Tour Agenda

Tour Agenda

 

You've never experienced a farm tour like Conservation in Action!

From Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we'll travel to innovative farms that showcase best practices in conservation agriculture, hear from inspiring speakers, and experience behind-the-scenes industry stops that will make your 2025 planting season a memorable one.

All times are in local/Central Time and are subject to change

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Note: We still have plenty of room for our Conservation in Action Tour! However, our optional tour to POET has been filled. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for the POET tour, please email Elise. 

 

12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Biofuels Deep Dive: About 40% of U.S. corn is used in biofuel production, making it a critical contributor to U.S. agriculture and producers around the country. We've partnered with POET for a comprehensive look at the biofuels industry, its role in American agriculture, its importance to the country's producers, and the industry's work toward zero-carbon biofuel products. This excursion includes a behind-the-scenes tour of a processing facility that features alternative energy sources, bringing POET closer to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. (A hard hat will be provided, and closed-toed shoes are required.) Learn more about POET's sustainability initiatives.

  • 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m  Global Briefing on the Future of Biofuels
    • Jeff Broin, Founder and CEO, POET
    • Doug Berven, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, POET
    • Walt Bones, S.D. Farmer and Former S.D. Secretary of Agriculture (2011-2013) 
    • Dr. David Clay, Editor-in-Chief American Society of Agronomy, Distinguished Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry, and the SD Corn Endowed Chair in Precision Farming at South Dakota State University 
  • 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. POET Chancellor Plant Walking Tour
    • Tom Pierson, General Manager, POET
    • Josh Peterson, Environmental Services Manager, City of Sioux Falls

Reserve your spot on the POET Tour waiting list. Register today!

5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Annual Banquet: Join us for a celebration of conservation agriculture featuring locally sourced foods and distinctive South Dakota cuisine. We'll welcome attendees and feature a keynote speaker at the Icon Event Hall, just a few blocks from the host hotel. You won't want to miss this opportunity to network and learn about innovation in South Dakota at a fantastic venue. 

  • Cocktail Hour
    • Rainfall Simulator on patio with Natural Resource Conservation Service
      • Shane Jordan, Resource Conservationist, NRCS
      • Eric Barsness, Conservation Agronomist, NRCS 
      • Douglas Fiedler, Conservation Agronomist, NRCS 
    • Conservation Connector: Connecting Producers with Local Programs and Support
      • ​Leif Fixen, North American Agriculture Strategy Manager, The Nature Conservancy
      • Drew Kessler, Senior Scientist, Houston Engineering
    • Farmers for Soil Health
      • ​Teagan Duffy, Soil Health Specialist for Wisconsin
      • Justin Jelsma, Soil Health Specialist for South Dakota
  • Welcome and Opening Remarks
    • ​Mary Sutton Carruthers, Stewardship Manager at Syngenta & CTIC Board Member
    • Ryan Heiniger, Executive Director, Conservation Technology Information Center
    • David Ross, Trustee & Executive Committee, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe 
    • Evening Program
      • Adam Herges, Sustainability Agronomist Advisor at The Mosaic Company & CTIC Board Chair
      • Locally Led Conservation: Angela Ehlers, Executive Director, South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts
      • Global Vision for Biofuels Industry: Doug Berven, VP Corporate Affairs, POET 
  • Keynote Address: 

Flying in the Face of Fear: Courageous Leadership & Teamwork to Elevate Performance

​In this gripping keynote, Kim "KC" Campbell draws from an extraordinary combat experience to​ reveal how courage has the power to transform both leaders and teams—whether you’re navigating everyday challenges or high-stakes situations. She will take you inside the cockpit of her fighter jet during a harrowing mission when her aircraft was struck by enemy fire. Through this life-changing—and admittedly terrifying—experience, Kim shares why courageous leadership and teamwork are essential for elevating performance.
 
Leveraging her extensive experience as a fighter pilot and senior military leader, Kim unveils powerful insights into the mindset and culture that enable fighter pilots to sustain peak performance and make decisive choices under pressure. She shares the value of creating a "wingman culture"—where trust, collaboration, and mutual support are essential to fostering high-performance teams. Packed with actionable strategies from the cockpit, this keynote invites you to explore a unique perspective on leading with courage, equipping you to inspire bold action and elevate performance. 
 

