Convening alongside the Top Producer Summit in Nashville, the 2022 Trust In Food Symposium “Climate-Smart State of Mind – Partnering for Progress” will offer a networking and educational opportunity for sustainability professionals to interact and learn from one another, and mingle with some of the most successful food producers in the country. This year’s focus will be on the human dimensions of sustainable agriculture and the barriers and opportunities that are presented by focusing change programming on the person rather than the practice. Join us February 14-16, 2022 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Nashville or virtually February 22-23. We hope to see you there!

IN-PERSON SYMPOSIUM (note: all times are Central)

Monday, Feb. 14

• 5 to 6 p.m.
  • Shared reception with Top Producer Summit
• 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Shared Top Producer of the Year banquet with Top Producer Summit

Tuesday, Feb. 15

• 7 to 10 a.m.
  • Symposium registration opens (through 10 a.m. CT)
• 10 to 10:10 a.m.
  • Welcome: Climate-Smart State of Mind: Advancing Progress Through Partnership
  • Speakers: Amy Skoczlas Cole, Trust In Food (confirmed)
• 10:10 to 10:35 a.m.
  • KEYNOTE: Advancing Voluntary Conservation Adoption and Racial Equity in Agriculture With A Climate-Smart State of Mind
  • Speakers: Introduction: Alyssa Charney, Chief of Staff, NRCS; Terry Cosby, Chief, NRCS(invited)
• 10:35 to 11 a.m.
  • Lightning Round: What Climate-Smart Ag Looks Like On My Farm Operation
  • Speakers: Keith Mears, Indiana row-crop farmer (confirmed)
• 11 to 11:40 a.m.
  • Keynote: Transforming Our Climate, Our Communities And Our Health Through Environmental Stewardship
  • Speakers: TBA
• 11:40 to noon
  • PANEL: Human Dimensions in Practice: Unveiling the 2022 State of Sustainable Ag in Row Crops Report And Exploring How To Overcome Barriers In Voluntary Conservation Adoption Among Producers
  • Speakers: Drew Slattery, Trust In Food (confirmed); Betsy Hickman, Field to Market (invited); LaKisha Odom, FFAR (confirmed)
• Noon to 1:20 p.m.
  • Buffet lunch
  • PANEL: Advancing Dairy Sustainability In Wisconsin And Beyond
  • Speakers: Michelle Rossman, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy (confirmed); Lauren Brey, Farmers for Sustainable Food (confirmed); Jim Wynn, Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance (confirmed); Greg Siegenthaler, Grande Cheese (confirmed)
• 1:20 to 1:30 p.m.
  • Transition back to conference room
• 1:30 to 1:35 p.m.
  • VIDEO: Preview the new Trust In Beef program
• 1:35 to 1:45 p.m.
  • LIGHTNING ROUND: How Climate Smart Ag is transforming the cattle industry
  • Speakers: Chad Ellis (facilitator – invited); Steve Rhines, Noble Research Institute (confirmed); Debbie Lyons-Blythe, rancher (confirmed)
• 1:45 to 2:15 p.m.
  • PANEL: Climate Smart Ag Spotlight: Innovation In Action
  • Speakers: Amy O’Shea, Certis Biologicals (confirmed); Bradford Warner, AGI/Farmobile (confirmed); Brent Smith, Nutrien (invited); Curt Blades, AEM (invited)
• 2:15 to 2:45 p.m.
  • KEYNOTE: How Cooperative Extension Is Empowering Climate-Smart Farms and Communities in Tennessee
  • Speaker: Ashley M. Stokes, Dean, University of Tennessee Extension (confirmed)
• 2:45 to 3:05 p.m.
  • PANEL: Mainstreaming Climate-Smart Ag Throughout Our Industries
  • Speakers: Michelle Rossman, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy (confirmed); Ashley McDonald, National Pork Board (confirmed); Kira Everhart-Valentin, United Sorghum Checkoff Program (confirmed) ; Nathan Fields, National Corn Growers Association (confirmed)
• 3:05 to 3:30 p.m.
  • KEYNOTE: Stories of Impact: Scaling Climate-Smart Ag Across Working Lands
  • Speaker: Dave Gagner, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (invited)
• 3:30 to 3:45 p.m.
  • Snack break
• 3:45 to 4:05 p.m.
  • PANEL: How We’re Adopting A Climate-Smart State Of Mind At The Enterprise Level
  • Speakers: Kris Johnson, The Nature Conservancy (confirmed); Tricia Beal, Farm Journal Foundation (invited); Ben Gordon, Corteva (confirmed); Darren Howie, Trimble (confirmed)
• 4:05 to 4:35 p.m.
  • KEYNOTE: The Climate-Water Nexus
  • Speaker: TBA
• 4:35 to 5 p.m.
  • PANEL: How We’re Adopting A Climate-Smart State Of Mind At The Grassroots Level
  • Speakers: John Larson, American Farmland Trust (confirmed); Adam Putnam, Ducks Unlimited (confirmed); Jason Jimmerson, SIMPAS (invited); Leslie Garcia, Valent USA (confirmed)
• 5 to 5:30 p.m.
  • CLOSING KEYNOTE: Why U.S. Animal Agriculture Is Positioned To Lead With A Climate-Smart State of Mind
  • Speaker: Judson Vasconcelos, Director, Veterinary and Consumer Affairs, Merck Animal Health (confirmed)
• 5:30 to 8 p.m.
  • Break
• 8 to 10 p.m.
  • Join reception with Top Producer Summit at Ol’ Red

Wednesday, Feb. 16

• 8 to 9 a.m.
  • Buffet breakfast
• 9 to 1 p.m.
  • Working Session: Human Dimensions of Change Community of Practice
  • Note: Boxed lunches will be provided
• 1 p.m. Symposium adjourns

VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM (note: All times are Central)

Tuesday, Feb. 22

• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • KEYNOTE WITH Q&A: How USDA Will Empower Producers To Achieve Environmental and Economic Success With Climate-Smart Ag
  • Speaker: Bill Hohenstein, USDA (invited)
• 12:30 to 1 p.m.
  • Break
• 1 to 2 p.m.
  • PANEL WITH Q&A: Innovative Approaches to Scaling Climate-Smart Ag By Engaging Hearts And Minds
  • Speakers: Linda Prokopy, Purdue, Diverse Corn Belt Project/Purdue University (confirmed); Peter Williams, CEO, MyLand (invited); Gabriele Ludwig, Director of Sustainability, Almond Board (confirmed); Andrew Dallas, Interim CEO, Riceland Foods (invited); Gary Adams, CEO, National Cotton Council (confirmed)
• 2 p.m.
  • Day 1 of Virtual Symposium adjourns

Wednesday, Feb. 23

• 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • KEYNOTE WITH PANEL DISCUSSION/Q&A: Strategies For Supporting Ranchers On Their Sustainability Journey
  • Speaker: Sara Place, Elanco; livestock producer (to be invited)
• 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.
  • PANEL: Walmart’s Regenerative Agriculture Journey – Opportunities For Ranchers, Consumers, Communities and Beyond
  • Speaker: TBA
• 12:30 to 1 p.m.
  • Break
• 1 to 2 p.m.
  • PANEL WITH Q&A: How Climate-Smart Ag Can Accelerate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in U.S. Agriculture
  • Speakers: Chief Terry Cosby, USDA’s NRCS (invited); Alyssa Charney, USDA’s NRCS (invited); Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh, USDA (to be invited); Dr. Cynthia Daley, Chico State University (to be invited); Roylene Comes At Night, USDA/NRCS (confirmed); Tom Ramirez, Natureripe Berry Farms (to be invited)
• 2 p.m.
  • Virtual Symposium adjourns