghum industry issues from markets to policy. In 2012, he received a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Texas Tech University and is currently working to complete his MBA, also from Texas Tech University.
Executive VP, National Sorghum Producers
President, American Farm Bureau Federation
AG Organizations Panel 4PM-CST
Zippy Duvall has served as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation since 2016. He is a third-generation farmer from Georgia. He owns a beef cow herd, raises broiler chickens and grows his own hay, all while continuing to restore the land he inherited.
Through his leadership as AFBF president, Duvall has helped to shape a new farm bill, defeat misguided regulations, shepherd new trade agreements and ensure farmers and ranchers are supported through natural disasters and the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2017, Duvall was honored by the National 4-H Council as a founding luminary, a group of influential 4-H alumni. Prior to being elected AFBF president, he was president of the Georgia Farm Bureau and served on the AFBF board of directors. Duvall and his late wife, Bonnie, were married for more than 40 years, raised four children and welcomed five grandchildren. They were honored with the national Young Farmer and Rancher Award in 1982.
Presented by HitchPin
