Agenda (Subject to change, all time local)

View Concurrent Session and Poster Abstracts in the Ag Risk Library

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

TimeEvent
12:00 p.m. CTConference Registration Open
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.“Cultivating AI Confidence: From Prompt to Practice” Pre-Conference

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

TimeEvent
7:15 a.m.  Conference Registration Open
7:15 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
8:00 a.m. General Session – Welcome and Keynote Address

Roots, Rates and Returns: The Ag Economy in 2026
Blaine Nelson, Senior Economist on the Strategy, Research, and Analytics team at Farmer Mac
9:20 a.m. 

Concurrent Session A:

  • Arches: Approaching a Farmer in Financial Trouble: Assessing the Problem Type, Kevin Klair
  • Deer Valley: Integrating Expert Insights into Agricultural Risk Education, Emmanuel Okolo
  • Sundance-Solitude: Heat Illness Train-the-Trainer Program for Colorado Agricultural Workers, Whitney Pennington
  • Power Mountain-Snowbird: Coordinated Extension Education for Meat Supply Chain Risk, Libby Christensen
  • Alta-Brighton: Improving Ranch Economics Using an Open Cow Decision Replacement Tool, Jon Biermacher
10:00 a.m.

Concurrent Session B:

  • Arches: Approaching a Farmer in Financial Trouble: Evaluating Alternatives with Confidence, Kevin Klair
  • Deer Valley: Empowering Texan Farmers Through Digital Agriculture, Yuri Calil
    Sundance-Solitude: Western Regional Ag Stress Assistance Partnership, Maddy Vanderkooy
  • Power Mountain-Snowbird: Retail Meat Sales Considerations and Pricing, Darlene Livingston
  • Alta-Brighton: Livestock Risk Management – Tools and Tips for Teaching LRP, Garth Ruff
10:30 a.m. Networking Break
11:00 a.m. 

Concurrent Session C:

  • Arches: Empowering Producers to Identify and Respond to Financial Stress, Erica Barnes Fields
  • Deer Valley: Nebraska Beginning Farmers and Ranchers: Beginning, Managing, and Transitioning, Anastasia Meyer
  • Sundance-Solitude: A Multifaceted Approach to Employment Risk Education, Emily Round
  • Power Mountain-Snowbird: Using Cooperatives as a Risk Management Strategy, Steve Richards
  • Alta-Brighton: Keeping Livestock Safe and Healthy During Fires: Disaster Preparedness Program, Tracy Schohr
11:40 a.m.

Concurrent Session D:

  • Arches: Flex Leases and Crop Shares for Farm and Ranch Profitability, Jim Jansen
  • Deer Valley: Leveraging FSA Online Tools to Help Farmers, Pauline Van Nurden
  • Sundance-Solitude: Exploring H2A Farm Labor in the Mid-Atlantic Region, Nate Bruce
  • Power Mountain-Snowbird: Assessing OBBBA: Tax Risk Management for Farms and Ranches, Rob Holcomb
  • Alta-Brighton: Managing Soybean Production Risk with the Buckeye Bean Bot, Michael Estadt
12:15 p.m.Lunch / Outstanding Project Award Presentation / 25th Anniversary Recognition
2:00 p.m. 

Concurrent Session E:

  • Arches: Expanding WV Agritourism Development through Holistic Risk-Management Programming, Doolarie Singh-Knights
  • Deer Valley: Outstanding Project Award Winner – Southern Center – Where’s the Beef?  Video Series, Tiffany Dowell Lashmet and Kara Matheney
  • Sundance-Solitude: Strengthening Farm and Ranch Family Finances: Financial Wellbeing Toolkit, Maria Pippidis
  • Power Mountain-Snowbird: Bridging Gaps in Agritourism Operators’ Support, Claudia Schmidt and Jason Entsminger
  • Alta-Brighton: USDA – Risk Management Agency Update, Sean Patrick
2:40 p.m.

Concurrent Session F:

  • Arches: Improved Lives: Iowa Annie’s Project Long-Term Impact Study, Ryan Drollette
  • Deer Valley: Outstanding Project Award Winner – Western Center -Agritourism Intensive 2024: Managing the Risks of Agritourism for California Farm and Ranch Diversification, Rachael Callahan
  • Sundance-Solitude: Mental Health Resilience in the Face of Ecological Distress, Maud Powell
  • Power Mountain-Snowbird: Risks and Opportunities in Providing Direct to Consumer Beef, Kelsey Story
  • Alta-Brighton: Navigator Program: Crop Insurance Overview, Chimere Hampton
3:10 p.m.Networking Break
3:40 p.m.

Concurrent Session G:

  • Arches: Strengthening Beginning Farmer Education Through Community College Partnerships, Ashlee Westerhold
  • Deer Valley: Meeting Community Needs: High-Tunnel Risk Management Strategies for Nevada Growers, Andrew Waaswa
  • Sundance-Solitude: Beyond the Handshake: Learn Negotiation via Online Simulations and Modules, John P. Hewlett
  • ower Mountain-Snowbird: Tax considerations when working with producers under financial duress, Ruby Ward
  • Alta-Brighton: Leveraging the FARM Champion Network to Support Farm Risk Management, Ahlishia Shipley
6:00 p.m. Poster Session and Networking Reception

Thursday, April 16, 2026

TimeEvent
7:15 a.m. Conference Registration Open
7:15 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
8:00 a.m. General Session – Capstone Address

Translating Farm & Food Tomorrow  
Michele Payn, Certified Speaking Professional & Author, Cause Matters Corp
9:20 a.m. 

Concurrent Session H:

  • Arches: Farm Bill Update, Nathan Hulinsky
  • Deer Valley: Outstanding Project Award Winner – Northeast Center – Overcoming Risk During Climate Variability: The Importance of Recordkeeping in Small Scale Farming, Jennifer Hashley
  • Sundance-Solitude: Faces of Direct-to-Consumer: Highlighting DTC Producers Across Alabama, Calen Monroe
  • Power Mountain-Snowbird: Evaluating a Decade of Agricultural Tax Education Outcomes, Rob Holcomb
  • Alta-Brighton: AgFTAP Cooperators: Supporting Farmers Experiencing Financial Challenges, Alicia Netterville
10:00 a.m.

Concurrent Session I:

  • Arches: “Broiler Buddy” Helping Contract Broiler Growers Make Better Business Decisions, Dennis Brothers
  • Deer Valley: Outstanding Project Award Winner – North Central Center – Pasture and Livestock Risk Management Education for Missouri Small Ruminant Farmers, Homero Salinas-Gonzalez
  • Sundance-Solitude: Growing the Intermountain West Cut Flower Industry: Identifying Market Opportunities, Kynda Curtis
  • Power Mountain-Snowbird: An Exploration of Landowner Rights and Responsibilites in WV, Jodi Shelton
  • Alta-Brighton: Strategies for Growing Attendance at Extension Events, Susanne Hinrichs
10:30 a.m. Networking Break
11:00 a.m. 

Concurrent Session J:

  • Arches: Better Land Decisions Start with AgSite, Ryan Milhollin
  • Deer Valley: Advancing Farm Transition Education Through Online Programming, David Marrison
  • undance-Solitude: Strengthening Local Meat Supply Chains With Strategic Engagement, Sarah Blacklin
  • Power Mountain-Snowbird: Assessing Value Added for Farms and Ranches, Ruby Ward
  • Alta-Brighton: Strengthening Risk Management Education: Measuring Farm and Ranch Business Resilience, Melissa Gordon
11:40 a.m.  General Session – Closing
12:00 p.m. Adjourn