2026 Annual Meeting
Registration and coffee starts at 9:30 am with the meeting starting at 10:00 am
The Ag Ventures Alliance (AgVA) Annual Meeting is a focused event built around one principle: increasing farm profitability. Expect a room of farm operators, investors, and AgTech founders connecting directly to build solutions that perform in real field conditions.
Keynote Speaker: John Kempf, Advancing Eco Agriculture
We’re honored to welcome John Kempf, one of agriculture’s most respected voices on regenerative systems, profitability, and long-term farm resilience. His perspective challenges conventional thinking and pushes the industry forward.
About John Kempf – John Kempf is an entrepreneur, speaker, host of the Regenerative Ag Podcast, leading crop health consultant, and designer of innovative soil and plant management systems. He founded Advancing Eco Agriculture in 2006 and serves as Chief Vision Officer and Executive Board Chairman.
John’s Story – In the early 2000s, Amish farmer John Kempf was on a quest to save his family’s fruit and vegetable farm in Northeast Ohio. After years of intensive pesticide use, pest and disease pressure was unmanageable and unaffected by continued chemical applications. This resulted in an almost total loss three years in a row.
John then began renting a field from a neighboring farm, which sparked an “ah-ha” moment. Cantaloupe plants, located in soil previously managed with intense pesticides, were disease and pest-ridden. Those grown on the rented field with untreated soil were completely healthy. The difference was so pronounced that it launched John on an intense journey to understand why one plant could resist disease while the same variety planted two feet away could not.
After years of extensive agronomic research, first-hand growing experience, and close mentorship – from leaders such as Don Huber, Bruce Tainio, Jerry Brunetti, Arden Anderson, and Michael McNeil – John found new crop management methods. The practices he discovered and the products he created were the beginnings of Advancing Eco Agriculture.
Guest Speakers: Pete Nelson, AgLaunch
Why Attend
• Direct farmer–founder connection
• Strategic member updates and direction
• High-signal conversations
• Practical insight you can apply immediately
If you’re an AgVA member, investor, or builder in AgTech who values profitability, resilience, and real-world execution, this room is for you.
Board Nominees
Adam Drewelow, Nashua, IA
Chad Krull, Northwood, IA
Jeff Divan, Thompson, IA
Mark Hanna, Joice, IA
Steve Eastman, Riceville, IA
Lunch Menu
Pork Loan Cajun Orange, Chicken Florentine, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans with Bacon & Onion, Garden Salad, Roll, and Assorted Dessert Bars.
This year’s agenda will consist of:
- Welcome & Introductions
- Founder Pitch Blocks
- Business Meeting & Election of Officers
- State of the Coop – Spencer Stensrude
- Discovery Trial Winner Announced – Loran Steinlage
- Invocation & Lunch (Menu: Pork Loin Cajun Orange, Chicken Florentine, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans with Bacon & Onions, Garden Salad, Roll, Assorted Dessert Bars)
- Keynote Speaker – John Kempf
- Guest Speaker – Pete Nelson, AgLaunch
- Panel Discussions
Portfolio Companies – The following is a listing of some of the companies that will be in attendance: Poultry Patrol, NovoClade, Vane, Animal Deterrent Solutions, EmGenisys, Seismi, Smooth Ag, Soil Action, Continuum Ag, Earnest Ag, Barnwell Bio, BOPA, CryoBio, Soil Warrior, ReEnvision Ag, AgFlow AI, Horizen Ag, Midland Co, and Sentinel Ag.
Raffle Prizes – We have some great raffle prizes lined up for you to win and take home. Here is a list of a few of them. (The drawing will be held at the end of the meeting – must be present to win.)
* EmVision Analysis
* SoilWarrior Rental
* Midland Shrimp
* Planter Bench
* Children’s basket
We will have new T-shirts for your collection. Please register by March 23rd below to save your spot!