BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260728T164500Z DTEND:20260728T180000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:State of Agriculture Presented by Invenergy DESCRIPTION:2026 State of the Agriculture\n\nPresented by Invenergy\n\n\n\nTuesday\, July 28\n\n11:45AM - 1:00PM\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlease join us for the 2026 State of the Agriculture Presented by Invenergy as we host an interactive panel of speakers followed by a Q&A session.\n\n\n\nRegister online today - lunch is included with your registration fee!\n\n \n\n \nMeet Our Panelists!\n\n\n\n\n\nCarolyn Olson\n\nCarolyn Olson and her husband\, Jonathan\, farm 1\,100 acres of organic corn\, soybeans\, small grains\, and alfalfa near Cottonwood\, Minnesota\, while also finishing approximately 14\,000 conventional hogs annually. Although she grew up in the Minneapolis suburbs\, Carolyn has built a lifelong passion for agriculture since moving to southwestern Minnesota in 1988.\n\nCarolyn is a dedicated leader in agriculture\, serving as Vice President of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Board of Directors and Chair of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Organic Advisory Task Force. She also serves on the boards of the Agriculture Utilization Research Institute\, the Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture\, and the Center for Rural Policy and Development\, and has held numerous local\, state\, and national leadership roles throughout her career.\n\nIn addition to her work in agriculture\, Carolyn chairs the Lyon County Planning and Zoning Commission\, is active in her church\, and volunteers with local FFA chapters. She and Jonathan are proud to continue farming land that has been in their family since 1913 while raising the next generation's appreciation for agriculture.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKent Thiesse\nKent Thiesse is a Farm Management Analyst based in South Central Minnesota with extensive experience in agriculture\, farm finance\, and education. He retired in 2023 after a 20-year career as Vice President and Chief Ag Loan Officer for MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal\, Minnesota. Prior to that\, Kent served as an Extension Educator in Farm Management and Marketing with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. He holds both Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Agriculture from the University of Minnesota. Kent also writes the weekly "FOCUS ON AG" column\, is a frequent speaker on farm management topics\, and serves as Coordinator for the Feature Forums at FARMFEST each year.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRyan Vos\n\nRyan Vos is a fifth-generation beef producer from southwest Minnesota who combines a passion for agriculture\, communication\, and education. Alongside his father and brother\, he helps manage the family farming operation\, raising feedlot steers and producing corn\, soybeans\, and alfalfa. He also custom feeds hogs and operates a registered Hereford cattle herd with his wife\, Mallory\, and their son\, Beau. In addition to his work on the farm\, Ryan is the morning show host on KJOE 106.1 in Slayton\, Minnesota\, and regularly provides crop condition reports through the Linder Farm Network. His ability to connect with audiences has made him a trusted voice in both agriculture and local media.\n\nRyan has also built a strong following on social media\, where he creates educational content across TikTok\, Facebook\, YouTube\, and Instagram. Through engaging videos and authentic storytelling\, he provides consumers with a behind-the-scenes look at modern farming and livestock production while helping bridge the gap between agriculture and the public. Whether he is working in the field\, behind a microphone\, or creating content online\, Ryan is dedicated to sharing the story of agriculture and promoting a better understanding of the farmers and ranchers who help feed the world.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJack Long\n\n\n\nJack grew up on a cattle ranch in Cole Camp\, Missouri\, where his family operated a cow-calf operation that has been in his family for 4 generations. Jack received his Bachelor's in Animal Sciences from the University of Missouri and his Master's in Agribusiness from Oklahoma State University. Previously\, he worked for the National Association of Wheat Growers as their Government Relations Representative. Most recently\, Jack joined Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach's office last April as their Agriculture Legislative Assistant. He works on a wide array of issues in agriculture\, biofuels\, energy\, and trade.\n\n\n\n\n\nJay Fultz\n\n\n\nJay Fultz is a long-time farmer and the co-owner of Fultz Farms Inc. out in Tracy\, Minnesota. For the past 20 years\, Jay has worked alongside his dad\, uncle and two cousins and currently runs the farm's hog operation\, managing everything it takes to raise about 58\,000 pigs a year. He's deeply involved in the farming community and currently serves as the Secretary of the Minnesota Pork Executive Board\, speaking up for local producers. Jay also serves on the Board of Education for Tracy Area Public Schools and has a Massage Therapy practice in Tracy. \n\n\n\nWhen he's not busy in the barns or out in the fields\, Jay is usually training for his next big race\, he just crossed the finish line at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth. He's been happily married for 27 years and is a proud dad to two adult kids.\n\n\n \n\n\n\n Ken Franzky (Facilitator)\n\nKen joined Centrol Crop Consulting in July 2015. His current position is the Agronomy Services Manager (CCA) and manages technical agronomic training for consultants\, internal cross department education\, in field diagnostic assistance\, interactive product training with agricultural companies\, and being a communication bridge with university and industry personnel.\n\nOn the personal side of life\, Ken\, along with his wife Bobbie\, enjoys living in the rural Dawson\, MN area. Raising their crop of four kids together\, they have been blessed to add three outstanding sons-in-law\, one amazing daughter-in-law\, plus seven wonderful grandkids (working to nine by the fall of 2026)\, and they embrace all the bountiful memories their family creates. Other times you might find Ken volunteering\, coaching\, watching sports and attending other various activities that family and friends are busy with related to school\, church\, and community! Family weekends at the lake are always treasured times. Ken's only real hobby is sneaking off to his small quarter section farm to toil in the soil and environment.\n\n\n\nWe hope to see you there!\nThank you to Invenergy Wind Development LLC for their generous support as the Title Sponsor of our 2026 State of Agriculture event.\n\n\n\nThank you to our 2026 State of Agriculture Event Sponsors! First Independent Bank\, Olson Organics of Cottonwood\, Archer Daniels Midland Company\, Legal Estate Planning Solutions\, PLLC\, NextEra Energy Resources\, Farmward Cooperative\, Kibble Equipment X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
\n

