January 22 & 23, 2018

Yellowstone Conference Center

Northwest College, Powell, Wyoming

The purpose of the Wyoming Agriculture Diversification Summit

is to identify strategic action and tactics with national caliber

industry leaders and innovators for emerging and developing

value-added and specialty agriculture initiatives.

Monday

January 22, 2018

12:00pm Welcome Address Dr. Stefani Hicswa, President, Northwest College

Opening Remarks Mark Gordon, Wyoming State Treasurer

Keynote Speaker David Stover, Cultivating Success, LLC

1:30pm—3:00pm Leading Edge and Innovative Agribusiness Trends

Moderator: Dr. Stefani Hicswa, Northwest College

Panelists:

Dr. John Reich, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

Dr. Anne Koontz, Alltech

David Stover, Cultivating Success, LLC

3:00pm—3:30pm Break Sponsored by: Manufacturing Works

3:30pm—5:30pm Research Drives Innovation: Researchers from around the country discuss some

of their high-profile projects, how they impact business development and

innovation, along with how the research impacts local producers and businesses.

Moderator: Dr. Edmund Synakowski, University of Wyoming

Panelists:

Dr. Tony Pescatore, University of Kentucky

Dr. David Stone, Oregon State University

Dr. Daniel Scholl, South Dakota State University

Dr. Michael Pishko, University of Wyoming

Dr. David Chicoine, University of Wyoming

Thomas Foulke, University of Wyoming

5:30pm Reception Sponsored by: Northwest College Foundation

6:30pm Locally Sourced Dinner Featuring: Wyoming Legacy Meats, and Heritage Bakery in Cody

Featured Speaker Dr. Laurie Nichols, President, University of Wyoming

Tuesday

January 23, 2018

7:30am Breakfast with Wyoming Champions: Innovation and entrepreneurship are part of

our agriculture history. Join us as we highlight a few of our Wyoming Agribusiness

Champions that may not always get the limelight , but can inspire and teach this

audience of Agribusiness Leaders and Entrepreneurs. These Wyoming Champions are

truly representative of our rich entrepreneurial Wyoming Culture.

Moderator: David Northrup, House Representative, Wyoming State Legislature

8:30am—10:00am Differentiation and Best Practices: Agribusiness Leaders discuss initiatives that have

set them apart in their respective industries.

Moderator: Dr. Frank Galey, University of Wyoming

Panelists:

Clint Jessen, Jessen Wheat Company

Justin Reynolds, R and G Potato Co. Inc.

Terry Gass, 21st Century Equipment

10:00am—10:30am Break Sponsored by: Manufacturing Works

10:30am—12:00pm Agriculture Diversification Think-Tank: Let’s make it happen! A facilitated

roundtable think-tank to identify priorities and action items for Wyoming

•Identify emerging and developing value-added and specialty agriculture initiatives

•Establish strategic actions for both private and public-private opportunities

•Expand your professional network in Wyoming and across the country

Summit Objectives

As Treasurer, Mark Gordon’s principal duty is to safeguard and invest all the funds of the state. Mr. Gordon was elected to the position in 2014 but served for two years prior to that completing the term of Joe Meyer who passed away in office. Wyoming's Treasurer serves as administrator for several programs including Wyoming Unclaimed Property and the Wyoming State Treasurer’s Asset Reserve (WYO-STAR), a pooled investment vehicle for local governments. The Treasurer serves on eight other boards and commissions including the State Loan and Investment Board, Board of Land Commissioners, and Board of Deposits among others. The Treasurer also serves on the boards of the Wyoming Community Development Authority and Wyoming Retirement System. Previously, Treasurer Gordon served as a Class B Director on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, a Trustee of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, a member and chair of the Environmental Quality Council, a trustee of Johnson County School District 1 K-12, and other community boards. Nationally, he was elected in 2013 as Western Regional Vice President and has served on the Banking and Pension subcommittees of the National Association of State Treasurers. Treasurer Gordon has received accolades for the third year in a row as he was named in the “Top 100 Most Significant and Impactful asset Owners and Public Executives of 2015.” This is a worldwide recognition awarded by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI). Mr. Gordon has had businesses on the main streets of Buffalo and Sheridan and worked for the oil and gas industry. He serves on the boards of Volunteers of America, the Ucross Foundation, and the Willow Park Reservoir Company. He grew up on a ranch west of Kaycee. He and his wife, Jennie, still own and run ranches in Johnson County. Together they have four grown children: two sons and two daughters. Mr. Gordon graduated from Middlebury College in 1979 with a BA in History. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hunting, climbing, rodeo, skiing, and kayaking. His experience reaches to agriculture, mineral and business development, tourism, recreation, and politics.

Mark Gordon

Wyoming State Treasurer

David Stover owns and operates Cultivating Success, LLC, a firm focused on developing marketing strategy, sales strategy and innovation for agribusiness clients. Mr. Stover's career spans over 30 years with The Andersons, Inc.'s agribusinesses. He has held executive roles in marketing, sales, commodity risk management and merchandising. During his career, he was heavily involved in numerous acquisitions, expansion into ethanol processing as well as numerous product development, business intelligence and digital marketing initiatives. Innovations that Mr. Stover championed include: The first farmer risk management program to use scenario analysis software. The first integration of a commercial grain business with a leading crop insurance agency. The first dry-mill ethanol plants to be constructed within existing grain facilities. Using video based websites and social media to communicate commodity market developments to farmers. In recent years, Mr. Stover worked closely with Maumee Ventures, the venture capital arm of The Andersons, Inc. in evaluating innovative start-up companies and their products. He is currently serving as a Professor at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, where he is teaching "Creativity and Innovation" based on concepts pioneered at Stanford University. Mr. Stover holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics from The Ohio State University and a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

David Stover

Cultivating Success, LLC

President Nichols was born and raised in South Dakota. A first-generation college graduate, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in education from South Dakota State University in 1978. She then earned a Master’s Degree in Vocational and Adult Education from Colorado State University in 1984 and a Ph.D. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Ohio State University in 1988.

President Nichols began her career in higher education as a member of the faculty of the University of Idaho from 1988 to 1994. She then became the Dean of the SDSU College of Education and Human Sciences from 1994 to 2008. From August 2008 through June 2009, she served as interim president of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and then returned to SDSU to become Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs from 2009 to 2016. While in that role, she guided the university through two years of budget reductions and provided leadership in developing new five-year strategic plans, among other accomplishments.

Dr. Nichols began her duties as the University of Wyoming’s 26th president May 16, 2016. She and her husband,

Dr. Tim Nichols, have two adult daughters.

Laurie Stenberg Nichols, Ph.D.

President, University of Wyoming

Tara Kuipers Tara Kuipers Consulting Tara is a South Dakota native who has called Wyoming home since she began graduate school at the University of Wyoming in 2000. She and her husband Jarren, a wildlife biologist, live in Cody, WY. They spend much of their free time playing outside: hiking, backpacking, rafting, cycling and skiing. Through her 20 years of professional experience, Tara has focused on facilitating groups toward strategic planning, learning, collaboration and action. She has served in leadership and teaching roles for nonprofit, education and community

organizations. She is unequaled in her ability to educate and guide groups toward collaboration, learning and positive change. Tara has Masters’ degrees in both counseling and adult education, along with numerous certifications in facili-tation, strategic planning, mediation, public participation, change management and organizational develop-ment. Tara now brings her experience and enthusiasm for leadership, engagement and facilitation to her role as the Principal for Tara Kuipers Consulting.

Moderator, Wyoming Champions

David Northrup House Representative Wyoming State Legislature

David Northrup is a 4th generation farmer in Powell, Wyoming. He also serves in House District 50, representing Park County in the Wyoming legislature. David is the Chairman of the House Education Committee and serves also on Select Water. He is uniquely a 3rd generation legislator. David has served many community leadership roles including 12 years on the local school board, 6 of those as chairman. Northrup Farms raises barley, beets, corn and seed. David’s son and grandsons are local and help out on the family farm. He and his wife, Astrid, raised three boys and have been married 35 years.

Astrid has a Master’s in Petroleum Engineering and is department head of the Northwest College Engineering and Math Program.

Facilitator

Anne Fleming Koontz, Ph.D. Research Scientist Alltech Dr. Anne Koontz is a research scientist in ruminant nutrition for Alltech. Her research interests focus on in vitro digestion procedures, metabolism, and digestive kinetics, impacts of animal production on the environment, and responses to environmental and physiological stress. Dr. Koontz also oversees several international research collaborations with Alltech Alliance universities.

Dr. Koontz received her Ph.D. and MS in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science, with an emphasis in Biotechnology from Oklahoma State University. She has experience in ruminant, equine, and poultry research. Dr. Koontz received several prestigious scholarships during her education, including a Department of Homeland Security Fellowship and Alltech’s Margin of Excellence Fellowship.

Leading Edge and Innovative Agribusiness Trends

Moderator Stephani Hicswa, Ph.D. President, Northwest College Dr. Stefani Hicswa is in her fourth year as Northwest College’s President. Prior to her arrival, Dr. Hicswa served seven years as president of Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana. Since she assumed Northwest’s presidency, NWC has completed construction of the college’s largest instructional facility, the Yellowstone Building; achieved the highest retention rate (61.02%) of any Wyoming community college; increased NWC’s graduation rate by 11%; created a strategic plan, Vision 2020; revised the institution’s Mission Statement; and

assumed national roles, including membership on the Higher Education Research and Development Institute nationwide advisory board. President Hicswa holds a Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. She earned her Master’s in Adult, Community and Higher Education and a Bachelor’s in Organizational Communication. Raised in Dillon, Montana, Stefani is married to Scott Hicswa, a consulting forester. They have two sons.

Panelists

John Reich, Ph.D. Scientific Program Director Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Dr. John Reich joined the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) in February 2016 as a Scientific Program Director. John joined FFAR because he strongly believes that advancements in agriculture will be key to maintaining our quality of life, and that the right investments at opportune moments will provide us with the necessary tools to overcome future challenges in agriculture. At FFAR, John developed FFAR’s first multi-stakeholder

collaboration, the Crops of the Future, which leverages public and private sector investments to benefit the public and private sectors in terms of crop development. John continuously works to develop new partnerships and programs that catalyze new areas of research and build on current investments to benefit the public and help support new economic opportunities.

David Stover Owner Cultivating Success, LLC David Stover owns and operates Cultivating Success, LLC, a firm focused on developing marketing strategy, sales strategy and innovation for agribusiness clients. Mr. Stover's career spans over 30 years with The Andersons, Inc.'s agribusinesses. He has held executive roles in marketing, sales, commodity risk management and merchandising. During his career, he was heavily involved in numerous acquisitions, expansion into ethanol processing as well as numerous product development, business intelligence and digital marketing initiatives.

In recent years, Mr. Stover worked closely with Maumee Ventures, the venture capital arm of The Andersons, Inc. in evaluating innovative start-up companies and their products. He is currently serving as a Professor at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, where he is teaching "Creativity and Innovation" based on concepts pioneered at Stanford University.

Mr. Stover holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics from The Ohio State University and a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

Leading Edge and Innovative Agribusiness Trends

Research Drives Innovation

Moderator

Panelists

David Chicoine, Ph.D. Interim Dean, College of Business University of Wyoming David L. Chicoine joined the University of Wyoming College of Business as Interim Dean on August 14th, 2017. Prior to this role, David served 9.5 years as the 19th president of South Dakota State University (SDSU). As a policy economist in state and local public finance and regional economics, David has co-authored/co-edited four books and published over 100 academic journal articles, book chapters, and

professional papers. He serves on the Board of Managers of South Dakota Innovation Partners, LLC. He is an independent director of Monsanto Company, is an outside director on the Board of First Bank and Trust, Brookings, SD, and of Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, SD, and is a member of the Board of ENTER-PRISE 605, INC, Sioux Falls, SD. In addition to his industry experience, David has over 30 years of high-er education experience at the University of Illinois as a Professor, Department Head (1988-1995), Dean (1995-2001) and University of Illinois system Vice President for Technology and Economic Development (2001-2006). He oversaw the University’s technology transfer and licensing offices, IllinoisVENTURES, LLC the University’s early-stage capital start-up services company and the University of Illinois Research Park, LLC. A native of Elk Point, SD, he graduated from South Dakota State, the University of Delaware, Western Illinois University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with B.S., M.S., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, respectively.

Edmund “Ed” Synakowski, Ph.D. Vice President for Research and Economic Development University of Wyoming

Prior to joining the University of Wyoming in August 2017, Ed Synakowski was Associate Director of Science for Fusion Energy Sciences in the U.S. Department of Energy where he was responsible for strategic planning for national programs, budget formulation and execution, project oversight, and was also instrumental in forging intra-agency partnerships and overseas collaborations, including collaborations with universities, private industry, and national labs. For his federal

service, Ed was awarded the Secretary of Energy’s Meritorious Service Award in 2017. He's received awards for excellence in Plasma Physics research from Princeton University and the American Physical Society. VP Synakowski holds a Ph.D. in Physics from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from The Johns Hopkins University. He has been elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the UK’s Institute of Physics.

Research Drives Innovation

Thomas Foulke Senior Research Scientist, Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics University of Wyoming Thomas Foulke is a Senior Research Scientist in the University of Wyoming, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics. His work focuses on issues related to Wyoming’s economy, especially with respect to impacts on agricultural producers. His recent work has ranged from endangered species economic

impacts to oilseed crop feasibility. His contributions include studies investigating the feasibility of building advanced coal gasification plants in Wyoming, the feasibility of an advanced flue-gas mineralization process and the economic impact of uranium production in Wyoming. He has also contributed to modeling efforts of the ranch-level effects of predation on profitability and several national forest planning economic impact projects. He teaches Applied Equity Investing, co-leads the department’s study abroad program in France and leads the Australia program. Tom has a dual Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and Water Resources from UW. Before coming to academia, he served a tour as a naval officer in the engineering department on board the USS Hermitage (LSD-34).

Tony Pescatore, Ph.D. Extension Professor Department of Animal and Food Sciences University of Kentucky Dr. Anthony Pescatore is the Associate Chair and an Extension Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Kentucky. He provides program support in the areas of management, biosecurity, environmental issues, and animal welfare. During his tenure at the University of

Kentucky, the poultry industry increased from a $25 million industry to a $1.2 billion industry. Dr. Pescatore was named to the Kentucky Poultry Hall of Fame. He received the 2014 M.D. Whiteker Award for Excellence in Extension Programming from the University of Kentucky. He is a past president of the Poultry Science Association and twice served as President of the Federation of Animal Science Societies. He is a Fellow of the Poultry Science Association. He received both the Pfizer Extension Award (1993) and the Phibro Extension Award (2015) from the Poultry Science Association. Dr. Pescatore has provided leadership to the UK/Alltech Alliance for nutritional research since its inception in 2004. His research interests are in environmental nutrition and poultry management. He serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Applied Poultry Research and is an Associate Editor of Poultry Science. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the PSA Foundation.

Michael Pishko, Ph.D. Dean of College of Engineering and Applied Science University of Wyoming Michael Pishko is currently Dean of Engineering & Applied Science at the University of Wyoming. Previously he was the Stewart & Stevenson Professor II of Biomedical Engineering, Regents Fellow, Dean’s Fellow, and Director of the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing at Texas A&M University. He also served as the Charles D. Holland ’53 Professor and Department Head of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M from 2007 to 2011. Prior to joining the faculty at Texas A&M, he held the rank of Distinguished Professor at Penn State

University where he was a faculty member from 2001 to 2007. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He also received postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Pishko was involved in the creation of two start-up companies in the area of diagnostic systems. Dr. Pishko has co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications/proceedings and is a co-inventor of 24 issued U.S. patents.

Daniel Scholl, Ph.D. Vice President Division of Research and Economic Development South Dakota State University Daniel Scholl has been Vice President for Research and Economic Development at South Dakota State University since July 1, 2017. He had served as Interim Dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences for the preceding year. He arrived at SDSU in 2011 as Associate Dean for Research of the College and Director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Dr. Scholl

came to SDSU from the University of Montral Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, where he led a global research center and led studies and courses in Disease Epidemiology. Previously he was on the faculty of the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University for ten years. Daniel received a Ph.D. degree in Epidemiology from the Universiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands, following his DVM and a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine degrees, both from the University of California, Davis.

Research Drives Innovation

David Stone, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director Food Innovation Center Oregon State University Dr. Dave Stone is the Director of the Food Innovation Center, an Oregon State University Branch Station located in downtown Portland. In addition to his administrative role, Dr. Stone is an Associate Professor within the Department of Food Science and Technology and Extension Services. His background is in toxicology, food safety, biotechnology and risk communication. His Center is engaged with diverse clients across the globe in new product development, sensory evaluation and food safety

research. Dr. Stone has served on several regional and national expert panels to address complex issues in agriculture and society.

Research Drives Innovation

Differentiation and Best Practices

Moderator

Panelists Terry Gass Vice President, Marketing 21st Century Equipment

Terry Gass is originally from a small farm in Illinois. He attended Illinois State University and graduated with a B.S. in Finance. Terry worked for John Deere (corporate) December 1998 - August 2013 in credit, sales, marketing, and product development. He worked for Deere Dealer, Hutson, September 2013 - October 2015 as Executive VP of Hutson’s southern eight stores. Currently, Terry is located in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He is

VP of Marketing, Northern District Manager, and Scottsbluff Store Manager for 21st Century Equipment. Terry has been married to Lisa, a 4th grade teacher, for 14 years. They have two sons, AJ and Dalton. His spare time is spent raising a few steers, caring for a large garden, and helping with the Scotts Bluff County Special Olympics team.

Frank Galey, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Wyoming

Frank Galey came to the University of Wyoming in 1999 as the Director of the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory and head of the Department of Veterinary Sciences. He was named Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the fall of 2001. Dr. Galey received his B.S. (1981) and D.V.M.(1983) degrees in

Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University; and a Ph.D. (1988) in Veterinary Biosciences (Pharmacology and Toxicology) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. After serving as a Research Associate and Resident at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Galey joined the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis in 1988. He was an Assistant and then Associate Professor of Clinical Diagnostic Veterinary Toxicology at UC-Davis from 1988-1999. Dr. Galey is Specialty Board Certified in Veterinary Toxicology. His research and clinical service interests include the fields of diagnostic and forensic medicine, plant and other natural product poisonings, and analytical pharmacology and toxicology. Research and service milestones include development of interpretable analytical screens for plants containing potentially toxic alkaloids and cardiac glycosides, as well as for pharmaceutical residues in dairy animals and race horses. His latest research involves seeking a reliable assay for botulism in affected animals and humans. Dr. Galey is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Wyoming, and serves as a member of the Leadership Wyoming Governing Board. Dean Galey was born in Wyoming and raised in Big Horn, Wyoming near Sheridan.

Clint Jessen Co-Owner Jessen Wheat Company

Clint Jessen, a 5th generation farmer, is the owner of Jessen Wheat Company and Jessen Agribusiness. Clint, his wife Ashley, and their 3 kids, Collin, Cameron, and Caitlin, live in Pine Bluffs, WY, where they operate an organic grain elevator and a 100% organic farm, raising primarily wheat but also beans, alfalfa, barley, lentils, and millet.

In addition to farming, Clint and Ashley focus on marketing organic grains and organic consulting.

Justin Reynolds

CFO

R and G Potato Co. Inc. Justin Reynolds serves as the Chief Financial Officer for R&G Potato, a specialized

chip potato company headquartered in American Falls, Idaho, with operations in

Idaho, Arizona, and New Mexico. Prior to joining R&G Potato, Justin worked in

agriculture specific financial services with Northwest Farm Credit Services. In his

time with Farm Credit, Justin worked in roles ranging from direct customer

relationship management focused on row crops and cattle, to underwriting of large syndicated

financing packages for projects such as vineyards, commercial crab fishing vessels, and vertically

integrated agribusiness processing facilities, as well as training and treasury management roles. Justin

completed his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University, Idaho, and his MBA at Northwest

Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. Additionally, Justin is a graduate of the Leadership Idaho

Agriculture program. Originally from Cody, Wyoming, Justin now resides in Pocatello, Idaho, with his

wife, Nicole, and their three children.

Differentiation and Best Practices

Wyoming Champions

Clint Jessen Jessen Wheat Company

Clint Jessen, a 5th generation farmer, is the owner of Jessen Wheat Company and Jessen Agribusiness. Clint, his wife Ashley, and their 3 kids, Collin, Cameron, and Caitlin, live in Pine Bluffs, WY, where they operate an organic grain elevator and a 100% organic farm, raising primarily wheat but also beans, alfalfa, barley, lentils, and millet. In addition to farming, Clint and Ashley focus on marketing organic

grains and organic consulting.

Jim D. Neiman Neiman Enterprises, Inc. Jim D. Neiman is the 3rd generation in his family to work in the forest products indus-try. The Neiman Family now owns four Forest Products facilities: Devils Tower Forest Products, Hulett, WY; Rushmore Forest Products, Hill City, SD; Spearfish Forest Products, Spearfish, SD; and Montrose Forest Products, Montrose, CO. The Neiman Family also owns Neiman 77 Ranches and The Golf Club at Devils Tower, located in Hulett, WY, as well as Heartland Wood Pellets, Spearfish, SD.

Jim is a 1974 graduate from the University of Wyoming with a BS degree in Range Management and a minor in Business Administration. He and his wife, Christy, of 38 years, have two grown children. He currently serves on the Hulett Airport Advisory Board, is the Treasurer of the Black Hills Forest Re-source Association and a member of the Intermountain Forest Association, He is a founding member of the Federal Forest Resource Coalition and has served as President since 2015. He has also served on the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Economic Advisory Council since 2013.

Lynn Preator Preator Bean

Lynn grew up on the family farm in Burlington, WY, working with his dad and two uncles. He was the youngest in the immediate family and youngest of all the cousins. He started at the bottom and worked his way up from there. The family focused on farming and ranching. In 1968, Lynn’s dad and two brothers formed Preator Seed Company. They worked in the bean seed business until 1986. Then in 1987, Lynn, Lynn’s dad, brother and cousin formed Preator Bean Company. Lynn was elected president and has re-

mained president to this day. Lynn has been involved in various bean boards and groups. He served for 12 years on the Board of Directors for Rocky Mountain Bean Dealers and served as president for three of those 12 years. He is currently serving as one of the dealer members on the Wyoming Bean Commission. IN 2016, Lynn was elected to serve a two-year term as President of the US Dry Bean Council.

