Kathie LaPoint, an agronomist for Pioneer Seed, discusses her background and involvement in the Colorado Ag Leadership Program (CALP). She highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in agriculture, having grown up in town with farm ties from her mother's side. LaPoint emphasizes the common challenges faced by ag producers across the U.S., such as government overreach and water scarcity. She also details the upcoming Colorado Ag Forum, themed "Rooted in Resilience," focusing on policy impacts and economic challenges. The event will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and workshops, aiming to provide valuable insights and networking opportunities for attendees.

Erich Miche, CEO of SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education), and Brent Boydston, a board member, discussed the organization's mission to eliminate the stigma of suicide and provide resources for prevention. Founded 36 years ago, SAVE collaborates with various organizations, including the CDC and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to offer tools like physical barriers and gun locks. They emphasized the importance of open conversations about suicide and introduced their programs, One Step Ahead, to help individuals recognize and intervene in potential suicides.

Garrett, a precision agronomist and team lead at Advanced Agrilytics, discusses the company's focus on agronomic consulting using proprietary and patented tools for sub-acre management. They analyze farm data to create tailored strategies for seeding, fertility, and fungicide applications, considering factors like soil moisture and nitrogen loss. 

Williams highlights the importance of sub-acre management decisions, citing examples from the 2025 planting season. He also emphasizes the role of research conducted by Advanced Agrilytics and its sister company, AIP, in informing data-driven decisions to optimize crop performance and profitability. Garrett advises farmers to focus on management during the 2026 planting season to ensure profitability amidst tight margins.

Vikkie Becker a farmer from Northwest Morgan County, discussed her extensive involvement in agriculture and leadership programs. She works part-time at a local radio station and is part of the Illinois Soybean Association LEAD program, serving as a mentor. Vicki also leads Illinois Agri Women, an affiliate of American Agri Women, with around 250-300 members. She highlighted the "Women Changing the Face of Ag" conference and the new "AG Go 3" program. Additionally, Vicki is involved in raising goats and is considering running for county commissioner, balancing her busy schedule with her passion for agriculture.

Beth Ray, an ag business management instructor at Northeastern Junior College, discusses her role in helping farmers and ranchers with bookkeeping and business planning. She also runs a first-generational farm in Joes, Colorado, with her husband, focusing on dryland crops and a custom hay business. Beth transitioned from being an FFA advisor to a part-time junior college instructor to balance family and business. 

She joined the Colorado Ag Leadership Program (CALP) to enhance her skills and network. Beth highlights her experiences, including a cranberry farm visit in Massachusetts, and her involvement in planning the upcoming Governor's Ag Forum in Westminster, Colorado, with a theme of "Rooted in Resilience."

Ian O’Banion, the new Stewardship, Innovations, and Industry Partners Manager at the Colorado Corn Promotion Council, discussed his background and role. His responsibilities include managing research proposals, focusing on water quality, sustainability, and new uses for corn. 

Thaddeus Bates, senior manager of applied research at Nutrien Ag Solutions, discussed the importance of data in agriculture. He emphasized the need for data to drive decisions, especially with tight margins and high variability. Bates highlighted the role of precision agriculture in managing soil variability and optimizing fertility inputs. He noted that data helps in right-sizing rates and matching products to environments. For 2026, Bates advised growers to focus on maximizing ROI amidst tight budgets and high input costs. He also mentioned the importance of local agronomists in accessing innovation farm insights, which are available to all growers, not just Nutrien clients.

Cyndi Hofmeister, Executive Director of Colorado Ag in the Classroom, discussed her role and the program's mission to increase agricultural literacy. The program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides free or low-cost educational materials to classrooms, reaching 350,000 people annually. They have expanded from 400 classrooms in 2023 to 2,400 in 2025. Key projects include the Readers Journey 2050, literacy kits, and the Colorado Ag Institute. Hoffmeister highlighted recent collaborations with the Colorado Beef Council, Colorado Wheat Growers, and the Colorado Potato Administration Committee. The program aims to connect students and teachers to food, fiber, fuel, and natural resources, aligning with state standards and STEAM education.

Mark Gebhards, the Illinois Farm Bureau Eagle award winner, discussed his extensive career in agriculture as he was named the Illinois Farm Bureau Eagle Award winner at the 2025 annual meeting. 

Kevin Brooks,  University of Illinois Extension farm business management and marketing educator, discusses the importance of evaluating balance sheets for farm businesses. He notes that while many farms are in good shape, others are struggling, with some potentially facing insolvency despite government programs.