Join us for a wide variety of speakers covering a range of topics that farmers and agriculture professionals alike will benefit from. Attendance at the speaker sessions is complimentary for Farm Show attendees.
2026 Speaker Lineup Information
Tuesday, February 24th
- 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Session A – Reinventing a Family Dairy: The Amo Creamery Story
Speaker – Ethan Johnson - 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Session B – Cover Crop Biomass: How Quantity Shapes Quality of Benefits
Speaker – Anna Cates - 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Session A – Building Ecological and Economic Opportunities for Dairy Heifer Grazing
Speaker – Sarah Lloyd - 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Session B – Raising Pastured Pork
Speaker – Patrick Toomey - 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Incorporating Alternative Forages into Dairy and Livestock Systems
Speaker – Kent Solberg
Wednesday, February 25th
- 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Session A – Conservation Grazing: Practical Options to Benefit Your Land and Livestock
Speaker – George Boody - 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Session B – 1925 or 2025? The Homesteading Revolution
Speaker: Mary Fischer - 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Session A – Reclaiming the Back Forty: One Farmer’s Story of Winning the Battle Against Buckthorn
Speaker – Bryan Simon - 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Session B – Profits on a Small Diversified Farm
Speaker – Joel Barr - 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Estate Planning and How to Effectively Implement It
Speakers – Kathy Hommerding, John Wenker, CPA to be announced
Speaker sessions brought to you by our partners, the Sustainable Farming Association
2026 Session and Speaker Information
Reinventing a Family Dairy: The Amo Creamery Story
Rising transportation costs and the loss of nearby creameries forced the Johnson family of Heron Lake, MN to ask a hard question: What does the future of our dairy look like? After returning from South Dakota State University with a degree in Dairy Manufacturing, Ethan Johnson began exploring a new path for the family farm. That path meant scaling back the herd, returning to grazing, and processing milk on-site. With support from his family and local community, the Johnsons launched Amo Creamery, producing and selling dairy products directly through their on-farm creamery and store. In this session, Ethan shares the story of transitioning from a conventional dairy to a more regenerative, community-centered model—and the challenges, lessons, and opportunities that came with it.
Speaker: Ethan Johnson grew up on his family’s dairy farm in southwest Minnesota. He is the founder of Amo Creamery, a family-owned farmstead creamery, and returned to the farm in 2023 with a vision to connect neighbors directly to fresh, high-quality dairy products made right where they begin. Drawing on his family history, SDSU education, and experience in the food safety industry, Ethan emphasizes helping people see where their food is made, building strong local partnerships, and delivering exceptional craftsmanship. Alongside his parents, he is proud to carry forward his family’s farming legacy while serving his community.
Cover Crop Biomass: How Quantity Shapes Quality of Benefits
Growing cover crops can improve infiltration, take up excess nutrients, add soil organic matter, reduce erosion, and smother weeds. But how much growth do you need to get these benefits? How much benefit do you get from 300 lbs/ac of cover crop biomass relative to 1000 lbs/ac? Anna Cates will show some research exploring these questions and promote discussion about best practices to get the cover crop that will best serve your farm. We will also get a chance to look at some root boxes to see the different growth stages of cereal rye.
Speaker: Dr. Anna Cates is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Soil Health at University of Minnesota. She earned degrees in Soil Science, Agroecology, and Agronomy at UW-Madison. Her research program focuses on soil changes, especially in soil organic matter pools, and environmental benefits of conservation practices in row crop agriculture. She enjoys the challenge of bringing actionable information to farmers of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest through her Extension programming.
Building Ecological and Economic Opportunities for Dairy Heifer Grazing
Dairy heifer grazing can strengthen farm profitability while enhancing soil health and water quality. Sarah Lloyd, Ph.D., will share insights from regional efforts to expand custom heifer grazing, including enterprise economics, animal performance, ecological outcomes, and best practices for agreements between sending farms and custom graziers.
Speaker: Sarah Lloyd farms with her husband in the Wisconsin Dells and works with UW–Madison’s Grassland 2.0 and the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative. She also supports development at the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative. Lloyd has a doctorate in rural sociology and is active in the Wisconsin Farmers Union and the Wormfarm Institute, where she serves as board president.
Pastured Pork: Increase Farm Diversity with A Hog Wild Enterprise
Everyone loves bacon. How that bacon is raised is a different story. In this presentation, I will break down my pastured hog enterprise explaining how to use hogs’ natural behavior to your benefit, how (an more importantly how NOT) to manage hogs for minimal disturbance, and how to integrate pastured hogs as a profitable enterprise for the farm.
Speaker: Patrick Toomey, originally from Pittsburgh, PA, now lives in Brandon, SD, where he serves as Grazing Education Lead for SFA. His background spans oil, gas, and mining soil reclamation; Tribal bison management; private Holistic Management consulting; and federal conservation work with the NRCS. Drawing on this diverse experience, Patrick brings an outside-the-box perspective to help farmers meet their goals. He lives in Brandon with his wife, Desirae, their two daughters, Edilyn and Ayla, and their dogs, Bellini and Arlo. Outside of work, he coaches hockey in the winter and raises chickens, hogs, and cattle in the summer.
Building Alternative Forages into Your Crop Rotation
Looking to boost financial and weather resilience in your livestock or dairy operation? This session explores how integrating alternative forages and diversifying crop rotations can help buffer weather extremes, reduce pest and disease pressure, and cut input costs.
Speaker: Kent Solberg and his wife Linda operate an award-winning pasture-based livestock farm in Central Minnesota. With over 25 years of experience in regenerative agriculture, soil health, adaptive grazing, and integrated crop-livestock systems, Solberg has consulted with farmers across the country and taught courses on soil health, forages, and livestock management.
Conservation Grazing: Practical Options to Benefit Your Land and Livestock
Curious about options beyond cropping? Contract grazing of crop residue, cover crops, and natural areas can improve soil health, lower feed costs, and give pastures time to rest, while managed rotational grazing and warm-season plantings can boost summer forage and wildlife habitat. This session is for both experienced graziers and those new to conservation grazing, featuring short farmer videos, practical examples, and take-home resources.
Speaker: George Boody retired as Science and Special Projects Lead and previously served 23 years as Executive Director of the Land Stewardship Project. He co-directed interdisciplinary projects on managed rotational grazing and diversified farming systems and was a Senior Fellow with the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, where his feasibility study on reintegrating grazing ruminants was published. Boody holds MS and BS degrees from the University of Minnesota and has deep roots in rural Minnesota.
1925 or 2025? The Homesteading Revolution
Mary Fischer brings a deep respect for history and a particular appreciation for the traditions of homesteading. While homesteading once gave way to the conveniences of a fast-paced, modern lifestyle, it is now experiencing a strong resurgence.
Across the country, people are leaving cities for small acreages in search of greater purpose, improved health, and a slower, more intentional way of life. In this session, Mary will explore how homesteading has evolved over time and why more people are embracing this intentionally “inconvenient” lifestyle. Participants will gain insight into what’s driving this growing movement and what homesteading looks like in a modern context.
Speaker: If you stepped into Mary Fischer’s kitchen, you’d likely find jars of ferments, simmering homemade broth, and fresh sourdough bread—foods she takes pride in preparing for her family. While modern life offers plenty of shiny conveniences, Mary has intentionally chosen to step “back in time” in pursuit of a simpler, more meaningful way of living. Mary finds joy and purpose in tending a large garden, raising livestock for meat, and working hard to put nourishing, home-cooked meals on her family’s table each day. She, her husband Kyle, and their three young children live on a small farm near Hanska, where they raise clean meat and produce for their family—and for others as well.
Reclaiming the Back Forty: One Farmer’s Story of Winning the Battle Against Buckthorn
Thirteen years into running Lakeside Prairie Farm, Bryan Simon found his biggest challenge—and opportunity—in the buckthorn-infested oak woodlot on his property. What began as an overwhelming manual battle turned into a successful goat-grazing business and a restored oak savanna. Simon will share his journey, the economic and wildlife benefits of buckthorn control, and practical considerations for improving your own “back forty.”
Speaker: Bryan Simon has spent much of his career fighting invasive species, with experience leading conservation crews in Texas and Hawaii. A former land manager for The Nature Conservancy and a graduate of SDSU with a master’s in ecology, he now custom grazes cattle, operates a goat-grazing service, and consults on silvopasture and grazing systems. Simon farms near Barrett, Minn.
Profits from a Small Diversified Farm
Joel Barr operates Abraham’s Table Farm in Sandstone, Minn., where he grows organic produce on one acre using biointensive methods and raises eggs, chicken, and beef on 40 acres of rotationally grazed pasture. With efficient systems, direct-to-consumer sales, and a strong management approach, his farm consistently supports a small team and turns a profit. Barr will share the strategies that allow his operation to thrive at a remarkably small scale, including production, management, sales, and risk mitigation.
Speaker: Joel Barr started farming after college and
launched his own operation five years later. By staying small, focusing on
efficient systems, and prioritizing regenerative practices and direct
marketing, he grew Abraham’s Table Farm into a stable, profitable business. Barr
farms in Sandstone, Minn. with his wife and five daughters.
Estate Planning and How to Effectively Implement It
Planning for the future is critical for farmers looking to preserve their legacy and protect their assets. This session, led by a financial planner, attorney, and CPA, offers best practices for safeguarding your farm, minimizing taxes, and ensuring a smooth transition of ownership to the next generation.
Speakers:
Kathy Hommerding is a Farm Business Management instructor at Central Lakes College.
John Wenker is an attorney in the Trust and Estates and Business Practice Groups of Quinlivan & Hughes P.A.
