Kent has over 40 years of experience in farm management and agricultural lending with MinnStar Bank and the U of M Extension Service. He is responsible for all aspects of agricultural lending. Kent writes a weekly ag column titled “Focus on Ag”. He currently serves on the Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial School Board, and is active in a variety of organizations including Independent Bankers of MN, GreenSeam, SCC Center for Agriculture, MN Farm Bureau, MN Famers Union, MN Agri-Growth Council and Farmfest. Kent has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from University of Minnesota.

Brian Werner was appointed Executive Director of MN Bio-Fuels on Sept 26, 2022. A native of Marshall, MN, Brian’s prior experience includes working for Sen. Amy Klobuchar as Deputy Legislative Director/Senior Legislative Assistant for renewable energy and agriculture. Throughout that time, he supported the Senator’s work to protect mandatory funding for Farm Bill energy title programs, maintain stability in the implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard, provide economic relief for biofuel producers negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and secure federal investment in biofuel infrastructure.

Brian also spent time on Capitol Hill in the offices of former Congressman Collin Peterson and former U.S. Senator, Tim Johnson, of South Dakota. He received his BA from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a master’s degree in public policy and public administration from American University in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Reese has been the Renewable Energy Director at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris since 2001. He has overseen the development of the renewable-energy program at Morris and has participated as Principle Investigator or Project Manager on more than $18 million of research and demonstration projects including wind energy, biomass gasification, renewable hydrogen and ammonia, and solar-energy systems. Reese is leading the renewable-energy program’s new strategy to reduce fossil-energy consumption in agricultural production systems through incorporating renewable and efficient energy technologies. He has addressed numerous national and regional conferences on the topic of renewable energy. Reese assumed the role as Director of Operations August 2022.

Brad Carlson is an Extension Educator with University of Minnesota Extension. His work focuses on nutrient management, water quality, and precision agriculture. He grew up on a small farm north of Janesville in Waseca County. He has a bachelor’s degree in Soil Science from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, and a master’s degree in Soil Science with a minor in agronomy from the University of Minnesota. He has worked for University of Minnesota Extension since October of 1994. He is based out of the Mankato Regional Office, and his responsibilities are state-wide.

Eyota farmer Dana Allen-Tully, who operates a dairy and crop farm with her parents and brother, takes over as president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association from Richard Syverson of Clontarf.

Wolle has farmed for 47 years near Madelia. Wolle joined the Minnesota Corn Growers Association board in 2012 and served as its president in 2016-17.

Allen-Tully has a doctorate in ruminant nutrition, with a focus on dairy. She was a fellow for the Federation of Animal Science Societies in Washington, D.C., for one year. She returned to Eyota in 2003.

Dana Vanderbosch was appointed assistant commissioner for water policy and agriculture in 2022. She brings to the role 27 years of state service and extensive leadership experience within MPCA’s water programs. This includes oversight of monitoring and assessment activities, implementation of the state’s Clean Water Act-delegated permit programs, and coordination with state and local partners to develop and implement the Clean Water Fund watershed management framework.

Dana previously served as director of the MPCA’s Municipal Division, where she helped develop legislative strategies to address aging infrastructure, the impacts of climate change, and PFAS challenges. She also served three years as a manager of Parks and Trails Division in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, where she was responsible for prioritizing infrastructure rehabilitation.

Thom Petersen was appointed Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture by Governor Tim Walz in 2019 and reappointed in 2023.

Commissioner Petersen is a long-time resident of Royalton Township near Pine City where he lives on a horse farm. Before being appointed Commissioner, Petersen served as the Director of Government Relations for Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) since 2002, working on behalf of MFU’s farmer-members in both Washington, D.C., and St. Paul.

Prior to his work at the Minnesota Farmers Union, Commissioner Petersen spent most of his life working for his family and his own horse and farm business. He has a wide range of experience in state and federal farm policy, and travels to almost every county in Minnesota each year to fully understand how these policies affect farmers’ daily lives. He has served on many boards and committees, including the University of Minnesota Extension Citizens Advisory Committee, Farmers Legal Action Group, Minnesota Ag in the Classroom, Minnesota State Organic Task Force, and the Minnesota Rural Broadband Coalition.

Ann Marie’s work in youth and community development began in 1989. Her passions have blended for education and agriculture through career transitions from Midland Intermediate School District- Vocational Education, PBS/Department of Education – Ready to Learn Outreach Services, to University of Minnesota Extension-Youth Development 4-H.

