Jason Minton is the Midwest Regional Business Lead for Bayer Crop Protection. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 13 years before spending the last 10 years in crop science.

Andy Hinnah has been an Implementation Specialist with WinField United for almost 2 years. Prior to Winfield United he held positions as a seed territory manager for 11 years and worked in ag retail for 8 years. He lives on his families century farm outside of Sigourney with my wife and two sons.

Alan Moritz has been the Area Sales Manager for Eastern Iowa with Winfield United for the past 2 years. He's been working with Winfield United for 25 years, holding prior roles in Crop Protection Product Supply and Crop Protection Product / Seed Sales. He and his wife  reside in Hampton, IA where they raised 3 children and have two grandchildren. During free time, they enjoy taking their convertible for a spin and RZR trail riding in Wisconsin.

Ben is the Product Manager and Agronomist at Merschman Seeds. He is responsible for selecting soybean, wheat, corn, and alfalfa varieties that excel in different regions of the Merschman Seeds sales territory and works closely with genetic suppliers to ensure high level yields across all product platforms. Ben also spends time with the Merschman Seeds Area Sales Managers doing various training and coaching concerning correct product placement that provides maximum return for customers, locating agronomic limiting areas with customers, and providing solutions to increase yield and overall performance of products. His favorite part about his job is helping farmers and Dealers solve problems along with his fellow co-workers.

Tommy Grisafi is a Risk Advisor and Commodity Broker for Advance Trading, Inc. He has held a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade for over 25 years and is an independent trader at the CME. Tommy is the owner of Ag Bull Media and the host of the Ag Bull Podcast. He and his wife Gina are the proud parents of two daughters. They enjoy traveling, cheering on their girls in sports, and spending time with family and friends.

In 1993, Karen Cady-Davis began her career working with farmers and traders on using advisory tools to educate their path with hedging and managing their positions. This began her passion for not only the commodity markets, but agriculture especially. After six years on the advisory information side of markets, Karen decided to move to the brokerage side of helping producers and traders. She began with a leading brokerage firm based out of Iowa, until later establishing Bullpen Trading with Scott Davis. She works with clients all over the country, helping manage their unique marketing plans.

Curt Strubhar is a Commercial Merchandising Consultant and Vice-Chairman of ATI. Raised on a central Illinois grain farm, Curt graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Agricultural Economics and started his career as an ag chemical sales rep. He joined ATI in 1995. Curt serves as a commercial consultant with clients that include grain warehouses and grain end users. He has clients from the Corn Belt through the Hard Red Winter Wheat Belt. Curt’s tenure with ATI has included travel to Brazil, South Africa, and Ukraine to help identify opportunities in those regions. Curt is a current member of the National Grain and Feed Association's Risk Management Committee and a subcommittee for the CFTC’s Ag Advisory Committee. He is a past Alliance Board Member of the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois and a long-time member of the Workforce Development Committee.

Caryn Standal has been a Marriage and Family Therapist for 30+ years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin Madison and a Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Since 1997, Caryn has been the President and Owner of Child and Family Therapeutic Systems which is an outpatient behavioral health clinic with locations in Greenfield, Mukwonago, and Elkhorn, WI. She resides on a small family farm and, with her family, raises grassfed beef, goats, and the feed to sustain them. Thanks to her parents, Caryn and her children are skilled in direct marketing farm products at farm markets and now online. Caryn remains passionate about people and the land.

Dr. Glisan has an extensive background in atmospheric and climatological research, with expertise in the analysis of extreme temperature and precipitation events. He earned his B.S. (2005) and M.S. (2007) in meteorology at the University of Missouri, where he concentrated on droughts and heat waves. In 2012, he completed his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences at Iowa State University with a research concentration on the dynamical causal mechanisms of precipitation and temperature extremes. While at Iowa State University, his research had a strong academic collaboration across a broad range of federally funded projects. His work experience includes advanced atmospheric research techniques, large data machine learning, and statistical analysis.

As State Climatologist of Iowa, his responsibilities include quality control of Iowa weather observations, weekly recommendations to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and weekly and monthly climate summaries for state stakeholders. Iowa weather and climate observations go back to 1872 and represent the history of weather across the state. These observations help tell the story of Iowa agriculture and how resilient and innovative the state’s farmers are and have been. Looking at how trends in precipitation and temperature are changing and applying this climatological analyses through the lens of agriculture is also a very important part of the position. Dr. Glisan advises the Secretary of Agriculture on climatological matters impacting the agricultural sector.

