Event Sponsors
Date and Time
Tuesday Jul 28, 2026
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
Location
Lyon County Fairgrounds
Hoop Barn
504 Fairgrounds Road
Marshall, MN 56258
Fees/Admission
$18 for Chamber Members
$23 for Non-Chamber Members
*Lunch is included! Please let us know ahead of time of any food allergies or diet restrictions!
Contact Information
Sam Lund, Chamber Events Specialist
Send Email
Description
2026 State of the Agriculture
Presented by Invenergy
Tuesday, July 28
11:45AM - 1:00PM
Please 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.
Register online today - lunch is included with your registration fee!
Meet your Panelists!
Carolyn Olson
Carolyn grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis and joined her husband on the farm in 1988. Once there, she quickly learned the ropes; preferring spring and fall tillage as well as running the combine.
As an organic crop farmer from southwestern Minnesota, Carolyn has served in many policy development and leadership roles both on a local, state, and national level. Carolyn has a passion for bringing together all types of farmers to secure a better future for all of agriculture. Carolyn also makes a delicious cinnamon roll - ask her for her recipe!
Kent Thiesse
Kent 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.
Ryan Vos
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.
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.
Jack Long
(more to come)
(more to come)
Ken Franzky
Centrol Crop Consulting, Agronomy Services Manager; CCA
Ken joined Centrol Crop Consulting in July 2015. Ken 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.
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’s only real hobby is sneaking off to his small quarter section farm to toil in the soil and environment.
We hope to see you there!