In 2019, she joined the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. Foundation as the Executive Director. She is passionate about agricultural literacy and cultivating collaborations that empower educators and advocates to help students see there is a place for everyone in agriculture. Ann Marie works with the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom team to create opportunities to empower educators to infuse agriculture into their classrooms. These opportunities require investors, Ann Marie works to maintain and forge new partnership/relationships with investors and content experts to sustain successful outreach programs, grow impact, support innovated additions to programming and share the story of Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom.

Emily and her husband Ryan are fifth generation farmers, raising three young children, in south central Minnesota. They grow corn and soybeans and have a small herd of angus cattle for direct-to-consumer beef sales. Emily is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Teaching and Learning from Minnesota State University-Mankato. She was a fifth grade teacher for eight years.

Keri Sidle is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. She discovered her passion for agricultural education while serving as an Ambassador for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Florida. She helped open two new agricultural education programs at public schools both in suburban areas during her 6 years of teaching.

Matt Herman is the chief officer of demand and advocacy at the Iowa Soybean Association. He is passionate about leveraging policy to support a more productive, profitable, and sustainable soybean rotation. To expand opportunities Matt bridges the divide between policymakers, scientists, and industry.

Matt has worked in private and public roles including at Renewable Energy Group (now Chevron), BIO, and the National Biodiesel Board. Matt went to Iowa State University where he studied policy and bioenergy.

A past president of the National Pork Producers Council and the Minnesota Pork Producers Association, Randy Spronk serves on the board of directors of Wholestone Farms and is president and managing partner for Spronk Brothers Holding, which includes operations that produce pork and feedgrains, along with feed milling and delivery.

Lucas Garcia Mansilla is currently an Expert Commodity Trader at CHS responsible for the Soybeans CIF trading on the Mississippi River and exports out of CHS’s Myrtle Grove, Louisiana export terminal. A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina Lucas joined CHS in 2017, where he worked in the Argentinian office as a soybean and corn trader for Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Lucas moved to the U.S. in March 2021 to be a trader on the global soybean desk. Lucas has been in the industry since 2010 and has worked for Louis Dreyfus Company and COFCO prior to joining CHS.

Dr. D’Alfonso is responsible for providing oversight, marketing skills, and critical strategic direction to USSEC’s Animal and Aquaculture Programs. He has more than 30 years of international business management experience with global animal health and nutrition companies and holds advanced degrees in agricultural engineering, statistics, and animal nutrition. Before joining USSEC, Tom was consulting with feed mills and animal producers in the areas of health and nutrition, natural resource management, supply chain and operations, and biosecurity.  He enjoys creating value with data and working with exciting teams.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomdalfonso/

Walter is a Senior Commodity Strategist at HTS Commodities.  He brings 15 years of experience of analyzing and trading agricultural, livestock, energy, softs and metals derivatives.  Throughout his career he has specialized in developing institutional trading and risk management strategies that focus on applied fundamental and quantitative analysis.  His background includes working for multinational agri-processors, hedge funds and as an economist at the United States Department of Agriculture.

Becky, with 20 years of combined military and combat medic/EMT experience, is an adjunct faculty member at SCC. Her journey from a rural Minnesota farm to Army reserves active duty and later to the classroom, has fueled her dedication to training the next generation of EMT professionals. Becky holds a BS in Health Sciences and is renowned for her many roles as an Minnesota EMT and industry instructor. She passionately focuses on instilling both competence and compassion in life-saving care.

Shannah Mulvihill has served as the executive director of Mental Health Minnesota since 2015, which provides free and anonymous mental health services and support across the state of Minnesota. She also serves as a Regional Policy Council Representative for Mental Health America. She has worked in the non-profit and public sectors for 20+ years in the areas of communications, development, public policy and organizational leadership. Shannah holds a Masters Degree in counseling psychology from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, and has served as a volunteer counselor for the Walk-In Counseling Clinic and Crisis Connection

Tim’s keynote is a perfect blend of jaw-dropping magic, face-hurting laughter, and mind-blowing insight! This presentation is specifically designed to grab attendees by the face and not let them go till the end.

Sue Knott’s agriculture roots were established on her family’s farm in southwestern Minnesota. Experiences in 4-H, FFA and helping raise crops and livestock, inspired her to earn a degree in agricultural education from the University of Minnesota. She taught high school Agricultural for nine years before joining the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom team in 2012 as an Education Specialist. Sue trains K-12 educators and college/university students who are preparing to become K-12 educators. She works with educators to increase their comfort and confidence in utilizing agricultural content to enhance their curriculum.