Scott Nelson leads the association’s efforts in production research planning and execution across Iowa. As Agronomy Network Director, he plays a major part in partner contract research efforts and manages the team agronomists.

Joe Winchell is Senior Conservation Agronomist for AgOutcomes, a subsidiary of the Iowa Soybean Association, and the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund. In this role, Joe manages other Conservation Agronomists and works with farmers and affiliate recruiters on enrollment and helping enrollees succeed throughout the season. Joe grew up in northern Madison county near Van Meter, IA and went to Iowa State University where he earned bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Business and Economics. From there Joe spent time in retail agriculture and then on to work at the manufacturer level as a seed representative. Joe has a passion for agriculture and doing his part to aid farmers be successful in achieving their goals.

Dr. Shani Golovay is the Research Manager for Illinois NREC. She joined the staff in May of 2018 and provides technical agronomic expertise to the NREC Council. She works to develop and implement effective research projects and the dissemination of research results. She also provides leadership on developing strategic research priorities that align with the overall goals of the organization.

Jim Eggerichs  has worked 24 years with WinField United and Land O'Lakes. During the years he has held several positions in retail sales, district sales manager, seed product management and now as Sales Specialist. Jim has been an Iowa Certified Crop Advisor for 26 years and is actively the chief labor and management of his family farm.

Dr. Jake Vossenkemper earned a Master’s of Science in the Plant and Soil Sciences from Oklahoma State University and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Crop Sciences from the University of Illinois. He has been conducting applied crop management research for over 13 years. Previously, he was a research fellow at the University of Illinois and an Agronomy Research Manager for DuPont Pioneer. Currently, Dr. Vossenkemper leads all agronomy research and product development for Liqui-Grow.

Katie Hess was raised on a grain farm in Northern Illinois. She graduated from Iowa State with a degree in Ag Business and a minor in Agronomy. She has 10+ years of experience in seed, chemicals, fertilizer, and precision ag product management, and she has her CCA and 4Rs NMS certification. Katie is the Sales and Marketing Lead at Liqui-Grow.

Scott Tinsman is COO of Twin State, Inc. and the Liqui-Grow brand of fertilizers. He is also Chairman of Rock River Lumber and Grain, CEO of Sivyer Steel Castings, LLC, and a managing partner of Twin State Technical Services. Scott is a graduate of Northwestern University, B.S. of Industrial Engineering. Prior to joining the family business, Twin State Inc. in 1989, Scott was employed by IBM in engineering, sales, and finance leasing. Active in his community, Scott has served as a volunteer for many Quad City organizations including Board of Directors for several businesses and non-profits, school board member, Board President for the Bettendorf Community School district, and The Fertilizer Institute (Washington, DC).

Hovey (Hov) grew up in the Quad Cities and graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Colorado. He joined the family business, Twin State Liqui-Grow, in 1983 and was based in Madison, WI where he developed the liquid fertilizer footprint in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. He relocated to corporate headquarters in Davenport, IA in the early 1990s. In 1997, the first-generation ownership began a five year transition to the second generation and Hov was named President in 2002. He maintains that position today, along with management of the revenue strategy.

From the start, Christopher Tinsman has always worked in the agriculture industry. Throughout high school Chris worked for Ken Washburn, the previous lead agronomist for Twin State Liqui-Grow. After graduating from Dartmouth College with a degree in Earth Science, Chris worked for an ag retail and grain elevator company. He is now the head of innovation and equipment purchasing at Twin State Liqui-Grow. Chris' work is focused on researching the latest application technologies and improving the service Liqui-Grow can offer to customers.

John studied Economics at Northwestern University and University of Oxford. John previously worked as an institutional crude oil market maker and securities trader in Chicago before returning home to join Twin State Inc. as Director of Purchasing, Trading, Investments. John takes part in the financial management of Twin State Inc., and procures Ammonia, Urea, UAN, Potash, Phosphoric Acid, Phosphates, Zinc, and Sulfur for the fertilizer plant. John specializes in supply and demand forecasting and economic trend analysis.

Mariah Murphy is the Sr. Manager of Member Owner Engagement for Truterra LLC, a division of Land O’ Lakes. Graduating from Northwest Missouri State with a double major in Agronomy and Horticulture, Mariah began with Winfield United and was a seed DSM prior to joining Truterra in 2017. She grew up on the family farm in NW Missouri and currently resides in Missouri Valley, IA with her husband Mike and son Wallis where they are active in his family farm.

Edwin Benkert

Edwin Benkert is a Seed and Trait Technology Development Representative (TDR) for Bayer Crop Science covering Southwest Iowa. As a TDR, Edwin is responsible for conducting research trials on pre-commercial products and works with agronomists to provide technical product support to Bayer sales teams and their customers. Edwin is originally from Michigan and grew up on a farm that grew corn, soybeans, wheat, and sugarbeets; and raised beef cattle and hogs. Prior to joining Bayer, Edwin obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Albion College, and a PhD in Entomology from the University of Minnesota where his focus was on corn rootworm Bt resistance and management.

Greg Tylka

Tylka joined Iowa State University in February 1990.  He currently is a Morrill Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology. Activities in Greg Tylka's program at Iowa State University focus on the biology and management of plant-parasitic nematodes, with major focus on the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines.  Current research includes study of SCN-resistant soybean varieties, effects of nematode-protectant seed treatments, and interactions between SCN and insect herbivores. Much of the activities of the Tylka laboratory are funded by the soybean checkoff through grants from the Iowa Soybean Association, the North Central Soybean Research Program, and the United Soybean Board. Tylka also serves as director of the Iowa Soybean Research Center at Iowa State University.

Connie Davis
Connie Davis, Corn Systems Market Development Manager Disease, Yield and Stress for Bayer Crop Science. She is the technical lead for US Markets on current and new yield and stress traits in corn, and is responsible for technical project prioritization, product positioning and coordination of field protocols and research programs for the US corn business to support new corn product launches and corn systems focused on diseases and short corn. She has experience with cross functional collaboration from Technology R&D to Marketing and Sales support with customer facing field teams. She also has extensive experience in corn breeding, trait integration and field research in 21 years with the company.

Matt Blythe
Matt Blythe is a Key Account Manager for Bayer Crop Science. In this role, Matt works with accounts on all aspects of the overall Bayer portfolio which includes Dekalb/Asgrow, Bayer Crop Protection and Climate. Matt has 26 years of experience with Bayer indifferent roles across areas in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Matt lives in Williamsburg, Iowa.

Jody Gander
Jody Gander is a Market Development Manager for Corn Traits within the Corn Agronomic Systems Group at Bayer Crop Science. In this role, Jody works cross-functionally with several organizations across Bayer to develop and support the next generation of corn insect control technologies as well as to support their current commercial corn insect trait platforms. Jody joined Monsanto in 2007 as a Technology Development Representative (TDR) conducting research trials and providing sales support to the various Monsanto seed brands. Prior to joining Monsanto, Jody served as a Technical Service Representative with American Cyanamid and as a Research Agronomist/Agronomic Research Manager with Pioneer Hi-Bred International. Jody has a B.S. in Agricultural Education and an M.S. in Agronomy, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia, as well as a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Arkansas.

Jason Frinack
Jason is an Account Manager for CHS Crops Nutrients Division covering territories in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin since joining CHS in 2015. He was raised on a dairy farm in Central Wisconsin and attended Western Tech in Lacrosse, WI. After college, Jason moved to Southeast Minnesota where he began his career in Ag Retail. Jason held various rolls during his 17 year tenure, which included application, scouting, sales, retail management, and construction management. These days you'll find Jason working with wholesale fertilizer customers in Eastern Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, Southern Wisconsin, and Western Illinois. He currently resides in St. Charles, MN with his wife, Jody, and their two teenage sons.

Nicole Stecklein is a Technical Agronomist in NE Iowa for DeKalb and Asgrow. Nicole graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Agronomy. She then spent 5 years in Ag Retail and 2 years with BASF until her dream job came available. While working, Nicole also completed her Masters of Agronomy from Iowa State University. Nicole’s expertise and passion is plant pathology, training, and outreach. She and her husband live on a farm outside Cascade, Iowa with their four boys and raise crops, cattle, and hogs.