Speakers

Aaron Brooker is the Field Sales Agronomist for Beck’s Hybrids serving Michigan and Northwest Indiana. Aaron strives to help farmers maximize profitability on their farms by helping to improve management practices and works closely with Beck’s Practical Farm Research and university researchers to bring agronomic insights to the farm. Aaron completed his Ph.D. in 2019… Continue reading →

Originally from southwest Missouri, Andy Vickers grew up on a family farm raising corn, soybeans, hogs and cattle. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Andy’s career has spanned farms, fields and feedlots in 11 states before moving to South Dakota in 2020. In his current position Andy serves as the Agronomy Manager for POET… Continue reading →

In 2019, Benn received his bachelor’s degree in Agri-Business Management from MSU. He married Brooke, a farm girl from Big Rapids, and they are expecting their first child in Spring of 2026. Benn is a part of his family operated feedlot and cash crop farm in Sand Lake, MI. He joined the Ag Department at… Continue reading →

Chad Yagow has spent his lifetime in agriculture. Having grown up on a Central Illinois corn and soybean farm, Chad has parlayed his love of agriculture into a 25+ year career, first with DeKalb and Pioneer as part of their corn breeding research efforts, then with John Deere where he worked for 24+ years as… Continue reading →

Clay Bolt is the Manager of Pollinator Conservation for World Wildlife Fund–US, where he leads efforts to protect pollinators by reducing pesticide impacts and promoting healthy, productive landscapes. Working closely with agronomists, scientists, and conservation partners, Clay helps develop practical, field-based solutions that support integrated pest management, habitat creation, and the long-term sustainability of agriculture…. Continue reading →

Dan graduated from Cornerstone University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He married Marcy, an upper peninsula farm girl, in 1994. They have three adult daughters. Dan and Marcy operate a cow-calf farm of 30 black angus near Fremont, MI. Dan joined Newaygo Insurance Agency in 2007 and purchased it in 2013. He has… Continue reading →

Dennis is the wheat systems specialist at MSU. In partnership with the Michigan Wheat Program, Dennis conducts research and extension programming aimed at helping wheat farmers increase yields, manage disease, reduce inputs, improve environmental sustainability, and maximize profits.

Dr. Andrew Muhammad is a Professor and Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He brings considerable experience to the Blasingame Chair position, assisting decision makers in the evaluation of opportunities, policies, and programs related to international trade. Dr. Muhammad… Continue reading →

Dr. Beth Hall is the Indiana State Climatologist, director of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, and manager of the Purdue Mesonet. With over 30 years of climate services experience, she has dedicated her efforts toward identifying opportunities for climate data to be transformed into decision-support tools and resources for a variety of sectors across the… Continue reading →

Dr. Christy Sprague is a Professor and Weed Extension Specialist at Michigan State University, in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Science. Christy provides leadership and expertise, working to educate on management strategies for emerging problematic weeds in soybean, small grains, and other crops, specializing in management of herbicide-resistant weeds. During her career, Christy… Continue reading →

As the North America Director of Regenerative Crop Systems, Ryan leads TNC’s strategy development for increasing regenerative crop system adoption. Prior to his current role at TNC, Ryan served as Senior Manager for Grower Engagement at Indigo Ag working on building carbon credit opportunities for growers using regenerative practices. Ryan also served as the Director… Continue reading →

Ed Parsons is a certified safety professional and investigator for the Michigan Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (MIFACE) research program in the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Michigan State University. His previous work includes workplace hazard assessment, injury and fatality investigation, safety training, and consulting. He also served 24 years in the U.S…. Continue reading →

Jacob Shapiro is the Director of Research at Bespoke Group, which protects, grows, and compounds wealth and meaning for successful entrepreneurs and families. He hosts “The Jacob Shapiro Podcast”, which features interviews with subject matter experts in geopolitics, technology, agriculture, and other fields. He holds a master’s degree with distinction from Oxford University and a bachelor’s degree… Continue reading →

Jamie Green is an Occupational Health Consultant with the Consultation Education and Training Division of MIOSHA. Jamie currently provides consultation and training services for Northern Michigan counties. Before working with the State of Michigan, Jamie was International Standardization Organization (ISO) chairperson where he was tasked with reviewing quality documents and filling gaps in the company’s… Continue reading →

Jeferson Pimentel is an agronomist and Ph.D. student in Purdue University’s Department of Agronomy. He earned an M.S. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from the University of Arkansas, with a specialization in water management for row crops. He also worked as a Research Project Analyst, focusing on greenhouse gas mitigation in rice production. At Purdue,… Continue reading →

Monica Jean serves central lower Michigan with an emphasis on the Saginaw Bay watershed region. She earned her BS in Biology from Central Michigan University, MS in Animal Science from MSU and is currently enrolled in her PhD in Crop and Soil Science at MSU. Monica enjoys conducting practical, on-farm research to improve the livelihood… Continue reading →

Paul Neiffer, CPA is a nationally recognized speaker that presents various farm topics including income taxes and farm program payment planning. Paul writes a column for Top Producer and is the author of the FarmCPAReport.com blog.

Pete Probst is the technical director of the Michigan Advanced Biofuels Coalition (MiABC) and President of Indigenous Energy. Pete works with stakeholders across the Midwest to overcome any obstacles to using renewable fuels.

Sarah Zastrow is a dynamic speaker, farm stress podcaster, and advocate for resilience in agriculture and beyond. As the founder of Cultivate Balance, she empowers individuals and organizations to manage stress, prevent burnout, and build practical tools for mental and physical well-being. Through engaging workshops, keynotes, and hands-on training, She blends humor, science, and real-world… Continue reading →

Steve Kluemper (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevekluemper) is the Founder and President of AgriStrategies LLC (https://agristrategiesllc.com/), headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan, which assists agricultural producers, processors, suppliers and co-ops with improving their cash flow, profitability and financial management by helping them communicate their vision for their company’s future, manage their business and especially their finances, facilitate discussions with customers,… Continue reading →

Susan Stroud is the founder of No Bull Agriculture, an independent agricultural market intelligence firm known for delivering straightforward, data-driven insights. With over 15 years of hands-on experience in U.S. grain markets—from country elevators to river terminals—she brings a deep, practical understanding of the industry. A graduate of Texas A&M University with degrees in business… Continue reading →