FARM FORWARD CONFERENCE

Brett is a West Point graduate and former Army Intelligence Officer turned agri-business innovator. As founder of Idealyst Innovation and Aimpoint Research, he brings over two decades of leadership and a mission-driven approach to solving on-farm challenges and shaping the future of American agriculture.

Presentation Title: Harnessing the Storm - Maximizing Farm Potential in a Time of Dynamic Change

Duane leads NCFC’s mission to advance farmer cooperatives through sound policy, innovation, and sustainability. With decades of experience in agricultural affairs and executive leadership—including roles at Bayer Crop Science—he brings a proven track record of shaping policy and driving growth across the ag industry.

Presentation Title: Policy Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture 

Jason holds a master’s in agronomy from Purdue and brings over a decade of experience in crop production, plant nutrition, and weed control. At Keystone Cooperative, he leads technical training and agronomy education across Northern Indiana and Michigan.

With 35 years in the farming industry and degrees in Agronomy from Purdue, Jeff provides technical support and training for Keystone Cooperative locations and farmers across Northwest and West Central Indiana.

Scott is a leading expert in agricultural engineering, specializing in precision agriculture, autonomous systems, and UAV strategies. With over $20M in research funding and 200+ publications, he is a Fellow of ASABE and a recognized innovator in ag technology.

Presentation Title: AI: the Next Revolution in Agriculture

With nearly 40 years of experience, Shawn leads safety and risk management for Keystone Cooperative. A lifelong advocate for agricultural safety, he serves on multiple industry boards and committees, bringing deep expertise to protect farms and communities.

Thomas Halverson is CoBank’s chief executive officer, responsible for driving the bank’s strategic direction. With extensive leadership experience in agribusiness and finance—including senior roles at Goldman Sachs—he brings deep expertise in risk management and global banking to advance CoBank’s mission.

Presentation Title: Today’s Farm Economy vs Farm Structure