 

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 

7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Conservation in Action Tour includes farm visits featuring conservation agriculture. Experience farming up close. Transportation will be provided for all attendees.

  • 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. USGS EROS Center Tour: Start your day with a VIP tour at the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. EROS manages the flights for the satellites Landsat 8 and Landsat 9, which create images of landscapes and cities across the world. These images are then analyzed to understand how places have changed over time. Join us for a tour of the facility and a special presentation on how EROS drives agricultural insights, including drought monitoring, vegetative change, spread of invasive grasses, managing severe weather events, and predictive modeling fueled by land-use trends to get a glimps of the future of habitats, biodiversity and farm ecosystems.
    • ​Terry Sohl, Branch Chief, Integrated Science and Applications, USGS EROS
    • Dr. Heath Hagy, Project Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET)
 
  • 9:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Get On-farm with Ryan and Christina Larson  
    • Welcome: South Dakota NRCS State Conservationist Tony Sunseri
    • ​Programs and Technical Assistance with Ryan and Christina Larson, producers in Minnehaha County: See first-hand how young farmers evolved from a traditional system to conservation management practices with a focus on economics and efficiency. 
    • Every Acre Counts: Crop Insurance for Conservation Management
      • Cristin Weber, Data Strategy Manager, Precision Risk Management
      • Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension Soil Fields Specialist
    • Strip-till station: See equipment up close
 
  • 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch at Morton Center
    • ​Lunch Program
      • Dr. A.J. Kumar, Vice President of Sustainability Sciences for Indigo Agriculture and CTIC Board Member
      • Kevin Robling, Secretary, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
      • Governor Larry Rhoden: Update on State Conservation Efforts and Strategies
      • Featured Panel Discussion: Real Talk on the State of Soil Conservation
        • Moderated by Mike Lessiter, President of Lessiter Media 
        • Brian Hefty, CEO, Hefty Seed
        • Brian Chatham, Manager of Agronomy, Ducks Unlimited
        • Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, President of Field to Market & 6th generation Indiana Farmer
  • 1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visit the award-winning Stiefvater Farm. 

Kurt and Kathy Stiefvater, generational farmers along with their three daughers, were named winners of the American Soybean Association’s 2025 Conservation Legacy Award for the Upper Midwest Region in March, and the family was named South Dakota FFA Foundation Family of the Year in 2024. They grow 1,800 acres of oats, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and sorghum with a no-till system, which has been used for 25 years. Cover crops after small grains provide livestock feed, minimizing the hay needed for cattle. For the last 30 years, cows have calved in May and June to mimic nature. You'll see exceptional conservation from a leading producer, and you'll learn more about soil health and quality with various onsite soil testing stations with our partners at the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.

  • Infiltration testing and other soil evaluation methods 
  • Equipment demonstration: No-till planting into cover crops
  • Grazing covers demonstration: Programs, tools and technology 
 
 
 

4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Visit Falls Park: Learn how urban planning and agriculture production work together in this success story of shared resource management that ensures water quality and availability for the region. 

The Big Sioux River Project (BSRP) is leading the way to improve water quality not just in the Big Sioux River, but throughout the entire Big Sioux River watershed. We offer financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers, and information, education, and outreach around water quality to the entire watershed. 

  • Liz Larson, South Dakota State Senate, District 10
  • Jay Gilbertson, Manager, East Dakota Water Development District
  • Rachel Kloos, Board Member/Treasurer, Friends of Big Sioux River 
 

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Closing Reception: Unwind at the host hotel with newfound friends and old ones after an immersive day on-farm and behind the scenes that will keep your work recharged for months to come. Our closing reception will feature the 2025 CTIC Hall of Fame induction ceremony and recognition of the people and organizations that are moving conservation agriculture forward. 

  • Dr. Leanna Nigon, Director of Research and Agronomy at TFI and CTIC Board Member
  • Ed Lammers, United Soybean Board Director and 5th generation farmer: Update on Soy Checkoff Initiatives from the United Soybean Board
  • Louis Aspey, Associate Chief, USDA-NRCS: 90 Years of Conservation
  • Hall of Fame Inductee Recognition
    • ​Dr. Dwayne Beck
    • David Brandt (awarded posthumously) 
  • 2026 Tour Announcement

7:30 p.m. Adjourn (Dinner on your own)

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