2026 \;State of the Agriculture

\n\n

Presented by Invenergy
\n
\nTuesday\, July 28
\n11:45AM \;- 1:00PM
\n
\n
\n
\nPlease join us for the 2026 \;State of the Agriculture Presented by Invenergy \;as we host an interactive panel of speakers followed by a Q&\;A session.
\n
\nRegister online today - lunch is included with your registration fee!
\n \;

\n\n
 \;\n

Meet Our \;Panelists!
\n
\n
\nCarolyn Olson

\n\n

Carolyn Olson and her husband\, Jonathan\, farm 1\,100 acres of organic corn\, soybeans\, small grains\, and alfalfa near Cottonwood\, Minnesota\, while also finishing approximately 14\,000 conventional hogs annually. Although she grew up in the Minneapolis suburbs\, Carolyn has built a lifelong passion for agriculture since moving to southwestern Minnesota in 1988.

\n\n

Carolyn is a dedicated leader in agriculture\, serving as Vice President of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Board of Directors and Chair of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Organic Advisory Task Force. She also serves on the boards of the Agriculture Utilization Research Institute\, the Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture\, and the Center for Rural Policy and Development\, and has held numerous local\, state\, and national leadership roles throughout her career.

\n\n

In addition to her work in agriculture\, Carolyn chairs the Lyon County Planning and Zoning Commission\, is active in her church\, and volunteers with local FFA chapters. She and Jonathan are proud to continue farming land that has been in their family since 1913 while raising the next generation'\;s appreciation for agriculture.
\n
\n
\n
\nKent Thiesse

\nKent Thiesse is a Farm Management Analyst based in South Central Minnesota with extensive experience in agriculture\, farm finance\, and education. He retired in 2023 after a 20-year career as Vice President and Chief Ag Loan Officer for MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal\, Minnesota. Prior to that\, Kent served as an Extension Educator in Farm Management and Marketing with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. He holds both Bachelor&rsquo\;s and Master&rsquo\;s Degrees in Agriculture from the University of Minnesota. Kent also writes the weekly &ldquo\;FOCUS ON AG&rdquo\; column\, is a frequent speaker on farm management topics\, and serves as Coordinator for the Feature Forums at FARMFEST each year.\n\n

\n
\n
\nRyan Vos\n\n

Ryan Vos is a fifth-generation beef producer from southwest Minnesota who combines a passion for agriculture\, communication\, and education. Alongside his father and brother\, he helps manage the family farming operation\, raising feedlot steers and producing corn\, soybeans\, and alfalfa. He also custom feeds hogs and operates a registered Hereford cattle herd with his wife\, Mallory\, and their son\, Beau. \;In addition to his work on the farm\, Ryan is the morning show host on KJOE 106.1 in Slayton\, Minnesota\, and regularly provides crop condition reports through the Linder Farm Network. His ability to connect with audiences has made him a trusted voice in both agriculture and local media.