Ron Rabou Rabou Farms, Inc. Ron Rabou is a true entrepreneur with a career thus far that includes a combination of over 20 years of public speaking, communications training, public relations, fundraising, foundation and private business experience. Ron served as the Executive Director of the Wyoming FFA Foundation and initially spear-headed the effort in growing the foundation from a start-up to what is now a prospering organization. He

is the past chairman of the Laramie County Community College (LCCC) Board of Trustees and the Foundation President of the LCCC Foundation, where he has served on its Board for over 15 years. During this time, the foundation has grown its assets from $3 million to over $20 million. In recent years, Ron has played an instrumental role in restructuring the staff, management and efficiency of the organization. Ron is co-author of a self-help book, “Keep it Simple: The 12 Core Values that Lead to Personal and Professional Success” and past host of “ReThink on the Radio”. He owns and manages multiple companies, including an organic wheat farm, numerous real estate interests, and a hunting and guiding business. He is a member of the Cheyenne Rotary Club and a graduate of the University of Wyoming and resides on his farm near Albin, Wyoming, with his wife and 3 sons.

Kelly Spiering Spiering Farms Born and raised in Powell, Wyoming, Kelly Spiering teamed up with his father in 1976 to run the family homestead. Nearly forty years later, Spiering now farms 600 acres near Heart Mountain as a seed business specializing in native grasses, oats, beans, and alfalfa. Kelly and his wife, Sylvia, just celebrated their 35th anni-versary and center their entire operation around family, raising 11 children on the farm. After college, two of his sons returned to the farm and are establishing their

own families in Powell, Wyoming, carrying on the homestead tradition of their grandfather.

Christi and Rowdy Yeatts High Plains Biochar, LLC

Christi and Rowdy Yeatts are owners of High Plains Biochar, LLC. Christi is original-ly from Chelsea Oklahoma and Rowdy was born in Casper. Christi and Rowdy met while attending college at Oklahoma State University and after graduating owned a marine construction business on Grand Lake in Northeast Oklahoma before moving to Chadron, Nebraska. While in Chadron, Christi and Rowdy started High Plains Biochar and after looking at locations with more raw

materials and access to markets on the front range, the business was moved to Laramie in May of 2017. Christi, Rowdy, and their 10 year old daughter, Paige, now live on the south side of Laramie where they convert wood waste and animal bedding into biochar.

Wyoming Champions

Gustave Anderson, Assistant Director of Business Development & Operations, Manufacturing Works

LeAnn Baker, Executive Director, Washakie Development Association

Christine Bekes, Executive Director, Powell Economic Partnership

Dean Bruce, Dean of Extended Campus, Northwest College

Rebekah Burns, Coordinator, Powell Visitor Center

Rom Bushnell, Wyoming State Specialist, MET

Ted Craig, Agriculture Program Coordinator, Wyoming Department of Agriculture

Tom Dixon, Senior Communications Specialist, Wyoming Business Council

Vern Dooley, Ph.D., Division Chair Agriculture, Business, and Equine, Northwest College

Carrie Eberle Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Sustainable Agriculture R&E Center, University of Wyoming

Frank Galey, DVM, Ph.D., Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming

Cindy Garretson-Weibel, Owner, Leading Edge Consulting

John Hansen, Director of Institutional Development, Eastern Wyoming College

Ashley Harpsteith, Executive Director, Goshen County Economic Development

Elaine Harvey, Director, Lovell, Inc.

Bret Hess, Ph.D., Director, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Wyoming

Stefani Hicswa, Ph.D., President, Northwest College

Micah Humphries Ph.D., Associate Professor of Agroecology and Range Management, Northwest College

James Klessens, President, Forward Cody

Tara Kuipers, Principal, Tara Kuipers Consulting

Dan Laursen, House Representative, Wyoming State Legislature

Chance Marshall, Educator, Agriculture & Horticulture, Fremont County Extension, University of Wyoming

Brian Mealor, Ph.D., Director, Sheridan Research & Extension Center, University of Wyoming

Lisa Miller, Business Consultant, Goshen County Economic Development

Doug Miyamoto, Director, Wyoming Department of Agriculture

Mike Moore, Manager, Wyoming Seed Certification Service

Bruce Morse, Regional Director, Wyoming SBDC Network

Laurie Nichols, Ph.D., President, University of Wyoming

Amy Quick, Regional Director, Wyoming Business Council

Camby Reynolds, Manager, Powell Research & Extension Center, University of Wyoming

Carmalee Rose, Deputy Administrator of Business Operations, Wyoming Department of Workforce Services

Chad Rupe, State Director for Wyoming, USDA Rural Development

Anna Sapp, Coordinator, Center for Training and Development, Northwest College

Caitlin Schaefer, Senior Office Assistant, Center for Training and Development, Northwest College

Gina Sheets, Chief Innovation Officer, USDA Rural Development

Barton Stam, Sustainable Management of Rangeland Resources Educator, Hot Springs County Extension, University of Wyoming

Chad Stovall, Wyoming CED Coordinator, USDA Rural Development

Edmund Synakowski, Ph.D., Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University of Wyoming

Briana Tanaka, Agriculture & International Trade Coordinator, Wyoming Business Council

John Tanaka, Ph.D., Associate Director, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Wyoming

Lesley Tracers, Ph.D., President, Eastern Wyoming College

Jeremiah Vardiman, Northwest Area Educator Agriculture & Horticulture, Park County Extension, University of Wyoming

Glen Whipple, Ph.D, Director of Extension, University of Wyoming

Darrell Wilkes, Career Technology Consultant, Eastern Wyoming College

Wally Wolski, ENDOW Executive Council

Caitlyn Youngquist, Ph.D, Educator Agriculture & Horticulture, Washakie County Extension, University of Wyoming

Partners and Resources

Agribusiness Leaders

Mike Baker, Grower/Producer

Michael Davidson, Wyoming Malting Company

Jamie Flitner, Wyoming State Legislature

Mike Forman, Forman Farms

Rob Garland, Six G Ranch

Terry Gass, 21st Century Equipment

Seth George, George Farms

Mark Gordon, Wyoming State Treasurer

Mike Greear, Wyoming Sugar Company

Richard Hawley, RH Farms

Fred Hopkins, Grower/Producer

Cami Jackson, Cody Labs

Clint & Ashley Jessen, Jessen Wheat Company

Jim Lerwick, Lerwick Farms

Samuel Mead, Wyoming Whiskey and Charter Place

Katherine Mead, Wyoming Whiskey and Charter Place

Brett Meyer, Meyer Seeds

Jim D. Neiman, Neiman Enterprises, Inc.

Glenn Nielsen, Y-Tex

David Northrup, Wyoming State Legislature

Ryan O’Toole, Briess Malt & Ingredients

Lynn Preator, Preator Bean

Ron Rabou, Rabou Farms, Inc.

Frank Schmidt, Wyoming Legacy Meats

Joseph Shumway, Shumway Farms

Forrest Smith, GF Harvest

Seaton Smith, GF Harvest

Kelly Spiering, Spiering Farms

Jim Whalen, Treasure Valley Seed

Sara Wood, Wyoming High Desert Malt, LLC

Rowdy & Christi Yeatts, High Plains Biochar, LLC

Patrick Zimmerer, Table Mountain Vineyards

A Special “Thank You!”

Our Sponsors:

University of Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station

ENDOW

Wyoming Business Council

Wyoming Department of Agriculture

Northwest College

Powell Economic Partnership

Eastern Wyoming College

Forward Cody

Goshen County Economic Development

Manufacturing Works

Support From:

Chartwells

Northwest College Foundation

Robert Rumbolz and Students

Northwest College Physical Plant

Northwest College Extended Campus and CTD

Wyoming Agriculture Diversification Summit

Sponsors