Countdown
This Year's Speakers
We are so excited to share this year's lineup of speakers with you!
Annaliese Wegner is a passionate dairy farmer hailing from Wisconsin, where she tends to her farm alongside her husband and two children in Ettrick. Beyond the daily responsibilities of caring for her family and her beloved calves, Annaliese is a dedicated advocate for agriculture. With over 11 years of experience, she has become a seasoned voice in the online realm, using social media as a platform to share her farm's story. Annaliese firmly believes that it takes the collective effort of everyone in the agricultural community to bridge the gap between farm and table. However, she emphasizes that each individual has a unique story to tell, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach to sharing it. Through her speaking engagements, Annaliese inspires others to embrace their own narratives and contribute to the rich tapestry of agriculture communication. She exemplifies the spirit of resilience, innovation, and community that defines modern farming in America.
Like most women, Macey Igo wears many hats. At her day job, she wears the hat of a print consultant and saleswoman for Modern Litho Print Company. When she’s not in the office, she’s probably sporting a free cap she picked up at a trade show while she’s working at the ranch as a co-owner of Lady Livestock Company. At nights and on the weekends, you can find her in her Shorty’s Caboy hat as she communicates ag, speaking to producers and consumers, sharing agricultural truths on social media, or writing for various industry publications. She’s been featured on shows like RFD-TV Market Day Report and FarmHER/RanchHER, and published in magazines like Cattlemen’s News and Working Ranch. Her newest hat is that of a wife to her husband, Luke – a Kansas native. They now reside in Central Missouri where they are growing their faith, their family and their herd.
LaVell Winsor is a Farm Analyst with the Agricultural Economics Department of Kansas State University. LaVell primarily works directly with farm clients to assist them with their finances – whether that be evaluating a farm expansion, an annual financial check-up, addressing a difficult creditor situation, or how farm succession will impact the farm financially. Many of these meetings lead to working through how a farm can successfully transfer the farm from one generation to the next. Over the past 27 years, LaVell’s professional work has been focused on risk management and farm financial management. LaVell and her husband operate a third-generation farm near Topeka, KS raising corn and soybeans. LaVell earned a B.S. in Agricultural Business from Colorado State University.
Duane Olberding is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and Addictions Counselor from Kansas City. He attended both Friends University and Washburn University. He has been in this field for over 23 years. Duane will present on the causes of burnout in the agricultural industry and prevalence data on the effects of stress related disorders in the rural community. He will provide an educational model for understanding how stress induces various negative coping behaviors including chemical and behavioral addictions, self-injury, and suicide. Lastly, he will utilize this model to aid the audience in recognition of signs of stress and recovery self-care coping skills.
Sarah A. Gideon, MBA, is the Executive Director of the Health Innovations Network of Kansas, Inc. (HINK), a role she has held since 2016. The 15 member hospitals of HINK have the following shared purpose: We are stronger together as we support each other to improve the health of our members and communities in the region we serve.
HINK serves 15 counties in Eastern Kansas with a focus on networking and education for their members. In 2021, HINK was awarded a Network Development Planning Grant from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to do a region wide analysis and planning session focused on suicide prevention in rural/agricultural communities and increasing access to behavioral health care. This created a unique, cross-industry partnership between HINK hospitals, a community mental health center and several agricultural organizations. A HRSA Rural Health Network Development grant from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is currently building on the regional analysis and partner-building to provide community education and outreach, stigma reduction and medical provider development focused on mental wellness and suicide prevention. HINK has also been awarded funding from the Kansas Department of Adult and Developmental Services Suicide Prevention Grant and the Sunflower Foundation Rural Health Clinic Integrated Behavioral Health Grant.
A native of Manhattan, Kansas and a Kansas State University College of Ag alum, Sarah has 15 years of experience in healthcare management. She began her career in the agricultural sector as the membership and education director for Kansas Farmers Union and has a passion for rural issues and communities. Sarah serves as a National Cooperative of Healthcare Network Board member, the Board Chair for the Holton Community Hospital Foundation, and a volunteer for Kansas FFA.
Natalie Gray is the Manager of Energy Efficiency Programs and Services at Evergy, where she has been employed nearly 25 years. With a Master’s Degree in Business, Natalie is passionate about environmental stewardship and empowering local communities to enhance their energy efficiency. Her and her teams' efforts contribute to economic growth, lower utility bills, and a reduced need for energy production.
Originally from the agricultural town of Maryville, MO, Natalie deeply values the contributions of those in the agricultural sector and is committed to supporting their energy needs.
Ms. Gray will have information on Evergy’s New Energy Efficiency Programs. The audience will learn about new incentives and rebates for all our Kansas customers, both residential and businesses to support the operational efficiency of homes and facilities.
Wabaunsee County (Kansas) Sheriff Eric Kirsch graduated with honors in 2004 from The Citadel in Charleston, SC, USA. He commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps the same year and was honorably discharged as a Captain after 8 years’ service in 2012. Mr. Kirsch successfully completed training and earned the 0204 MOS, Counterintelligence / Human Source Intelligence Officer designator and served as Human Intelligence Exploitation Team (HET) Officer in Charge during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Afterwards Mr. Kirsch was selected for a clandestine “B-Billet” and successfully graduated from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Joint Counterintelligence Training Academy (JCITA) "Long Course" in 2008, earning the title of “Case Officer” and in 2009 graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy, Glynco, GA earning the title Special Agent, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
Mr. Kirsch was assigned to the NCIS, Washington DC Field Office’s (DCWA) Foreign Counterintelligence “A” Squad and Major Case Response Team & led multiple Offensive Foreign Counterintelligence Operations (OFCO). Mr. Kirsch’s experience includes Marine Corps active duty combat deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom, in 2006-2007 & 2008, Operation Enduring Freedom (Helmand Province, Afghanistan) in 2011, DIA Clandestine Tradecraft Instructor in Quantico VA, NCIS Special Agent in Washington DC & serving as advisor to the American Government, and Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) as a State Department contractor in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan during the war against ISIS in 2014 & 2015.
Eric Kirsch ran unopposed & was elected Sheriff of Wabaunsee County Kansas & took office in 2025. He is extraordinarily lucky to have his beautiful Army Combat Helicopter Pilot turned Lawyer spouse Jessica & beautiful 12-year-old daughter Sonja who is a rising champion boxer.