Keynote--Jolene Brown

Jolene Brown is a walking-talking spokesperson and champion for the people of agriculture. She's a farmer in Eastern Iowa, contributor to Successful Farming magazine’s popular family business column, author of two great books and an inductee in to the prestigious CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame. Her worldwide audiences appreciate her fun-filled spirit and valuable information. She's on a mission to share leading-edge best practices, appreciation, laughter and celebration to increase productivity, profitability and peace of mind.

www.JoleneBrown.com

Jolene Brown

Keynote--Karen Eddington

Karen Eddington is a 20-year identity researcher and is the author of Understanding Self-Worth, who learned proven methods to combat stress by listening to people like you. From rural Utah, Karen shares stress management skills to help those in agriculture learn how to be strong under pressure.

https://kareneddington.com/



Karen Eddington

Keith Koch – Climate Smart Origination Manager –
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM)

 Keith is a climate smart origination manager for ADM focusing on the western US states. Growing up on a small dairy and row crop farm in west central Illinois taught him fundamentals of soil health, grazing, and impacts of cover crops and tillage practices. After graduating from The University of Illinois with a major in Ag Econ he spent the first 11 years of his career managing grain elevators and merchandising cash crops across the US before joining ADM in July of 2022 to build and execute climate smart regenerative agriculture programs. His main goal is improving soil health by enabling adoption or continuation of regenerative ag practices. 

Dr. Lucinda Stuenkel

Lucinda has been owner/manager of Sunny Day Farms and Stuenkel Farms near Palmer, Kansas since her husband and his brother/farm partner were killed in a vehicle accident in 2010. The farm is 1400 acres of rolling hills (a discontinuous portion of the Kansas Flint Hills). The native grassland is managed rotational grazing for cow/calf and grass-fed/grass-finished beef, lamb, goat, and pastured chicken for 8 livestock owners, and custom calving for 7 cow owners. Row crops on the flatter land and deeper topsoil include wheat, corn, milo, soybeans, alfalfa, brome, and prairie hay. Cover crops are planted between and after each row crop to improve the soil health and fertility, encourage beneficial pollinator insects, and provide supplemental grazing for the livestock and flowers for honey bees. Several small fields are dedicated to a series of 3 or 4 consecutive cover crop mixes each year for grazing and flowers for honey bees. By-products from the grazing livestock return additional fertility to the soil. Two nephews and three neighbors plant and harvest the crops and cover crops, and regularly check and move the cattle. Dr. Stuenkel has a B.S. and M.S. from Ohio State University and a Ph.D. from Kansas State University. Lucinda has taught at Bluffton University, Iowa State University, and the S.A.V.E. (Servicemember Agricultural Vocation Education) program, and has been an Extension Specialist at Kansas State University.  Her friends call her a “cow whisperer.” Lucinda is married to her new husband, Dean Denner, has 8 adult children/step-children and 6 grandchildren/step-grandchildren.  

Ashley Svaty, Northwest K-State Research and Extension, Extension Specialist

Ashley Svaty is a native Kansan that lives in Central Kansas where she enjoys spending time with her family, especially when those times include getting active outdoors or time in the kitchen testing out new or tried and true recipes. Her educational background is in health and nutrition, which derived from her love of food and healthy living. She’s passionate about individual and community health and loves that her work with K-State Research and Extension allows her to focus on improving the health of Kansas communities by increasing physical activity for all, improving access to healthy food, and improving family life for all Kansans. Ashley enjoys engaging with learners and sharing her passion, knowledge, and skills in a fun and upbeat way. No matter what topic Ashley is presenting, audiences are bound to take away tips that an individual or family can easily incorporate into their busy schedule to improve their health and wellness. 

Sarah Gideon, HINK

Sarah Gideon, MBA, has been the Executive Director of the Health Innovations Network of Kansas (HINK) since 2016. In this role, she leads a 15-member hospital network with a steadfast commitment to the mission of building strategic relationships to enhance the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare services for the residents in our communities. Guided by a mission to foster collaborative partnerships, HINK, under Sarah's leadership, serves the healthcare needs of a diverse population across 14 counties in Northeast Kansas. The service area, characterized by a largely rural population, underscores Sarah's dedication to addressing unique healthcare challenges faced by these communities. A proud alumna of Kansas State University, Sarah Gideon brings nearly 15 years of extensive experience in healthcare management to her role. Her journey began in the agriculture sector, instilling in her a profound understanding of rural issues and communities. This background has become a driving force in her advocacy for accessible and quality healthcare in rural settings. Beyond her professional commitments, Sarah is deeply engaged in community service. She volunteers for several community organizations in Jackson County, showcasing her strong belief in service. Sarah is actively involved in the 4-H/FFA community and various sports activities. You can often find her ringside at sheep shows or cheering on her high schooler at basketball games.