\n\n

Ryan has also built a strong following on social media\, where he creates educational content across TikTok\, Facebook\, YouTube\, and Instagram. Through engaging videos and authentic storytelling\, he provides consumers with a behind-the-scenes look at modern farming and livestock production while helping bridge the gap between agriculture and the public. \;Whether he is working in the field\, behind a microphone\, or creating content online\, Ryan is dedicated to sharing the story of agriculture and promoting a better understanding of the farmers and ranchers who help feed the world.
\n
\n
\n
\nJack Long
\n
\nJack grew up on a cattle ranch in Cole Camp\, Missouri\, where his family operated a cow-calf operation that has been in his family for 4 generations. Jack received his Bachelor'\;s in Animal Sciences from the University of Missouri and his Master'\;s in Agribusiness from Oklahoma State University. Previously\, he worked for the National Association of Wheat Growers as their Government Relations Representative. Most recently\, Jack joined Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach&rsquo\;s office last April as their Agriculture Legislative Assistant. He works on a wide array of issues in agriculture\, biofuels\, energy\, and trade.

\n\n

\n
\nJay Fultz
\n
\nJay Fultz is a long-time farmer and the co-owner of Fultz Farms Inc. out in Tracy\, Minnesota. For the past 20 years\, Jay has worked alongside his dad\, uncle and two cousins and currently runs the farm&rsquo\;s hog operation\, managing everything it takes to raise about 58\,000 pigs a year. He&rsquo\;s deeply involved in the farming community and currently serves as the Secretary of the Minnesota Pork Executive Board\, speaking up for local producers. \; Jay also serves on the Board of Education for Tracy Area Public Schools and has a Massage Therapy practice in Tracy. \;
\n
\nWhen he'\;s not busy in the barns or out in the fields\, Jay is usually training for his next big race\, he just crossed the finish line at Grandma'\;s Marathon in Duluth. He&rsquo\;s been happily married for 27 years and is a proud dad to two adult kids.
\n
\n \;
\n\n


\n \;Ken Franzky (Facilitator)

\n\n

Ken joined Centrol Crop Consulting in July 2015. His current position is the Agronomy Services Manager (CCA) and manages technical agronomic training for consultants\, internal cross department education\, in field diagnostic assistance\, interactive product training with agricultural companies\, and being a communication bridge with university and industry personnel.

\n\n

On the personal side of life\, Ken\, along with his wife Bobbie\, enjoys living in the rural Dawson\, MN area. Raising their crop of four kids together\, they have been blessed to add three outstanding sons-in-law\, one amazing daughter-in-law\, plus seven wonderful grandkids (working to nine by the fall of 2026)\, and they embrace all the bountiful memories their family creates. Other times you might find Ken volunteering\, coaching\, watching sports and attending other various activities that family and friends are busy with related to school\, church\, and community! Family weekends at the lake are always treasured times. Ken&rsquo\;s only real hobby is sneaking off to his small quarter section farm to toil in the soil and environment.

\n\n


\nWe hope to see you there!

\nThank you to Invenergy Wind Development LLC for their generous support as the Title Sponsor of our 2026 State of Agriculture event.
\n
\nThank you to our 2026 State of Agriculture Event Sponsors! First Independent Bank\, Olson Organics of Cottonwood\, \; Archer Daniels Midland Company\, Legal Estate Planning Solutions\, PLLC\, NextEra Energy Resources\, Farmward Cooperative\, Kibble Equipment
\n LOCATION:Lyon County Fairgrounds Hoop Barn 504 Fairgrounds Road Marshall\, MN 56258 UID:e.499.22920 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260701T111158Z URL:https://business.marshallmn.org/events/details/state-of-agriculture-presented-by-invenergy-22920 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR